He shoots me a look. ‘Er, no, Porscha. Thanks, but it’s fine. I have all my equipment set up ready to do the music sound bites. I’m gonna be working all night. So, no need to send Jake. We’ll work something out tomorrow.’
There’s a silence before she tuts loudly down the phone. Porscha does not sound happy.
‘Fine,’ she says tightly. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow then.’
Cam clicks off the call and exhales. ‘Looks like I’ve escaped for another night at least.’
My heart does a little flip. I’m sure he only wants to stay with me to escape Porscha, but a tiny part of me hopes otherwise…
* * *
Three hours later we have feasted on goat’s cheese and crispy bacon salad and have sung our way through most of tomorrow’s playlist. Apparently, they overlay music to all the key scenes. There are slow tracks for when contestants are having heart-to-hearts. Fast tracks for when they have beef. Suspenseful music to add to the dramatic firepit scenes when couplings and conscious uncouplings (yes, Gwyneth and Chris, I’m looking at you) occur and contestants have to look shocked.
‘Top up?’ I ask, wandering over to the table to pour more wine into Cam’s glass. I’m a terrible influence on him. I lean over him, making sure not to knock any of the screens, cables and the mini mixing desk laid out. He has been working away diligently while I’ve been singing along from the sofa. ‘I love that you have all these famous songs slowed down or speeded up just to fit each scenario. The being dumped clip is a howler!’ I giggle.
‘What do you mean?’ Cam says, looking up.
‘Oh, come on.’ I put my drink down so that it doesn’t slosh over the sides. I sing Gloria Gaynor at the top of my lungs. ‘While the poor sod does the walk of shame out of the actual villa door.’ I’m laughing hard at the very thought of it. ‘Imagine? If it’s not humiliating enough, you’ve got throwing out music to see you on your way.’
‘I know. We’re awful people.’
We lock eyes.
‘Would you feel emotionally able to handle the show? Given your motivations for flying all the way over here just to make some guy jealous?’
‘Correction. To win a hundred thousand dollars and to give my sister and her fiancé some space,’ I reason. ‘I’m not completely insane. Today has been the best day of my entire life but I’d hate to get you into any trouble.’
‘Wow. You’d give up the chance to win one hundred thousand dollars just so I don’t get into trouble?’
I nod slowly. ‘Well, when you put it like that… I do sound insane.’
Suddenly I’m aware of the music changing to a slow romantic tune. I sip my wine to keep me from staring into those soulful eyes of his. Each sip feels laced with a frisson of something illicit. The atmosphere crackles between us. He picks his wine glass up and necks it.
‘You are a terrible corrupting influence,’ he says.
‘Wait until you see me dance,’ I say, beginning to sway sexily for him. I’m three glasses deep and quite sure beyond a shadow of doubt that it is anything but sexy. But who cares? Fortune favours the brave. I may never see him again after tonight. He might go back to the production village, and I might get sent home. The new me won’t even have had her moment to shine. ‘Dance with me.’ I hold my breath while he visibly decides whether this is a good idea.
He is staring at me. Now he is looking at my lips. He is putting down his drink and leaning towards me. It’s happening in slow motion, but I think I’m moving closer to him. He takes my drink from me and finishes it in one go. I really shouldn’t but I find his new tolerance for alcohol immensely sexy.
He reaches out to take my waist and I step closer. We start to move in time to the music. At first tentatively but then, my God, can he move. We are pressed up against each other, my arms round his neck, and we are swaying in perfect time with one another. His scent is intoxicating, fresh and lemony. His eyes have not left my face. My heart is thumping through my chest as his hands move lightly over my back. I think he might kiss me. I bite my lip slowly and hear a low groan escape from him.
‘You shouldn’t look at me like that,’ he whispers.
Yes, I bloody should.
I ease my head back to peer up at him from below my eyelashes, willing him with every fibre in my being to kiss me. I run my hand lightly through his hair. It’s soft and silky just as I imagined. I trail my hand down his neck and trace the outline of his firm shoulders. I feel his bicep tense under my touch. When I see him gulp, I’m pretty sure I have him under my spell.
The sensual beat of the music is enhancing the mood, causing us to keep time. Cam’s hands press firmly on my back, bringing me in even closer as we sway to the rhythm. He leans down towards me, our foreheads almost touching, his ragged breath light on my face. The energy between us is electrifying. My heartbeat is terrifyingly fast, and my mind is spinning out of control with lustful thoughts for this man.
‘Kiss me,’ I whisper. Our lips are millimetres apart.
Before he can act on my instruction, the beat of the music changes suddenly. It’s almost as though it snaps him out of the trance.
The tempo thumps through our bodies, demanding we keep pace. In one swift move he keeps one arm wrapped around me, takes my hand from his neck and twirls me slowly away from him Latino-style. He then pulls me back in and up close before we engage in what can only be described as having sex while dancing fully clothed.
IT. IS. THE. MOST. EROTIC. EXPERIENCE. OF. MY. LIFE.
The music ends and we stare, panting and breathless, at one another. The sexual energy in the room is off the charts. I shouldn’t have to ask twice for him to kiss me… but I will if he doesn’t make a move soon.