My Sunset Love Affair with the Billionaire CEO novel · Chapter 8 of 24

Chapter 8: The Cabin

The lantern ceremony was held on the beach at nine, with torches stuck in the sand and the lake black behind them.

Dale and his new wife watched from the porch steps with their arms folded.

Renata worked down the line of women, calling names and handing out lanterns.

I stood with my hands clasped, and I could not feel my fingers.

She called my roommate, who bowed to the camera and went to stand with the safe ones.

She called the judge's date, and a nurse, and a woman who raised goats.

At last there was one lantern left in her hand and two of us left on the sand.

Me, and the woman in the pink cardigan.

"Lorna," Renata said, in a voice thick with delight. "And our other finalist."

The pink cardigan stepped forward and fixed her eyes on the lens.

"I hope I get it," she said. "I just think the viewers want to see a woman with something to offer."

"You offered me a tripwire," I said.

A murmur went through the line.

Renata held up the last lantern and the torches flickered.

"The men have voted," she said. "And the final lantern goes to..."

Before she could finish, Ray stepped out of the line of men.

He had his own lantern in his hand, the one Renata had given our couple the night before.

He walked across the sand without hurrying, past the camera, past Dale, and stopped in front of me.

"There's a rule against this," Renata said.

"I know," said Ray.

He put his lantern in my hands.

It was still warm.

"She doesn't need yours," Renata began.

"Then I'll go home too," Ray said, loud enough to carry. "Both of us, or neither."

The beach went absolutely silent.

I looked at the man in front of me and then, over his shoulder, at Dale's open mouth.

Renata looked at the camera operator, who gave her a thumbs-up, and she laughed.

"Well," she said. "I suppose this is television. Lorna stays. I'm sorry, dear."

The pink cardigan went white, then red, and walked off toward the shuttle without a word.

"And since the rules have clearly bent," Renata said, with her widest smile yet, "this couple earns tonight's overnight date. The Heron Cabin, lakefront."

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