Falling for You (12 page)

He was right — about the horse at least. She should have picked a smaller horse, and maybe one who listened to her. She’d been foolish to pick one based on Susan’s recommendation. Now she was stuck with a monstrosity of a horse who listened about as well as a two-year-old.

Perhaps instead of picking a horse named Corona, I should have drank a Corona. Of course, I probably still would have ended up on my ass at some point. I don’t get along with beer, either. That should have been my first sign of impending doom.

She settled onto the picnic bench beside Paige and gulped a big mouthful of water out of a cold bottle. Cassidy sat quietly, nibbling on a sandwich as the others chatted easily with Brad. She was happy to be invisible for a few minutes since it seemed like there’d been a lot of focus on her already. Focus she wished would be on someone else for a change.

Cassidy glanced across the table and found Zoe glaring at her. She whispered something to Holly, who giggled and tried to hide a smile behind her hand.

Awesome. It’s like high school all over again.

“How’re you feeling?” Brad asked.

“I’m good. Nothing to worry about. Or, um, talk about even.” She tried to put on an easygoing expression, but inside she wanted to crawl under the table and hide.

“Maybe if Cassidy’s not feeling well, one of the guides should take her back to the barn,” offered Zoe, twisting her necklace. “Maybe you should have a doctor examine you. With all those falls, it’s amazing you’re even able to sit here with us on this hard bench. Good thing you had enough padding to cushion the fall.”

Take a deep breath. Don’t fall into her trap.

Cassidy pouted her lips slightly and put her hand on her chest. “That’s so sweet of you to be worried about me. But I’m fine. Really. I wouldn’t want to miss all the fun here.”

“We’d miss you if you weren’t here,” Brad added. “I’m glad you’re well enough to stay with us.”

Anger and hurt flashed across Zoe’s face before she turned to Brad and started asking him questions about being a surfer. Cassidy didn’t need to listen to his answers. She’d heard them all before. “Surfing’s a rush of exhilaration and a feeling of complete freedom … ” Blah, blah, blah. Surfing also made you break hearts.

“Paige,” Cassidy whispered. “What’s with Zoe and that stupid necklace she always wears?”

Paige shrugged. “Apparently it’s her grandmother’s. She inherited it and hasn’t taken it off since.”

Cassidy eyed the tiny cluster of pendants hanging from it. A cross, an anchor, and a heart. Seemed uncharacteristic of Zoe to be so sentimental. Now if it were a two-carat diamond pendant, then it would perfectly fit Zoe’s shining personality.

Cassidy zoned out for the rest of the picnic. She nodded her head and laughed along with everyone else when it was appropriate, but she couldn’t actually recall a single thing they’d talked about. She could have agreed to go live on the moon for all she knew.

The rest of the trail ride passed in a blur. After what felt like only minutes, the second set of girls finished their picnic with Brad. Together, everyone sauntered back to the barn. Cassidy glanced around quickly, nervous to get off the horse again and fall. Her body could only take so much.

“Stay still, Corona,” she pleaded, patting the horse on the shoulder. She swung her leg over the horse, determined to successfully complete one dismount before the challenge ended.

Her arms shook as she lowered herself carefully from the saddle, finally giving up their fight part way down. Gravity took her the last few feet and she hit the ground with both feet, stumbling backward a step before bumping into something solid.

“How, Cassidy? How do you always end up in my arms?” Evan’s voice rumbled in her ear, his warm breath on her earlobe making her girly bits tingle.

She found her footing and turned in his arms. She could see the dust and dirt clinging to his five o’clock shadow, his brow beaded with sweat. He desperately needed a shower and there was nothing she could have fantasized about more than being in one with him. Instead, she pushed herself back from him and swallowed her urge to climb him like a jungle gym.

“What can I say? I guess I just keep falling for you,” she said, before her brain caught up to her mouth and she was able to censor herself.

Crap.

“I, uh — I’m going to go put my horse back before she finds another way to humiliate me today. Bye.” Cassidy turned on her heel and pulled hard on Corona’s reins, not allowing the horse to resist her. She didn’t want to stand out in the corral for another second alone with Evan, or who knows what else she’d decide to blurt out. Nope. Corona was coming with her whether her huge horse ass liked it or not.

