Falling for You (2 page)

“Well she can’t be that big if we’ve never heard of her.” Cassidy watched Zoe laughing with another girl and tried to decide if she’d ever heard of her before. “Although there is something sort of familiar about her — like I’ve seen her picture on a magazine in the checkout counter at the grocery store or something. But that can’t be right, can it?”

“No. It wouldn’t be fair to put someone famous on here with the rest of us.”

“You’re probably right,” Cassidy said, deciding she really didn’t recognize the girl.

Zoe glanced up and caught Cassidy staring at her. A smile slowly spread across Zoe’s face as she turned to whisper to the girl next to her who laughed in response.

“We better watch out for her,” Cassidy said, setting down her plate on the cocktail table.

Susan, the production assistant, hurried into the room after a man who walked surprisingly fast for his short stature. He had a head full of dark brown messy spikes, which probably took mountains of hair product and plenty of attention to detail to perfect. It was not the kind of hairstyle Cassidy liked. She preferred hair she could actually run her hands through.

“If I could have your attention please,” the man yelled above the noise of the chatting women.

The room quickly quieted. He paused a moment before continuing.

“I’m Chip Cormack, the show’s producer,” he began. “I believe I’ve spoken to all of you on the phone recently, but I must say it’s a pleasure to meet you in person. And might I add, you are all even more beautiful than your screen tests led me to believe.”

The women in the room glanced at each other and gave a collective giggle at his comments. Chip’s flattery felt superficial to Cassidy, but it seemed the other women were already getting caught up in the moment.

“As you know, you’re here to participate in what will be one of the hottest new reality shows on TV,
The One.
You’ll be competing against each other in a series of challenges designed to help our bachelor find his perfect match.” He swept his hands to the sides. “Look around you ladies, this is your competition.”

He chuckled as the women glanced at each other. “After each competition, our bachelor will select the ladies to make up our bottom three. Then America will choose which two of them go home each week.

“Now, not to worry. You won’t have to wait much longer to meet your bachelor. Tomorrow, you’ll each complete your first private interview, then the following afternoon you’ll compete in your first challenge.”

Chip reached into a bag that Susan had set onto the table beside him. Fumbling around for a moment, he finally pulled out a small black box with wires dangling beneath it.

“These should be wrapped so they don’t tangle. Don’t you know that yet?” he said to Susan, not bothering to lower his voice so the others wouldn’t hear him. Shaking his head, he continued.

“Tonight when you return to your rooms, you’ll each find a package waiting for you. In it will be a few legal forms to fill out, some additional production information, and a personal mic pack you’ll wear at all times, except while sleeping, of course. When you’re in the bathroom, you may switch the mic off.” He held up one of the black boxes. “If you have any trouble with your mic, don’t hesitate to ask Susan or one of the other production staff to help you. If you don’t wear your mic, we can’t hear you on camera.”

He set down the mic pack before continuing. “The rules of the house are simple. No speaking to outside friends or family. No physical violence between contestants or with crewmembers. Lastly, please use proper professional conduct during all interactions between contestants and crew. So, no getting cozy with the staff when you get lonely. Got it?”

Huh?
Cassidy thought.
Crew and contestants fooling around?

“The crew is here to film you. They’re not here to be your friend or buddy or to keep you company when you’re bored — that’s what your fellow contestants are for. There are to be limited interactions between you and your cameramen, so please don’t talk to them while they’re filming. It distracts them and, more importantly, it ruins the footage.”

Cassidy wasn’t surprised by any of the house rules. She’d known coming on a reality show would involve a bunch of legalities.

Chip cleared his throat and got everyone’s attention again. “That’s everything I have for you right now. I know it’s been a long day for most of you. You may retire to your rooms to relax and unpack if you like. Remember, we get started filming first thing tomorrow morning. Enjoy your last mic-free night and I’ll see you all at the first challenge in a couple of days.” With one last glance around the room, Chip left the girls to themselves.

