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Everyone’s nerves, except his, were definitely on edge. It had been strange being down two people. Elijah and Ariel had been voted off. Luca had been pretty bummed that Ariel left, but Keaton was pretty certain that Sienna would happily try and do everything she could to take his mind off of it. Unlike Luca, she did not seem upset about losing her partner. And unless he was mistaken, she had her sights set on Luca to match up with next.
All the men, except Keaton, were pacing around the room when Maura collected them and they walked to the ballroom for the nightly cocktail hour.
Tonight, Vic was up first to enter. He waited by the doorway and Piper joined him wearing a very short red dress. Her blonde hair fell in waves around her shoulders and her lips were the same shade as her dress. Luca was next, and since he and Sienna were both unattached, they were going to enter together.
When Keaton saw Sienna, all doubt that she was interested in Luca was erased. She was wearing a white dress with a revealing low V-cut neckline that was form-fitting displaying her curves like a billboard in Times Square. The deep crimson lipstick she wore drew attention to her full mouth and matched her red fuck-me heels. This woman came to play. She wanted her man, and she was going to get him.
From Luca’s response when he saw her, Keaton had a feeling that she’d achieved her desired goal. His tongue might as well have rolled out of his mouth like a cartoon wolf.
Harlan, who was in front of Keaton in line, turned around and mouthed, “Damn, bro.”
Keaton just grinned.
Freya followed Sienna wearing a more understated little black dress with an open back and strappy heels. Keaton could tell she felt a little self-conscious by the way she kept glancing down and adjusting her shoulder straps as she approached Harlan. When Harlan saw her his eyes lit up and he whistled. When she reached him, he held her hand in the air, spun her around, and then dipped her dramatically. Her head fell back as she laughed and any insecurity she might have felt disappeared.
They really were a cute couple. If Keaton was at home voting, they would be the couple he’d want to win.
Zara was the last lady to arrive. Tonight, she wore a strapless green dress that molded to her curves with a slit that ended right before her hip revealing her entire thigh. Her legs were toned and long. She definitely knew how to dress to accentuate her body.
Keaton wasn’t blind or dead. All of the women on the show were attractive, including Zara. He appreciated their beauty like he did the beauty of nature, the lake, the trees, sunsets, and sunrises. It was objective and not personal. Not at all what he felt when he saw Avery. When he saw her, it was personal. She affected him on a cellular level.
Zara’s lips curled in a private smile, and he grinned down at her as she wrapped her hand around his bicep and he escorted her to the ballroom. He had to give it to her, she was a good actress. She could turn on the charm in the blink of an eye.
When all the couples were on their marks, the music stopped and the double doors opened once more. Lance Sparrow walked into the room, which was unusual. He’d only ever been there for balls and tonight was just a cocktail hour.
“Hello lords and ladies. I know that you must be surprised to see me, but I am here to bring you good tidings. Unfortunately, two members of the royal court were exiled yesterday. But fear not, for we have another lord and lady that will be joining your ranks.”
Some of his castmates seemed excited for the new arrivals, while others seemed nervous like newcomers would increase their chances of being exiled. He could care less. All he cared about was getting out of the ‘royal court.’
He just wanted to be with Avery, even if she did end up going back to California. If she was only going to be here a short time, he wanted to spend every second he could with her. Part of him knew that he was only setting himself up to be heartbroken again, but another part of him didn’t care.
Whatever was between them was worth risking his heart.
“Our two new arrivals will join Lord Luca and Lady Sienna as singles. They will spend the week getting to know each one of you. At the next ball, the viewers will decide which couple, or couples will be rematched with one of our singles, which will remain in their matches, and which will be exiled. So, without further ado, lords and ladies, please join me in welcoming, Lord Anton.”
The doors opened and a tall, good-looking guy with blond hair, and a beard appeared. The cast and crew all clapped as he walked in. Just as he made it to the center of the room there was a loud pop and someone yelled, “Cut.”
George stepped out from behind the monitors and explained that a light had burst so we had to do the entry again. “We need to take ten to reset. Stay close.”
As they fixed the light and reset the cameras, Harlan turned to Keaton and fisted his hand to give him a pound. “Hell yeah, no exile today. I almost shit myself when I saw Sparrow walk in.”
Keaton had had the opposite response. He’d hoped that meant that he might be able to go home. As they waited, Keaton stepped back out of the bright lights. It was ridiculously hot standing under them, and he hated getting sweaty.
Unless he was on the roof with Avery, then he very much enjoyed getting sweaty.
Zara turned her head so it looked like she was just gazing off in the distance but covered the mic discreetly, so Keaton did the same.
In a low whisper, she said, “Feel free to flirt with the new girl. We need a redemption arc.”
Keaton was not going to be “flirting with the new girl.” Yes, this was a game. But he wasn’t going to mess with anyone’s feelings. He didn’t give a shit about a redemption arc, he just wanted off this show. Which he knew was a shitty attitude to have.
“Okay, we’re back. If everyone could go back to one,” George announced.
‘Back to one’ basically meant back to the spot that you were standing when they began to film. He and Zara returned to their places.
They did a take-two on Anton’s entrance and everyone applauded again.
“And now, ladies and lords, we have a very special addition to the court. The lady of the manor we are all residing in, Lady Avery.”
