Page 16 of Taking the Heat

There on the beach, guilt and dread washed over me, the heavy burden of my sister’s future like a blanket on my skin, dulling the sensitivity. I steadied my breathing and felt my heart rate slow.I can do this. I can do this for her.

‘Ladies, please take a seat!’ invited Miles, his voice at a fever pitch. I stepped up on the stage, feeling empty and calm.

Sitting in the chair on the end of the row, I focused on a single palm tree further along the beach. It was bent over in a strange hooked shape, and I marvelled at how it had grown backward to brace itself against the winds and waves.That tree is now my new best friend. Eyes on the tree.

‘Lads, please choose your lady!’

The boys whooped and jumped up to join us. Everyone seemed to gravitate automatically to a partner without too much fuss, and I wasn’t surprised to see Henry claim the space in front of me.

While the people around us settled down, Henry leaned in quickly and whispered in my ear, ‘Don’t worry, Tara. I’m not going to try to make you move. That way, you’ll get through the first round at least.’

I felt my eyebrow lift in total gratitude. ‘Thank you, sir.’

‘You’re welcome.’

He was a darling. Affection for my English gent heated my chest, but I pushed the emotion away. I needed to be in my shell, needed to put my game face on.

‘Girls, I’ll count backwards from five—once we hit zero, the gong will sound.’ Miles pointed to a large cymbal hanging in a frame beside him. ‘From that moment on, if you move, you’re out, even if you’re between men at the time. Think unsexy thoughts, ladies!’

A final nervous titter arose from my fellow competitors as Miles called out, ‘Five! Four! Three! Two!One!’

While he counted, I tucked my hands under my thighs to disguise any shaking or twitching, and placed my feet flat on the floor to prevent tickling. Eyes on the resilient palm tree.Ready.

The crash from the gong was much louder than I expected and I almost lurched in my seat. The camera crews were lined up behind the guys, capturing everything, so I’m lucky I didn’t. Further down the line, someone yelled, ‘Babette moved! She totally jumped!’

‘I most certainly did not!’ came a very huffy French voice.

‘Sorry, Babette, rules are rules,’ said Miles. ‘One down, and we’ve only just begun!’

Using my peripheral vision, I could see the guys close in on the motionless girls, and Miles commentated on the action. ‘The lads are ready! Let’s see what they’ve got. Oooh, sorry Jendayi, we all saw you quiver from that neck rub! Eight left, who’s next …?’

I tuned him out and Henry moved towards me. For the first few seconds he was true to his word and didn’t seem to try very hard to turn me on. He ran his fingers down my arm tentatively, feeling his way from my shoulder to my elbow. I felt nothing.

Then, as if he grew braver, he touched my knee. He curved his way around to the back of my calf, holding it reverently. He began to stroke the back of my leg, an intense expression on his face, as if he didn’t know what he was even doing.

I was completely unmoved. Clearly, my palm tree was magic. Either that, or I just had no strong physical connection with Henry.

No. No, that can’t be right, can it?The guy is gorgeous and sweet, and his accent makes the cast ofDownton Abbeysound like chimney sweeps. It must have been the palm tree.

Thirty seconds flew by, and the gong sounded again. ‘Gentlemen! Time to change ladies!’

Roused by the gong, Henry jolted and backed off. ‘Good luck,’ he said, reluctantly removing his hand from my leg.

One of the Swiss twins appeared. ‘My turn, ja?’

The next few minutes passed in a haze. With each round of caresses, I grew more confident in my ability to keep still, no matter what they threw at me. I cycled my way through half a dozen faceless guys, without even the slightest urge to shift or shudder.

‘Only two ladies left!’ Miles’ voice cut through my trancelike state. ‘Representing the land down under, Tara! And from the land of the rising sun, Clara! Boys, who among you can break these two steadfast beauties? Step up to the plate!’

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Toshi move forward.Clara will be pissed …

Chris took his place in front of me.

No, no, no …whatever this thing is between Chris and me, it’s something I can’t control. My body reacts to him on a chemical level. And he knows it.

With the other guys, I had kept my gaze on the tree. I couldn’t help looking at Chris. With my eyes, I pleaded with him to go easy.You, out of all of these people, you know why I need to win this. Please …

His clear eyes showed no mercy. Desire written all over his features, he swallowed heavily. When he raised a hand to rake through his shaggy hair, his fingers trembled.

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