Elliot and Carla hid behind the large doors as they opened them. Meg stepped into the ballroom with the marble floors and huge glass doors that opened out onto a veranda overlooking an ocean, but four men with cameras pointed at her blocked the view. This was weird. Really weird.
She took a deep breath, letting her shoulders rise and fall.
Making her way to Robby, she glanced at the contestants standing in the corner of the room, who gawked at her. They were all handsome, but they also looked a lot alike. It was strange. Like looking at a fit, tan group of brothers in dress pants and button ups.
“Gentlemen,” Robby said, “meet Meg, a small-town girl with a heart of gold.”
A small-town girl with a heart of gold? Who wrote that? Was that the part she was supposed to be playing? She swallowed and forced a smile.
“Meg has a special story.” Robby held up the glass bottle she’d thrown out only weeks before. She knew Elliot had found it on the other side of the island near the hotel where she’d stayed with the girls, but seeing it again was surreal. “Gentlemen, Meg wrote a message to the man of her dreams. Then she put it in this bottle and threw it out to sea. Somehow it made its way to our producers, and they knew One True Love could help.”
Ugh. She didn’t remember the show being so cheesy when she’d watched it. Keep smiling. Keep smiling.
Robby paused for effect. He was even shorter than he looked on television, and his teeth were even whiter. They were almost blinding. “And we believe one of you is her one true love.”
The men nodded as if they agreed entirely. As if this wasn’t the craziest thing in the world.
Was it too late to back out?
“Your chance to meet Meg is coming up. I’ll be right back, gentlemen.” Robby led her out to the veranda, and the cameramen followed. “How are you feeling?” he asked in a game-show-host tone.
With the barrage of new faces and now the cameras pointed at her, Meg’s stomach and her mind spun as if she were on a carnival ride she couldn’t get off. “A little nervous.”
He flashed his grin, and she tried not to squint in the glare. “But excited. I can tell how excited you are.”
She nodded. Sure. Whatever he said.
“I’m going to bring out our first possible match. We’ve asked the men to reveal something about themselves that would help them stand out.”
She hoped so. Otherwise, how would she keep them all straight?
Someone yelled cut, and the woman she’d met in the makeup department dabbed a sponge on Robby’s forehead.
“You’re doing fine,” he said between dabs. “Stand here, and wait for the first contestant to come introduce himself.”
With that Robby left, and the cameras started rolling again. Another man approached her. He was about her height with a square jaw and enough hair gel that it made his hair look plastic. Not knowing whether this was his doing or the work of the women who’d put a gallon of product in her own hair, Meg wouldn’t hold it against him. Two things she couldn’t overlook were the huge biceps under his dress shirt.
“I’m A.J.” He stepped closer, keeping his gaze locked to hers. “I’m a personal trainer. My hobbies are hitting the gym and taking my dog for a run.” A.J. kind of reminded Meg of Rocky Balboa.
“That’s great,” she said, relieved she had something to talk to him about. “What kind of dog do you have?”
“She’s a boxer, and she’s a great workout partner. Without her, I would have never achieved these.” Before she knew what was happening, A.J., the man she’d met thirty seconds ago, lifted his shirt to reveal his rock-hard six-pack abs.
Embarrassment sent heat rushing to her cheeks. “Oh…well…congratulations.” Congratulations? Did she really just congratulate the man on his abs?
Still holding his shirt up, A.J. asked, “Would you like to touch them?”
Meg’s hands recoiled up to her chin. “Thanks, but I make it a rule not to touch a man’s abs on the first date,” she choked out. Elliot had promised her a group of intelligent men who were future-husband material. If this was any indication, she’d made a huge mistake…or Elliot didn’t understand what most women were looking for in a man. A nice, normal guy. Was that too much to ask?
A.J. shrugged and dropped his shirt, and before either of them could say anything else, another man approached, and A.J. strutted away looking pleased with himself.
