Page 76 of The Love Dare
“The story about the rehab facilities.”
“You mean, the story your boss used to blackmail me?”
“It’s dead.”
“I know. I paid a settlement after signing the contract for the show.”
“There are ways around settlements,” Nina comments cryptically. “I just thought you might want to know Trish made some calls, she found some loose ends, and she buried them. You won’t have to worry about it again.”
He grunts. “Am I supposed to be grateful?”
“Be whatever you want. I just thought you’d want to know.”
“You know what I want to know?” He snaps his head up to stare her dead in the eyes. “Why do you do this? What do you get out of it? The threats. The manipulation. The playing with people’s emotions.”
“I get a show.”
“And that’s all you care about? Some fucked-up television show selling fake romance?”
“You and Winnie don’t seem fake to me.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t turn this around on us.”
“I don’t force people to do anything, Tyler. I give them choices. I provide clarity. I hold up a mirror. It’s not my problem if some people don’t like what they see. You’re all big boys and girls. You know exactly what you signed up for. And sometimes you need a hard shove to get out of your own way.” She goes to the door and pulls it open, then glances back over her shoulder. “Your first one-on-one starts at 8 a.m. I suggest you get some sleep.”
He doesn’t.
Not a wink.
He spends the night tossing and turning, worried about his mom and wishing for Winnie. Then he spends the next two days acting like a boorish oaf to the two unlucky girls selected for his dates. He sends the first one home before they even make it to dinner. Cynthia probably wishes he would send her home as well, but production told him he’s not allowed to send twogirls packing before the puzzle ceremony, and Winnie loves her, so, unfortunately for her, she’s got to stay. He tries not to be a complete ass during their entire tour through the old city, but it’s a struggle. Despite their romantic dinner cruise across the Mediterranean, he hands her a puzzle piece with nothing more than a chaste kiss on the cheek, then spends the night counting the hours until his group date begins tomorrow. It’s at some famous amusement park at the top of Mount Tibidabo. The views of Barcelona are supposed to be amazing, but he doesn’t even notice them when he arrives.
He’s only got eyes for one thing.
The second he sees her, he makes a beeline.
Winnie’s presence is an immediate salve on his soul. The pressure in his chest lightens. The storm clouds dissipate. All the stresses and fears and questions fade the moment those warm hazel eyes meet his. Because she’s still here. She’s still fighting.
“Win.”
He takes her by the hand and pulls her from the throng, desperate for five minutes alone with her.
“Tyler!” Nina shouts.
He doesn’t stop. He knows he’s supposed to make some stupid speech or play some stupid game, but he just doesn’t care. The Ferris wheel up ahead gleams like salvation. It hasn’t opened to the public yet, so he cuts right to the on-ramp and practically dives into the private cabin. Before Winnie is even settled in beside him, he yanks the door closed and growls, “Go.”
Nothing happens.
“Go, please?” he tries, the weak attempt at politeness overshadowed by the undercurrent of a threat still evident in his voice. Winnie snickers softly, covering her mouth with her fingers.
“Tyler!” Nina shouts.
He groans and stares at the frozen attendant. “Come on, man. Help me out.”
“Don’t you dare!” Nina shouts.
The attendant looks between them with the nervous eyes of trapped prey.
“I’m not getting off this Ferris wheel until we ride,” he tells Nina as she stops outside their cabin with her hands on her hips. “I need five minutes and then I’ll do whatever the fuck you want. Five minutes, Nina.”
