The Honeymoon Prize Read Online Free PDF Page A

private time each day, but we need to make sure we have enough footage to put together the show.”
    Private time. Footage. Show. What in the world was going on?
    Nick’s questioning gaze met hers. She answered with a shrug.
    “We knew promotional photos would be taken,” Nick said. “But a film crew . . .”
    Brad held up his hand. “I understand. You’re honeymooners. You want privacy before we start filming the reality show.”
    Reality show? Her heart pounded against her chest, booming like the drums on the beach. Every nerve ending stood at attention. “We got married yesterday and . . .”
    “Flew all night.” Nick scratched his chin covered with a layer of sexy stubble from not shaving this morning. “We had no idea about the filming, uh, starting right away.”
    Addie appreciated Nick stepping in, even if he had no idea what was going on.
    A sheepish expression crossed Brad’s face. “You read the fine print.”
    She didn’t think he meant the safety information card on the airplane. Maybe this was the missing paperwork Nick had mentioned to Emily.
    “Fine,” Brad relented. “We shouldn’t be filming today. But the network is excited about the honeymoon reality show’s potential. Sponsors are expressing interest based on your profiles. We want to send them early footage.”
    Nick was movie star handsome. She understood his appeal. He’d led an exciting life full of action and adventure. Unlike her.
    Until a few months ago, her life had been spectacularly boring. Not that being homeless was that exciting. She’d lived day to day, reacting. Always . . . reacting. Even now. “Why are they excited?”
    “An Army vet marries his childhood best friend,” Brad said. “Viewers are going to fall in love with you.”
    Oh, no. Addie’s heart dropped to her feet. Splat against the dock. She was afraid to look down for fear of seeing a bloody mess.
    So much for being warm all over. An icy feeling settled in her legs. She balled her hands, a mixture of anxiety, frustration, fear and shame. Lying about their marriage to a few people in San Diego and Nick’s boss was one thing, but going on TV and pretending to be honeymooners in love?
    She opened her mouth to speak, but had no idea what to say. She couldn’t tell the truth, not with Nick’s job at stake. She couldn’t scream at the injustice of being forced into more lies. Correction, the same lie, only bigger with an audience who would be watching and commenting and judging. Addie pressed her lips together. Maybe that would keep her from throwing up or blurting out what was going on.
    Her vacation in paradise had been turned into ten days in hell. No resting, no relaxing, no fun. Was this karma for taking the honeymoon prize away from an in-love-newlywed couple? She didn’t want to know the answer.
    “Viewers might get mad at me.” Nick put his arm around Addie and pulled her close. The pounding of his heart matched her own. The heat emanating from his body raised her core temperature. Sweat pooled between her breasts. She needed to take off her sweatshirt.
    Time to put some distance between them. She tried to move, but he held her tightly.
    “I took so long to marry her.” He brushed his lips over her hair.
    No. No. No. Those feathery kisses felt way too good.
    What was Nick doing?
    Her insides trembled over his willingness to go along with the charade for the film crew. Okay, his job was at stake. She had no doubt he could play the dutiful groom for the camera. He’d faced far worse situations, life-threatening ones where he’d been shot.
    Addie wasn’t like him. Sure, she had strengths. She was a good caregiver and friend, but she’d spent the past nine years hiding her emotions and feelings, always appearing upbeat for her grandmother. Not easy, but a camera hadn’t been recording every facial expression and nuance. A television audience would figure out she and Nick weren’t in love.
    “I knew Addie was something special back