Throb Read Online Free PDF Page B

contestant.
    “He has a thing for Jessica.”
    I let out a breath too soon.
    “And Kate.”
    Fuck. “And if he picks someone you don’t think will make for good TV, you can override his decision.”
    “Scripted reality TV, bro. It’s what makes ratings. Can’t always let the bachelor think with his dick. We need to think with our wallet. But I won’t have to interfere with his pick this time. He’s salivating to get his hands on one of those two. Either will do. Hell, I’d like to get my hands on one of them.”
    I weave in and out of traffic, enjoying my brother grabbing onto the door handle once or twice as I cut a swerve that makes him a bit nervous.
    “This thing is thirty years old. Time for a new one that handles better, Coop,” Miles says, referring to our father’s Porsche. The car he loved. It wasn’t worth nearly as much as the other cars he had, but he went through two clutches in this thing teaching me to drive. Great memories. Miles was only too happy I took the less valuable car. Unfortunately, our ideas of value have always been measured on different scales.
    “I bought a new car. A bump in the rear at a light cost eight thousand for damage repairs. I like driving this one better anyway.”
    We arrive at the Malibu house that Miles rented to shoot most of the show. I choose to hang back, watching the action through the camera feed in the three-car garage they’ve turned into a makeshift studio. Miles jumps right into the thick of things.
    Some of the crew I know from Montgomery projects, others are new. Joel Blick comes over to greet me. “They let anyone in around here.” He slaps me on the back, grabbing my hand for a shake.
    “Joel. How the hell are you? Didn’t you retire yet?” I prod, knowing he’s only in his fifties.
    “I’m never retiring, I’d have to hang out with Bernice all day.” He rolls his eyes and says it like he’s joking, but he isn’t. And I don’t blame him, I’ve met his wife. I’d work as much as I could if the alternative was spending my days with Bernice complaining all day.
    “You the director?”
    “Yep. I didn’t know you had an interest in reality TV,” Joel says.
    “I don’t.”
    He smiles knowingly. “Miles drag you into investing?” He lowers his voice so no one else in the crowded room can hear him.
    I turn to face him, growing serious. “Is it a bad investment?”
    Joel looks away, coming back with the only answer he could give that wouldn’t throw Miles under the bus, yet still not require lying to me. “Reality TV is risky. When you hit, you hit it big. Look at Survivor or The Bachelor. But it’s anyone’s guess what will hit these days. Young people are a fickle audience. Their appetite changes faster than we can keep up. I’d say faster than they change their underwear, but sitting behind the camera all day, I know most of ’em don’t wear any.” He shakes his head ruefully.
    I nod. The monitor I’ve been halfheartedly watching pans to focus on Kate. Joel keeps talking, not realizing he’s lost my attention. Kate looks beautiful, all dressed up in a pale blue gown that shows off the tan she deepened while playing in the pool today. My moment of joy is quickly replaced by an ache in my chest as Flynn Beckham walks to where she’s standing alone outside on the deck. The lighting from the sun beginning to set creates a romantic backdrop.
    “Pull in on three,” Joel yells into a headset. I watch as the camera pans in on the couple.
    “Wow. I didn’t think you could look more beautiful than you did today in the pool.” Flynn takes Kate’s hand. She looks down at their joined hand as he twines his fingers with hers.
    Kate smiles, her response timid, like she’s not used to receiving compliments regularly. Only, I can’t imagine that to be true. “Thank you. You clean up pretty good yourself.”
    “What were you just thinking about? You looked a million miles away.” Flynn takes a strand of her hair and tucks it gently