Page 30 of Take the Lead
Gina glanced at Tash out of the corner of her eye. “Really? Wolf?”
Tash shrugged. “He’s a weirdo. I like him.”
“I didn’t meet any of his family while I was there. They were filming somewhere else.” What must it be like to have so many siblings? Gina missed her brother and sister, so she could only imagine how Stone must feel. At least she had Natasha with her.
At the moment, Tash was giving her a dirty look. “I can’t believe you aren’t going to make a move on Stone.”
Gina huffed and leaned back into the sofa cushions as the man himself appeared on the TV. Shirtless, of course. “I’m not interested.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No.” Gina crossed her arms. “I’m not getting involved with anyone in the industry. Been there, done that, got bitten on the ass. I don’t care to repeat the experience, no matter how hot he is.”
“Or no matter how much he wants you?”
“He hasn’t made a move, either.” She wasn’t going to count whatever the hell had happened on the Club Picante dance floor. That was just dancing. And tequila.
“Come on.” Natasha rolled her eyes. “You’re not gonna try to tell me you haven’t noticed his reaction to you. Dwayne barely has any interest in me as a person and he’s still semi-hard every time we get too close.”
“Ew, Tash.”
“What? It happens. They’re new to this. You’re telling me Stone has never… you know what, the innuendo is too easy with a name like that. I can’t even go there. He’s never sported a stiffy while you’re dancing?”
Gina sighed. “Not usually.”
“But he has?”
“Well… he was kind of hard during our photoshoot, but I think that was because Donna was there and she told the directors to have us do extra sexy poses. We were closer there than we’d been in practice.”
Tash smirked. “You were certainly close tonight.”
Gina covered her face and groaned. “I hope I didn’t give him the wrong idea.”
“That you want his body?”
Gina whacked her with a throw pillow. “Yeah, basically. I was a little drunk. And in the moment. That’s all. Anyway, our lives are too different.”
“You’re both on reality shows,” Natasha said. “Not that different, from where I sit.”
“Different enough for it to never work. Besides, he’ll be gone in a few months.”
Natasha held up her hands in defeat. “Whatever you say, nena.”
Despite Stone’s wariness of accidentally revealing something about his family, he couldn’t deny he was tired of spending all his free time working out, hiking, or sitting around his room watching movies. So when Jackson García invited him out for drinks before their overnight flight for the cast reveal, Stone said yes.
Stone was worried they were going to the fancy 1920s-themed cocktail bar down the street from the hotel, and he was pleased to see they were instead meeting at a no-frills bar with an extensive beer selection, big messy pizzas, and a relaxed vibe.
Jackson was already there when Stone arrived. He waved to Stone from a square table, where he sat with Alan Thomas, one of the other celebrity contestants. Stone hadn’t met Alan yet, but he knew the guy was an athlete. Stone went over to them, and Jackson made the introductions.
“Alan, this is Stone Nielson,” Jackson said. “He’s on a survival show calledLiving Wild.Stone, this is Alan Thomas, a gold medal–winning Paralympian in track and field.”
“Impressive.” Stone raised his eyebrows as he shook Alan’s hand. The other man had brown hair, blue eyes, and a ruddy complexion. His features were somewhat nondescript until he grinned.
“Nice to meet you, man.” Alan’s grip was firm, and there was a slight twang of Texas in his voice. Something about his friendly demeanor made Stone feel at ease. “I’ve seen you in the hotel gym a few times.”
“Are you staying there, too?” Stone asked, taking the empty seat across from Alan.
“That I am.”