She tried to focus on the man in front of her introducing himself, but she couldn’t stop replaying the humiliating encounter she’d just had. She took a deep breath. What was this guy’s name again? He looked like Zac Efron. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a teacher.”
Hope inflated in her chest. “That’s awesome. My brother’s a teacher. What do you teach?”
“Fifth grade, but I’m hoping to quit soon to start my own nightclub.”
The bubble burst. “Interesting choice. Um, well, that sounds just as rewarding. You’ll be changing lives.”
He smiled and nodded. Obviously, her comment had flown right past him.
She could practically feel the heat of the cameras recording her reaction in high definition.
After meeting an accountant, a firefighter, and a couple of entrepreneurs, they began running together. A few of the guys seemed nice, but as she expected, none of them caused even the slightest stir in her heart. Maybe she did need Elliot’s help after all, because he was the only man here who she couldn’t stop thinking about.
Chapter Five
After meeting all the men and doing a few reshoots, Meg’s feet ached and her cheeks hurt from her counterfeit smile. She’d wanted to slip off her shoes and go to bed. Instead, Carla led her into a hotel suite with a laptop on the desk and stacks of video equipment in every corner, where she asked her question after question about her night and the men she’d met. When Meg would forget one of their names, Carla would hold up the man’s head shot to remind her.
“I think that’s about it,” Carla finally said. “I know it’s late, but I wanted to talk while everything was fresh in your mind.”
Meg yawned. “No problem. Where’s Elliot?”
Carla narrowed her eyes. “He’s conducting interviews with the guys. Why?”
Because she liked having him around, but after seeing the look on Carla’s face, Meg wasn’t going to admit that. Maybe it was because he’d been at the theater, in her real world, but she felt more at home with him. “Because I want to yell at him for roping me into this.”
Carla laughed. “He has that effect on women.”
Right on cue, Elliot walked through the door, a huge grin on his face. Maybe he’d had an espresso or something. She needed some of whatever he was drinking. “You did great, Meg. The guys are crazy about you. Some great choices, right? What did you think? Will you be ready to film the decision ceremony in the morning?”
“I already need to choose?” She barely knew the guys. “I’m supposed to make a decision based off that?”
“We need you to cut seven and keep three.”
She swallowed. How would she do this? But then again, what did it matter? She was simply going through with this for the theater. “Okay. I guess I would keep Gabe.” He worked for a non-profit that sent aide to developing countries. Surely, that had to be a good sign. “And Peter, the accountant.” He seemed smart and like someone she might know in Alna. “That means I need one more.”
Carla shot Elliot a look.
“What?” Had Meg done something wrong? Had she failed some kind of test?
Elliot groaned. “You picked the most boring guys. We need someone in there to spice things up.”
“I picked the most normal guys.” As far as she knew anyway. She’d only spent a few minutes with each of them.
Carla crossed her arms. “How do you feel about adding A.J. to that list?”
Elliot nodded, and Meg suspected that he and Carla had talked about this before they’d come in the room.
“The guy who showed me
his abs. No way.” Hadn’t Elliot told her this was a classy show? What was classy about A.J.? “He’s out. When we film the episode where we visit my hometown, I don’t want to worry about him flashing some old ladies at the theater.”
Elliot laughed. “They might enjoy it.”
Carla wiggled her eyebrows. “You can’t deny he’s hot.”
Her gaze met Elliot’s, and he shrugged. “A.J. has my vote.”
Meg thought through the other seven possibilities. Though none of the others had flashed her, none had impressed her, either. Truth was, she didn’t like any of them. And she was too tired to argue. “Fine. Whatever. A.J. the ab-flasher is in.”
“Perfect,” Elliot said. “Thank you. You won’t regret it.”
But she was already beginning to regret all of this. Couldn’t she have found an easier, less painful, way to raise money for the theater—like donating an organ or something?
Carla looked at her clipboard. “I think we got all the shots we need for the night. You can take your microphone off now.”
She let out a deep breath. “Great.”
