Will You Accept This Rose?

8. The Lie Detector

"Where are you going?" He asked.

Quick to lie, Lucy replied, "One of my roommates borrowed an earring and said she might have dropped it around here."

"Check later. Get inside for headcount."

Headcount felt like it was taking too long, and Lucy hoped Tim would wait for her. The second they were dismissed, Angela bent her head in the direction of the back exit of the mansion near the garden, and she went with her.

"Listen," Angela whispered, "Tim is waiting for you."

"I saw, but then headcount came early..."

"Yeah, because I told Wes to tell Noah to do it early tonight. That means, no interruptions. As long as you're back by John's morning check in at breakfast, you should be good."

Lucy's nerves tingled at the thought of spending all night with Tim. "No, I can't. I wish I could, but I have roommates."

"Tell them you're sleeping in another room tonight."

"Sandra and Monica are pretty smart. I don't think that'll work."

"If you aren't ready for sleepovers with Tim, that's fine, but don't use your roommates as an excuse."

Lucy worried at her lip. "I want to, but also I...this is a conversation I should be having with Tim. Thank you for your help."

"No problem...hold up." She reached into her back pocket and pulled something out before handing it to Lucy. "Just in case you change your mind."

Her eyes flitted between Angela's smirk and the condom in her hand. "This won't be necessary tonight."

"That condom won't expire for a while. Hold onto it." She winked and grinned knowingly. "Oh, and if I don't see you back here by the time we finish filming confessionals, I'll cover for you with your roommates."

Lucy rolled her eyes despite her growing blush and tried her best to walk as slowly and casually as possible, but at some point near the pool, she took off at a run and heard Angela's laughter behind her. She barreled past the fence and almost ran right into Tim.

"Woah," he said in surprise and reached out to catch Lucy.

"Hi," she breathed.

"Hi," he smiled and dropped his hands from her forearms to her waist. "I wanted to see you for a minute, and well, I wanted to do this." Tim moved to kiss her, but she pulled back.

"You were just on a group date."

"Doesn't mean anything. I wouldn't let anyone come close."

"No one got this close?" She asked, her voice quiet and silky as she batted her eyelashes and pressed her chest to his.

He bent his head low. "No, but I want you closer," he murmured.

She angled her head upwards and ghosted his lips. "This close?"

"Not good enough," Tim whispered.

Lucy brushed her nose against his to hear his breathing hitch as she expected. Teasing him was fun, but there was only so much she could resist her pull to him, so she paused for one second more, puffing air against his mouth, then gently caressed his lips until she was dizzy.

"Can't believe I almost missed my chance to kiss you today. I heard Noah talking to you about headcount. Nice save."

"Thanks. I heard you try to lie to Noah yesterday. You were terrible at it."

He snickered. "I like to think it's because I'm an honest man."

"Oh, definitely, and it also makes you very adorable, especially since rich guys are supposed to be total liars and jerks."