Kasper sat by the pool at the tropical resort and let the sun bake him. As he looked around, there were no camera crews. He always had an eye out for the camera. This adventure was nothing like his other island adventures. Instead of living on rice, coconuts and fish, chefs prepared banquets and contestants had access to the fully stocked kitchen.

There were ten men remaining who were trying to win the heart of the lovely Mariah, who like Kasper worked as a model. She was beautiful with her red hair, green eyes, and ivory skin. In fact, very few men spent time at the pool because Mariah had to stay out of the sun. Kasper was biding his time. As soon as he kissed her, it would be game over for the rest of the contestants. Hopefully, his family would get used to her high-pitched voice.

Tripp, a large good-looking guy from Texas, sat down next to Kasper. "I blew it."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a camera crew. "Were you just with the fair maiden?"

"I was with Mariah, but Andre stole her away."

Kasper sat up. Showtime. "I'm sure you did fine."

"No. Andre is so smooth."

Andre was a pompous ass. "But your accent has character. You work with your hands. He pushes papers all day. Just be yourself."

"You're so nice. I thought coming from the east you would be different."

Kasper splashed his perfect smile. Nice guy was not just a role he was playing. "I get in trouble for my big heart. I'm not very good at business." He imagined Baxter rolling his eyes.

"You could sell a swamp to a camel."

Kasper laughed. "You are hilarious. Don't give up, she won't pick Andre over you."

Kasper stood and showed off his sculpted tan body before diving in the pool. Baxter would definitely roll his eyes at that move. As he surfaced, he surprised himself by wondering what Dani would think of his little show. He imagined the footage used in the opening scenes.

Two hours later, he entered the dining room. Heads turned as he greeted the other gentlemen. His hand adjusted the knot on his tie. His other shows hadn't allowed him to show off in a custom fitted suit. Underneath his shirt, he felt the cross warm against his skin. His palm sweated at the gravity of his plan. With a little luck, he would kiss Mariah while wearing the cross. Then she would choose him, allowing him to win, and she'd become his one true love.

He watched as Mariah glided into the room wearing a shimmering evening gown. The beauty carried regally and would fit into any ballroom. On his arm, she would fit in better than Doyle's true love Gray who always looked slightly uncomfortable in his tuxedo.

All eyes followed Mariah as she took her place at the head of the table. The men stood waiting for her to invite them to sit. There were two prized seats on either side of her and everyone hoped to be invited to join her. The producer had told Kasper Mariah would ask him which meant the show was partially scripted.

"Good evening, gentlemen." Kasper told himself the cross would ensure he loved the squeak in her voice. "You look gorgeous. May I have Tripp join me?" Kasper clapped for the sweet guy, even though he would compete for her attention.

Tripp smiled as he moved to the prize position. "Thank you, Miss. Mariah."

"I would also like to invite Kasper to join me."

He nodded with a bow and walked to her. His smile drew her attention as he winked at her. The cameras would be on him the entire meal. Thankfully, Amelia expected impeccable table manners.

The host stood in front of the camera. "In honor of Mariah's two guests of honor, we're serving surf and turf. Texas ribeye and Massachusetts lobster."

Kasper laughed. He could eat a steak, but could Tripp eat a lobster. As they placed the shiny red crustaceans in front of each dinner guest, he leaned over to Mariah. "Would you like me to crack yours?"

She smiled. "You can show me how."

He slipped out of his suit coat and rolled up his sleeves. In Boston, they never served whole lobsters at a formal event, baked stuffed tails maybe. Traditionally, lobsters were for the outside patio or clambakes on the beach.

"This reminds me of eating the crabs I caught in the South Pacific."

Picking up his knife, he cut straight down the underside of the tail and easily removed the meat in one piece using a fork. Crackers (similar to nut crackers) were available, and he watched as others attempted to crack the tail.

He held Mariah's while she used her knife to extract her tail meat. Meanwhile Tripp looked afraid to touch the red carcass. Kasper used a cracker to break open his two claws leaving the inferior knuckle meat behind. With the white meat removed and placed on another plate, he sat back so the server could remove his shells. The young man handed him a hot towel which he saved until after he helped Mariah open her claws.

Leaning towards her, he whispered, "It's not as complicated as it looks."

She smiled as he wiped his hands, unrolled his sleeves and put his suit coat on. Only then did he use his fork and knife to taste the rich meat. Around him, others were eating it like it was finger food.