Carla pulled out her phone. “I need to make a few calls to get ready for tomorrow.”
When she left, Elliot turned to Meg and cocked his head. “How are you holding up?”
“I guess I thought you’d just be following me around with a camera. Who knew fake dating could be such hard work?”
He frowned. “I feel kind of bad about talking you into A.J. You don’t have to choose him. Maybe there’s another contestant who’s a better fit. Tell me what you want in a guy?”
Oh no. This had been what she was afraid of. Carla and Elliot pushing her into choosing A.J. was one thing, having to actually talk to Elliot about dating these guys was another. “Elliot, I don’t want to—”
“Trust me. Maybe I can help you. Imagine that I could build you a dream man. Describe him to me. Tell me exactly what he would be like.”
Seeing that determined look Elliot had had in his eye, the same one she’d seen the day he showed up at the theater, she sighed. Maybe she could get this over with so that she could go to bed. “Let’s see. He’d be honest, hard-working.” She searched for more. After her last break-up, she’d given up on finding the right guy. “I guess he would need to be sweet, but also not a pushover. I would want him to be able to tell me when he didn’t agree with me.”
“See,” he said, a smug look on his face. “This is great. Now I want you to close your eyes.”
She laughed. “What? Here? I might fall asleep.”
“I’m serious. Picture him in your mind.”
Was he really going to make her do this? “You’re getting bossier by the day.”
“It’s part of my job description. Now, close them!”
“Fine.” She shut her eyes and tried to imagine the kind of man she could envision spending her life with.
“What are you picturing?”
A man came instantly to mind. A man with a warm smile and kind eyes. He looked a lot like…Elliot. Her eyes opened wide, and her heart thudded wildly in her chest.
“Come on, Meg,” Elliot said. “What would he look like?”
“I…don’t know.” This was ridiculous. Elliot wasn’t what she wanted. He was pushy and cocky and married to his job. Not to mention, he worked in the entertainment industry. She’d promised herself she’d never go down that road again. He was the opposite of what she wanted.
She cleared her throat. “Thanks for trying, but I don’t think it’s working.” Right. That’s why she felt short of breath.
He shrugged. “It was worth a shot. Maybe I’m losing my touch.”
She bit the inside of her lip and did her best to ignore her feelings that would only lead to trouble.
****
Elliot stood behind a monitor and watched as Meg handed the advertising executive the last plane ticket home. She stood on the beach in her bare feet, and her hair and the skirt of her dress fluttered in the sea breeze. She gave the contestant a sympathetic look and a squeeze of the hand.
Even on the screen of the monitor, she looked beautiful, ethereal even.
They’d wrapped late last night after conducting interviews with Meg and the guys.
He knew Meg was exhausted. How could she not be? But she didn’t look tired, and she never complained. Only laughed in that easy way she had when she was calling him bossy.
He felt someone lift one side of the headset from his ear. “Why are you smiling like that?” Carla asked, breaking him out of his trance.
Elliot tensed and then pulled the headset around his neck. “I wasn’t smiling, was I?”
“Like an idiot.” No one could dish it out like Carla.
“The late nights must be getting to me.”
Carla lifted her coffee cup toward the monitor. “I don’t think he was expecting to get cut.”
The man stood on the beach with his mouth still hanging open. The three men who didn’t get a ticket got to stay for another round. So far, all of Elliot’s instincts about Meg were turning out to be spot on. The camera loved her, and the men were crazy about her.
He put the headphones back on. Each remaining man was directed to tell Meg how he felt about being chosen to stay.
When A.J. approached, Meg’s brow wrinkled as if she were afraid he would take off another article of clothing.
“Meg,” he said, his expression serious. “I knew we had a deep, soul connection last night. I’m pumped that you felt it too. I hope that someday I can introduce you to my dog and that we can all go on a run together.”
Elliot rolled his eyes. He almost felt bad for talking Meg into choosing him, but the guy would be great for ratings.
