Dandelions on the Road Read online

  He ambled slowly toward Eva. His motions looked practiced. “I’m Aiden.” The man ran his hand through his silken, artificially highlighted, hair.

  Eva grinned. This was a stereotypical ladies man. It was obvious Aiden got what he wanted when it came to women.

  “I’m sure you’ll enjoy getting to know me.”

  Eva tilted her head. Had she heard that right?

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Aiden.”

  “Indeed.” Aiden brushed his hand against her face, gave her a lopsided grin, and strode away.

  Eva watched him go. He would be a challenge. He knew how to work women and she would have to be careful not to get sucked into his oozing charm. Though the fact that he knew what he was doing was obvious, she thought it would be easy enough to see through the façade. Perhaps there was a genuine guy underneath the arrogance and ostentation. She was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

  Eva kept count and Aiden was the eleventh man, one more to go.

  As the last bachelor approached, Eva’s shoulders relaxed. His eyes had a warmth and depth to them.

  “Hi Eva. My name is Kurt. I’m so happy to meet you.”

  Eva shook his warm, soft hand and felt at ease. He exuded peace and she needed that energy after meeting Aiden.

  “Hi, Kurt. I’m so happy you’re here.”

  “I know it might sound strange, but I believe there’s a higher purpose behind everything. I wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t a good reason for it.”

  Eva drew in a breath. “I agree, Kurt. And I can’t wait to learn that purpose.”

  Kurt smiled and Eva melted. He was a nice looking man and only a few inches taller than her. He couldn’t compete with some of the others in terms of his appearance, but with her hand in his, she felt at home.

  “We’ll talk soon.”

  Kurt nodded and walked to the other set.

  Exhaustion settled in. Eva survived meeting twelve amazing men and she couldn’t wait to get to know them better, but she needed a break.

  “Okay, everyone.” Mike took command of the shoot. “Guys, stay where you are, Eva, grab some water and then do an interview with Brian. After that, we’ll bring you all back together for the rest of the taping. Contestants, keep in mind, Brian is the host of the show. He’ll pull you away throughout the evening to get interviews.”

  Eva heard the men talking among themselves on the set next door. Her nerves were shot. She survived meeting the men individually, but soon, she would have to talk to them all at once. All eyes would be on her and she wasn’t comfortable with the attention. But the process would be worth it if she ended up as happy as Ben and Renee.

  BRIAN WATCHED THE meet and greets from behind one of the cameras. Eva’s bright smile and mahogany hair lit the set. None of the men did her justice. Some of them told her she was gorgeous and others commented on how excited they were to meet her after seeing her on the previous show, but none of them recognized how special she was.

  When Mike gave directions, Brian grabbed a bottle of water from a nearby table and took it to Eva. “Need a break?” he asked with an easy smile.

  Eva sighed and returned his grin. “Do I ever. That was really something.”

  “And it’s only the beginning.”

  “Don’t remind me.”

  As the host of the show, he should say something reassuring and comforting, right? “Just try to relax.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re doing great.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  “I mean, once these guys get to know you, trust me…they won’t have a choice but to love you.” Brian chuckled nervously. Did he just say love?

  “Oh, I’m sure plenty of them won’t. I mean, only one man is right for me. I’d be lucky to find him here.”

  Brian nodded. He wanted to tell her to be herself. The person she was happened to be incredible, but he didn’t know her well enough to say such things. As the host, it wasn’t his place to compliment her. “Are you up for an interview?”

  Eva unscrewed the cap from her water and took a sip. “Let’s do it.”

  Brian led her to a corner on the set that held a pair of comfortable chairs. The area was equipped with two cameras and two operators. Brian would bring men over to the corner all evening long, but first, he wanted to get Eva’s impressions after the initial meetings.

  Eva placed the bottle of water under her chair.

  “I wanted to let you know that I’m on your side through all of this insanity. I’ll help in any way possible. I’m going to keep an eye on the set tonight. If you’re ever in a situation and you want out, for any reason, just cross your fingers behind your back, okay?” Brian asked.

  “Got it.” Eva crossed her fingers and slid her hand behind her back.

  “You mean you want out of this interview?” Brian teased.

  Eva brought her hand back around and spread her fingers wide. “Sorry, just practicing.”

  “Ready?”

  She nodded and excitement brightened her expression.

  “I’m just going to jump right in and they can edit however they see fit. So Eva, you just met the twelve bachelors. How do you feel about the show now?”

