bigger shock. The likelihood, out of all the millions in Manhattan, of her being here was practically zilch. If it hadn’t been for his covert operative training he never could have maintained his neutral expression for the cameras.
The woman looked completely urban, if you asked him. And kind of shy. Self-conscious, even. How could he have known this beautiful, unique woman was a skilled survivalist? Go figure. The military was right—people were full of surprises, so expect the unexpected.
Talk to her, Redd. Sure she’s pretty, but there are still plenty of things you need to know. He cleared his throat. But before he could say anything, Gus’ voice cut through the tense air.
“Your one hour’s up, guys. Either pay me for my time or put your recording equipment away.”
“Shit. That’s a wrap,” James said to Tom and Devon. “Hope those few seconds will be what Mark wants.”
“It’ll have to be,” Tom said. “Ana, loosen up, will you? The camera hates it when people are stiff.”
“It’s my first time being filmed,” Ana protested.
She looked like she was trying her best to hold herself together. At least the camera crew was giving her space to recover. They went outside, putting their equipment away.
“Now that the cameras are off, I can say that I definitely remember you from the deli,” he said with a laugh.
“I remember you, too,” she said with a large smile. “You were so wonderful with those nasty kids. Thank you.”
“I was happy to bail you out of a bad situation. Kinda like we have now,” he joked. “Our twelve days will be tough, but I’m sure you can hold your own. Bears are so much easier than brats.”
“I’m hoping you’re right. I guess I’ll find out.”
“Find out?” he said, brows furrowed. “What does that mean?” When she didn’t answer, his heartbeat sped up. And not in a good way. “Ana, you do have survival skills, don’t you?”
“I . . . er . . . don’t have any survival skills per se .”
What? He frowned. “Okay, what skills exactly do you have?”
“Isn’t it better to find out when we’re in the park? I’ll be able to surprise you, and dazzle you, all at the same time.”
I just know she’s never even set foot outdoors. I am so screwed.
Ana may look like an angel, but Teleworld was the devil who’d brought them together. To have deliberately set her up with him was callously risking both of their lives. And his goal for the prize money.
Ana studied the man with whom she’d be spending the next twelve days, convinced he hated her. His upper lip was curled as if he smelled something unpleasant. She blinked back tears that threatened to fall. Oh, God. Redd thinks I’m dead weight for sure. Now I know I’m going to screw up the show.
“I’m not into surprises, Ana,” he said gruffly. “Not when our lives are on the line. Do you have any survival skills or don’t you? I’ve got to know exactly what I’m dealing with.”
“I-I’m sorry,” she stuttered, although she wasn’t sure what she was apologizing for. Her slow response, or for not being somebody better?
“Just level with me, okay?” he said again, gentler this time. “I won’t be mad. Panicked, maybe. But not mad. At least not mad at you.” He managed to give her a small smile. She wished to God it was sincere.
“All right, I’ll level. But I hope you won’t be too upset. I don’t have any survival skills at all.”
“None at all,” he repeated tonelessly.
“Well, no. I grew up in Brooklyn. The show wants me to say I’m from Manhattan but you said you want me to be honest.”
“Have you at least gone camping before?”
“Yes!”
“Great.” He exhaled hard, his expression showing relief. “How often do you go?”
“I’ve only been once, actually. But that still counts, right?”
“That depends,” he said, looking as if he had a sudden, severe headache.
“I went during summer camp, right after seventh grade. My whole bunk slept
The woman looked completely urban, if you asked him. And kind of shy. Self-conscious, even. How could he have known this beautiful, unique woman was a skilled survivalist? Go figure. The military was right—people were full of surprises, so expect the unexpected.
Talk to her, Redd. Sure she’s pretty, but there are still plenty of things you need to know. He cleared his throat. But before he could say anything, Gus’ voice cut through the tense air.
“Your one hour’s up, guys. Either pay me for my time or put your recording equipment away.”
“Shit. That’s a wrap,” James said to Tom and Devon. “Hope those few seconds will be what Mark wants.”
“It’ll have to be,” Tom said. “Ana, loosen up, will you? The camera hates it when people are stiff.”
“It’s my first time being filmed,” Ana protested.
She looked like she was trying her best to hold herself together. At least the camera crew was giving her space to recover. They went outside, putting their equipment away.
“Now that the cameras are off, I can say that I definitely remember you from the deli,” he said with a laugh.
“I remember you, too,” she said with a large smile. “You were so wonderful with those nasty kids. Thank you.”
“I was happy to bail you out of a bad situation. Kinda like we have now,” he joked. “Our twelve days will be tough, but I’m sure you can hold your own. Bears are so much easier than brats.”
“I’m hoping you’re right. I guess I’ll find out.”
“Find out?” he said, brows furrowed. “What does that mean?” When she didn’t answer, his heartbeat sped up. And not in a good way. “Ana, you do have survival skills, don’t you?”
“I . . . er . . . don’t have any survival skills per se .”
What? He frowned. “Okay, what skills exactly do you have?”
“Isn’t it better to find out when we’re in the park? I’ll be able to surprise you, and dazzle you, all at the same time.”
I just know she’s never even set foot outdoors. I am so screwed.
Ana may look like an angel, but Teleworld was the devil who’d brought them together. To have deliberately set her up with him was callously risking both of their lives. And his goal for the prize money.
Ana studied the man with whom she’d be spending the next twelve days, convinced he hated her. His upper lip was curled as if he smelled something unpleasant. She blinked back tears that threatened to fall. Oh, God. Redd thinks I’m dead weight for sure. Now I know I’m going to screw up the show.
“I’m not into surprises, Ana,” he said gruffly. “Not when our lives are on the line. Do you have any survival skills or don’t you? I’ve got to know exactly what I’m dealing with.”
“I-I’m sorry,” she stuttered, although she wasn’t sure what she was apologizing for. Her slow response, or for not being somebody better?
“Just level with me, okay?” he said again, gentler this time. “I won’t be mad. Panicked, maybe. But not mad. At least not mad at you.” He managed to give her a small smile. She wished to God it was sincere.
“All right, I’ll level. But I hope you won’t be too upset. I don’t have any survival skills at all.”
“None at all,” he repeated tonelessly.
“Well, no. I grew up in Brooklyn. The show wants me to say I’m from Manhattan but you said you want me to be honest.”
“Have you at least gone camping before?”
“Yes!”
“Great.” He exhaled hard, his expression showing relief. “How often do you go?”
“I’ve only been once, actually. But that still counts, right?”
“That depends,” he said, looking as if he had a sudden, severe headache.
“I went during summer camp, right after seventh grade. My whole bunk slept
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