Falling for You (30 page)
If only it were that easy.
Her friends were no better. They kept reading the cards and picking out which guys they thought she should go out with. She’d played along for the first few weeks, but the novelty had worn off quickly. Now random blind dates didn’t sound so fun. Although, sitting at home — alone — for another Friday night didn’t sound too great, either.
Paige peeled herself off the couch at the sound of her cell phone ringing from inside her purse where she’d left it on the kitchen counter. Probably her mother calling to say hello since she knew Paige would be home and not out on some hot date. Because she sucked. And she was just too afraid of being rejected again.
If these guys had seen her on the show, were they really pursuing her because they wanted to get to know the real her? Or did they just want to see what it was about her that hadn’t been good enough for Brad?
“Hello?” she said, finally digging her phone out of her bag.
“Paige, sweetheart, how are you?”
“Chip? What’s up?” Paige tried but failed to keep the suspicion out of her voice. Sure, Chip had been nothing but nice to her, but she’d seen what he’d done to Cassidy at the finale. Not to mention the lawyers he’d sent after her for breach of contract. If he was calling, it couldn’t be good.
“I wanted to touch base with you and see how you’re getting along now that you’re back to your regular life.”
“Things are a little weird, but I’m doing okay.”
“Great. I’m glad to hear that.” Chip cleared his voice. “So listen. I have a business proposition for you. Turns out that even though you went home in the middle of the show, you stole people’s hearts. I’ve heard you have men coming out of the woodwork for a chance to be with you. So that got me thinking — ”
“Thinking about what?” she interrupted. Chip plotting wasn’t good. Everyone who had any connection to him knew that.
“About having you on another show, of course.”
“I appreciate you thinking of me, but there’s no way I can go back on another dating show. I can’t handle that kind of public rejection again.”
“Well, good news then. It’s not a dating show I had in mind, but something much more exciting. It’s an adventure show.”
“Okay. And you think I’d be good for an adventure show why exactly?” She wasn’t the adventuring type. She was more the stay home, relaxing in the backyard where it was safe kind of girl. How could Chip possibly think she’d be good for an adventure show?
Chip chuckled. “I wouldn’t, exactly. But Cassidy said she’d only do it if you were her partner.”
“Oh.” Now it made sense.
Chip wants Cassidy, not me.
As if he could read her mind, Chip spoke again. “It’s not like that. There were polls going on throughout the show and you always rated very high with viewers.”
“Sure, as the person they’d most like to see go home, right?”
“Wrong. As the person they thought should have stayed. As America’s favorite sweetheart. Have you really not been to the website or forums?”
“I try to avoid them.”
“If you had been to the forums, then you’d already know America loves you almost as much as they love Cassidy and Evan as a couple. So when I was planning this new show and thinking about possible crossover contestants, I instantly thought of you and Cassidy. I know you two would make an awesome team and America would love watching you. Wouldn’t you like another chance to show all the guys out there how awesome you are and how stupid Brad is for letting you go?”
Well, when you put it that way.
“I guess. What exactly do I have to do?”
“Let’s not worry about all those little details now. I need to go back to Cassidy with a solid yes from you and then we’ll get things rolling. Sound good?”
Paige flopped back onto the couch. Was she really going to sign on for another show because Cassidy wanted her to? Did she have a good reason not to have an all-expenses-paid trip with her best friend? “Sounds like I don’t really know what I’m saying yes to.”
“Great! So you’re saying yes. I’ll get back to you in a few days with more details, proposed filming schedule, and location.”
“Chip, wait,” Paige said, cutting in before he got off the phone. She couldn’t really say yes without knowing all those details up front. That would be ridiculous.
“I’ll be in touch soon.”
Paige stared at the phone as it flickered off. This wasn’t good. She just agreed to some kind of adventurous reality show with Cassidy. She was neither ready to be on TV again nor an adventurer.
This should be interesting.
Heather Thurmeier was born and raised in the Canadian prairies, but now she lives in upstate New York with her own personal romance hero (aka her husband) and their two little princesses. When she’s not busy taking care of the kids and an adventurous puppy named Indy, Heather’s hard at work on her next romance novel. She loves to hear from her readers.
~ Heart, humor, and a happily ever after.
Website:
http://heatherthurmeier.com
Email:
[email protected]
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@hthurmeier
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