Page 14 of Heat & Hard Candies

“I don’t want you to worry that I’m really feeling that way.”

His lips curved upward. “If you play your role right, neither of us will have to worry about that.”

I lifted an eyebrow at him.

He took a strand of my hair and wrapped it around his fingers. “You should lean in to the studious image you created. Blush a lot. Act like you’re uncomfortable around all the guys.”

“Iamuncomfortable around all the guys.”

“Even better.” He winked at me, and I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. “There’ll be so much awkward tension between you and the other guys that I won’t be able to worry. They’ll think you dislike me as much as the last women did, so you won’t have to worry about me. It’ll be easy.”

Theoretically, it sounded good.

It was the same plan I’d come up with before going to the island, actually.

It just felt daunting now that it was hanging over my head.

“We’ve got this, Beautiful.” He tugged lightly on my hair, and his confidence eased my worry just a little.

Kyle cleanedus both up with his magic before we joined Jordan on the speedboat that would take us to shore. We positioned ourselves on opposite sides of him, and when Kyle winked at me, I rolled my eyes.

It didn’t take much thinking about all the sex we’d had to make my face hot, so I focused on that for a minute. I wanted to be red and splotchy, so everyone would think I was frustrated. I definitely got red when I was frustrated. And embarrassed. And horny. And probably happy, too.

The boat landed on the shore, and Kyle immediately jumped out and offered me a hand with a grin.

We both knew I couldn’t reply the way I wanted to, so instead, I huffed loudly and climbed down from the boat on my own. When I tripped at the bottom—that one was an accident—Kyle lifted me back to my feet quickly.

I grumbled at him and stepped away with a grudging, “Thanks.”

He chuckled, and followed me up the beach.

A few guys had jogged over, and saw our interactions just like we’d expected.

Two of them gave Kyle bro-hugs of condolences.

Two more exchanged a look that said they wanted to work with Kyle again, for the same reason everyone wanted to work with Kyle.

They thought he was unlikable.

They thought he wasn’t a threat.

And we were going to play them like a fiddle.

I acted awkwardevery time one of the men tried to start a conversation with me. It didn’t take a whole lot of effort, considering I legitimately felt uncomfortable every time one of them came up to me.

I could tell the guys were talking about me on and off, which added to the discomfort.

The discomfort was needed, though. I leaned on it.

It was insanely hot out, so I was dripping sweat, and kept going to take dips in the ocean. That was a good way to get away from the men.

The water helped with the heat a little, but not enough. I kind of wished it would rain, like it had in the second season of the show.

Then again, I’d probably take sweating over shivering. I wouldn’t be able to snuggle with Kyle constantly without making the other guys suspicious, so I’d have to get cozy with some of the other dudes. Yikes.

Kyle spent the day hanging out with the guys, like he always did during the other seasons. He was friends with all of them, even the complete jerks, like Jim.

Because the other guys didn’t think he was a threat to win the game, it solidified the existing bonds. Everyone wanted to work with Kyle.

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