20
The next three days were spent going on outings with Luc, Anthony and Adam. Every interview with Doctor Lemon grew tenser, with the fake doctor pushing Megan to admit she was in love with Adam. No matter how many times she told herself it was only a television show and she’d signed a contract and she needed to say the words, she still couldn’t force them through her lips.
While she readied for another date with Adam, she blew out a frustrated breath. It wasn’t like she didn’t feel anything for him. She did. Too much, really. He didn’t love her. He was acting, so why did she get butterflies every time she saw him? And why couldn’t she just do some acting of her own? Tell Doctor Lemon she loved him?
The answer hit her like a sucker punch. She couldn’t say it because she was afraid it was true. Saying it would only re-affirm what she feared. She had fallen in love with Adam. Would Doctor Lemon be able to see it?
She shook her head, not believing what was going through her mind. Doctor Lemon was a fake! She wouldn’t know a relationship from a monkey’s rear end. Of all the things she should be worrying about, Doctor Lemon finding out she was really in love with Adam was not one of them.
She slipped into her sun dress and sandals, and finished applying her makeup. The stupid fake doctor was going to get what she wanted in this after-date interview. She’d confess her love for Adam. They were paying her a hundred thousand dollars. She had to go along with it, right? No one needed to know her true feelings.
Having made the decision, her nerves grew into a tangled mess. Maybe she could put that out of her mind for her date. Ignore the uneasiness making her stomach clench. She stared at herself in the mirror. Who was she kidding? She was going to be a nervous wreck.
On the way out of her room, she grabbed her clutch purse. She expected to see Adam waiting in the entryway, but it was empty. The camera man followed her as she wandered around the main floor, growing more confused as she went. When she couldn’t find anyone, she stepped out onto the back deck.
Doctor Lemon sat on the wooden bench. A smile quirked her lips before she smoothed it out. “A car is coming for you and Adam. Please go pack your bags.”
Panic closed Megan’s throat, and she forgot all about having to confess her love. “What? Are we being kicked off the show?”
Megan got the distinct impression Doctor Lemon was trying not to laugh. “No. You are going on a date. You’ll be spending the weekend on a romantic beach in Florida. We’ve booked two rooms for you at a five-star resort.”
Relief flooded through her a second before the realization hit. This was it. This was when Adam would propose. Of course they’d do something extravagant like this. She tried to smile and show a little enthusiasm for the surprise getaway. “Wow. That’s…great.”
Why had she agreed to do this? Her acting skills obviously stunk. And now the nerves inside her had grown big enough to have little baby nerves to terrorize her. She flashed one last pathetic smile toward Doctor Lemon and fled to her room.
She tossed some things in her suitcase. In all honesty, she wasn’t paying much attention. Hopefully she wouldn’t get there and realize she’d only packed shirts. She threw in her makeup kit and zipped her rolling case, then proceeded to drag it down the stairs. This was going to be a nightmare.
Adam stood by the front doors, his travel bag by his feet. Seeing him made her nerves run rampant. He looked up at her, and a hint of a smile played across his features. “Hey.”
Why was he so good looking? Why did her heart have to pound like she’d never seen a handsome man before? She gripped her case and took the remaining steps toward him. Oh, dear. He smelled good. “Hi.”
“I guess they’re sending us to a resort.” He turned away. She’d have thought he was acting shy if she didn’t know him better.
“Yep.” Had she packed her swimsuit? She wasn’t sure. Didn’t matter. No way was she going swimming with Adam. Better to stay away from wearing skin-tight barely-there things around him.
He stared out the tiny window. “Have you ever been to Florida?”
“Hmm?” His words took a second to register. “Oh, no.” Her fingers tingled and felt numb. Was it possible to lose the feeling in your extremities because of stress? Could nerves do that? She stared down at her hands, twisted into a tight knot. Oh. Maybe she was just strangling the blood right out of them. She shook her hands and let out a breath.
“They’re here.” Adam picked up both their bags and still managed to open the door for her. “After you.”
It wasn’t a limousine this time, just a regular taxi. The driver was chatty, and Megan was thankful the camera man wasn’t with them. A few of the crew had already flown out so they could set up at the resort.
When they got to the airport, they boarded a private jet. Megan decided she could get used to that. No long lines, far less waiting, and luxurious accommodations. They even had champagne, although she didn’t drink any. Her nerves were making her nauseous.
The clock read six thirty-five when they touched down in Florida. Adam grabbed her hand and pointed out the small airplane window. “Look at the sunset.”
Of course the sky was gorgeous. He was gorgeous. The stupid plane was gorgeous. And she couldn’t enjoy a second of it because she knew what was coming.
Megan took a small bite of her shrimp. She’d been pushing her food around her plate for the last half hour. Adam had finished and was staring at her with this weird expression on his face. Was he about to pop the question?
