There are dancers on a stage performing hula and fire dances, and I sit with all five members of the winning team –- Xavier, Berk, Samuel, Zack, and Joey, a man I’ve spent little time with – to watch them perform. After a while, the men start claiming me for alone time.
Berk goes first, but he’s not in a talkative mood. He seems uneasy, and keeps glancing at the cameras. Though I try to draw him out with a few questions, he doesn’t say much in response. I suspect he doesn’t like being filmed, which I can understand, but I hope he lets his guard down a bit so I can get to know him better.
Before long, Joey joins me, and though he seems nice, I don’t feel much of a connection. Next, it’s Samuel’s turn. We sit on a bench, side by side, and I have to resist the urge to put my hand on his leg and let it wander. “I loved the drink you made,” I tell him, “but it didn’t seem fair to give it the top ranking since you had professional experience.”
He flashes his beautiful smile. “That’s fair. I’m glad you liked it.”
“It was delicious,” I assure him. “Did you enjoy being a bartender?”
“I did. Something different every night, plenty going on to keep me on my toes, and an ever-changing array of people to talk to.”
“That sounds awfully extroverted,” I say with a smile. “For some reason, I think of inventors holed up in their workshops, surviving on coffee and only coming out once every few weeks.”
Samuel throws back his head and laughs, and my heart squeezes in my chest. “I guess I’m pretty outgoing for a nerdy inventor.”
“So why does a good-looking, successful man go on a dating show?” I say teasingly, but I really want to know.
“I think life is meant to be lived. We should always be open to trying new things, having different experiences. My brother suggested I apply, and I thought, why not?”
I tilt my head, still smiling, hoping my disappointment doesn’t show. “So that’s all this is about? A new experience, being on television?”
“No.” His answer is immediate and unhesitating. “If that was all, I would have tried for a different show.”
His eyes are still warm, but his expression turns serious; my heart speeds up as his gaze searches mine. “I’m looking for someone. I’d like to settle down with a special woman.”
“I’m glad.” I cover his hand with mine. “I recognized you when I was blindfolded, and I really liked kissing you.”
His grin has a naughty edge. “I’d like to see about improving my score to a perfect ten.”
“I’d be happy to give you a do-over.” I lean forward, and his mouth covers mine. His second kiss doesn’t disappoint; it’s even better, the pressure of his lips against mine sending tingles right to my core. When his tongue traces the seam of my mouth, I open to him and lose myself in the kiss.
I’m not sure how many seconds pass before we break off. “Well?” Samuel asks softly, but his smile – satisfied rather than smug – says he already knows the answer.
“Definite ten,” I tell him. “I hope we get to do that again sometime.”
“I do too.” He squeezes my hand, and even that is enough to give me more tingles. I try not to squirm, knowing the cameras are on us, though I forgot all about them while we were kissing.
Zack walks up, and Samuel graciously gives up his place beside me on the bench, sending me a final warm glance as he walks away. I have to force myself to turn my attention to the man next to me.
“How are you enjoying all of this so far?” I ask him.
“It’s good. An enjoyable change of pace from teaching.”
“And what do you teach? I don’t think you told me before.”
“We got sidetracked into talking about Chicago,” he agrees. “I teach history. It can be a challenge, trying to get kids who are used to the instant gratification of their phones and social media to understand why the past matters, but I enjoy it.”
Teaching is a nice, steady, down-to-earth career, and Zack obviously cares about his job and his students. I can see myself fitting into that kind of life. Living in a big city like Chicago is a little harder to picture, but I don’t want to rule anything out.
“Are you from Chicago originally?” I ask. The cameras are just visible in my peripheral vision. I don’t think I’ll ever be fully comfortable with them, but I seem to be doing okay overall with their presence.
“Born and raised.” He smiles. “My parents and grandparents live there, and I have a four-year-old daughter. I got married too young, but my ex and I get along, and my daughter is everything to me.”