Sloane’s POV

“They’re pairing us for the entire afternoon,” Elias said under his breath as the producers announced the day’s schedule. “Private picnic on the lower grounds. Cameras at a distance. They want ‘organic conversation.’”

I kept my face neutral for the lens pointed in our direction. “How private?”

“Private enough that I’m going to have a hard time not touching you.”

The other women watched us walk away together. I felt the weight of their attention on the back of my neck the entire way down the path. The picnic setup waited in a small clearing overlooking the water: a low blanket, a basket, two glasses, and a single...