Cassidy passed by Susan at the barn entrance. “Thanks for the recommendation. Corona was a real peach.” Cassidy laughed halfheartedly.

“Sorry. I was only trying to help.” Susan smirked. “I can’t help it if you don’t know how to ride.”

Ouch.

Cassidy sucked in a breath. Recommending Corona hadn’t been an accident at all. “Just trying to help. That’s why I ended up with the only horse that wouldn’t listen, huh? What did I do that made you not like me?”

“I like you fine. But maybe some of the other girls are better suited to be here.”

How dare Susan make the assumption that she wasn’t cut out for these challenges? Cassidy could do anything the other girls could — she’d just do it with a few more bruises and a lot less grace.

“Keep your nose out of my business from now on. I don’t need you looking out for me.” Cassidy walked away from Susan before saying anything else she might regret. She’d prove to everyone she deserved to be here. And she wouldn’t need anyone protecting her while she did it.

Not even super sexy Evan.

• • •

Spencer walked into the barn. “Can I have everyone’s attention?”

Cassidy wandered into the main hallway to join the rest of the girls.

“Brad has decided who he wants to put in the bottom three this week, so without making you wait longer, we’re going ahead with that ceremony now. Here.”

Cassidy glanced around. All of the girls looked shaken by this sudden turn of events. Everyone except Zoe, of course. She always looked confident.

“I’m sorry to do this so quickly but sometimes you have to pull the bandage off all in one go, right?” Brad asked. “So, the first girl in the bottom three is Paige.”

Paige bit her lip, her chin quivering. Cassidy hated seeing her upset, taking everything to heart.

“The second girl in the bottom this week is Nicole. This last one is really difficult, but I have to go with my gut.” Brad looked down at his feet as if he couldn’t bear to look the final girl in the eye. “Zoe, I’m sorry. I’m not sure we click.”

Cassidy eased into the outdoor Jacuzzi beside the pool, letting her body acclimate to the heat. It bordered on too hot, and she felt a little bit like a lobster going into a steaming pot, but she’d tolerate the heat if it meant she’d feel better afterwards. Her muscles ached after the long day on the trails.

She’d mistakenly believed horseback riding would be fun. Everyone on TV was always laughing and smiling while they galloped through fields or on the beach with the wind streaming through their hair all cool and sexy.

That
was a total load of bullshit.

It wasn’t fun. It wasn’t exciting, and Cassidy never wanted to do it again.

She rested her head back against the side of the hot tub. As the water lapped over her shoulders, the heat finally penetrated deep into the muscles, dulling the aches she felt
everywhere
. She ached in places she didn’t even know a person could ache. Not only was her ego badly bruised but it felt like her ass would probably be a brilliant shade of indigo by morning.

“Hey, Cassidy, great riding today,” Zoe snickered. “You should, like, give lessons or something.”

Even with her eyes closed, Cassidy could see the smiles, and there was absolutely no missing the laughter echoing around the tub.

Bitch. Deep breath … count to ten … One, two, bitch, three, four. I hate you. Five …

“That’s funny, Zoe,” Cassidy said, not bothering to open her eyes. “You should, like, be a comedian or something.”

“Aw, what’s wrong, Cassidy?” Zoe’s voice dripped with artificial concern. “Not feeling well tonight?”

“I feel fine, Zoe.”

“All right, honey. If you’re floating down a river called denial, I’m not going to force you to swim to shore. Maybe the hot water will help your bruised ego as well as your ass.”

Gee, thanks.

“Don’t let her bother you,” Paige whispered. “She’s jealous because Brad paid you so much attention today.”

“Yeah, negative attention.”

“It’s attention nonetheless.” Paige sighed. “And she’s pissed to be stuck in the bottom three with me.”

“How are you doing?” They hadn’t had much time to talk since the surprise announcement in the barn.

“Okay. It sucks, but somehow it makes me feel better knowing Zoe’s in the bottom with me.”

Cassidy grinned. “I couldn’t be happier at the possibility she might actually go home this week.”

“Don’t get your hopes up. There’s no way America will vote out the girl who causes the most drama. I’ll be going home.”

“Don’t send yourself out the door yet.”

“At least I’ll only have to deal with Zoe for a few more days.”

“I’m too damn sore to deal with her issues tonight.”

