Page 79 of Taking the Heat

‘Tara, would you please find someone else to speak to this morning?’ Jen’s eyes were blank and she didn’t turn to look at me.

‘Jen … what is it? You know me! Please, don’t shut me out!’

‘Goodbye, Tara.’ She walked off, and I stood with my mouth open, stunned at her dismissal.

‘I thought she might be angry.’ Henry’s gentle voice had me spinning around. With large sad eyes, he stared after Jen.

Exasperated, I said, ‘Everyone is angry! They’re all treating me like I’m a freaking war criminal or Lindsay Lohan or something!’

‘Tara, I’m so sorry.’ Henry’s face was distraught. ‘I’ve been trying to talk to the others, explain how the footage was twisted. I even tried to talk to Chris, but … well, it didn’t go well.’

‘Thanks anyway, Henry. That was really honourable.’ I’d forgotten how much of a gentleman he was.

I’d also forgotten how attractive he was. In simple white shorts and a pale blue button-down, he looked like a movie star on holiday. His blond hair had lightened in the sun over the last few weeks and it stood up in cute tufts all over his head.

‘Henry! Can we get you over here for a minute, please? We need to mic you up.’ A sound guy waved him over.

‘Don’t worry, Tara. I’m sure they’ll all forgive and forget soon enough.’ He went over to the crew, clustered out of the sun under an umbrella, leaving me alone again.

Or so I thought. ‘Ciao, Bella!’ Dante sidled over.

‘I’m not yourBella, asswipe.’

He laughed, wickedly. ‘You are not so popular today; now everyone knows what aputtanayou are. Dante always knew though. He can smell it on you, rising from yourfica.’ He leaned in close and breathed me in.

Shuddering, I shied away, grateful to see Miles clamber onto the podium and give us our challenge instructions. ‘Good morning, team! Welcome to the Erotic Island lagoon! Just around the bend lies a man-made series of pools and waterfalls, winding around lush tropical gardens. Sounds perfect for relaxing, right?’

No one answered. We could sense a twist coming.

‘We’ve tipped twenty keys in the lagoon. All you have to do to claim one is grab it. Each key is worth a name for those who already have keys—and if you find more than one key, you’ll be rewarded with more than one name! And because we’re so generous, we’ll even give you thirty minutes to search.’

He gestured to us to follow him. ‘But unfortunately, water clarity might be an issue today.’

The lagoon came into sight. Miles had described it well; huge, meandering streams and pools, bending away behind pretty gardens. Despite the artificial edges and sculpted too-perfect appearance, it was beautiful.

But the water … ‘What the fuck is that shit?’ Clara, as usual, said what everyone was thinking. The waterways were filled with a bright purple gel.

‘Great question! It has many names: Jell-O, gelatine, jelly. Ladies and gentlemen, Erotic Island has just set the world record for the largest ever Jell-O pool! Who wants to wrestle? Touch restrictions are lifted from the starting gong to the second gong at the end.’

‘Really?’ I was muttering to myself. My swimsuit was purple as well, which seemed like a win, and now, more than ever, I needed a key. But the thought of plunging into the slippery sugary mass was about as appealing as humping a cactus.

Especially considering my present company. Dante murmured in my ear, ‘Oh … what adeliziosoidea! Who know what might happen under the surface, no? Stick close with me, my littlecazzo stuzzicare.Dante will help you.’

‘Actually, no thank you, sir.’ Blessedly, Henry stepped between us. ‘You see, I’ve already arranged to escort Miss Tara around during today’s game.’

‘Escort is the right word for her,frocio,’ Dante spat. Still, he moved off and I heaved a great sigh.

‘Thanks so much, Henry. I don’t think he’ll come back; you can go do your own thing, if you like.’

Henry looked wounded. ‘But what I want to do is make sure you’re okay. I’d like to stay with you, if you’ll allow it.’

‘Of course.’ A ghost of a smile crossed my face. Maybe Chris and I were broken, and everyone hated me, and Dante was a douche, and I still had to sleep with a stranger, but with Henry next to me, things seemed okay somehow.

The game was ridiculous. At the gong, we all waded into the revolting purple goop, which smelled powerfully of blueberries. It was slimy and hard to move through, and all around us, people were shrieking and feeling each other up like horny teenagers.

I slipped over almost every second step. ‘Upsidaisy,’ said Henry, after watching me topple for the fourth time in as many seconds. He looped an arm around my waist and held my hand. ‘Is that better?’

I was about to say,No, I’m fine, you can let me go.After all, it felt wrong to be handled by anyone but Chris.

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