Lost Without You by Heather Thurmeier Page A

she read the cue cards when she couldn’t even think straight?
    â€œZoe, say something. The teams are waiting. I’ll edit out the long pause, but please say something.”
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe,” she said, unable to take her gaze from his.
    â€œZoe, listen to me. Read the cue card. Read it. Now.” Chip’s voice was harsh and demanding.
    â€œYou don’t know what?” Rick asked. The other teams echoed his question.
    Zoe suddenly felt as if she’d been doused with ice-cold water. Holy shit. Had she really zoned out and answered a question aloud that no one but her had heard?
    Rick cocked his head to the side. “You alright today, baby?”
    She forced a smile to her lips. “I’m fine, Rick. Thanks for asking. What I was going to say was, I don’t know about you, but maybe I’m ready to get this competition started.” Her voice sounded unexpectedly enthusiastic. Thank God. “I can’t stand the suspense any longer. So let’s get started. Teams, bring me a flag!”
    She held her smile long enough for the teams to send up a loud cheer and rush off into the woods, cameramen trailing after them as quickly as they could. The other production people moved to their positions along the river where they would be able to supervise the teams without getting in the way or in the shot.
    Chip rushed to her side as she walked to her next position at the edge of the river where the teams would build their rafts and paddle upstream. “Good recovery.”
    â€œThanks.”
    She got to her mark and stopped. She glanced into the woods wondering how long it would take for the first teams to make it back to her with their raft supplies in hand.
    â€œYou shouldn’t be here. The teams will be back any second and I think we’ve had enough mistakes for one day, don’t you?”
    Chip put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. I didn’t mean to say that out loud. This is my mistake, not yours. And I won’t let it happen again.”
    She nodded, still too stunned with how the start of this competition had turned out to comment.
    Chip wrapped his fist around the mic pinned to Zoe’s shirt, effectively blocking any audio it might pickup. “The truth is, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since the other day when we kissed on the trail and then the time I spent with you in my tent. But seeing you in the shower, wrapped in a towel … the way your head and hands felt on my chest … damn it, Zoe. I haven’t been able to get you out of my head all week.”
    He glanced around them as if looking to see if any of the teams were on their way back yet or if any of the production people were noticing their private conversation. As far as she could tell, no one had noticed anything unusual.
    â€œYou should go. The cameras and contestants are going to be back any minute now.”
    â€œI know. I’ll go. But promise me that you’ll talk to me about this later. Privately.”
    â€œI don’t think that’s a good idea. You need to go. I see them coming back.” She felt her pulse pick up its pace as the teams neared. She wasn’t sure if it was from the fear of someone figuring out that there was something a little different going on between herself and Chip or if she was getting caught up in the adrenaline of the show.
    â€œWhy isn’t it a good idea?” Chip asked, stepping closer to her and stroking his fingers along the side of her neck. The sensation was enough to make the world around them disappear. “I know you feel this thing between us. Stop pushing me away long enough for us to figure out what it is.”
    â€œNo,” she said, not believing the word herself. “You need to go. I can’t talk to you about this now. Or later. I want you to leave me alone. I don’t want to be kissed by you or anyone else.”