Sam looked at Alex. He looked so earnest, so worried. She lifted her hand and smoothed it over his brow. “I want those things too, Alex. I never expected to find someone like you. I’d like to try.”
Alex leaned in and caught Sam’s lips with his own. He couldn’t be gentle. He slanted his head to the side and ravaged her mouth. God, she tasted so good and all he could think of was laying her down and spending all night exploring her body. They spent the next few minutes lost in each other’s kiss and only came up for air when they heard the waitress clearing her throat next to the table.
“Did you need anything else?” she asked with a grin.
“No, I have everything I need right here,” Alex replied, never taking his eyes off of Sam. “I’m the luckiest man alive.”
“No,” Sam replied. “We are the luckiest people alive.”
Epilogue
Sam and Alex were lying on the couch, watching a movie. Sam was lying with her head in Alex’s lap and his hands were idly brushing through her hair. The last year was like a dream. After Alex had come to Albuquerque to get her, the media frenzy was unbelievable. The newspapers and entertainment shows had gone crazy over the story of the reality show hunk who ended up with one of the rejected contestants.
They’d dated for a few months, but Sam quickly realized there wasn’t anything keeping her in Albuquerque, except for Beth and Christina. They wouldn’t let her stay for them. They wanted her to be happy and they loved Alex. Alex made it a point to include them in something every time he visited. Sometimes they all went out to dinner and other times they just hung out at Sam’s house and watched movies. As a result of his efforts to include them in their relationship, they were the first to tell Sam to move to Austin.
They sat down with her and had a long talk. The three talked about Sam’s relationship, they talked about what would happen with Sam’s career, and they talked about sex. Anytime the three of them got together, the talk most often turned to sex.
Sam wasn’t one to talk much about what she and Alex did in the bedroom, but she’d admitted to her friends that Alex was incredible. She hadn’t been a virgin when they’d gotten together, but he made her feel inexperienced. He was patient and the two of them together were explosive.
The night Sam told Alex she was thinking about moving to Austin was amazing. Alex showed her his appreciation for hours in her bedroom. It hadn’t taken him long to arrange to have her belongings moved into his ranch outside of Austin. Albert, Duke, and Blue were happy to move to a bigger house as well. They quickly acclimated, but then again, they were happy anywhere Sam went.
Blue was currently lying at Sam’s feet on the couch, while Duke and Albert were napping on one of the many dog beds strewn about the room.
Alex’s cell phone rang and Sam looked up as he leaned over to answer it. She only heard his side of the conversation.
“This is Alex. Hello, Eddie. Good. Really? Congratulations. What? Uh, I’m not sure. It’s not about the money, Eddie. Hell, you know we don’t need it. All right, I’ll talk to her and we’ll think about it. Yeah. You too. Bye.”
Sam watched as Alex ended the call and put the phone back on the table next to the couch. His hand returned to stroking her hair. Sam waited, knowing he’d tell her what the call was about when he was ready. There was no telling what Eddie wanted now. Sam really couldn’t hate the man. After all, he was one of the reasons she was with Alex now, but she also knew how the man operated. He never did anything out of the kindness of his heart.
Finally, Alex took a deep breath.
“That was Eddie.”
Sam nodded and sat up, snuggling into Alex’s side.
“He wanted to let me know he’s starting a new reality show based in Arizona.” Alex shook his head and chuckled. “He wanted us to come to the set one day to meet the contestants and encourage them with our story.”
Sam laughed. “He does remember that I was kicked off and he arranged to edit me out of the entire show, right? What kind of encouragement will our showing up offer anyone?”
“Maybe that they too can make it out alive?” Alex said sarcastically.
Sam laughed. “You decide,” she told Alex. “I don’t care what we do. I’ve got you, you’ve got me and he can’t do anything to break us up.”
“Damn straight,” Alex said.
“I do feel sorry for whoever is on that show, though,” Sam said. She squealed as Alex suddenly stood up, cradling her against his chest.
“Those poor bastards,” he agreed, nuzzling against Sam’s neck, breathing in her scent. He carried her up the stairs to their bedroom. “I suppose we should make an appearance to keep Eddie off our backs. You know he won’t give up if he wants us there.”
Sam barely managed a nod as Alex leaned over and placed her on their bed. She had much better things to think about than some new reality show that Eddie was planning. She had to think about how she’d please her man.
