Turning It on (Red Hot Russians) (26 page)

Moments later, Cristal was joined by Kirstin. With a final choice between Robynne and Gina, Robynne was revealed as Jack’s Final Fling. Hannah watched with a stoic expression, but if Vlad wasn’t mistaken, Robynne seemed much more excited about the prospect than Jack did. The video screens flashed to life, with a montage of Jack and Robynne’s most romantic moments, reminding everyone this was destiny in the making.

The pattern repeated for Hannah, who selected Heathcliff, and then for Chris, who chose Miss October. Vlad was surprised Chris hadn’t selected Alison, and the actress had looked startled when summoned to the reject line. So much for her arrangement with Eric.

Next up was Tammy.

Cody began by asking what she found most important in a man. Tammy laughed. “Oh that’s easy, Cody. I want someone who’s sincere, loving and has a smokin’ hot bod.”

“Don’t we all! So tell us, Tammy, which of your flings doesn’t fit that criteria?”

Please God, let it be me. Come on, Tammy, say my name.

“I’d say that would be Ignacio.”

The soccer player swore under his breath, but walked to the stage and brushed a kiss on Tammy’s cheek on his way to the reject line. Vlad, Omar and Will exchanged glances.

She likes Omar. She likes Will, too. I’ll be the next one she cuts, I know it.

Instead, Tammy eliminated Omar.

“Woot-woot,” Cody crowed. “The suspense is building and it’s not over yet! Tammy you’re down to Will and Vlad. We’re dying to know...who’s the lucky guy?”

“Well,” Tammy said, clearly enjoying being in the spotlight. “It was a tough choice, but I’ve made up my mind. My choice for a last fling is....” Tammy’s gaze fell directly on him, and in the split second before she called his name, Vlad knew. His heart sank. “Vlad the Bad!”

Applause rang out as he rose from his seat. He caught sight of Hannah, blinking rapidly, her lips pressed together, much the way she looked last night when he said goodbye for the last time. Inside, Vlad felt hollow. Onstage, he bent to kiss Tammy. She grabbed his ass and ground against him as music blared. He forced a smile and struck a Male Room pose for the cameras, even as his heart was breaking. As the rejects were dismissed, he and Tammy moved to stage right, and faced the video screen for their “most romantic moments” reel.

With sudden, terrible clarity, Vlad knew exactly how they were going to use the footage from the dock.

The screen flashed to life with scenes of him and Tammy strolling on the beach. Riding in a helicopter. Him feeding her shrimp. Together on a snorkeling trip. On the boat, the cast laughed nervously and pointed toward the water. Suddenly, the camera zoomed in on the form of a large shark swimming past. Then came a grainy overhead shot it took a moment to recognize, but The Black Crowes song playing in the background helped. It was The Smiling Shark, and he watched himself dance into view, shirtless, leaning over a seated Hannah. The private dance he’d performed for her was followed by a long, deep kiss he still tasted, then their plans for a romantic night on the beach.
This
was how they had known about Isla Cara! The dock footage followed and was ugly as he feared.

The lights came up. Tammy looked stunned. Jack’s face twisted with anger. Hannah covered hers with her hands.

Cody deWylde grinned into the camera and gave a devious chuckle. “How about those highlights, ladies and gentlemen?”

Chapter Twenty-Three

When Vlad was a kid, he couldn’t wait to leave home. No more drama from his mom over her racketeering boyfriends. No more telling friends he wasn’t hungry even when there was no food in the apartment, and no money to buy any. No more trying to hide it from his coach or his uncle.

Yet when the day finally arrived, freedom meant being flown to a mystery destination, where he would be forced to do things he didn’t want to do. Sitting on
Last Fling
’s private jet, hurtling toward his final rendezvous with Tammy felt much the same.

The entire reason he’d come on this show had been to win a big pile of money, so he could move on to a new life. That he would have to do it by seducing a bride-to-be was a troubling detail he’d done his best to ignore. Yet the new life turned out to be not so easy to define, and maybe not even attainable. Falling in love with Hannah made him realize that keeping his honor meant more than the money.

