Read Online Lost Without You by Heather Thurmeier - Free Book Online

bathroom was “this bush or that one” along the trail on the way back.
    â€œOkay,” Zoe said standing from her makeshift table of a fallen log. “Now that we’ve had a chance to taste all of the dishes, it’s time to vote for your top two favorites and your least favorite. Then we’ll tally the votes and see who wins and who loses. Everyone write your votes down on the paper provided and then return them to me.”
    The teams sectioned off into their cooking areas to decide on their votes in private. While they did, Chip joined Zoe. “You did great tasting all that food. I was a little worried we might have to censor some sickness in editing but you really powered through it.”
    â€œYeah, thanks for the wonderful competition today.” She rubbed her hand across her stomach as if it was sore from the food. It probably was. “Remind me to cook you dinner sometime as payback.”
    Dinner with Zoe? Hell, yes. Sign me up.
    â€œI’ll find a way to suffer through your cooking, I’m sure. How about tonight?”
    â€œI was only kidding. I can’t cook, even to torture you.”
    I wasn’t kidding.
    Chip kicked at the dirt with the toe of his shoe, suddenly feeling nervous. “Well, then I’ll cook for you and you can tell me if my food is torture or not.”
    He held her gaze. She didn’t accept his offer but she also didn’t turn him down. He would take that as a yes, since the twinkle in her eye gave away her interest in him even if her lack of verbal skills didn’t.
    â€œSo, you ready to announce the winners? Any questions about how it works before we film this last segment and head back to base camp?” Best to change the subject before she found her voice and told him no to dinner.
    â€œActually, I have no idea how I’m going to do this.”
    â€œWhy? It shouldn’t be much different than what you have been doing.”
    â€œTrue, but normally I don’t have to remember all of their names. Now I have to call out twenty people by name and I only know about four of them. I’m screwed.”
    Zoe looked genuinely concerned and nervous. More so than he’d ever seen her before. His thoughts of getting Zoe to have dinner with him disappeared and the only thing he cared about was how to make her feel better in this situation. He didn’t like seeing her uncomfortable or worried. It bothered him. Deeply.
    â€œWait right here one minute,” he said, walking away. Finding the sound equipment backpack, he searched through it until he located the things he needed. Then he returned back to Zoe.
    â€œDid you tally the votes?” he asked, setting his new things down on the ground beside her so he could unravel the cords and sort out the pieces he needed.
    â€œYep. I have the order of the winners, but I still can’t remember all their names. What am I going to do? Call over Team Dating Couples instead of calling for them by name? I’m going to look like a total idiot on national television.” She sighed.
    She looked down at him and he was struck by the expression of fear on her face. Looking less than her best really was an issue for her, even if her physical appearance was flawless. Well, he wasn’t going to let that happen today.
    Chip put his hand on her knee, rubbing it. Her shoulders drooped slightly and the creases across her brow lessened.
    â€œI promise you will never look like anything less than the amazing woman I know you are while you’re on my show.” He smiled and she returned it.
    She placed her hand on top of his and squeezed. A rush of affection filled him. He wasn’t lusting for her, though of course he always felt attracted to her physically. It was impossible not to. But in that moment he simply wanted to make sure she felt safe with him and with the show. He never wanted her to question his motives. More than anything, he wanted her to trust him since it