Free Bird of Paradise by Katie MacAlister Page A

to stir such an emotion in
him, then reminded herself that the proof was undeniable: he was a
sex expert and no doubt knew how to simulate sexual interest. She
couldn't allow herself to forget that she had him by the short and
curlies, in that situation, he'd do anything, even pretending he
desired her, in order to keep her mouth shut.
    “It matters not,” she said briskly,
determined to get his agreement on the proposition, “You can see
that my plan will benefit you, as well as me. You will also garner
points with each successful date we complete; thus you, too will
make it to the second round. I have no doubt Sally will, as will
most of your…erm… admirers .”
    “My—oh, them.” He gave her a sheepish grin that
turned her insides all soft and squidgy. How could such a sex fiend
look so adorable? “I don't encourage them, you know. It's a bit
embarrassing, to tell you the truth. I never have been one for
attention.”
    She was willing to wager he secretly loved it. All
men loved to have women fawn upon them. “Mmm. Perhaps them becoming
a radio sex therapist wasn't the best career choice to have
made?”
    He looked downright uncomfortable, leaving her to
wonder if what he said was true, that he honestly did not like the
attention.
    “About that…I…uh…hell. I can't tell you.”
    She eyed him for a minute, then stood up and held
out her hand. “Do we have an agreement?”
    He looked at her hand, then stood to wrap his long,
warm fingers around hers. “I am completely at your mercy, as you
well know,” he said stiffly, his eyes dark and unfathomable. “As
such, I have no choice but to agree.”
    The words cut through her like a hot knife. It was
clear that he was only agreeing in order to remain a part of the
show, not because he found any pleasure in the idea of dating her.
Still, it was better he be honest about it than try to make her
believe he really found her attractive.
    She just wished that honesty didn't have to hurt so
much.
    “Thank you,” she told him, pulling her hand from
his, aware of a profound sense of loss with the severing of
physical contact.
    He left shortly after that, taking his cat and the
gecko (much to her relief) with him. She took a tepid shower, had a
rest on a bed that was a bit too soft for her taste, and spent the
remainder of the time alternately reliving the wonderful feeling of
being held by Adam as he kissed her, and remembering the simpering
looks on the women's faces as they clung to his arms. Why had her
mind chosen him to snap over, the one man who would have at least
half the women on the island fighting for his attention? Well, at
least she had his agreement to one date a day. He might not have
chosen her of his own free will, but she suspected he was too much
of a gentleman to ignore her during the dates themselves.
    A few hours after the téte-a-téte, she
headed off toward the ballroom and the evening group date.
Cameramen dotted the walkways, filming contestants as they emerged
from their cabanas, talking and laughing together in groups as they
meandered toward the main complex. Hero paused at the door when her
name was called. She smiled as Sally, dressed in a slinky gold and
black dress that left more of her exposed than covered, hailed her
from the arm of a large, beefcakey man with no visible neck and
skin-tight pants that looked like they'd been painted on him.
    “Isn't this a wonderful place? How was your room?
Mine looks over the salt-water pool. This is Greg, he's from
Chicago.”
    They exchanged pleasantries for a moment before
Sally added, “Come sit with us at dinner, unless you have someone
else you'd like to sit with.”
    Hero looked over Sally's shoulder and noticed Adam
and his cat bearing down on them, a grim look on his face. She knew
she shouldn't say yes, she knew that although she liked Sally, it
wasn't for the sake of a friendly face that she wanted to agree.
She couldn't even begin to pretend to herself that her true
motivation was not