Accept This Dandelion Read online

  Renee blinked. She had been concentrating so hard on the audition process that she hadn’t really paid much attention to the details the media released.

  “No, I guess I haven’t.” She adjusted her microphone to see Chuck better.

  “Accept…this…Dandelion,” Chuck said slowly. “What do you think that means?”

  Renee sat speechless. She mentioned her favorite flower was a dandelion during the audition. Was there a connection? Impossible. She hadn’t heard who the bachelor was yet and surely he hadn’t seen the tape. Perhaps the producer thought her clever after all, and her answer sparked some semblance of inspiration in him.

  “Hmm.” Renee filled the dead space while she processed. “I guess it means deep down everyone is really just a weed.”

  Chuck laughed. “I’ve been called a lot of things, but never a weed. Okay, Renee. You didn’t know the name of the show. Do I get to break the news to you as to who the bachelor is?”

  Chuck knew?

  “I wouldn’t dream of letting it come from anyone else,” Renee played along.

  “Oh, goody goody.” Chuck clapped loudly enough for the microphone to pick up his action. “It came out over the newswire this morning. The TV station sent a press release announcing the one and only…” Chuck paused. “Ben McConnell will be handing out the…well, dandelions, I guess.”

  Renee’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “She’s speechless,” Chuck said in his loud, boisterous voice. “Speechless, folks. What do you think, Renee? Is Ben McConnell the love of your life?”

  Renee raised her eyebrows. She remembered newspaper articles she’d read on Ben McConnell. “Ben the Party Boy,” they said. “Ben and His Babes.” He may be a smart, good-looking businessman, but he certainly wasn’t Renee’s type. And she wasn’t his typical woman of the moment either.

  “Well,” she stammered, “I can’t say that I’ve ever met him so…who knows?”

  “There you have it folks, Renee Lockhart, our own midday host, might be the next Mrs. McConnell. The first of many, I’m sure.” Chuck laughed.

  Renee forced a giggle as Chuck introduced the next song and turned their microphones off.

  “Man, too bad Claudia didn’t stick around long enough to witness this.” Chuck took his headphones off. “You and Ben McConnell…she really would have gotten a kick out of that.”

  Renee wasn’t sure how to respond so she smiled and excused herself from the studio. Being on TV would bring a lot of surprises. She didn’t know who she thought the bachelor would be, but she certainly hadn’t been expecting local womanizer, Ben McConnell.

  Renee shrugged. No big deal. She wanted to fall in love, but a finding a life partner wasn’t her main purpose for this adventure.

  * * *

  Ben shook his head. He had a lot of work to do before the show began taping, but he couldn’t seem to concentrate. This bachelor business should be a breeze. He figured the TV station was using him for ratings, and he was okay with that. They expected a good show, and he planned to give it to them. He didn’t think anyone involved really expected him to fall for someone. He had them all fooled. Deep down, Ben really wanted to be in love.

  Sure, he had more money than he needed, and a different woman on his arm each weekend. He enjoyed his life. He simply desired a woman to spend it with. The reason he had a different lady with him every time he turned a corner was because none of the women he met were right for him. He enjoyed playing around and testing the waters within the city, but ultimately, if he found the right girl, he would change his ways.

  Ben wanted a different kind of woman. Someone who was beautiful on the outside, but also someone who didn’t know her own beauty. She needed to stand up for herself, and be a person in her own right. He was tired of women who tried to cater to his wants in hopes of sticking around. Ben wasn’t sure he could even describe what he wanted in a companion. But he knew that when he found her, he would recognize it. He just had to keep looking until he did.

  He was excited over being on the show, though he remained nonchalant about it to anyone who asked. He had even insisted on being part of the casting process. If he had a future as the local Bachelor, he had to have a say in who he would date from day one. When he placed the stipulation on his appearance, the TV station hadn’t even blinked. Those organizing the show wanted him, and they were willing to do anything to get him. The only compromise they asked was for none of the women to know of his involvement until the selections were in place.