* * *
Download the next book in the Beyond Reality Series:
Flaming Hearts
Read on for an excerpt from the second book in Beyond Reality Series,
Flaming Hearts
Becky sighed. She knew he was right. She knew it. “I know, but…” her voice trailed off. “It’s just hard.” That was a lame explanation, and sort of like calling the ocean “big”, but she didn’t really know how to explain it, but she tried. “I feel like I’m in this bubble. I’m floating around watching what’s going on around me. I can see the dangerous sharp things around that will pop my bubble and since I’m not steering all I can do is hope that I don’t run into them. I’m always aware of the cameras around here and I can’t help but think of when this show finally airs what it’s going to make me look like. I know that sounds vain and selfish, but I’m trying to watch everything I say and everything I do and everywhere I look, but I know I’m still making a fool out of myself,” her voice trailed off.
Dean was furious, not at Becky, but at Eddie and director. They were shredding this woman’s self-esteem in front of his eyes, and he couldn’t say or do anything to stop it. He felt as helpless as she just described being inside a floating bubble.
“Listen Becky,” he told her urgently, “Please. This is what I saw today watching you…will you listen to me?”
Becky nodded, then realizing that he couldn’t see her said, “uh-huh.”
Dean took a deep breath. He knew this moment was very important and what he said to her now would hopefully lighten her load.
“During lunch today, when Marissa was complaining about the temperature of the soup, you touched the server’s hand and thanked her for her efforts. You probably didn’t know this, but she smiled all the way back to the kitchen just because you took the time to compliment her. Out by the pool when everyone else was swimming and playing, you were sitting in the lounge chair. When everyone went in, you gathered up all of the used towels and put them on a chair so someone else didn’t have to do it. You smiled at one of the camera operators for no special reason as you went into the house. I even saw you tell one of the assistant producers happy birthday, when no one else on the show seemed to care. Hell, I have no idea how you even knew it was his birthday! Even when the clueless men on the show are ignoring you and simpering all over Marissa, when they aren’t able to get near her you still talk to them and try to get to know them. You answer all their questions about Marissa and try to give them hope she just might choose them. I even saw you open a damn window today because a fly was buzzing on the pane and couldn’t get outside. You’re a good person Becky. To the core. No matter what these people throw at you, no matter what they say, you remember this. I see you. I see the real you. Not only do I see you, I like what I see. And I know America will see it too.”
His voice tapered off. He waited. He heard Becky sniff once. Oh god, he’d made her cry. He hadn’t meant to make her cry. “Sweetheart?” he asked softly, “I didn’t say all that to make you cry.” When she didn’t immediately say
anything he said frustratedly, “Damn, I should’ve kept my mouth shut. I want to be there to hold you Becky, and it’s pissing me off I can’t be. Are you okay?”
“I’m know, I’m okay Dean. Really. I just…..” She paused and sniffed again. “I’ve just had a bad day and that was possibly the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me in my entire life.”
Flaming Hearts
Beyond Reality, Book 2
Becky and her mom used to watch reality shows together all the time. Her mom passed away before she could see Becky on her very own show…except it’s not her own show. She has to share the limelight with another woman. They’re both competing for the love and attention of the same men. Becky had no idea she’d meet a wonderful, protective man while on the show, but unfortunately he wasn’t a contestant.
Dean always knew he’d find the one woman meant for him, but he had no idea she’d be competing on a reality show. Luckily his brother was a cameraman; it was just the key to get to spend time with Becky, as long as the Director didn’t catch wind of their plans. Dean and Becky become close and are counting the days until the reality show is over and they can spend time together openly, when Dean gets called away on a job.
When an incident on the show threatens her safety and Dean isn’t around for her to turn to, Becky isn’t sure their relationship can survive. She has to figure out a way to trust Dean to help her, and Dean will do whatever it takes for Becky to realize she’s his…forever.
Discover other titles by Susan Stoker
Beyond Reality Series:
Outback Hearts
Flaming Hearts
Frozen Hearts
SEAL of Protection Series:
Protecting Caroline
Protecting Alabama
Protecting Fiona
Marrying Caroline (novella)
Protecting Summer
Protecting Cheyenne
Protecting Jessyka (July 2015)
Protecting Melody (Sept 2015)
Protecting the Future (Dec 2015)
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie (Aug 2015)
Justice for Mickie (Nov 2015)
Justice for Corrie (TBA)
Justice for Boone (TBA)
Justice for Milena (TBA)
Justice for Kinley (TBA)
Justice for Sidney (TBA)
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About the Author
Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She is quite the romantic and even met the love of her life on "Hotmail classified" before online dating and sites like match.com even existed!
Susan has been reading romance novels since middle school and once crossed out the names of the main characters in a book and changed them to her own and to the name of her crush. She's been writing scenes for years, developing her unique writing style.
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