  “A little overwhelmed, to tell you the truth. I feel very honored and flattered that these men came here to meet me. They all seem great and I’d be lucky to date any one of them, much less all twelve of them.”

  “Is there anyone who stands out?”

  “I don’t want to make too many judgments until I talk with them further,” Eva stated. “But there are a few who certainly caught my attention immediately.”

  “Mind sharing who?” Brian’s heart beat faster in his chest. It was strange watching the action from the side of the set. and now he had to hear the details up close and personal. Why did she make him so nervous?

  “Well, Mitch certainly made an entrance.”

  The cowboy?

  “I’m anxious to find out where he’s from and what makes him tick. And Carlos is very attractive. I enjoyed meeting Cane and I appreciated what Kurt said about his purpose for being here.”

  “So there are several on your radar.”

  “You could say that. Actually, more than several, it’s more like an even dozen.” Eva’s laughter rang through the air.

  Brian joined her. Something about the way she said it made him dissolve into what could only be described as a fit of giggles. He wiped his eyes and tried to control himself. It wasn’t that funny, why was he laughing? “You’re just lucky…” he gasped for air, “that the producers didn’t decide on a baker’s dozen…”

  Eva leaned over and placed her hand on Brian’s knee. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with twelve men. I certainly don’t know what I would do with one more.”

  Brian took a deep breath and glanced down at her hand. Her melodic laughter filled his ears as her touch calmed his outburst.

  “Do you believe your future husband is in that room?” Brian asked in a serious tone.

  “I hope so. I want nothing more than the man for me to be in this building.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  BRIAN WATCHED EVA sip more of her water while he had a short discussion with Mike. He wanted to follow her onto the next set and be part of every conversation she had. He didn’t know what was coming over him. He felt protective of Eva. Sure, he’d known her for a year longer than any man in that room, but he didn’t know much about her. She would probably describe him as an acquaintance or a business associate, not a friend. So why did he suddenly want more? He had a strong desire to know everything about her. Being the host on the show would help him gain access to many of the things he wanted to know. But what good would that do?

  Brian needed to shake Eva and her glittery hair from his mind. He had a job to do. He had interviewed her and now he needed to talk to the men she would date. Several of them would go home tonight so he would only have one shot with them.

  He gave her a few minutes with the bachelors and the c
ameras while he grabbed his own bottle of water. He approached the set and watched from the dark corner behind the camera. Eva sat in the middle of a group of five men. One was talking in a loud voice and waving his hands around. She laughed and another man slapped a nearby contestant on the back.

  Brian wouldn’t bother that group. Instead, he would grab a guy from the sidelines. “Hey, ready for your interview?” he asked Kurt.

  “Sure, sounds good.”

  Kurt followed Brian over to the corner and they sat down.

  “What are your impressions of Eva?” Brian asked.

  “She’s a beautiful woman,” Kurt answered. “She’s everything I hoped for and I look forward to getting to know her better.”

  Brian nodded, nothing spectacular in that answer. “Tell me more about yourself. What do you do for a living?” He wanted background information on each man on camera so the station could piece together items on the contestants.

  “Actually, I’m between jobs.” Kurt wiped his hands on his knees. “I was in school, but I left to…pursue other interests. I guess I just wanted to see what else was out there for me. I don’t know where I’ll end up or what I’ll do, but being on this show gave me a place to start.”

  Brian remembered Kurt’s bio. It stated he was in graduate school. Apparently that changed since his initial casting session. Would a woman like Eva consider a man with no job and no aspirations? Brian doubted it. And there he was…judging again like it was up to him.

  “What do you hope to get from the show?” Brian asked. If any men were there for the wrong reasons, Brian wanted to flush them out sooner rather than later.

  “I’ve always believed that everything happens for a reason. There’s a plan in place, you know? And there’s a purpose for my being on the show. Maybe that purpose is to fall in love with Eva or maybe it’s something else. There’s no way for me to tell at this point. All I can do is go along with the plan laid out before me and hope for the best.”

  Blah, blah, blah. “Okay, thanks, Kurt. You can go back to the set now.”

  Kurt stood and did as he was told. Brian flipped through the bios he laid beside the chair and found Kurt. He put a small X in the top, right corner to help him remember who he’d interviewed. Poor Eva, if Brian thought he was going to get confused after a few conversations, he could only imagine what she was going through.

  THE EVENING FLEW by faster than Eva anticipated. She had all the names straight and there were several men she knew she wanted to keep around for the dates. But first impressions were hard and she didn’t like to judge anyone too quickly.

