Free How To Lose A Bachelor by Anna Banks Page B

matter how long he was in possession of her mouth. Or everything else.
    Tonight Grant was in no mood to string along his other victims. One by one, he pulled forward each contestant and told them plainly what they did or didn’t do to please him that day. No pausing, no breaking, no hesitation, though most of it was commendation, anyway—even for Rochelle, whose kissing booth had managed to get under his skin better than any ambitious tick ever could. Watching her kiss other men… His jaw still hurt from clenching it so hard.
    It was something he never wanted to see again.
    At least tonight’s choice was an easy one. Of all the contestants and their innovative ways to make money for the charity, one stood out like a rock among diamonds. “Grace, please step forward,” he said amiably. This would be easy for him. The only hard part would be fixing his expression to show something other than disgust.
    It was probably the first time the heiress had ever done what she was asked without question. Since the beginning, she’d refused to allow the studio’s makeup artists to touch her, insisting on bringing in her own staff. She’d insisted on boarding the skydiving plane first. She’d turned down every selection of wine her server offered her at dinner, declaring it all inferior. Even the crew had taken to calling her Your Grace.
    Smiling, Grant accepted her hand and placed a small kiss on it, which pleased her immensely, he could tell.
    “Grace, your monetary donation today was very generous and greatly appreciated. It couldn’t have gone to a better cause. But…” He paused for the camera, but mostly to keep Grace herself in suspense, rubbing her white-gloved hand with his thumb. “I like a woman who’s not afraid to work. Who’s willing to get dirty for a good cause. I have my wealth now, but what if I lose it all one day? What if you do? Would you be willing to work to put food on the table? Gas in the car? Keep the lights on? I know I would be willing to, and I expect the same from any woman I marry. Today, I saw that you aren’t a team player.” He walked to the pedestal and extracted the bouquet of sweet peas from it, fighting the urge to grin. “I’m afraid to say, I’d rather be friends than anything else.”
    “Wait,” Grace said, stricken. “You’re voting me off? Are you stupid? Look at this riffraff behind me! And it’s me you’re sending home?” She turned to Chris. “ Do something.”
    One of the cameras followed the host as he walked onto the veranda where Grace and Grant stand. “I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do,” he said. “It’s up to Grant to decide who stays and who goes. My condolences.”
    Chris was eating this up, Grant could tell. It was just the kind of outburst the show needed. Richie would practically drool when he saw this clip. It was amusing, after all, to see someone as poised as Your Grace looking as harassed as an agitated cat.
    “You can keep your condolences,” Grace spat. She turned to Grant. “You’re nothing. What, I’m supposed to be impressed by your big biceps and dimples and the fact that you’ve built your own fortune? You built your fortune off of people like me. If people like me didn’t need professional protection, people like you would be out of a job!”
    Grant nodded. “You’re right. If you people weren’t so helpless, I’d be out on the street. Chris, remind me to send her a thank you card?”
    Chris’s eyes went wide. “Uh, will do, Grant.”
    This elicited chuckles from the crew behind him. Grace’s nostrils flared. She snatched the bouquet from his hands and threw it to the ground, stomping on it as best she could in those daredevil stilettos of hers.
    “That’s not very nice,” Grant observed.
    “No,” Chris said, thawing in time to enjoy the moment. “Not at all.”
    “Screw you both! Screw this show!” Grace stormed off like a frilly tornado of black tulle.

    G rant could hear Colby shuffling papers on the other