Now, he was in exactly the situation he had hoped to avoid. That he would walk away from it with $250,000 was small consolation.

“Another vodka?” One of the PAs, acting as a flight attendant, stood in the aisle by his seat.

“Sure.” He handed her the glass. “How long before we get to...what’s the name of the place again?”

She replied with an enigmatic smile. “I’ll be right back with your drink.”

Near the front of the plane, Chris and Miss October slumped against each other, asleep. Across the aisle, Tammy dozed, too. Vlad sat alone. After seeing his betrayal moments after she chose him, Tammy would only look at him with angry eyes. Miss October had tossed her auburn extensions and sniffed indignantly. Even his fishing buddy Chris sneered. “You’re nothin’ but a low-life piece of shit.”

Vlad had no defense. Low-life piece of shit summed it up pretty well.

The small plane banked a curve. He peered out the window, searching for land, but there was only dark ocean. If the plane went down, no one would ever find them. Would anyone care if Vladimir Shustov disappeared without a trace?

Hannah would care. His throat tightened, remembering her laughter, her kiss, and knowing he would probably never see her again.

Footsteps came from the aisle, and he turned to see Cody approach with a tumbler of vodka in each hand. He slid into the vacant seat next to Vlad and gave him one of the glasses.

“
Na Zdorovye
.” DeWylde offered a mispronounced pseudo-Russian toast that was actually Polish and then drank without waiting for Vlad to do the same. The dull fluorescent light cast long shadows on the host’s face. “Dreaming of all the ways you’ll spend the money if I choose you as the winner?”

If he chose?
Vlad blinked, and fear pebbled his skin. “What are you talking about? Tammy chose me. The money’s mine.”

Cody’s mouth puckered. “What gave you that idea?”

A sick feeling came over Vlad. Had he been taken in by fast talk and his own desperation? “Your partner said if I was chosen as Final Fling, I got the money.”

“Did he?” Cody’s face registered exaggerated shock. “Goodness me. My assistant was misinformed. There is one jackpot, which will go to the contestant most willing to do whatever it takes to win it. The award is subject to a decision by Renegade Productions, also known as me. Right now, the delightful Miss O and sweet Robynne are our front-runners.”

Vlad’s face grew hot as shock gave way to anger, both at the show and at himself. “But I signed a contract!”

“Which you read carefully?” Vlad hadn’t. Cody smirked. “I thought as much. By all means, take it up with your lawyers once the show is over. For now, it’s time to discuss your date. I assume you’ve given it some thought. A romantic picnic on a private island beach? We’re a long way from Isla Cara, but I’m sure we can find a spot you’ll like.”

The mention of Isla Cara made Vlad grip the armrests of his seat, desperately fighting the urge to bash the host’s smug face. A beautiful moment with the woman he loved had turned into something painful and sad.

“Tammy mentioned she likes riding horses,” he said woodenly.

“Yes she does, and I’m sure she’ll enjoy nothing more than a long hard ride on a well-hung Russian stallion. You’re in luck, Pony Boy. Our production staff is three steps ahead. If doing it on horseback flips Tammy’s switch, we can accommodate. We give you a date to remember, you give us a show to remember, and that could put you back in contention for the big payoff. It’s all up to you, Vlad the Bad.”

His trepidation grew as they landed on the private airstrip of a tiny island. In the air, it had been too dark to get a sense of where the island was. As they crossed the tarmac and he looked out at the sea, there were no lights visible. He didn’t know where they were in relation to Puerto Rico, but didn’t need a map to know he was trapped. As cameras followed, they boarded waiting SUVs that drove them up a bumpy road to an enormous, brightly lit mansion, built from tan brick. At the center, a tower rose up, with a single round window that looked down on them like a Cyclops.

Vlad’s skin crawled. This island and the creepy feeling it evoked were familiar. His years with the International Review were a blur of places like this, and the eerie sense of déjà vu was impossible to ignore.

