Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Dustin stood. “Kipton, let’s show everyone the proper way to country swing.”
Her eyes lit up. “You can jitterbug?”
Looking offended, Dustin pulled her from her chair. “Please. I’m the Jitterbug King!”
Kipton turned and quickly headed to the dance floor, with Dustin hot on her heels. It didn’t take long for Dustin to start twirling Kipton around. He dipped her, did fancy spin moves, and made her face light up in a way I hadn’t.
Blayze leaned toward me. “Everyone seems to really like Kipton.”
I watched as she let out a laugh while Dustin dipped her again. Nodding, I replied, “Sure seems that way.”
And now I was going to have to kick Blayze’s ass and my good buddy Dustin’s.
Chapter Fifteen
KIPTON
The next week flew by in a blur. Both of Hunter’s dates ended up being terrible for him. Juliet, the entrepreneur from Florida, had spent the entire date—dinner in Hamilton—complaining about all the other girls at the shared house. I was positive Hunter couldn’t swipe left fast enough. There had been zero chemistry. From what I was told, Juliet left the house calling Hunter every name under the sun.
Then it was Brina, who spent more time running her hand up Hunter’s leg and flirting with him than she did paying attention to the cooking class they’d attended. Hunter pushed his way through the crowd to get away from her. Her performance in the Truth Booth had been the most staged yet. If the girl wasn’t an actress, she needed to be. Her crying on the spot was some of the best theatrics I’d ever seen.
The only thing Hunter did when he walked into his Truth Booth was lean over, swipe left, then walked away. Not a word was spoken, which made it even funnier.
“He can’t keep swiping left on every date,” Travis complained as the group of women moved into the barn for tonight’s date selection.
“Well, if he doesn’t like them, why should he swipe right?” I asked.
Travis sent me a withering look. “We need to shake things up.”
I glanced at Jack, who shrugged.
“Hunter will have this date tonight, then a group date on Friday. In Vegas,” Travis decided.
Gaping at him, I said, “Vegas?”
He nodded and started to type something into his phone. I wanted to groan. Big cities were not my thing, and I knew Hunter would be pissed.
I didn’t have time to ponder it any further, though, when one of the producers called out, “Okay, ladies, we’re going live in thirty minutes. Be ready to look excited about waiting to see who’ll join Hunter on tonight’s date.”
Hunter seemed apprehensive as I reached into the bowl for a token. “Haleigh will be Hunter’s date for the evening!”
Haleigh jumped up and quickly made her way down to Hunter. He gave her a hug, and they both looked at me. The woman looked stunning, as usual. Her dark hair was pulled up and artfully arranged on top of her head.
“Your date tonight will be dinner and dancing here in the barn.”
“No candles!”
Hunter shot his brother a dirty look, while Jack’s was more of a warning.
“We’re going to break for commercial, then come back and join Hunter and Haleigh on their date.”
Once we were clear, everyone left the barn except for the people who were quickly setting up the date. If the audience hadn’t figured out these dates were hardly spontaneous, then they weren’t paying attention.
I snuck into Blayze’s office with him and ate pizza while we watched the live show.
“I don’t have a good feeling about this one,” Blayze said as Rose reached over and grabbed another slice.
Rose nodded. “I like Haleigh, but there’s something about her that I can’t put my finger on.”
“She’s very…vocal,” I said before I took a bite of pizza.
And just like that, Haleigh started voicing her concerns—about Hunter’s family.
Rose dropped her pizza. “What did she just say about our family?”
“I believe she said we’re overbearing.”
“What?!” Rose shouted as I clamped my hand over her mouth.
“Shhh, they might be able to hear you.”
She nodded, then whisper-shouted, “That bitch!”
“Oh man, I hope like hell Mom is watching this one,” Blayze said with a grin.
When I turned back to the screen, Haleigh was still talking.
“I feel like you’re a bit of a momma’s boy. Have you thought of maybe speaking to anyone about your relationship with your mom?”
Hunter stared at her. “Why would I need to do that?”
She shrugged. “Your older brother lives here. You want to live here. Sounds to me like she can’t cut the umbilical cord.”
Rose practically dove for her phone.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
She looked back at me. “My mom is with Aunt Lincoln. I have to see if they’re watching.”
Blayze laughed.
Rose hung up the phone and started to giggle. “Mom said she had to keep Lincoln from storming down here and, I quote, ‘kicking that little girl’s ass.’”