"This is delicious." Squeak.

"Have you had lobster before?"

"No. Not big ones like this. Do you eat them all the time?"

He chuckled. "No. Only occasionally, but in other dishes."

"I'd like it every day."

He laughed. "I could arrange that for you." Mrs. Moran would kill him. He planned to live in the Kane house, since none of his siblings wanted to.

Mariah was busy trying to convince Tripp to try it. She leaned over and opened his tail with her new skill. Tripp said something, and she laughed. Had Kasper's lesson backfired?

A collective sigh went out when the steaks arrived. The ribeye dwarfed the twice-baked potatoes and asparagus spears on the plate. It was Tripp's turn to eat. He tore into the steak while Kasper enjoyed the entire meal and limited his red meat consumption to approximately four ounces. The buttery lobster meat complimented the beef.

Mariah ate like a little bird while Kasper tried to have a conversation about the places she had traveled. Unfortunately, she kept getting distracted by the other conversations at the table.

He leaned in. "Would you like to join me at the fire on the beach?"

"Fire on the beach! Like when you were...?" She couldn't mention the other show by name. He laughed, as she batted her long lashes. "Will you get me a coconut?"

He nodded. "I'll have to change my clothes."

Tripp shouted. "Tarzan's gonna climb a tree!"

All the men erupted. Comments bounced off the walls, as Kasper's smile masked his disappointment. Could he kiss Mariah with an audience? The camera crew didn't count.

After he put on a show, he would present Mariah with a coconut for a kiss. A shot of energy caused Kasper to shift in his seat. No kiss would ever mean as much as his next. Doyle never regretted kissing Gray when he was a chauffeur, but Tate spent a decade-plus regretting Jimmy's kiss. His eyes met Mariah's as he told his heart to get ready to love her.

The meal ended with a buzz of excitement. Kasper took Mariah's hand. "Why don't you go change and meet me here, in... as long as you need."

"Fifteen."

He squeezed her hand. "Perfect. Fifteen minutes."

Kasper only needed five, tops, so he paced his room for five and waited for her for another five minutes. Points to Mariah for not being late, especially since Baxter already filled the tardy role in the family. Touching his chest to ensure the cross was safe inside his fitted tee, he smiled at her. She looked sexy in her own shorts and low cut tee. Kasper's shorts and shirt cover more than hers. His fingers itched to touch the swath of skin between where her shirt ended and her shorts began.

"Come on, let's find a tree."

She laughed. "You're crazy."

"I'm not. It's perfectly safe. I like to have fun." The crystal clear turquoise water and white sand came into view. "It's gorgeous just like you."

Beautiful might have been a better descriptor, with her over prominent cheekbones and her gummy smile. Kasper didn't care because the cross would prevent him from seeing or at least noticing her imperfections. He had his own with ears he wished were flatter.

She laughed. A contestant who had already left had imitated her laughter. Kasper wasn't sad to see him go. Holding her warm hand, he walked to a clump of palm trees. Although coconut trees were palm trees, not all palms grew coconuts. He scanned the canopy for the familiar green orbs. Not seeing any he walked through the brush away from the beach. A gathering had formed as he eyed a tree weighted down. The bend made it easier to climb as he kicked off his deck shoes and stepped up onto a small knot. The last time he climbed a tree was in Saint Thomas for Jimmy's bachelor party.

As he climbed his shorts helped to protect his thighs. On the island, climbing for food, his legs looked worse than a cat's scratching post. He never worried about his legs, but he concentrated on lifting off the trunk to protect his more important parts inside his shorts. His balls didn't need to go against the rough tree like a cheese grater. As he climbed towards the top the cheering grew louder. He didn't care about impressing the other guys. Baxter was calculating in business, but Kasper was in competition. If only he could find the challenge in their business dealings. He was tired of being the family face after a fire or flood. His angst propelled him to the top where he loosened some coconuts and shouted, "look out below," before letting them fall with a big thud.

When his feet reached solid ground, Mariah ran to him like a gazelle. "You did it!" She flung her arms around him and he kissed her. As his lips caressed hers, he expected to feel something magical, but it was just a pleasant kiss. It felt like plenty he shared with Juniper.

When she smiled at him, he thought, she should have had her gums fixed before going on television. The producers should have insisted. Determined to let the magic work, he smiled. "How about that fire?"

Thank goodness it backfired on him. Thanks for voting ⭐️