Page 5 of Heat & Hard Candies

“I know. I’ll talk to the showrunners.”

He slipped away, leaving me with Launa and a few of the boat’s crew members.

I checked the labels on all of the bags of potato chips, then took the two that qualified over to the table with me. “This probably isn’t that appetizing, but calories are calories,” I said, plopping down in the chair across from hers as I handed the bags over.

“Thanks for doing that,” she said, her cheeks red with embarrassment.

The woman was probably worried about the coming conversation, which would undoubtedly be about the guy she wanted.

If she always blushed like that, she was going to have a hard time influencing the game, which would make my job harder.

It was what it was, though.

“We can talk about who you want me to pair you off with after we eat. I’m sure that’s what you’re blushing about, but there’s no rush.” I grabbed a burger and took a bite.

Her cheeks reddened more.

She looked down at her bag of chips, though she didn’t make a move to eat any of them. Some part of me was worried about how well she’d fare in the game if she didn’t get enough to eat, but logically, she should’ve arrived to the island with a full stomach. The Society had been treating the compatible females much better in the last few seasons.

I ate slowly, trying to relish the meal. I’d be back to starving soon enough, and there were only so many meals left in my life. It’d be nice to get back to my house, to have the chance to cook for myself in my own kitchen again. Living on an island had gotten really damn old.

After confirming that the fruit was safe, Jordan brought the whole bowl to our table and apologized for the chef, who was apparently already at work cooking something different. Launa thanked him, but didn’t touch the fruit.

“Are you worried about it?” I asked her, my forehead creasing.

“Hmm? About what?” she looked at me, her expression sheepish after missing what my question was about.

“The food.” I gestured to the fruit.

“Oh, no. I just get nauseous when I’m nervous,” she admitted.

“What are you nervous about?”

Her blush came back full-swing.

She was stupidly attractive. I tried not to notice.

“This conversation,” she said.

I wasn’t done eating, but if she was that nervous, the rest of the burgers could wait.

I wiped my hands on the napkins provided and leaned back in my chair. “Let’s get it over with, then. Who do you want me to pair you off with? I get the vibes that you’ll get along well with Kaden, or?—”

“You,” she blurted.

I blinked.

“I saw the other seasons,” she added hastily. “The way you helped the other women. The life you offered them. Your personality. If I get to choose a mate, I want to choose you.”

A moment of silence passed.

“If that’s okay,” she added, her face even redder. “I didn’t really phrase that right. I?—”

My eyes narrowed. “Don’t bullshit me, Beautiful.”

“You don’t believe me?” She frowned, her face still bright red. “Why not?”

“I’m well aware that I annoy human women.”

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