Worrying about when he was going to ask was ruining everything. She needed to get a grip. There’d be no enjoying the weekend if she couldn’t get past the proposal. She set her fork down and took a cleansing breath.
“You seem tense.” Adam placed his hand over hers, and she jumped, and a completely embarrassing squeak came out.
Heat seared her face, and she hoped the microphone hadn’t picked that up. “Uh, yeah. I guess. Sorry. I’m not used to hopping on a plane and flying off to some island resort.”
“It is a little weird.” He chuckled, his dimples turning her nerves into butterflies.
The camera man walked around the table to get a better angle on her, and she tried to ignore him. She stared off the patio at the expanse of darkening sky over the tide coming in. The light breeze carried the scent of seaweed and salt water, and a hint of Adam’s cologne. Her gaze fell on him.
Was he going to propose tonight? They’d just arrived. Surely he’d wait until they were more settled. Right? It was too early to do it. She studied him, trying to gage his thoughts.
“Listen, Megan…” He squirmed in his seat as his voice trailed off.
Oh, crap. This was really it. He wasn’t going to wait after all. And she hadn’t even confessed to Doctor Lemon that she loved him. Would it be unrealistic for her to accept a proposal if she’d never even admitted that she loved him?
He took a breath to continue, and she panicked. “I love you,” she blurted. Unfortunately, the force of her words caused a blob of spit to fly out of her mouth and land on Adam’s cheek.
Mortified, she stared at the saliva slowly sliding down his face. Should she apologize and wipe it off? Ignore it? Her throat closed. Ignore it or wipe it?!? What should she do? Maybe he hadn’t noticed. She wasn’t sure if the stunned look on his face was because of what she said, or the ball of slobber leaving a wet slug-like trail down his skin.
“You, um…what?” He picked up his napkin and subtly patted his cheek. “Say that again?” A sexy half-smile formed on his face.
Relieved when he didn’t call attention to the fact that she’d spat on him, but rather successfully dealt with it without being obvious, she giggled. It came out high pitched and hysterical. Now she felt silly for confessing her love. Maybe he really hadn’t heard her. “What did I say? I’m not sure. Who knows?”
His grin grew, and his gaze flickered to the camera. “You said ‘I love you.’”
A blush warmed her face. “Did I?” No getting out of it now. She had to go with it. “I mean, yes. Yes, I do.”
He raised his eyebrows.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Maybe getting this whole thing over was best. Rip it off, like a Band-Aid. “I love you. So, if you have something you want to tell me, go ahead.”
He blinked, his face blank. “What?”
“You were going to say something before I interrupted. Sorry. Go ahead. I’m ready now.” She waved her hand to encourage him to get on with it.
His lips twitched, like he was trying to hide a smile. “I was just going to ask if you wanted to call it a night. You look tired.”
Really? That’s what he was going to say? She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. “Oh.” She picked up her glass and took a big gulp. Her hand shook so bad she almost slopped water all over the table.
“You seem to have been thinking I was going to say something else.” The corners of his eyes crinkled in a hidden smile.
“Nope.” She set her glass down. The warmth in her face spread until she was sure she looked like she’d had an allergic reaction to the fish. “Not at all.”
He seemed to be enjoying her discomfort way too much. “I see. Maybe before we head back to our rooms, we should take a romantic stroll along the beach.” He stood, grabbed her hands, and pulled her up on her wobbly knees. “I think there’s something we should probably discuss.”
Oh, this was it. He really was going to propose now. She tried to calm her thudding heart as she walked alongside him to the water’s edge. “All right.” Her voice came out breathy and weak.
They walked through the sand, the camera men trailing behind them, and Adam’s thumb rubbing slow circles over the back of her hand, driving her crazy. The beauty of the moonlit beach provided the perfect setting. Any minute now he would get down on one knee.
Adam stopped and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his muscular chest. “You look beautiful tonight,” he whispered into her hair.
Her pulse raced, and she fought to keep control of her head. “Mmm. Thanks.”
Adam leaned down and kissed the spot below her earlobe, and she swooned. Come to think of it, she wasn’t sure how a person would do that, but she couldn’t think of any other word for it. He kissed her jaw line, then brought his lips to her ear. “Doctor Lemon gave me one last trust exercise to do while we’re here.”
Her heart pounded in her ears so loudly, she could barely hear him. “What is it?” she asked, breathless from what his kisses were doing to her.
He grinned. “You’ll find out.” He tucked her arm into the crook of his elbow and began walking them back to the resort.
The dirty rat. He knew she was expecting the proposal. He knew exactly what she would be thinking. And he was toying with her.
She glared at him, and all he did was chuckle in response.
This was going to be a long weekend.