  Ben thought about the women he helped choose for the show. A dozen would be vying for his affection. He wondered if the city had more to offer than those who came in to audition or if the girls who showed up were good representations of the area. It didn’t matter. He had hopes that he could make one of them his wife. Since he committed to going through with the dating game show, he realized it would be embarrassing to walk away without someone’s hand in his.

  Clara might be a possibility. She had legs a mile long and blonde hair hanging down to her waist. Besides, she indicated an interest in the outdoors, something Ben always enjoyed.

  Or Tracy. Tracy had bright red, curly hair, and Ben hoped her heart would burn as brightly as her fiery locks. Something about the passion of a redhead intrigued him.

  But Eva was the real beauty of the bunch. Her dark hair glistened under any light, and he thought it might even glow under the dim light of the moon. And her big doe eyes could easily draw a man in and keep him. Ben hoped she had depth to her.

  Ben was also curious about Renee. He smiled as he remembered her audition. She didn’t seem to be able to say anything right and in a way, it was cute. The producer hadn’t wanted her on the show, but something told Ben he would never know what she would say next. And he liked that.

  * * *

  The next week flew by as Renee busily prepared for the show. She had to get a long list of clothing items because the things requested were not attire she had readily available. As the date of the first show taping approached, Janice let her search through her own closet to help her fill the requirements.

  “What’s a cocktail dress?” Renee pictured the bridesmaid’s gown she had in her wardrobe from her sister’s wedding.

  “It’s something with a little glitz.” Janice held up a shiny sequined ensemble.

  “How do you sit in that?” she asked. It looked tight and revealing.

  “That’s not the point.” Janice shook the garment in front of her, nearly blinding Renee in the process. Renee pushed it aside and dove back into Janice’s closet. Janice was several years older than Renee, and she had a full wardrobe.

  “What about this one?” Renee asked, picking out a deep blue gown shimmering under the dim light in the room.

  Janice shrugged. “It’s all right, I guess. I wore it to prom back in the…well…let’s just say I wore it to prom.”

  Renee smiled and held the dress up in front of her. The color brought out her blue eyes. She imagined herself walking up to Ben and spouting off some witty line, catching his attention immediately. She didn’t plan to fall in love. Though, if it happened, she had to admit, she’d be thrilled. Now that she knew Ben McConnell was the bachelor, she wasn’t even half expecting any type of connection. And her ultimate goal was to promote herself and land a spot on the morning show. When she auditioned for the local Bachelor, she had guilt because she wouldn’t be appearing on the program for the “right reasons,” but knowing who the gentleman was going to be, it didn’t really bother her anymore. She knew his type, and she wasn’t it. Her heart wouldn’t be involved at all. She could make a name for herself and let her personality shine through, hopefully enticing the city to want to hear more from her in the morning slot at the local radio station.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The night of the first taping arrived all too soon. Renee wasn’t sure she would ever be ready, even if she had years to prepare. But she acquired the items listed on the information sheet and prepared a few things to say to Ben
McConnell when she met him. She didn’t want to come across a total fool.

  She thought about what she might say long and hard. After all, the initial impression needed to be a lasting one if she hoped to survive the first night. She had it all worked out. On the national Bachelor show, girls rode up in limos and made a grand entrance to meet the man of their dreams. On the local show, Renee understood some of the glamour had to be scaled back. Tonight, Ben would hang out on the set, within the TV studio building, and wait for each introduction. The girls would meet him one by one then mingle in the adjacent set until he arrived and started the real party. Later, he would take the women on dates at other locations across the city.

  First, Renee had to let the studio have their way with her hair. She wore the blue dress from Janice’s closet, but the makeup crew had to get her “TV ready.” She hoped to have more input later in the program…if she made it any farther. But for the first night, the crew was determined to demonstrate to her what would work for the camera.

