Ineligible Bachelor (19 page)

“It’s not so bad,” she managed to get out.

Roberto crossed his arms over his chest. “And what were
you
watching.” He dropped his arms, letting his shoulders sink. “I’m finished.”

“No,” Freddy said, swiping her hand in the air. “Not at all.” She hoped she sounded more convincing than she felt.

“What went on in there?”

Roberto’s grim voice shattered the last vestige of confidence Freddy had gathered around her. “Nothing,” she assured. It was a lie, but not a very big one. Much like the kiss they shared—a kiss, but not a very passionate one. “We talked. That’s all.”

“That’s all?”

“It’s not very private around here with people lurking with cameras, and boom mikes appearing from trees.” She put her hands on her hips. “We talked. Is that so bad?”

Roberto pointed to the laptop screen. “Depends on the spin.”

“Nothing happened,” she repeated.
Although, I would have liked something more.

“Nothing better have.” He spaced his thumb and forefinger an inch apart and stuck it near her face. “From today on, someone is going to be this close to you at all times.”

She could see the anger on his face, framed by his fingers. “Okay. I get it.”

“I will not lose the network spot.” He glared at Freddy. “I don’t have to remind you about the contract you signed, do I?”

“For the thousandth time, no.”

“So then we agree.”

Freddy drew down her brows. “On what?”

She saw triumph run across Roberto’s face. “That I’m in charge.”

She shrugged her answer. “I guess.”

“And being in charge, here’s my decision. You will post a comment on the web.”

“Okay. Facebook or Twitter?”

“It’s beyond that. Staff has started an
Eligible Bachelor
counterblog—
EB
for short. You’ll be posting to it regularly over the course of the series.”

“I will?”

“You or your designated ghostwriter, Annie, will. I trust her, and you’ll have to trust her as well. She’ll discuss the postings with you before they go up.”

“Okay.” The word came out more like a question, since Freddy suspected more was coming.

“And she will guide the posting in a way that will add to the show’s drama, depending on the ratings we had for the week. Are we clear on that, Ms. McAllister?”

She looked at the laptop screen and then back at Roberto. He was trying to turn her to stone with his glare. She sighed. “What am I supposed to post today?”

Roberto held out his right hand, and Annie slipped a sheet of paper into it. He handed it to Freddy. “Word for word.” He motioned to the laptop. “Now type.”

The look that crossed Roberto’s eyes told Freddy she had no choice. In her best two-fingered hunt-and-peck, she read the statement as she typed it onto the
EB
blog:

Hi. I’m Freddy McAllister, Logan’s friend and designated cupid-helper for the series. If you’re reading this, you’re curious about the rumors already swirling around
Eligible Bachelor,
even though we haven’t even finished taping yet.

Where do these leaks come from anyway?

I’d like to set the record straight. Logan and I are here for the same reason—to find his perfect match. And let me tell you straight up, it’s not me. I should know; I’ve known Logan since I was twelve.

I’m sure there will be more rumors and innuendo as the show progresses. I hope you’ll come back often for the real truth, along with a look behind the scenes and inside life here at the mansion.

Gotta run. We’re having elimination in an hour.

Cheers—Freddy

She rested her hands in her lap.

“Now hit enter, Ms. McAllister.” When she did, a satisfied smile replaced Roberto’s glower. “I trust we will have no more covert rendezvous?”

She nodded in agreement.

“So we understand each other then?”

She nodded again.

“Good.” At the door he paused and turned back to face her. “And I also trust tonight’s elimination will be as entertaining as possible.”

She tossed her hand in the air. “Anything for ratings.”

With an exaggerated smile of approval, Roberto left.

Annie didn’t.

“I can get dressed by myself,” Freddy assured her.

“I’m sure you can,” Annie replied, “but from now on, you’re not doing much by yourself, so you better get used to having me around.”

“What are you two doing out here?” Lori stepped out onto the terrace and joined Logan and Madison. “Not plotting to keep yourself on for another month, are you, Madison?”

Madison raised the champagne glass to her lips and looked at Lori over the rim before finishing the champagne in one long drink. She put the empty glass on the stone cap of the patio wall. “I believe we all are plotting something in one way or another.”

Lori walked to Logan and looped her arm around his waist. “Then I need a few minutes with Logan to state my own case.”

Not to be outdone, Madison placed her hand on his shoulder. He saw the women exchange rather venomous looks. “I’m not worried,” Madison replied.

Logan barely listened as they swapped clipped barbs and veiled remarks like two kids, each trying to get the other to back down and say “uncle.” His mind contrasted each of them with Freddy. She had depth of character, while Lori’s and Madison’s personas seemed to run only as deep as the makeup on their faces. Freddy was honest and caring, concerned about the consequences of her actions toward other people; Lori and Madison were more concerned with being here another week.

Madison glared at Lori. “And why are you out here?”

“The crew cleaned up the glass, and I believe they need us inside. They want to start taping again,” she replied in a sickly sweet voice.

Logan had had enough. The venom being exchanged in glares and words was enough to bring down a bear. He stepped out of the dual embraces and opened the French doors leading inside. “Then we shouldn’t keep the production crew waiting.”

Freddy thought her head would explode when she saw Logan walk into the room with Lori and Madison, their arms looped around his waist. He smiled when he saw her, and she had to grab the back of one of the leather chairs to keep from running to him. He looked so incredible in the dark suit he wore. She hoped he didn’t hear her sharp intake of breath when she saw him. Though she couldn’t be sure, she felt it must have boomed in the room as loud as it had in her ears.

He untangled himself from the bachelorettes. “Hi,” he said, reaching her and letting his gaze run slowly down her length. “You wore the dress I put out.” His gaze rose to her eyes. “You look hot.”

