Kiss and Confess (Love Unscripted Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

felt as though she’d run an emotional marathon and been left panting by the side of the road.
    She put her sweaty palm to the handle and wrenched it open, nearly stumbling into Tasha, who was pulling it open from the other side.
    The producer didn’t mince words. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing.” Charley veered right; she had to get to her room, take a shower, and let the pounding water drown out all she didn’t want to think about.
    Tasha’s arm shot out, blocking Charley’s way. “Is this about Luke?”
    “No,” Charley lied, head down. She felt her cheeks flush. If there were one superpower she wished she had, it would be the ability to lie.
    “Uh-huh.” Tasha dropped her arm. “I’m not an idiot. I saw how you looked at each other in the Kiss and Confess. This can’t happen. You’ve got to let go of him.”
    Let go of him. He wasn’t hers to hold on to or let go. He never had been.
    “There’s a great guy here, waiting to meet you. Don’t fuck that up because of a guy you had a crush on years ago.”
    A crush. Ha . But Tasha was right. Charley was going to meet a new man, a better man; the perfect match for her. Experts said so. To hell with Luke. She raised her eyes and drew her shoulders back, even though they shook. “You’re right.”
    The producer searched her face. “Oh shit.”
    Charley blinked, cursing the dampness on her lashes.
    “He wasn’t just a crush. Damn him, anyway. Why didn’t he say something earlier?”
    “It’s fine.” Now she was protecting him, as if he deserved it. “ I’m fine.”
    “Fine,” Tasha repeated, shaking her head. “Yeah, right. Let me guess. He was your Stevie-Nicks-and-Cigarettes.”
    Charley bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.
    Tasha’s gaze bored into her.
    Charley closed her eyes for a second, shook her head. “More like Beyoncé-and-Bacardi.”
    “Same thing.” The other woman sighed. “We’ve all been there. Some of us more than others. Can you get through this or do we need to find someone else?”
    Charley lifted her chin. “I can get through it.” Tasha was right. Charley wasn’t the only woman who’d ever experienced betrayal at the hands of a man. And she deserved to meet the one who had been chosen for her. Her perfect match.
    “I’ll see if I can get Luke changed to a different couple. But for now, we’re going to have to go with things the way they are.”
    “Don’t worry about me. I’ve got this.”
    “Good.” Tasha’s voice turned brisk, all business again. “Go get ready. Tonight, you’ll meet your future husband for the first time.”
    Not long ago, those words would have set off an explosion of internal fireworks. Now all Charley felt was the halfhearted sputtering of a sparkler.
    All because one guy had broken her heart years ago.

    In her room, Charley picked up the briefing that had been left on the nightstand. Three sections for the big reveal.
    Welcome, What Cast Members Need to Know and Do , and Schedule for Tonight.
    Cast members. She knew this was a TV show. A game show , no less . How could she have expected anything more? Still, a certain percentage of other reality shows’ cast members did end up actually married, didn’t they? Okay, not a big percentage, maybe not even a small percentage, but still… She shook off the thought. Focus.
    She read through the schedule. The couples would meet for drinks and dinner tonight on the house’s rooftop deck, beginning at 7:00 p.m. She was to stay in her room until 6:55, when she would be escorted upstairs.
    The earlier section had mentioned something about clothing. She went back to find and read it, realizing she hadn’t even yet unpacked her suitcases. Wrinkles probably intensified by ten on camera. Not a good look.
    You’ll find suggested attire, including accessories, in your closet , the briefing read. Suggested. Well, if they suggested it, she probably had to wear it.
    Taking a deep breath, she moved to the closet and opened the double doors.