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what?”
    Linda smiled. “Now you get whatever you have in this car and come with me.”
    She lost her focus on Linda for a moment as she caught the large body of that August guy weaving between cars in the parking lot. Damn, he was hot.
    Tara popped open the back door and began digging around for her spare pair of shoes. Her thoughts were jumbled and her head ached. How the hell was she going to put this all together in her head in one plane ride to Hawaii?
    Could one
plan
in enough time—on a flight to Hawaii—to destroy someone?
    * * *
    August Guthrie swaggered in and out of the cars in the studio parking lot and paused, trying to remember where the hell he’d left his rental twelve hours ago.
    Damn, he felt stupid. Well, his best friend Greg couldn’t say he didn’t take him up on his dare. Greg had triple-dog dared him to try out for the show when he’d found out from his cousin that Kelsey Little was on it. August couldn’t help it if the people responsible for helping him make this dare happen didn’t want to play.
    Henry Abernathy had grilled him like a piece of shrimp on the barbee. What kind of question was
what makes your heart sing?
    Yes, he’d known Kelsey in high school. Lying about that would have sunk him like the Titanic because it was easily checked. Yes, he was a competitive man. No, he didn’t need the money the show offered.
    Locating his rental car, August ignored the replay of his interview with Henry in his head and took a few more weary steps toward it. Maybe he’d just go back to the hotel, sleep and drive back home. He hated to fly. He needed time to think about this newest rejection in a long list of them where Kelsey Little was concerned.
    Some guy was leaning on the trunk of his car, legs crossed, dressed perfectly and eyeballing him as August went to the driver’s side and ignored him.
    “August Guthrie?”
    August turned to stare at him. “Yep.”
    Tall, dark and Hollywood held out his hand. “I’m Darren, Mr. Abernathy’s assistant.”
    August’s face registered recognition. “Sorry, I didn’t recognize you at first. It’s all kind of hazy, ya know?”
Like coming off a two-day bender.
    Darren chuckled, “Yeah, I do know. It’s a long couple of days going through all of the tests and interviews, but I think you’re going to find it’s paying off for you. ”
    August cocked his head. “Huh? ”
    Darren stuck out his hand and slapped the other across August’s back. “You’re in.”
    He was in? In as in—in the
final
cut in?
    Darren read his mind. “Yeah, you’re a contestant on ‘Whose Bride Is She Anyway?’.”
    August’s eyes flew open. “Wait a second. I thought they weren’t choosing anyone for weeks?”
    Darren’s dark eyes smiled. “It’s a new twist we kept close to our chests and here’s the real catch, you have to leave
today
.”
    “What?”
    “Watch my lips,” Darren said and pointed to his mouth, his pinky ring glistening in
    the sun. “If you want to be a contestant on the show, you have to leave
today
.” “Today? ” “Today. ” August began pacing the length of the small parking space, his head filling with a “to do list”. How could he friggin’ leave today? He had a business to run and a goldfish to feed. He didn’t have enough clothes with him for a month. Or a plan to win Kelsey. How could he practice winning her if he didn’t have time to do anything but get on a plane? You couldn’t win a woman without a plan—he had to get his head into the game first.
    He stuttered, “But…”
    “It’s now or never,” Darren assured him.
    “My rental…”
    “The staff will get it.”
    “Um, clothes?”
    “Bought and paid for by the show. You don’t need much, a few bathing suits, some T-shirts, sandals.” “My goldfish, Jerry…” “He has water.” August finally laughed. “Can I call home? I’d have to make some arrangements.” “Yep, one call.” “Like jail?” Now Darren laughed, “Yeah, like jail.” Well