  Renee watched as they put layers of foundation on her face. She went from having a fresh look to being heavily laden with makeup. She wasn’t sure she could stand up beneath its weight. She actually liked the curls they placed in her normally stick straight hair, but the amount of hairspray they used made it so hard it could serve as a legal helmet.

  Renee tried not to smile or even blink for fear of cracking the makeup as she waited her turn to meet the legendary Ben McConnell. Her palms grew clammy as she began to run her lines over and over in her head.

  She planned to ask Ben to close his eyes from off camera before she approached him. Once she was in front of him, she would speak and inquire if her voice sounded familiar. If he recognized her from her radio show…jackpot. But even if he didn’t, she could put herself on the local map as an on-air personality. From that point on, viewers would know who she was and would associate her with radio.

  Renee waited in the dark corner to the side of the set. Several other women chatted nearby, all made up more than Renee. The difference was, they looked comfortable in the finery. Renee was most certainly not.

  The producer, Mike, occasionally led another stunning woman off to meet Ben. Renee looked forward to getting to know the other women. She figured they were all nice, but she was certain she was way out of their league based on the competition she spied. She would stick out like a sore thumb among them.

  “Lockhart.” Mike returned to the dark corner. “Renee Lockhart.” He glanced up from his clipboard and caught her eye. She wiped her palms absentmindedly down her dress and wobbled forward. She wasn’t used to wearing heels either, but they were listed among the requirements.

  “Right this way.” Mike squinted at her face as if he didn’t recognize her from the auditions. “Your bachelor awaits.” As they arrived to the edge of the brightly lit stage, Renee took in the living room-like setting. It appeared formal, yet cozy. A woman in a sequined dress much like the one in Janice’s closet left the area. Ben turned and watched her leave and then nodded his head. It was her turn.

  Renee was off set and in the dark. There was no way Ben could see her yet. When the producer gave her a nudge, she paused and reminded herself of her plan.

  “Ben…close your eyes.”

  Ben raised his eyebrows and smiled. “I like the sound of this.” He gave in to her request.

  Renee took a step forward and hesitated. Everything she planned to say was at the tip of her tongue. She hadn’t forgotten the lines she carefully formed over the past few days. But suddenly, they seemed hollow and empty. She made this show all about her, and it wasn’t right.

  The show wasn’t about her or her career at all. It was about this man…standing in front of her in the living room set…his eyes closed in anticipation.

  Renee approached Ben faster than the other women. He wasn’t watching anyway. Once in front of him, she allowed herself a moment to study him. He was handsome up close. His hair so dark it was nearly black and skin so tan you wouldn’t have guessed he was from the Midwest. She couldn’t see his eyes, and she was glad. If he opened those piercing brown eyes she had seen in the papers, she would surely lose her nerve.

  Instead, she reached out and grabbed the colorful handkerchief sticking out of the breast pocket of his suit jacket. He must have sensed the slight tug because the lines around his eyes creased.

  Renee made use of the handkerchief, wiping it firmly across her lips. “You’ve heard a lot of things from a lot of women in your life.” She wiped her eyes between words. “You’ve listened to plenty even today.” Renee paused and folded the cloth in a different way to have clean space with which to work. “What you are going to hear from me,” she continued as she spit into the handkerchief, “is the truth. Nothing but the truth.”

  At the sound of the spitting, Ben opened his eyes without Renee’s permission. He looked from her to his handkerchief and back at her. She wiped the spit-laden fabric across her cheek, removing more of the makeup.

  “This,” Renee said, circling her face. “This isn’t me. I want to make sure you understand what you see is what you get.” She wiped her other cheek again. “The truth.” She folded the cloth and stuffed it into his breast pocket.

  Ben opened his mouth as Renee brushed past him and walked into the dark on the other side of the set.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Ben ran his hand through his dark hair, feeling the gel the production crew had placed before the taping began. It was crunchy and not the way he liked it. He was halfway through meeting the twelve women who would participate in the dating game show, and he was perplexed.

