My tongue meets his in a slow, intentional dance. He kisses me thoroughly. He doesn’t rush, but he’s not casual either. He kisses me with purpose.

My body hums. My hands roam. Chiseled abs, broad chest, muscled shoulders. But Emmett doesn’t take any liberties with me. He controls the pace, kissing me like his life depends on it—like it’s a lost art form.

I haven’t been kissed like this in… ever.

Eventually we slow, the fervor ebbs, and we both surface for air. Our foreheads tip together as we catch our breath. I try to make sense of how I went from dressing him down to this.

Emmett presses a quick kiss to the edge of my mouth and pulls me in, my head resting near his shoulder. He runs a hand over my straightened hair and gives me a quick, disbelieving hug. Seconds pass as my mind struggles to keep up.

How can I go there with anyone else after you?

My chest twinges, the weight of his confession sitting wonderfully heavy.

“I’m glad we cleared that up,” his deep voice rumbles in my ear.

Then he exhales hard and steps back, looking wide-eyed and startled by what just transpired. “I should get back to set.”

I nod dumbly. “Yeah. You should.”

Because what else is there to say? Thank you? Have fun dating seven other women? Go save your family farm?

Never mind my red minidress.

This is trouble.

No, this is a fucking mess.

And I’d still do it again.

OceanofPDF.com

OFFICIAL MEMO

To: Richard Wadsworth

From: Teri Baker

Subject: Strategic Leak

Hearing reports from some of the crew that they spotted our Emmett dancing at a local bar with our location manager, Julia. Of course, it could be entirely innocent since we know she was scouting the location.

I’d rather not accuse anyone in case it’s nothing. But I noted in my last memo that I’d be keeping an eye on this for you, so I wanted to bring it to your attention.

I don’t think I can address it directly with him and maintain his trust. He already knows he’s not supposed to be dating outside the show.

Wondering if a strategic leak might be beneficial in reminding him that he’s being watched. Especially heading toward the midpoint when he’s set to receive another payment.

Perhaps you should speak with Julia—I bet you can help steer her away from this.

Prepared to follow your lead here.

Sincerely,

Teri Baker

Story Producer

OceanofPDF.com

OceanofPDF.com

CHAPTER 24

Julia

A RINGTONE BLARES THROUGH my car speakers.

Oh, good. Dick Wad is calling me.

I contemplate not answering. I’m almost at my mom’s house and desperately need some serious distraction from the show and from Emmett.

But I also don’t want to get on my boss’s bad side. And he has a lot of them. So with much self-loathing, I reach forward and tap the green circle to answer.

“Hello?” I singsong.

“Julia, it’s Richard.”

“Hi, Richard. What’s up?”

“I just wanted to have a quick chat with you about something.”

My stomach sinks, and I wonder if he knows about the kiss. Maybe he’s calling to fire me.

“Great. I’m all ears,” I say, trying to sound keen, but not too keen. Just regular levels of professional but eager.

“I can tell that Emmett has formed a certain… attachment to you. Would you agree?”

My heart thuds in my chest. “Like I mentioned already, I don’t know that I would take it that far.”

“You’re a reasonably attractive young woman, and as far as I can tell, single.”

In a panic, I blurt something I’m not even sure about yet. “Actually, his sister set me up with someone so…”

“Ah!” Richard sounds thrilled. “That’s good. We can’t have him going after the help. Make sure you let me know how that goes, hmm? I want to hear all the dirty details.”

My nose wrinkles. This man has the worst way with words, and I immediately regret saying that only to keep him off my trail. “Right. So what’s up?”

“I need your help keeping our bachelor on track. Maybe some gentle nudges when he comes to you. Evelyn is fantastic in front of the camera, so anything you can do to lead him in that direction will only earn you brownie points. And you’re going to have all the permits for the bar ready, right?”

My stomach falls hard and fast as I nod along with my boss. “Yeah. Sure. For sure,” I say, even though I don’t think I’m equipped to play this role. “The permits are close to being finalized, just need a signature from one of the owners and we’ll be good to go.”

“Great! Glad we had this chat. You have fun on that date! I’ll be checking in with you for an update.”

“Thanks,” I say awkwardly.

“Oh, and Julia?”

“Yes?”

“Keep up the good work. I’m working on that letter of reference, and I can’t wait to see what doors it opens for you.”

He hangs up without saying goodbye. Instead, he leaves me with what sounded an awful lot like a threat.

And it has me wondering if Richard isn’t only producing Emmett. Because that felt an awful lot like he’s producing me too.

I walk up to the front door of my mom’s house and can already hear the chatter coming from inside.

Theo, Winter, and the kids are here for a visit, and with it being my day off, I decided to show up bright and early so we could spend the entire day together. It also gives me something to do while I wait for the bar owner to get back to me about meeting up. I need to get that signature or my ass is grass. But I will not worry about it. Everything always works out. I will drive all night to meet him if that’s what it takes.

I take a deep breath, turn the knob, and push into the space, trying not to perseverate on last night.

On Emmett.

On that kiss.

God knows I’ve already lost enough sleep staying up and replaying it in my head like a song stuck on repeat. It’s unhealthy to be this fixated on what was just a kiss.

I kick off my sandals, sporting a casual pair of cutoffs and a burnout University of Emerald Lake T-shirt.

“Hey, Mom!” I shout. “Hi, Winter! Hi, babies. Auntie Jules is here!”

Despite my clear greeting order, it’s Theo who rounds the corner first. He grins at me with that signature twinkle in his eye and spring in his step.

“What about me?” he quips, feigning offense.

I stop my forward motion, marveling at how good he looks. Happy. It warms my heart, but it doesn’t stop me from greeting him like a typical sibling. “Hey, asshole, good to see you too.”

Theo laughs and tsks me as he strides forward and wraps me in a brotherly bear hug. “Careful, Jules,” he rumbles as he squeezes me and pulls back, gripping my shoulders. “There’s only one asshole here, and I fear it is not me.”

From back in the kitchen, my mom calls out, “Sorry, Jules, I would greet you, but I’m covered in grandbabies!”

Winter’s laugh follows. “Sorry, Jules, I would greet you, but I’m enjoying just sitting here with nobody touching me. And Theo made me promise not to interfere.”

That comment sets me on edge, and I look back toward my brother with a quirked brow.

“That’s right, Jules,” he says. “You’re the asshole because you failed to mention to me that the bachelor you’re working with is Emmett Bush.”

I freeze for a beat, because where the hell did he get that information? I force an expression of confusion onto my face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Theo throws his head back and laughs. A full belly laugh. The kind of laugh that tells me he’s laughing more at me than with me. “Nice try, little sis. The jig’s up, though. Emmett’s face and new job on Romance Ranch”—he waves a sarcastic hand through the air—“was plastered all over the internet this morning.”