“I’m going to call it a night,” Cassidy said to Paige, standing from the couch. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Cassidy said quick goodbyes to a few of the other girls before walking back to her room. She could already feel the jetlag setting in, her bones aching and her head throbbing. She hoped a long soak in the tub would help her recharge after the long day. She sighed, thinking about how good it was going to feel to relax in the quiet and privacy of a bath before she became just another reality show contestant.

Evan walked into a small room off the main entranceway. It had probably once been a den but now was where they’d film the private interviews. A small formal loveseat, a coffee table, and a few decorative props in the background filled the small space. The arrangement appeared awkward and out of place in real life, but would look sophisticated on camera. Packed into the room were ten cameramen, some of whom Evan knew from other projects.

“Hey, Jake,” Evan said. He shook his friend’s hand and grinned at having an unexpected friendly face in the bunch. Evan glanced around the room trying to find Chip. As usual, he was missing, running on his own time with little concern for the rest of the world. “How are Erin and the girls?”

“They’re good. They’d be happier if I wasn’t spending the summer filming, but I can’t exactly choose when the projects run.” Jake shook his head.

Evan nodded, understanding as best he could. “I don’t have kids, but I’m certainly going to have an angry dog on my hands when I pick her up. I dropped her at my brother’s house while I’m doing the show.”

Aspen, Evan’s chocolate brown Labrador, officially held his heart in her front paw. He loved that dog more than he cared to admit. At least he knew his niece Annie would take good care of her while he was away.

“How’s your brother doing?” Jake asked, concern on his face.

Evan shrugged. How good can you be when you’ve lost your wife and are now a single dad? “He’s okay. Getting a little better each day.”

Even after a year, losing his sister-in-law Melissa still made Evan’s chest burn. He couldn’t even imagine how Carter and Annie functioned daily without her. If the sadness in their eyes was any indication, it still hurt. A lot. Evan wasn’t willing to risk that for himself, so stayed away from getting involved with anyone as seriously as Carter had.

“Hey, guys.” Chip sauntered into the room with a pile of file folders in his arms. He walked through the group, handing one to each of the cameramen. “Inside you’ll find information about the contestant you’re assigned to.”

Opening the file, Evan’s breath caught in his chest as he peered at the picture inside. Dark brown, almost mahogany, wavy hair and tranquil jade green eyes. His heartbeat quickened — the girl from the piano.

“Damn. She’s smokin’ hot,” Jake said from over Evan’s shoulder.

Evan cleared his throat, trying to cut through the fog suddenly filling his head and flipped to the next page in the file. “Um, yeah, she’s a looker alright.”

“Inside your file,” Chip said, “you’ll find your room number, taping schedule, list of responsibilities, et cetera. There’s the first set of interview questions, too. Each of you will conduct your first interview tomorrow, so make sure you read those tonight. You’ll still be behind the camera asking them, but it’s better if you’re familiar with the questions beforehand.

“Two PAs will be here at the house at all times. Feel free to ask them any questions. Remember, filming is ongoing. So, if your contestant is walking, you’re walking. If your contestant is partying in the pool, you are at the pool’s edge getting it all on tape. Some, of the best moments of reality TV happen when the contestants forget the cameras are rolling, and you better be there to capture it.”

Chip paused, eyeing the men before continuing. “Now, I can’t stress enough the importance of remaining neutral to your contestant. You’re not here to be her girlfriend or to let her cry on your shoulder. However, you can prompt her into talking with a few questions. Most of your interactions will be during the interview segments. Otherwise, you’re expected to film and not interact. Any questions?”

The room was silent. Chip grabbed his coat from the back of a nearby chair. “I’m out. You guys get some rest. This is your last night of freedom, so if you feel the need to stretch your legs, do it now. I’ll see you at the first challenge.”

Chip paused at the door. “Oh, and I shouldn’t have to tell you this but I will just to make sure we’re all on the same page. I know these girls are all babes, but keep it in your pants, okay? There’s no fooling around allowed. Later.” He disappeared through the doorway.

Evan and Jake walked out of the interview room and toward the grand staircases that led up the second floor, pausing by the front door to grab their suitcases. “What room are you in, Jake?”