“So do you.”

He gestured to her shoulders. “What happened to the bathing suit lines?”

“Makeup.”

“Nice job.”

She smiled, and so did he. It nearly became her undoing. She couldn’t seem to control herself and reached up and touched his shoulder. She felt his muscles tense underneath the high-end suit fabric. He closed his eyes for a moment, as if enjoying the touch as much as she was. Almost at the same time, she realized she couldn’t let the camera crew catch any of it.

“Lint,” she whispered, brushing the fictional material from his shoulder.

He leveled her a hard look, as though she’d awoken him from a pleasant dream. “You’re thinking about lint?”

She grinned in an exaggerated smile. “And about making sure that everything is perfect for TV.”

Just as the ensuing silence began to feel solid around them, Roberto walked into the room, Annie on his heels. He clapped to get everyone’s attention. “People, we’re ready to begin taping the elimination.” He turned to the cameraman. “Get a shot of Logan mingling with the bachelorettes. We’ll open with that and then cut to a shot of Freddy entering.” He turned to Freddy. “You go out into the hall, and make a grand entrance like the matchmaker you’re supposed to be.”

She glanced at Logan. He as looked unhinged as she felt.

In the hallway, she didn’t think she could stand it much longer as she watched the women surround him. She had to detach from the situation. She closed her eyes and sighed. She could do this. For the darn contract. For him. She put her hands over her face and whispered the words that had been echoing inside her brain since Roberto had left her upstairs.

“What in the world am I going to do?”

“You’re going to finish this, that’s what you’re going to do.”

Freddy spun around and saw Annie standing behind her.

“Think of it this way,” Annie added. “In a few weeks, he’ll be back from his dream date and free to do whatever he wants.” She smiled. “With whomever he wants to do it, so stick to the script, and you’ll be fine. I think everything you’ve done so far can be edited into a pretty interesting show.”

Freddy exhaled loudly through her nose. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“I’ve done some reality TV before being hired on for
EB,
and we have some of the best editors in the business. Trust me, this show is going to be great. When you analyze what’s happened, what’s been slowly revealed in the shows we have in the can, and add what can be surmised by the viewers, it’s going to be pretty amazing.”

Freddy shrugged. “I guess anything can get tweaked.”

Annie snickered. “Yeah, tweaked. Is that what they’re calling it now?”

“I don’t speak editing.”

Annie lifted one arched eyebrow as she sat on one of the chairs in the hallway, indicating for Freddy to do the same. “You don’t have to speak editing to see what I see.”

Freddy tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

“The game playing and the great clothes you all get to wear, that’s all fine, but let’s face it, you’re in love with Logan.”

Freddy turned the surprise she felt into a laugh. “No, I’m not,” she denied.

“You’re in love, all right. I can see it every time you’re with him.” Annie crossed her arms with an air of satisfaction. “Most of the crew agrees.”

Freddy frowned. “Even Roberto?”

“This is Roberto’s first foray into directing. He’s more concerned with the ratings than with what’s going on right in front of his nose.”

As Annie stared at her, Freddy felt her face warm. Fortunately, she knew her skin was red enough to hide the blush that undoubtedly accompanied the heat. She wondered exactly what Annie and the crew did see. She thought she’d kept her affection for Logan hidden in public, but maybe not.

“You know, I’ve known Logan for a very long time,” Freddy said in a rush of breath. “There may be something between us, but certainly he doesn’t love me.”

Annie tipped her head and shot Freddy a calculating look. “Frankly, I’m thrilled about the way things are going. It will be quite the finale.”

“How do you know that?”

“I feel it.”

Freddy shook her head. “I get another type of feeling when Roberto threatens lawsuits. A high-profile lawsuit would ruin Logan’s reputation and his career. I won’t risk that.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much. If the rest of the show goes how I think it might,
EB
could get nominated for an Emmy.”

“But it hasn’t even aired yet.”

Annie tapped her temple with her forefinger. “In here it has, and it’s a helluva ending.”

Freddy opened her mouth to respond, then closed it after scrutinizing the woman across from her. The touch of devil in Annie’s eyes made Freddy mull over everything she’d said. And then things began to gel. “You somehow knew I had feelings for Logan right from the beginning, didn’t you?”

“Guilty.”

“And you somehow had a hand in picking us for this show, too, didn’t you?”

Annie’s smile was sly. “Guilty again.”

“You were the one who put up the spoilers.”

“I can’t take all the credit. I did have some help.”

Only one word escaped Freddy’s lips. “Why?”

“There’s a ton of dating shows on air, especially on cable. I wanted this one to be different, more emotional. I read your application, and I could feel how much you cared for him right on the paper. Then I met you the first day filming, and I knew you two were perfect—for the show and for each other. Toss in an impossible situation with forced seclusion in a beautiful mansion, a few beautiful women to bring out both the insecurity and the jealousy, and presto, you have the perfect setting for drama and emotion.”

Freddy felt the blood rush from her head, sure even her sunburned skin was now a nice pasty white. She gripped the arms of her chair. This was a setup right from the start, a scheme to trap her into admitting her feelings for Logan on camera in front of millions of viewers for the ultimate ratings sweep. When the editors pieced together the film to heighten the suspense for each episode, those same viewers would push
EB
to the number one spot. And as long as the producer and director decided let the situation unravel and then build to an emotional climax, it would probably stay there.

It was both brilliant and horrible. Freddy shifted in the chair as the right words eluded her. A tendril of anger curled around her throat, cutting off an angry retort. “Does Logan know about any of this?” she managed to whisper.

“No. It’s better that way. Scheming women play better on camera than conniving men.”