  He remembered Renee Lockhart from her audition, and the several times he studied her picture since. She was a fresh-faced woman who puzzled him, though he didn’t know much about her yet. When he heard her voice from across the studio stage, he was excited to see her again. He was intrigued by what she might do or say when she wanted him to close his eyes. However, when she came out onto the studio floor and stood before him, she wiped off all her makeup right in front of him. What kind of woman did that? On TV, no less.

  Ben didn’t know what to think, but knew he would have a hard time concentrating on the next six bachelorettes when all he wanted to do was move on to the next stage where he could talk to the few women he already met…specifically Renee. He had a burning desire to find out what made her tick. If nothing else resulted from this little program, he would figure her out.

  * * *

  Renee crossed and uncrossed her legs. The dress she picked was certainly more comfortable than the one Janice recommended she wear, but it wasn’t something she enjoyed lounging around in. She waited on the second set with half a dozen others as additional contestants began trickling in after the short taping break ended. Renee felt a little silly and definitely out of her league. Being the only one without makeup made her feel naked. In radio, she often spoke her mind. But no one recorded radio broadcasts. On TV, anything she spoke could be played over and over again. She needed to be careful.

  And though she wondered what kind of impression she made on Ben and how the viewers would see her, Renee also did not regret her actions. She had a moment of clarity before walking out to meet Ben. She wanted to raise her public profile, yes, but she started to regret the goal. She didn’t know Ben McConnell, and it wasn’t right for her to judge him before they got acquainted. Perhaps he really wanted to find love. Renee was single…there was nothing wrong with giving him a chance. Who knew? Maybe she could kill two birds with one stone.

  Renee would never apologize for being herself. Wearing makeup and fussy clothing and heels wasn’t her. If Ben wanted her to stick around, he needed to understand that upfront. The more Renee thought about how she presented herself, the more pride she felt. She probably came off as an oddball, but maybe she would stand out. The rest of the women seemed similar with their bright white smiles, long legs, and dazzling hairstyles.

  If Renee wanted to survive the first night, she needed to set herse
lf apart from the rest and intrigue the bachelor. In order to be seen as endearing to anyone, including the listening public, she needed time. One evening would not be enough to put her name out into the public or find out if she and Ben were a match.

  The muted chatter turned to high-pitched squeals. Renee quickly stood from her stiff, seated position on the couch. Had someone had seen a mouse? While she danced around on the floor, she searched near her feet and held up her skirt. The rest of the women moved to the other side of the set and surrounded bachelor Ben.

  Renee stopped her dance as she realized she was alone. So much for not being the show’s fool. She slowly lowered her dress, raised her chin, and planted her eyes directly on Ben. He gave her a slow, amused smile over the heads of surrounding contestants. Renee joined them and hid in the back in order to allow time for her face to return to its normal shade. She wondered if the cameras caught her little dance or if they had been too busy filming the bachelor’s entrance and contestant’s enthusiastic welcome.

  “Ladies!” Ben waved his hand in the air. “Thank you so much for coming. I can’t wait to talk to you more. Throughout this evening, I promise to give each of you a few minutes of undivided attention. The goal here is to find someone with whom I can spend the rest of my life. I hope it’s one of you. Before I dispense any dandelions, I’d like to learn more about you. Be patient with me and everyone will get a turn. In the meantime, have fun and chat amongst yourselves.” Ben gave them a winning smile and offered his elbow to the nearest girl. He led her off into a corner of the room where a few cameras gathered to capture the one-on-one conversation.

  Renee resumed her station on the scratchy prop couch. It appeared much nicer than it felt. A couple of women sat near Renee, their conversation revolving around Ben.

  “Isn’t he gorgeous?” The closest woman glanced over her shoulder at the bachelor.

  “And rich.” The other raised her eyebrows.