Matched (27 page)

I’m not sure whether I should laugh or complain. I’m on Cruz’s shoulders, my vagina smashed against the back of his neck.
Can he feel it? Does it even feel like anything? Are these normal thoughts?

“Harlow!” Jasmine’s chuckle-filled voice slashes through my mini freak-out as Court moves them closer.

“You’re an ass,” I gripe down at Cruz. His only response is a laugh that bounces his shoulders—and me along with them.

“Ready…GO!” Emma shouts from somewhere, overly excited.

Game on!

I tighten my calves under his arms, and hook my feet in a secure lock behind his back. Releasing my death grip on his skull, I begin the battle—one that has us all relaxing despite the warfare, enjoying an off-the-clock moment. It’s nice to have a break from the catty bitches and cameras. Oakley’s not here, and though part of me wishes he was, I know deep down it wouldn’t be the same. It’d be a downer, even if he
was
speaking to me. And my full realization of that undeniable fact does sting.

Determined to really enjoy myself, I dismiss any gloom and let loose. I’m surprised it takes as long as it does to knock them down, but we do. I’m rearing for another round, shaking my body in a happy dance after our second win—that is, until Cruz chuckles and I’m reminded I’m pretty much grinding my girl all over his head.

My entire body stills, and he laughs harder.

“I don’t mind,” Cruz says, somehow reading my thoughts.

“Shut up.” I slap the top of his head lightly. “Come on, let’s go another round!”

“You sure you don’t want to play?” Court calls out to Emma before Jasmine begins to climb back atop him. Emma doesn’t respond. He sighs but lowers himself down for Jasmine, who gets a smile from Emma.

My upper body strength’s nowhere near Callie’s but still capable, which leads us to four out of five victories. Emma keeps score from her perch on the end of the diving board and announces Cruz and me overall champs, saving us from a sixth round we were set to begin. Her stare’s pinned on Court, and it doesn’t take a genius to see she’s tired of sitting on the sidelines.

Jasmine tumbles off Court’s shoulders as he ducks underwater, resurfacing near Emma.

I attempt to fall backward, but Cruz’s grip only tightens. “You can let go now,” I snicker, hanging off his back.

“Where’s the fun in that?” he replies flippantly.

I pull myself back up and peer down at his smug face. “Such a flirt.” I swat his head. “Let me go, mister.”

One hand releases its hold, but the other bears down. I’m confused until I feel his free hand creep up the back of my thigh and come around my front. Suddenly, I’m hoisted into the air, clinging to his shoulders as he swings me down and cradles me in his arms.

“Cruz!” I shriek, my heart pounding uncontrollably…yet I feel invigorated.

“Scare ya?” He lifts me higher in his arms, coming face to face with me.

“Never,” I hold out.

His smile contorts deviously and he takes off, moving quickly through the water. I close my eyes and hold on tight when I feel him climb the steps.

“What are you—” I start to complain until I notice Emma jump off the diving board as we approach it.

“No!” I’m clawing him like a rabid animal about to be forced into a bath. “Cruz!” I yell as he climbs the short ladder, then walks us down the plank.

“I swear to God!” I’m screaming and squirming, but my damned smile won’t fade.

Cruz sees it too, and stares down at me with a brilliant one of his own.

“If you drop me in, I’ll…I’ll…”

He raises a challenging brow. “You’ll…?”

“Take you with me!” I grip his neck as tightly as I can and propel myself back into the pool, indeed bringing him in with me. I’m out of his arms when we hit the surface of the water, and when I come up for air he’s nowhere to be seen.

I whip around to search the pool. Nothing. Emma and Jasmine laugh from the shallow end, while Court points behind me.

Crap!

Slowly, I peek back. But the moment I spot him, it’s too late—down I go. He dunks me once, then waits for me to resurface, wiping my eyes and wringing my hair.

“You finished?” I ask, struggling to prevent my lips from curving upward.

“For now.”

I splash his retreating back and head over to join my girls on the steps.

“You two are cute together,” Jasmine leans in and whispers.

I don’t reply, but I want to. For the first time in a long time, the butterflies are swarming in my stomach, and it feels good—natural.

