Page 33 of Playing With My Heart Strings

“Dusty?” Her big doe eyes flick up to mine.

“Yeah?”

“Can I kiss you?” she whispers, the sound almost getting carried away on the light breeze.

I nod, moving in as I wrap my hand around the back of her neck. Our lips brush before the kiss deepens and the taste of cherries fills my mouth.

Baylor got cherries in her drink at the bar.

Fuck. Why am I thinking about Baylor?

I squeeze my eyes, trying to dispel my wandering thoughts, but as Valerie kisses me, the only thing I can think of is what Baylor’s lips might feel like. How she would kiss. If she’d be shy and take things slow, or if she would confidently swipe her tongue between my?—

Fuck.

I pull back from Valerie before the fantasy can go any further.

“Everything okay?” Her brows pinch together and the pit in my stomach grows.

“Yeah, Valerie, everything’s great.” I give her as convincing a smile as I can muster, because what else am I supposed to say?No, Valerie, I was thinking about another girl while I was kissing you. A kiss that, I might add, is going to be aired on national television.

Yeah, probably best if I don’t say that.

She continues putting together the snacks, and I try my absolute best to push Baylor to the furthest depths of my mind.

I peer over my shoulder to make sure no one is following me. The producers said I could do whatever I wish with my time off. While I’m sure they don’t want me visiting the women off camera, they never explicitly said I couldn’t, and I’m more of an ask for forgiveness rather than permission type of guy.

I somehow manage to ditch the producer who’s been following me around like a lost puppy the last few days to takean Uber to the hotel I heard the girls were staying at. After confirming the coast is clear, I walk up to the front desk.

“Can you tell me what room Baylor is in? She’s a contestant onHeart Strings,” I ask as I tap my fingers nervously against the counter. I don’t know her last name, but realistically, how many Baylors would be staying here?

“Sorry, I can’t give out that information.” The girl doesn’t even look up at me from behind her computer screen as she rejects my request.

“Please? It’s an emergency.” I turn on the charm, willing her to just look up. I hope she doesn’t hear the desperation, but if I’m being honest, Iama desperate man.

“I’m sorry—” She looks at me, and her mouth gapes into an O shape. “Y-you’re?—”

“Dusty Wilder, yes.” I flash her a smile, and she tells me Baylor’s room number without any more hesitation. “Thanks.” I tip my hat to her and rush over to the elevators.

I punch the level four button in the elevator when I see a producer walk through the sliding doors.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I mutter as I repeatedly smash the close button on the elevator doors and hide my face from view.

“Wait! Hold the elevator!” he yells, but the door has already closed, and I let out a sigh of relief.

That was way too close.

Peeking around the corners again to make sure no one is coming, I exit the elevator and speed walk to her door.

When I reach her door, I take a deep breath in an attempt to calm my nerves. I only need to knock twice before the lock clicks and the door opens to a shocked Baylor.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

You’re going to get caught.

“Dusty?” She raises an eyebrow. “What are you?—”

Fuck it.

---