“I’d love to take you to lunch. To make up for the coffee and treat you to a new skirt.”
“Sure. Why not?” At my agreeing to lunch he smiles at me. He’s a nice looking guy. Handsome in that professional way. Neat and clean shaven. Nice and safe. The kind of man my father would probably approve of. The kind of guy Barb would love to set me up with.
“I’ll come back by your desk say around one?”
“Sounds good. Oh. I’m Peyton by the way.”
Wes winks at me. “I know.”
The Present
I don’t know where things went so wrong with Wes. He was always nice and considerate but then as the wedding got closer, he became moody and a bit possessive. He changed. I don’t want to blame myself but can’t help but feel some fault and guilt despite my knowing better. I shit all over our relationship like Jameson did with me, but at least I was honest with Wes. I didn’t run out and leave him hanging.
I feel his eyes on me and am immediately drawn to his gaze. He smiles at me with that stupid dimple popping out and winks. I run my hand over my hair and flip him my middle finger. Jameson gets under my skin in a way no one else can. He shakes his head and turns his attention back to the producer he is speaking with.
“It’s gonna be bittersweet when I wipe the floor with you,” a southern and deep masculine voice rings out behind me.
I turn to see J.J., one of my competitors walking toward me. He’s the vision of a good ol boy in his tight Wranglers, plaid shirt, and cowboy hat.
“You mean when I wipe the floor with you, big boy.” I smirk.
“We’ll see, sweetheart. We’ll see.”
“Want to place a wager on that?”
He rubs his jaw. “All right. What do you want if you win?”
I tap my chin. “Hmmm. If I win you have to sing one of my songs in a dress live on the social media platform of my choosing.”
He chuckles. “I’ll bite.”
I arch a brow at him. “And if you win?”
He steps into my personal space and tilts my face up at his. “If I win, I get to take you to dinner.”
“You flirting with me, cowboy?”
“What if I am?”
I worry my bottom lip with my teeth. “Then I’d say your fan club might get jealous.” I nod my head toward Rebecca, one of the other contestants who follows him around like a puppy dog.
J.J. shrugs. “I don’t want to take her out. I’m asking you.”
“I think we both signed a contract that states no fraternization.”
“I didn’t take you for a goodie goodie.”
“You don’t know a thing about me, J.J.”
“You aren’t making it easy on me.”
“Nothing about me is easy.” I wink and turn on my heels.
Chapter 22
Jameson
If Peyton thinks she can use this J.J. kid to make me jealous she’s got another thing coming. I can see straight through her little flirty act. It’s cute though to watch her try. The set is cleared, and everyone is in place for the first episode to tape. Episode one is about introducing the contestants and us mentors getting to see what they got with their first appearance. We’re taping two shows ahead of time and then we will start doing live shows with an audience.