Read Love 'Em or Leave 'Em Online
Authors: Angie Stanton
Love 'Em or Leave 'Em
Table of Contents
Angie Stanton
This title was previously published by Avalon Books; this version has been reproduced from Avalon Books archive files.
This is for you, Mom.
I miss you dearly.
Special thanks to my amazing screwball family, Ed, Kristi, and Kevin. You make my days worth living.
This book wouldn't have been possible without my incredible critique group and the extraordinary women of WisRWA Madison.
Thanks to my numerous girlfriends; you make life so much fun and are always willing to kick me in the butt when I'm down. A special call out to the women from "Not the Book Club Club," who will never see this, because they don't like to read.
This story could not have been written without the reality television genre. You make a girl wonder, What if it were me? And finally I thank all the good-looking quarterbacks in the NFL who make women want to watch football.
Ashley tried to pinpoint exactly how she'd gotten into this mess. As the limo cruised past the palatial estates along the beaches of Southern California, she flipped open her phone and hit Redial. Within seconds, a voice came on the line.
"You can't call me now. You're not even supposed to have a phone"
"Kelli, what on earth was I thinking? How did I let you talk me into this?" Kelli, her trusted friend, knew her most embarrassing moments and deepest secrets.
"Where are you, Ashley? Tell me exactly."
"You know I would do anything for you, but this goes beyond the limits of friendship." Decked out in a black silk designer gown she'd never seen before tonight, Ashley sat with the phone to her ear. The cutest shoes adorned her feet. Thin black straps crisscrossed daintily over her feet and tiny rhinestones sparkled like diamonds.
"Ashley?"
"I'm in the car-I mean, the limo. We're driving by big houses. I might throw up" She was moments away from her appearance in the latest version of a television reality dating show titled "Love 'Em or Leave 'Em." "I hate these shows."
"I know, but you're doing me the biggest favor in the world. I owe you big-time. Think chocolate martinis."
She was saving Kelli's job. At the last moment, one of the contestants had arrived at the pre-show meeting with a full-blown case of chicken pox. Makeup covered the girl's face so thick it could be scraped off with a butter knife. The pock-faced girl had begged the producers to allow her to stay on, but with no success. So Kelli had pleaded with Ashley to save both the day and Kelli's job as casting director.
Ashley leaned back and tried to relax. She stared through the tinted sunroof at the night sky as she spoke into the phone. "What am I doing? Yesterday I was searching the want ads for a new job. Today I'm with a group of young single bimbos fighting for the hand of some desperate bachelor who probably only wants a quick tumble, or his fifteen minutes of fame."
"Get ahold of yourself. You can do this. Remember the plan? All you have to do is behave yourself, keep under the radar-"
"And I'll be off this stupid show tonight. You know this goes against everything I believe in. Since when did it become okay to go on a television game show to decide the rest of your life? To fall in love in six short weeks during sweeps to keep America entertained? It isn't right. Who possibly believes these shows are reality?"
Ashley knew, from all the pre-planning Kelli did for the network, that they planned these farces down to the last detail so they would come off without a glitch. Each girl was chosen for the harem of airheaded Barbie dolls for a specific reason.
"I understand how you feel. Hang in there, and if everything goes as planned, you'll be off the show tonight."
"I hate this."
"I know, and I'm sorry. If I knew of any other way, I would have taken it. You're my last resort and I'm eternally grateful. Now listen up. I want you to pull yourself together. You look great and you're going to be fine"
Ashley glanced down at her quickly polished self. Kelli had steamrolled her to get ready in time. "I'm going to call you again later so I can whine and you can grovel some more"
"No you're not. Now tuck the phone away, and don't let anyone know you have it. Take a few deep breaths and enjoy the moment. You look great! Try to enjoy yourself."
"Not likely. I'll see you tomorrow. At least I'd better. Enjoy my suffering and pain, because this will never happen again." She flipped the phone shut and slipped it into her tiny handbag, took her prescribed breaths, and glanced back down at her feet.
Her toes looked majorly good, thanks to a pedicure the week before. A makeup artist had crafted a masterpiece on her normally plain, girl-next-door looks. Her medium-blond hair, however, could have used more time. She viewed herself as more of a casual girl. Never much makeup. Her at-home attire was usually a long T-shirt and loose shorts with her favorite pair of comfortable orange flip-flops. Definitely not classy.
The limo slowed and turned onto a long, brick-paved drive ending in a large circular area in front of a beautiful mansion. The whole scene was right out of a magazine spread depicting a Spanish countryside villa.
Oh geez. Cameras were everywhere. How could she have forgotten the cameras? She hated this even more.
Please let me survive this and get out with my sanity intact, if not my pride. Ashley would rather slide through life unaware and alone than flaunt herself in front of the cameras looking like a desperate debutante. Please let this be painless and as short as possible.
The limo rolled to a stop between two large light stands. Tripods held three cameras and two more were handheld. A few feet from her door a large figure loomed.
Oh no, there he is.
He was tall, over six feet, and broad across the shoulders. His posture commanded attention as he waited, one hand casually in his pocket. He appeared lean and fit, with narrow hips and long, lanky legs. Her heart rate increased as she took in his confident stance. She couldn't see his face, but he seemed attractive in shadow.
Okay, this might not be half bad. Hanging out with some hot guy would certainly soften the blow. There were a lot worse ways to spend her time.
Ashley wondered who he was. All Kelli would say was that he was well-known and liked by everyone.
There was a certain kind of guy Ashley preferred, and her type most certainly wouldn't be the kind to put himself on television to find a date.