Jake glanced at the folder in his hand. “Room three. You?”

“Seventeen.” Evan hauled his suitcase up the stairs and started down the hall. Pausing in front of room three, he stuck out his hand to shake Jake’s. “Good seeing you here. Give me a shout if you wanna grab a beer in the kitchen.”

Evan wandered down the hall and into room seventeen. He hoisted his suitcase on to the bed. A comfortable bed and a TV were about all he needed to get by for the next few weeks. This place was a hell of a lot better than most of the places he’d been forced to stay for some of his other projects, so he really couldn’t complain. It wasn’t every day he got to live in a mansion filled with beautiful women.

Unzipping his suitcase, he began putting clothes into the closet and dresser drawers. He hated living out of a suitcase. If he didn’t unpack now before filming started, he’d still be fishing wrinkled clothes out of the suitcase the day he packed to go home.

Evan grabbed his book from the front pocket of his suitcase and tossed it onto the bed, then noticed a door to an adjoining bedroom.

“I wonder which cameraman has that room?” He hoped it wasn’t one of the new guys who’d have a ton of questions. He didn’t have anything against the new guys; he just hoped he wouldn’t have to spend all his free time helping someone figure out the job. The hours were going to be long enough without any extracurricular activities. He knocked on the door.

Evan looked at the carpet, trying to stretch out his neck as he waited. A moment later, the lock slipped and the handle turned.

The door opened slowly revealing hot-pink painted toenails.

Evan stared at the pink toes in front of him. This was not what he expected to see on the other side of the door. Generally speaking, cameramen don’t wear polish on their toes.

His gaze traveled up from the toes. Calves with ivory skin that looked as smooth as satin disappeared under a pale blue robe, tied tight, accentuating a small waist. The edges crisscrossed in the front creating a plunging V between two enticing mounds securely hidden beneath the cloth. Long, dark waves of hair cascaded across her shoulders. Warm, soft lips — with just a hint of shine — glistened gently in the low light.

“Hi,” the lips said.

Evan pulled his gaze from the inviting pink lips to peer into the eyes of the person who’d spoken. He opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat as he peered into the jade green eyes he’d seen in the photo earlier. The same eyes that had been burning a hole in his thoughts since he’d first gazed into them by the piano in the great room — eyes that reminded him of the little sculptures and pendants he’d admired in the street markets of Beijing when he was there filming the Olympics.

“Hi … I … um,” he cleared his throat, “expected someone else.”

“Sorry to disappoint you,” she said with a smile. “If I’d known I was going to have a visitor, I would have dressed up for the occasion.” She pulled the edges of her robe closed across her chest with her left hand and held out her right. “I don’t think we were properly introduced earlier. I’m Cassidy Quinn.”

“I know. I recognize you from your application picture.” He shook her hand, holding it longer than he should have. It was more delicate than he’d guessed. His thumb traced a circle across the back of her hand before letting go. “Although, the picture wasn’t nearly as good as the real thing.”

He cleared his throat again, trying to gather his thoughts into something that didn’t reflect the sudden urge he had to tear open her robe as if it was a brand new big screen TV that had just been delivered on Super Bowl Sunday.

It wasn’t working.

“You’ve seen my picture why?” Her question interrupted his thoughts.

“I’m Evan Burke, your cameraman for the show.” He smiled, relaxing a little. “I promise I’m not some random creep wandering around the house trolling for beautiful women.”

“Well, that’s a relief. I hate to think how disappointed you’d be at my door if that were the case.” She ran her hands through her hair, gathering it at the nap of her neck and twisting it until it hung across her shoulder like a silk cord.

Disappointment isn’t even close to what I’m feeling.

He couldn’t express how much he loved seeing her in a robe, without makeup, and
with
crazy hair. Nothing was sexier than a woman who could pull off the all-natural look. Something about the way she looked at him or the easy smile playing on her lips as she greeted him sparked a reaction in him unlike anything he’d felt before. He longed to feel the secrets hiding beneath her robe pressing against him.