Page 19 of Pursuing Desire

I feel my pulse kick up a notch. It’s almost like I’m noticing him for the first time. The man is freaking gorgeous. I’d have to be blind not to notice.

He bends into the SUV to adjust our suitcases, and his fitted jeans tighten on his butt. I hastily look away. I do not need to be looking at Dax’s ass.

When he straightens and turns around, he has an uncertain look on his face. I notice that he’s looking down at his hands, so I look, too.

“Is that what I think it is?” I ask.

He thrusts the small black velvet box my way. “Yeah, if we’re supposed to be engaged, you need a ring. It feels kind of strange. I didn’t think I’d be proposing to my fiancée in the middle of a parking lot.”

I laugh nervously as I open the box. The laugh turns into a gasp. Nestled within the tiny box is a gorgeously flawless princess-cut diamond engagement ring. The perfect square sparkles brilliantly as it catches the light from the rising sun.

“Dax, this is too much. I know enough about diamonds to know this is expensive. I can’t wear this.”

“You can and you will. Everyone will expect my fiancée to wear something like this. We have a part to play, and this is a critical piece.”

I gingerly remove the ring from the box, but I can’t bring myself to put it on my finger. I just stare at it as memories of my recent engagement to Anthony assail me. I remember when Anthony first gave me the ring, and he made a joke about how he was going to have to give up all his women now that I was making him an honest man. At the time, I thought he was joking. He gave me so many clues as to what his true character was, and I chose to ignore the signs.

And here I am, just a few short weeks later. I’m standing here with a pretend fiancé and a new engagement ring.

“I don’t know if I can do this, Dax,” I admit softly.

Dax takes the box from me and pulls out the ring. He grasps my hand and puts the ring firmly on my finger. “You can and will do this. For better or worse, we’re in this together. No more doubts or second thoughts. It’s far too late for that.”

His no-nonsense tone and the resolute look on his face shake me out of my funk. He’s right. Anthony isn’t worth another thought. Fuck him! He’s gone, and I’m better off because of it.

“Okay,” I say simply.

“Okay?”

I nod and realize that, yes, I’m actually going to be okay. This weird little vacation, fake-romance, contest thing with Dax is just the distraction I need.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a car driving toward us. “Is that the cameraman?” I ask curiously.

Dax peers over his shoulder. “Yep, that’s probably his car since he’s headed this way. I was told his name is Taylor.”

The car slowly pulls up next to us, and we see a striking red-headed woman through the rolled-down car window. She puts the car in park and waves at us. “You must be Dax and Jess? I’m Taylor!” she says enthusiastically.

She opens her car door and gracefully unfolds herself to her full, very tall height. I glance at Dax to see his reaction. He appears to be as caught off guard as I am to have been assigned this gorgeous woman as our cameraperson. Somehow, I think we were both picturing a cargo-pants-wearing, middle-aged man. Considering I’m a female photographer, I guess I should have anticipated that Taylor could also be female. After all, her name could be used for either gender.

I look her up and down. She’s pretty. Really pretty. If I were actually Dax’s real fiancée I’d probably be a little jealous at that look of interest in his eyes. I guess I should have given him another rule for our trip. No touching any females, especially ones that are going to be with us for the duration of the trip.

Dax reaches to shake Taylor’s hand. “Hi, Taylor. Nice to meet you,” he says in his sexy, smooth voice.

Taylor smiles. “Nice to meet both of you, too.”

She reaches out to shake my hand next. “Hi there,” I say awkwardly.

“I’m so excited for your adventure. Were you filled in on the details regarding my part in this?” Taylor asks.

Dax nods. “Yes. I’ve already had the camera installed inside our car.”

“Perfect,” she says. “Anytime the light is green, it means we are recording. When it’s red, the camera is off and won’t be recording. We won’t record you the entire time you’re in the car, mostly when you are receiving the initial instructions.”

“That’s a relief,” I say. “We were told you’d be following us to each location in a separate car and filming as we go through the show.”

“Exactly! I’ll stay out of your way. Kind of like a fly on the wall. You interact how you’d normally act and try to forget that I’m here. If we get separated on the drive, don’t worry about it. I will be tracking you and will catch up.”

Hilarious. We’re supposed to forget she’s here? Fat chance of that happening.