“Who’s playin’?” Court asks, holding up a Nerf ball and floating basketball hoop.

“I’m in!” Emma shocks us by saying, and Court couldn’t look happier. She uses his stunned moment to steal the ball, and drags Jasmine back out into the water with her. “You’re on my team. Harlow you’re with Court.”

I stand and am about to join when I notice Cruz sneaking off into the dark cave thing in the corner. A grotto, I’m guessing.

“Actually, I’m gonna relax a while,” I tell them, already following him.

They don’t seem to notice or mind, so I wade through the cave as slowly as I can and my whole being lights up at the beauty inside. It
is
a grotto, with a blue light shining brightly under the water, casting a beautiful hue over the glistening rocks.

Cruz is there, facing away, elbows braced the ledge. His back is broad and defined, droplets of water refusing to let go of his perfect form. He must sense my approach because his muscles contract, but he doesn’t turn around.

I’m not sure what fuels me to make a move—maybe the desire to be near someone who makes me feel so alive again. It’s the reason I don’t stop myself.

Directly behind him now, I lean in and press a kiss to the center of his back, watching his shoulders rise. Still, he says nothing, so I continue, kissing again a little higher, then again at the base of his neck. Finally, he turns to me.

Completely vulnerable and scared to death of my own uncharacteristic brazenness, I’m unsure what to expect. He reaches out and strokes down my cheek with the back of his hand. I close my eyes, absorbing his tenderness, and feel his finger skim over my dimple.

I open my eyes, and my smile fades as I watch darkness creep into his eyes. He bends to my ear slowly, moves my hair aside, and whispers, “Don’t embarrass yourself.”

I lunge back, dumbfounded and hurt. But then I catch the subtle head nod he gives toward the corner. I follow his motion and spot the camera mounted there.

Dear God. They’re watching us, and I just…

Horrified, I creep backward, desperate for him to say something—anything—to calm the riptide of humiliation inside me.

But he doesn’t. He just watches me, looking noticeably irritated—angry, even. So I do the only thing I can. I dash through the water, forgetting for a moment I have nowhere to hide.

Confessional: Nadia Minkin and Rachel Gardner

“Hey everyone! We’re bored, so we thought we’d treat you to a double dose of fabulousness. I’m Rachel Gardner, comedian. And this gorgeous lady to my right is Nadia Minkin, international supermodel who, like me, has never done a confessional. Although I planned to—just kept forgetting.”

“Right, you just like Adam reminding you. Don’t blame you.”

“Maybe. So what’s your excuse?”

“No one tells me vhat to do. I say vhen, and that is now. Is it just me, or is not as much fun in this place if little girls are hiding? Who vill ve torture?”

“I’m glad they’re gone. Maybe they got nabbed by aborigines, or whatever they’re called here—or fell in a sinkhole. That’d leave us with only Callie to take out, who’s not the badass she thinks she is.”

“I not vorried about Callie. Actually, I not vorried about any of them. Pure nuisances is all they are. No threat. Harpo and Oakley are no more, vhich makes it easier for me.”

“It’s Harlow—”

“Vhatever. Hate her.”

“Well, I’m glad she took that Jasmine blowup doll with her wherever they went. Bitch wracks my last nerve. Oh, maybe somebody bit her on one of those huge, inflatable tits and she popped and flew away.”

“Or perhaps they quit—found airport. Couldn’t take it anymore.”

“Mine’s better.”

Chapter 19

The moment I make it out of the grotto and into light again, a decision is made. I’m done making a fool of myself on national television. Let’s be real, if I want a career as an event planner—especially a
romantic
-event planner—how can I expect anyone to take me seriously after they watch my actions on this island? Could I
be
any worse at romance?

My head’s spinning, my entire body flushed with embarrassment and rejection. What the hell was I thinking kissing Cruz? What could I possibly have been hoping—that he’d kiss me back and we’d live happily ever after in a house with my ex-fiancé? That we’d start a fling to help me get over said ex-fiancé? Obviously I wasn’t thinking at all.