Somehow Meg managed to keep it together and gave him a sweet smile and a nod. She was an even better actress than he’d expected.
Knowing Meg would never choose A.J., that left them with only two real candidates, and he had to make sure Meg chose one of them. But neither of them were good enough for her. Not even close. He couldn’t deny that Meg was different from the other women they’d cast. She was funny and real and beautiful, and she needed someone who appreciated her for who she was. These guys seemed interested, but he could tell they didn’t really see her like he did.
The thought formed a tight knot in his chest. He’d cast the men himself. He couldn’t let his feelings for a contestant ruin things. He had a show to produce. He needed to prove himself this season.
As the director yelled cut on the last shot, Elliot removed his headphones and stood.
Carla walked with him toward Meg and the men. “I’ll bet you twenty bucks she goes with Gabe.”
Normally, he would have taken the wager, but this time it didn’t feel right. Envisioning Meg with Gabe or any of them made him feel sick. “Still too early to tell.”
Carla gave him a sideways glance. “Well, you better hope she chooses one of them. The network is getting antsy. They don’t need more angry Facebook groups talking about boycotting the show.”
Some of their fanatical viewers were unhappy that the last few seasons hadn’t ended in happily-ever-after. “Ratings are still good.” Okay…decent. They’d steadily declined since the first two seasons, but surely the network’s threats were just that.
When they reached Meg, the three remaining contestants hovered around her.
“Great job, guys,” Elliot said. “Why don’t you get some lunch?”
Meg walked over. “So what’s on the agenda for today?”
“Do you enjoy fishing?” Carla asked.
She grinned. “Love it. My dad used to take me fishing in a farm pond outside of Alna. I hope I’m not wearing this.” She looked down at the blue dress that fit her just right.
“We’ll get you changed into something more fitting for deep sea fishing.” Carla said, glancing at her phone.
Meg opened her mouth, but Carla held up a finger. “Hold that thought. I have to take this.”
As Carla walked away, Meg frowned. “Sound
s fun, but is this just another excuse for A.J. to take his clothes off?”
Elliot laughed. “A.J. doesn’t need an excuse to take his shirt off. It’ll be fun. You’ll go with all the guys, and then pick one for a date tonight.”
She frowned. “Just two of us?”
What was she so afraid of? “That’s how a date usually works. Of course, you’ll also have a full crew with you.”
“This is going to be painfully awkward, isn’t it?”
He wished he could take her away from all of this tonight. Whisk her off to a tiny island restaurant no one knew about. “Meg, we’re making a dating show. You have to date.”
She sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
The other women on One True Love had been excited about filming. Despite his own reservations about watching Meg date another man, he needed to kick it up a notch if he wanted Meg to fall for one of these yahoos. It was the only way to save the show and his father’s legacy.
Chapter Six
Standing on the back of a white boat with Happy Daze painted on the side, Meg forced a smile. The combination of the sun and the fake smiling was beginning to give her a headache. So far, deep sea fishing involved the guide setting up the rods and reels for Meg and the guys, and the men trash talking about who was going to catch the biggest fish—even though none of them had actually done anything. She’d be surprised if they would be willing to touch a fish if they caught one.
A.J. had spent the rest of his time rubbing shiny suntan lotion on his already tanned torso. Gabe had dominated the conversation with a long story about riding a donkey into a remote village in Belize. And Peter had stayed relatively quiet but was looking a little green.
Stepping over a camera man who was crouched in a corner, she approached Peter. “Do you by chance get motion sickness?”
He swallowed hard and nodded. “But I’m fine, really. Perfectly fine.”
No one spoke. The men just stared at their fishing poles. Elliot had told her if they ran out of things to talk about, to ask about their lives at home or their families. It couldn’t hurt. The silence was becoming uncomfortable. She looked down the side of the boat at Gabe and A.J., and then, back to Elliot. “My dad and brother used to take me fishing. Are you all close to your families?”
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