At the front door, two crew girls dressed in sarongs placed floral leis around their necks. Wasn’t that what they did to people who were about to be tossed into volcanoes? Or fed to giant apes? The first floor didn’t look familiar, but someone who could afford a private island in the middle of nowhere could afford to change the decor. Yet this house had a weird dated look that froze it twenty years in the past. They passed through a lounge where worn recliners sat in a semicircle around a large, but old, tube-style television. Another room held an oversize desktop computer.

The fact that the house and island seemed deserted only added to his unease.

“What is this place?” he asked the PA escorting him.

“I don’t know,” said the black-haired guy, who looked like he was still in his teens. “A friend of a friend of a friend rented it to the show, cheap. You ask me, it’s a shithole. Whoever owns it, I don’t think they ever come here.”

Vlad could believe it. He wouldn’t come here either.

“But it’s not like anyone’s going to be looking at the furniture. What matters is that it’s a big-ass crib, and we’ll make it look good on camera.” They came to a room in an empty hallway on the third floor. The PA unlocked the door and ushered Vlad in. The room was plain and sterile, empty except for a bed, dresser, another tube-style TV and a cabinet in the corner. The kid pointed to it. “That’s the minibar, but if you want something...you know, stronger, I can set you up.”

Vlad shuddered, imagining what that would do to his state of mind. “I’m good.”

“All right then. Morning call is at ten. Vanities and breakfast will be here by eight thirty. Sleep well, man.” The PA left and locked the door behind him.

Sleep well? Not likely. Vlad unpacked his small bag, then stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes, aching for Hannah. He wondered where she was right now, and if she was happy. He hoped so and alone in the fearsome silence, Vlad whispered the words he wished she was there to hear. “I wanted to be a man you could be proud of. You believed in me, and now I’m going to let you down. I wanted so much more, a life with you. I love you, Hannah. I always will.”

The next morning, the style team arrived at eight thirty, did their thing and left. Vlad took a few bites of pale, rubbery scrambled eggs and soggy toast then went to the mirror. They had made him up to look like a hustler, with oiled hair, a sleeveless T-shirt tight enough to show the peaks of his nipples, black leather pants and a thick gold chain at his throat. All that was missing was a big chunk of bling, like a dollar sign charm studded with fake diamonds.

The accessory would have been appropriate. This morning, he’d come to a decision. Whatever honor he had he’d signed away when he came on
Last Fling
. They had turned him into a villain anyway, Hannah was lost to him and money was money, regardless of what he had to do to get it. Ten years from now, when he was too old to strip, he would have a decent nest egg. He would give them what they wanted, and walk away from
Last Fling
with something besides a broken heart. If he had to trade sex to get a break in life...well, it wouldn’t be the first time.

There was a knock at the door, followed by the PA’s voice. “Vlad? You ready?”

As ready as he’d ever be.

The assistant escorted him downstairs to where the crew was assembled in the front room, now cleared of antique technology. Tammy stood at the center of the room, dressed in faded jeans, a Western-style shirt and boots. Her hair was swept back in a ponytail, and she looked surprisingly pretty. The smile she wore helped. “You remembered how much I love horses, so I forgive you. Sort of.”

He chuckled and returned her smile. “I’m not completely terrible.” He greeted her with a camera-ready kiss and took her hand. “Come, you and I are going to have fun today.”

Behind the house was a metal barn that housed a stable, vacant except for two occupants. Tammy’s face lit up the moment she saw the horses. Ignoring him and the cameras, she went to the animals, stroking and crooning to them, inspecting their coats, eyes and the saddles they wore. She scooped handfuls of feed from a bin and fed them, as she spoke softly to the black horse and then the brown one. Vlad stood off to the side, content to watch a different side of Tammy Bradford emerge. After a few minutes, she brushed her cheek against the brown horse’s long head and turned back, wearing a blissful expression.

He mounted the black horse, while she chose the brown. Since he’d never ridden in his life, he was grateful for her expertise, but the big animal was gentle and responsive, and with Tammy’s coaching, he soon had the knack of it. They set out on a trail that circled the island.