I trudge through the water and climb the steps, oblivious to everything but my own pestering thoughts. I’m an idiot, and now the whole world knows it, if they weren’t suspicious already. Or worse, they think I’m a slut. My eyes close, my head dropping in shame.

Oh my God…Oakley’s parents are going to see this! My parents will see this.

I’m about to find a place to crawl into and hide when something locks around my arm.

“What the—” A hand covers my mouth, and I’m being forced to a corner of the deck.

“Shhh,” Jasmine whispers. “Don’t want to get busted.” Her hand drops from my mouth. I look around to see Emma pulling on her dress and Court his shoes.

“Busted?” I repeat softly, confused until I hear the voices from inside the guest house. Someone else is here.

Jasmine leans in. “Turns out this is where the crew is staying.”

“Ah. Guess we might as well go say hi.” I don’t bother to whisper. “They have a camera in the grotto, so I’m guessing they already know we’re here—or they will soon enough.”

“What?” Emma yelps. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Not that it matters.”

Cruz’s low timbre hits my back and I freeze, watching him step around me to grab a towel from the rack.

I’d like to say it’s me avoiding eye contact with him, but honestly, he’s yet to notice me. It’s just one more reason to block out what happened, focus on the game, match people up, win some money for the shelter, and get the hell outta here as soon as I can.

“Come on, let’s go,” Cruz says, holding the gate open. I can’t help it; my eyes roam of their own volition, meeting his when I walk past. There’s something there—an unnamable intensity. But I decide it’s best that way, and push all thoughts of it aside.

We escape from the house unseen and travel back through the jungle, Cruz and me in silence, Jasmine and Emma singing some nature song they swear I should remember from grade school. Maybe I do, but I’m just not in the mood for anything but the speediest trip possible back to the house.

The very second we’re there, I take off, jogging inside and straight to the shower—the only means of solace in this place. The warm water cascades down my body, and I try to think about the game and who’s a good match. I have no idea about Miles and I’m hoping Jensen belongs with either Rachel or Nadia, though I’ve not seen any clear soulmate “signs” there. But what
are
those signs? Would I even recognize them if they were shoved in my face?

I’d say my record speaks a resounding “no” for itself.

Emma matches with Court—of that, I feel certain—but sending them into the Soul Search,
if
I’m lucky enough to win, poses two challenges. One, if they’re not a match, well…we’ve all seen how that can play out, and I don’t want to give Emma another reason to push Court away. And two, I’m not ready for Emma to leave yet. If I’m here, I want my girls here, as selfish as that is or not.

“Harlow?”

I startle, my hand halting a bar of soap mid-thigh. I can’t see through the glass, but I know the voice.

“Yeah, everything all right?” I ask Jasmine.

“Adam’s pissed we snuck off—says the challenge was supposed to start an hour ago, so they’re waiting for us on the beach.”

“’Kay, give me a sec to rinse.” I should rush to finish, but I don’t.

There’s a gap before she speaks again; I almost thought she’d left. “Adam wouldn’t even talk to me…just made it clear to the group we messed up and put the show at risk.”

My head’s dipped back to rinse the conditioner out, so I don’t respond right away.

I hear her rustle something, then add, “I think I like him.”

Wiping the water from my face, I turn off the shower and poke my head out. “I know you do.” She hands me a towel. “And it’s obvious he feels something for you too.”

“Maybe, but now…”

I wrap the towel around my body and step out. “And now
nothing
. So he’s upset. He’ll get over it. No one was hurt by us going out. No harm, no foul.”

“I guess,” she says softly, lowering her head. “Doesn’t matter anyway. Jensen’s being really sweet, and he says he has a surprise planned for tonight.”

“Okay, listen to me,” I say clearly, taking a stance in front of her. “Adam will get over this, I promise. Just think—”

“Challenge time—
now
!” Callie nearly shouts as she walks in. She looks pissed. “Adam says if you’re not both there in five minutes, we’re all eating leftovers tonight. So come on already.”

I squeeze Jasmine’s arm and offer her a reassuring smile. “Trust me, Adam will talk to you again. Just give him time to cool off.”

She nods and heads off with Callie while I run to my room. I throw on a bikini, a pair of shorts, and a tank top, then race my ass down to the beach.