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)
“Today’s group date was fun. I love snowmobiling on the ranch…but there were a few moments when I got to see another side of a few of the women. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like I have a connection with Ally or Vivian. And for that reason, I think I’m going to swipe left.” I lifted my beer and smiled.
From downstairs, I heard someone shout out, “Thank God, you got rid of Ally!”
Chapter Twenty-Five
KIPTON
Today had already been a long day. Now, after a meeting with wardrobe about upcoming outfits, I was dashing to the main barn on the ranch, where a group was setting up a hot chocolate bar. I could only imagine how the snowmobiling went. Of the women chosen, I hadn’t really pegged any of them for the type to enjoy it, but I could be pleasantly surprised.
Blayze and a few other guys were helping themselves to hot chocolate when I entered.
“They’re not back yet?” I asked, as I looked at the time on my phone. They needed to get things wrapped up soon if the editing team would have time to get the piece ready for airing on Friday. After the live date tomorrow, everyone was heading home for the short holiday break.
The sounds of the snowmobiles nearing was my answer. Blayze walked over and bumped my arm as he spoke in a lowered voice. “Hunter texted and said he wanted to chop his right arm off.”
I shouldn’t have enjoyed that so much, but I smiled.
Blayze laughed and shook his head before continuing toward his office. Once everyone was piled into the barn, the girls continued to flirt with Hunter. I had to give it to him, he handled it well. I think, had we not gotten together last weekend, I’d have been seething with jealousy right now. Instead, I felt completely at ease.
They filmed for another thirty minutes, then wrapped up the day.
It was my time to perform. Since we were only filming a super-short segment, I didn’t have an earpiece in. I held up a mic as the camera focused on me. Jack had also given me a quick rundown of how the date had gone so I could mention it.
“It sounds like our group had a chilly, fun time, if you don’t count the missing eyelash.” I winked. “If you head on over to our website, Hunter will be doing a Truth Booth to recap the date. And you can watch a live stream of the girls for an hour, from eight central to nine, as they recap their date. We here at Swipe Right want to wish you all Happy Holidays! We’ll see you on Wednesday. Stay safe and goodnight!”
The light went out, and I was cleared. When I turned around, Rose was leaning against one of the stalls toward the back of the barn. We didn’t film near the horses, but I was still impressed by how relaxed they were when the barn was filled with strangers. Most of them were turned out, but there were always one or two stalled up each time we’d filmed in their space.
“Why do you look like the Cheshire cat?”
Rose pushed off and made her way over to me. “Are you saying I’m about to do something that could get you into trouble?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“Nonsense. I’m only here to see if you want to spend some girl time with Lily and me. We have some last-minute Christmas shopping to do, and you need a date outfit.”
I raised a brow.
She grinned. “You can’t tell me you don’t want to go shopping in our cute little town.”
It had been so long since I’d hung out with friends. I hadn’t been able to speak to Aspen, my best friend, hardly at all, outside of a few texts. She and her family had gone to Italy for a pre-Christmas vacation, and I so desperately wanted to sit with her for hours and hash out everything about Hunter. I adored Rose and Lily, but…they were his cousins. I was reluctant to get too intimate with them about my feelings.
“That sounds like a lot of fun.”
Rose did a little happy dance. “You’re going to need a warmer coat, though.”
I glanced down at the outfit I had on. “Yeah, this was more for style than function. Can we swing by Lincoln and Brock’s house so I can grab a coat?”
She looped her arm with mine. “Yep. I’ll text Lily to meet us there.”
The three of us spent the next few hours visiting each little store on Main Street in downtown Hamilton. We spent the most time in La Chic Boutique, which was owned by Morgan and Georgiana. Morgan had her own line of clothing that was exclusive to the boutique…and if I thought the dress I’d worn in Vegas was amazing, I was stunned to find even more beautiful pieces in the shop. I walked out with four bags filled with new things. Of course, all the women had insisted I buy new lingerie, and I purchased a cute outfit to wear for the date with Hunter.