“Are you all right?” Paige’s voice was barely audible above the rumble of the Jacuzzi jets. “I know today was pretty rough on you,”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Nothing a little hot water and a good night’s sleep won’t fix.” Cassidy groaned and turned her head to whisper in Paige’s ear. “Of course, I’m not so sure I can say the same for my ego, but if you tell anyone I said that, I’ll kill you. Well, when I can move again, I’ll kill you.”

“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”

Cassidy sank deeper into the water. Any lower and she would need snorkeling gear. She let herself drift in the current created by the water jets while her mind and body relaxed. Around her, the murmur of voices blended together into an incoherent white noise.

Until she heard something she couldn’t ignore.

“I don’t know about you girls,” Zoe said, “but I definitely think there are more hot men here than just the bachelor we’re all fighting for.”

“What are you talking about?” Holly asked. “Brad is super-hot. Like
hawt
.”

“Yeah I know, but you can’t honestly say you haven’t noticed the guys following us around, right?” Zoe nodded her head in the general direction of the cameramen surrounding the pool a few feet back.

“Zoe, you know they can still hear us in here,” Erica whispered.

Cassidy opened her eyes at the talk of cameramen.
What is Zoe up to now?

“I know they can hear us, moron. That’s the point.” Zoe propped herself up on the edge of the hot tub on her forearms, forcing her breasts to jut out in front of her. “And I’m hoping one particular cameraman likes what he hears … and sees.”

Cassidy’s jaw dropped into the hot water as she realized Zoe was not only being overtly sexual, again, but this time it was projected directly at Evan. Her Evan.

Back off bi-otch. Six, seven, eight … Just relax. Keep your mouth shut. This is none of your business.

“You know we can’t do anything with the crew,” Erica said. “It said so on one of those forms we signed.”

“I know that,” Zoe huffed, “but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a little fun while I’m waiting around for the finale, does it? Besides,
someone
needs to give America something good to watch. You girls certainly aren’t helping the ratings.”

Holly rolled her eyes. “So you’re going to screw around with the crew to help ratings?”

“Oh relax, girls. It’s not like I’m going to sleep with him or anything.” Zoe smirked. “Just a little harmless flirting, that’s all. Unless of course, someone else already has her eyes on him?”

Cassidy locked eyes with Zoe.

Is she implying there’s something going on with me and Evan? Why would she think that? Just because I want to jump him every time I’m near him doesn’t mean I have a thing for him. I can’t help it if my mind goes to dirty places when he’s around. I’ve never acted on one of those thoughts, so what’s she getting at? It’s not like she can read my mind … Can she? No, idiot, she can’t.

Say something, she’s still staring at you.

“You can do whatever you want, right girls?” Cassidy said to the other women. “Maybe you’ll even get yourself kicked off the show.”

“They can’t kick me out for saying hello and being polite.”

I can kick you.

Cassidy tried to act unconcerned as Zoe hopped out of the hot tub and dried herself off with a towel like she was starring in a beer commercial. Then, she sauntered over to Evan using her towel to dry her hair instead of wrapping it around her body.

Cassidy couldn’t hear what Zoe said to Evan over the noise of the Jacuzzi, but it didn’t matter. She couldn’t stand watching Zoe flirt with him. She shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling like she was overheating. She stood up quickly and perched on the edge of the Jacuzzi with her legs still in the water.

“You okay?” Paige asked.

“Yeah, just really hot. I think I’ve been in the Jacuzzi too long already. I’m not used to this kind of heat.” Cassidy wiped a towel across her face, sneaking a glance in Evan and Zoe’s direction. His camera was still directed at Cassidy, but his eyes were on Zoe.

Just then, Zoe laughed, throwing her head back dramatically and grabbing onto Evan’s shoulder in an effort to control herself.

Nine, ten … Counting isn’t helping.

“You know what, Paige,” she said loud enough for the cameramen to hear. “I think this heat has gone straight to my head. I’m going to bed.” Cassidy climbed out of the tub and wrapped a towel around herself, then walked toward the house without so much as a glance at Evan.

She didn’t need to see if he followed her or not. A moment later, she heard his familiar footsteps fall into place behind her. Hell, she could be blind and deaf and she’d still know he was behind her — like she could sense him on the most primal level.