Heat Wave by Kate J. Squires Read Free Book Online Page B

No problem. After all, we’re just colleagues.’
    â€˜That’s how it is. How it should be.’ I took a breath, concentrating on the words on the screen. ‘Thanks, Beau. See you soon.’
    I looked up, just to check that he was going, but his grief-stricken stare held me, pinned me to the spot. Crackling goosebumps crawled all over my skin as I gazed right back at him, and for a moment everything hung in the balance. If one of us had broken, we would have rushed into each other’s arms, the show forgotten.
    But a knock at the door made me jump and spin. By the time I turned back, Tanner had walked away to his bedroom, closing the door behind him.
    I took a moment to smooth my ratty hair and soothe my ragged nerves. Trembling for a thousand reasons, I opened the door, to find a bearded camera guy standing there, grinning like a goof. ‘Hey. I’m Greg.’
    â€˜Maddie.’
    â€˜God, love, you look like hell,’ he said cheerfully in an Aussie accent.
    I ushered him in. ‘I know. I thought the best lighting would be in the corner over there.’
    â€˜Good eye! Most assistants are only concerned with time-keeping, not making my job easier.’
    â€˜Yeah, well, in a former life, I was an AD.’
    He raised a grey-streaked eyebrow. ‘Fall from grace?’
    â€˜You could say that.’
    â€˜Sounds like a good story. I’ll have to hear it over a beer in the crew bar later.’
    â€˜Deal.’ Despite the trauma of the last day, I found myself smiling at the friendly cameraman. There was something instantly likable about him—a broad-chested man, shorter than Tanner but with such a jaunty manner, I was already relaxed in his presence.
    Tanner reappeared, wearing a crisp white tee under a denim jacket, a black cowboy hat on his head. ‘Hey, Greg. How are ya, buddy?’
    They shook hands. ‘Good, man. Great to see you.’
    â€˜How’s the missus and little ‘uns?’
    â€˜They’re great. My eldest is about to start school next year. Time flies, hey?’
    â€˜Yes, speaking of time,’ I cut in, inexplicably annoyed by their pre-existing camaraderie, ‘we need to kick off. Beau, can I get you seated in this chair by the window, please?’
    Greg swiftly set up and started rolling. I sat behind the camera to the side, providing a good eye-line for Tanner to hold while he spoke.
    Falling into my cool, professional voice, I said, ‘Tanner, these are your preliminary questions; mostly, they’ll be used for voice-overs to footage of you walking around the ship and looking out to sea. You’ll have a proper face-to-face interview with the host later tonight, but for now, just try to relax and answer in as much detail as possible.’
    â€˜Sounds peachy,’ said Tanner, a touch of bitterness behind his expression.
    â€˜Okay, in your own words, can you please describe your ideal woman?’
    Tanner locked his eyes on me, his drawl becoming more pronounced as he said, ‘Well, I’d have-ta say, my perfect lady would be smart and funny, with a bit of sass about her. She’d have a huge heart, wouldn’t take life too seriously and of course, she has to be able to ride a horse.’ He chuckled and winked at the camera, and despite the fact I knew it was all for show, I found myself melting in my seat.
    â€˜Most important, we’d have to have that special spark. That moment when you touch someone, and you feel something crackle between you, like lightning over a dry plain. And you just know …’
    â€˜Know what?’ I asked breathlessly.
    â€˜You know there’s a great ride ahead of you.’ Tanner’s eyes flicked away and I felt the distance between us stretch as we drifted further apart again. After all, our ride is over.
    â€˜Great, thanks. Next, can you tell us, why do you think you’re still single?’
    â€˜Honestly? I could say it’s bad timing,