Lost Without You Read Free

she didn’t have to worry about strategy or getting along with the other contestants or any of the other things she’d had to worry about on the previous shows. This time, finally, she wouldn’t have to fear water challenges that threatened to remove her makeup in one splash. Sure, she’d always worn waterproof, but there was only so much it could withstand. She might have come across as calm and uncaring at the thought of going out on a canoe to grab a cache with Paige, Miles, and Ben, but on the inside, she’d been a quivering mess. At least this time all she had to do was show up, look pretty, smile, and read a few cue cards. No big deal.
    â€œReady to go?” Chip asked, motioning toward the trail all of the teams had now started down.
    â€œGo where?”
    â€œTo the production camp.”
    Zoe glanced around at the production trailers that looked pretty permanent by the park office. “Are the trailers going to meet us at the camp or are there some already waiting there?”
    Just then a production person handed her a large backpack. The one she’d been told to pack. The one she thought she’d be unpacking soon into a nice chest of drawers in a cozy room somewhere.
    Chip shook his head and looked worried for the first time ever in her memory. “Zoe, your job is to be near the contestants to host the show. The show takes place in the wilderness. The trees are too dense for the trailers and there are no nearby roads. I’m afraid the best you’re going to get for the next few weeks is a porta-potty and a private tent.”
    Fear gripped Zoe. This couldn’t possibly be any worse. No bathroom with running water. No electricity. No cozy bed to curl up in each night.
    â€œLet me guess,” she said through clenched teeth. It didn’t matter how cute Chip was, he could really be an annoying little shit when he wanted to be. “You’re staying here, right?” No way was Mr. Hot Shot Producer roughing it like she was being forced to.
    â€œNo, myself and a handful of other production people will be staying with you in a production base camp. We have tents and a little kitchen and even a couple of camping showers. Don’t worry, Zoe, you won’t be alone.”
    â€œOh, good, so there will be someone to hear me scream when I get eaten by a bear.”
    He laughed.
    She didn’t.

Chapter Two
    Chip Cormack laughed at Zoe’s comment. He hadn’t expected anything less from her. A sarcastic sense of humor wasn’t for everyone, and truth be told, he didn’t love hearing it from most people. But coming from Zoe, it always made him laugh. It was her feisty personality and her “take no shit from anyone” attitude that had originally made him want her on his shows.
    Of course, her headshots hadn’t hurt either.
    She was damn hot, even if she had built an indestructible wall around herself. Or at least she thought it was indestructible. He was pretty certain that given enough time and determination, he’d be able to break through.
    It had only been a couple of years since his first introduction to Zoe, but it felt like a million. His feelings for her had been simmering too long already. He was ready to take things further than friendship or being colleagues with her. He just had to find a way for her to see that she had feelings for him too.
    Easier said than done.
    Every time she looked at him, he sensed her interest. When they spoke, the chemistry flowed easily. And when he touched her hands or her back … well, it was as if the entire rest of the world stopped existing outside of the two of them. There was something indescribable between them. Except he knew from his own personal experience with her, and from watching her with everyone else, that she had big walls protecting her from letting anyone get too close. If only her damn walls would give just a little then maybe he could find a way to knock them down all