I suppressed a groan as Jasmine went on to say, “In just a few moments, Amy and Nate will embark on their romantic journey together. We at Bid for Love will be sure to capture every electric detail of their dating debut… one that is sure to start off with a bang, considering the venue this stunning couple have chosen. Let me just say that I’m glad our program is on a paid streaming service.” Her comment barely registered as she turned toward us. I stealthily slid my arm around Amy’s waist just as she asked, “Amy, Nate… please tell our viewers why you’re having your first date at a strip club?”
Strip club?
My head twisted toward Amy, who smiled smugly. Meanwhile, I had no way to hide the shock revealed through the wide-eyed gawk that the camera so shamelessly captured.
The arm he brazenly placed around my waist loosened just enough to know I got him. Take that, Mr. Navarro. And while Jasmine returned my smile, his silence spoke volumes. God, I was so glad this moment would forever be immortalized in the reality TV cloud.
“It’s not just a strip club. It also happens to be a highly acclaimed restaurant, and the owner is more than happy to have us here tonight,” I responded breezily. “But mainly we thought it would be a fun way to break the ice. Right, Nate?”
Something seemed to snap within him, and his grip suddenly became ironclad. “Right, baby.” He looked straight into the camera, sporting a drop-your-panties-ladies-because-I’m-that-good grin. “It’s probably no surprise that I don’t believe in emotional connections. I’m more about the fire two people can ignite, and how long they could keep it burning before it extinguishes. Lust is much less damaging than love.” His attention then dropped down to my face as he said, “And if this evening can create that level of heat for Amy…” The camera was once again graced with his charm when he concluded, “Well, then, that benefits me as well.”
Fucker.
Jasmine remained silent, and after a nudge from her associate, she cleared her throat. “Um… yeah… I must say it is definitely a first.” Seeming to have forgotten her role, another more forceful nudge had her adding, “Um… I predict you will raise substantially more for our foundation based on your viewership tonight. Kudos to you, Mr. Navarro.”
“Thank you,” he said proudly. “It goes to such a great cause.” He pressed a hard kiss to my temple. “And I get to enjoy the company of this beauty.”
It was my turn to gawk unflatteringly at the camera. I had nothing… no comeback or witty response, just dumbfounded blinking. Meanwhile, Nate took over this damn situation, announcing we were going inside and grabbing my hand to tug me along. That forced Jasmine and her crew to scramble behind us to capture it all.
With an air of authority, Nate asked for the manager, and we were led to an office. The man introduced himself as Joey and signed the necessary clearance paperwork the production company required, allowing Bid for Love to film in his establishment. All the while, Nate conversed with him as though they were old college buddies, laughing and joking without one word of contribution from me.
“If you’re ever interested in stripping… ,” Joey said, leaving the offer hanging. Even he appreciated the perfect specimen that Nate was.
Nate released a hearty chuckle. “Well, if law doesn’t work out for me, I may take you up on that.” Back in his dominant mode, he then took hold of my hand again as we were escorted to our table, front and center, where all the action would unfold. He pulled my chair out, positioned his right beside me, and slid an arm across the back of mine.
The camera operator set up a few feet away while Nate ordered our wine for the evening and tasted the sample a waiter had poured once the bottle was uncorked. Nate commandeered our dinner orders, making suggestions to which I merely nodded because I didn’t want to think about having to eat food on camera.
He even had the balls to say, “We’re ready whenever you are, Jasmine.” She nodded, and the dazed expression she continued to sport made it obvious he was most definitely calling the shots. Except for staring and smiling at him, she had yet to move.
“Jasmine,” her production assistant barked, widening his eyes in a silent get your act together.
“Oh… right.” As the production assistant fastened microphones to our clothing, Jasmine stood beside Nate, picking a piece of lint off his shoulder and adjusting his tie. “You’re good to go,” she said, paying no attention to me. “You two pretend we aren’t here. Ignore the camera. Your evening will be unscripted, without any prompts from us. Keep it natural; stay engaged. If for some reason there is a lull in conversation, I will cut in with a question or topic.”
“This will be fun,” Nate bragged, moving his arm to where it now rested on my shoulders, and not the wooden chair, before tracing a lazy pattern on my bare skin. When goose bumps instantly prickled, he leaned closer to ask, “Cold?”
“No.” In fact, it was just the opposite. Just one touch ignited me with an all-consuming, smoldering heat that slowly began to simmer every ounce of my blood.
What in the serious hell?
The moment Jasmine took a seat at a table beside us, she pointed to the camera operator. A bright light and red dot meant we were on, and I couldn’t for the life of me think of one thing to say.
Nate again took the lead, reaching for a glass and handing it to me before taking one for himself. “First off, I’d like to say I’m truly looking forward to this evening.” His green irises lasered through me, and I was aware of all the stares, which worsened nerves that continued to spike higher and higher. Normally, nothing ruffled my feathers… apparently except being forced to interact with this man.
Meanwhile, he deliberately waited for me to respond. “Yeah, me too.”
Me too? Ugh.
The corners of his mouth twitched before he said, “Secondly, happy birthday, Amy Delton. I hope my company tonight will bring you much joy and pleasure.” With that, he tapped his glass against mine and took a sip, so I had no choice but to follow suit.
“Thank you.” Another pathetic response. Any more I should’ve said died when he leaned in and kissed me softly. It was merely a firm press of his lips to mine, but it may as well have been a full-blown tongue-thrashing assault.
When he broke the kiss, cupped my cheek, and said in that deep, gravelly voice of his, “You’re so beautiful,” the smoldering roared into an out-of-control blaze. Based on the bobblehead that Jasmine had become, she could feel the effects of this damn man even from where she sat.
Nate placed his glass down on the table while keeping his arm firmly across my shoulders. “Tell me about your writing career, Amy.” The way his green eyes leveled mine meant this was what he had wanted when propositioning me at the auction. It was time to pimp myself out, and I didn’t doubt that every word out of his mouth was a setup for the résumé he would soon be boasting about.
Most of the conversation revolved around the obvious disparity between our professions until we were served our steak meals. While he ate, I picked… he rambled, and I lost the ability to come back with anything of substance.
Mainly, the root of my issue had to do with the romance author label, which forced me to say things even I didn’t believe in. Until now, that had never been a problem. I could talk up the notion of love like no other. Doing so with Nate made me feel every bit the farce I was.