Away from the oppressive atmosphere of the house, Vlad managed to relax a little. The island was bigger than he realized, and beautiful under the bright sunshine. On the side opposite the airstrip was a bluff that overlooked the beach, and when they rode to the top, he could see a dark landmass on the horizon. This place was isolated, but perhaps not as sinister as it had felt last night. A small yacht bobbed on the water, as Chris and Miss October took in an afternoon cruise. For the first time that day, Tammy’s smile dimmed. Vlad brought his horse close to hers. “There’s something down on the beach I think you’ll like.”

On the pristine white sand beneath a wide umbrella was a low table set for two. He and Tammy sat on a blanket in the shade, and he poured wine. Before them was a tempting spread of seafood, cheeses, fresh salads, fruit, all beautifully prepared and displayed. It was considerably more elaborate than the simple meal he had shared with Hannah on Isla Cara, though he would have happily swapped this day for a chance to relive that one. But his job now was to win Tammy over and impress deWylde, so he turned his attention to her, doing his best to ignore his sadness.

“It’s a beautiful island,” Tammy said, gazing out at the beach as she dipped a forkful of crabmeat in a spicy sauce.

“Not as beautiful as you.”

She laughed. “You are so full of it.”

“Not at all. Your smile lights up your face and today, you look the happiest I have seen you. Your love for horses shines through. Where did you learn to ride?”

“My grandma and grandpa had a farm and I loved goin’ there when I was a kid. My sister and me would go out and ride for miles. Those were the best times. I miss ‘em.” Her smile faded. “I miss her. You remember my sister, right?”

“It was her bachelorette party you celebrated at The Male Room?”

Tammy nodded, and then frowned. “Is it true what you said, about how you pick out the ugliest girl and dance for her so she’ll pay you?”

“I didn’t mean it to sound so calculating, or suggest the girls were ugly. I just meant that when I saw a girl who wasn’t the center of attention, or looked like she wasn’t having fun, I tried to make her feel special.”

“So she’d pay you.”

“More than that. I liked knowing I helped her leave happier than when she came. It was why I danced for you that night. You looked like you needed to feel good.”

Tammy shot a sideways glance at the cameras. “I’ll bet you know plenty of ways to make a woman feel good.”

Vlad tried to get into character, though couldn’t ignore that his heart wasn’t in it. “That I do, sexy lady. That I do.”

On the ride back to the house, they passed Chris and Miss October hang gliding by the bluff.

“That couldn’t have been his idea,” Tammy said. “He hates heights. I hope he doesn’t kill himself.” Faraway screams turned into laughter, and this seemed to disturb her even more. “Damn. Sometimes I wish I’d never talked him into this.”

The comment rekindled Vlad’s guilt about what he was going to have to do. Chris was a good guy, and Tammy loved him. A man of honor wouldn’t hinder that. He rode up alongside her, trying to avoid the cameras, and covered his lav mike. “We don’t have to go through with tonight, if you don’t want to,” he said in a low voice.

Tammy looked over sharply. “Why wouldn’t I want to?”

“Because you love Chris, and he loves you.

“Yeah, well. He doesn’t do anything to show it.” She clicked the reins on her horse and rode ahead, ending the conversation.

They dined alone at the end of an enormous polished table, surrounded by candles that flickered in the gloom. The food and wine were delicious but Vlad found it difficult to enjoy them. With nightfall, the mansion’s haunted house quality returned. But it was more than the house. He didn’t want to be here and he didn’t want to seduce Tammy.

Money or honor? Choose one.

When dinner was over and the wine was gone, Tammy turned in her chair, displaying her breasts to their best advantage in her plunging red dress. She wasn’t unattractive, and at one time, she might have been his type. Yet all he could think about was a girl with curly hair and soft brown eyes, whose bright mind and loving heart were just as sexy as her voluptuous body. However, the cameras were watching and he had a part to play, so he smiled at Tammy. “You look hot tonight.”