  Eva noticed Brian sneaking on and off the set periodically. He took a man away to interview him and then returned him after a few minutes. Occasionally, she would catch his eye and he always gave her a reassuring wave and smile. Every time she spied him, a giggle escaped her lips. Brian was the consummate professional. She never saw him make mistakes on the air. The fact that he lost control and couldn’t stop his laughter made him more real to her. She hadn’t seen a man let loose and laugh that way in longer than she could remember, and she liked it.

  His reassurance meant the world to her. She knew she was alone in the room with a dozen bachelors who all wanted her attention, but Brian’s waves and smiles told her she was doing okay. Coming from someone who was experienced in the TV world, it helped.

  There were a few men that Eva wanted to spend more time with before she made decisions for the first dandelion ceremony. She’d spoken with them all individually and in groups, but she was undecided when it came to a couple contestants. Luck was in her favor when she noticed Aiden, Levi and Carlos were standing together near the couch in the center of the room. Eva excused herself from the conversation and headed in their direction.

  “Good evening, gentlemen,” she said as she approached.

  “Oh look, she’s just in time.” Aiden said as he curled his arm up by his side and flexed his muscles.

  “In time for…” Eva was curious.

  “Aiden here was giving us a gun show.” Levi piped in.

  “Gun show?” Eva furrowed her brow.

  “You know you want to feel it.” Aiden kissed his bicep as he pumped his arm. “Go ahead, baby, check out the big guns.”

  Eva stifled a laugh. Was this guy serious? Yes, he was well built and obviously worked out. The last time she spoke with him he talked about his occupation as a personal trainer and this time he was showing off the work he’d done on his body. Was that as far as he went?

  “Um, I’m not sure I’m comfortable handling weapons.” Eva tried to be witty. She wasn’t opposed to muscular men. She liked men who cared about their health, but she didn’t want to feel his arm. It was awkward, especially with the other men in the room.

  “Carlos has some pretty good guns on him too.” Aiden pointed across the circle. “Give those a try.”

  And now he recommended she feel up another man? This had to be a joke?

  Carlos put his hands in his pockets and shuffled his feet on the floor. “I prefer to keep my guns concealed, man.”

  Eva smiled. Carlos was fit, but he came across a little shy too and she liked that.

  “I knew a guy back in college who had calf muscles like you wouldn’t believe. Everyone always asked him where he got those muscles and he had a great story. It goes like this…” Levi launched into another long-winded narrative. Eva talked to him enough times that evening to know no conversation with Levi was ever short.

  She had the information she needed from the three men. She was pretty sure who she’d eliminate. It would still be hard, but in the end, there could only be one. She was worn out from smiling and laughing and she wasn’t sure how much longer her feet would hold up in the high heels. She casually placed her arms behind her back and crossed the fingers on one hand.

  Brian appeared at her shoulder moments later. “Good evening, gentlemen,” he greeted. “Sorry to interrupt.” Levi continued his story without taking a breath. “Eva, could I borrow you for a moment?”

  Eva nodded at each man standing in the circle and made her exit. “Thanks,” she muttered as Brian escorted her off the set to a darker part of the studio.

  “Everything okay?” Brian asked.

  “Fine. I just wanted to test our sign to make sure it worked.”

  “I saw the signal loud and clear.”

  “I know. I think you arrived about five seconds after I crossed my fingers.”

  “Hey, when a damsel in distress calls…”

  “I wasn’t exactly in distress.”

  “No, I suppose not. But one woman in a room full of men all vying for her affection…you never know.”

  Eva laughed. “Okay, so the reason I called you in was because I think I know.”

  “You know?” Brian raised his eyebrows.

  “What I want to do about the men. You know, for the ceremony.”

  “Oh, yes, of course. So you’re ready to move on with the eliminations?”

  “Yes. Can you let Mike know?”

  “Absolutely. Why don’t you hide out here while I take care of that.”

  “That’d be so great. I could use a break.” Eva had no idea how exhausting dating twelve men at once would be.

  “I’m on it. But don’t forget…” Brian held his crossed fingers out before him.

  “I won’t. It worked like a charm the first time. You better watch out or I’ll be using it every five minutes.”

  “Any time.” Brian backed away, holding eye contact. “Any time at all.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  BRIAN WRAPPED UP his interviews with the remaining men after informing Mike that Eva was ready for the elimination portion of the evening. Mike busied himself preparing the set after sequestering Eva in the green room the reporters used to fix their hair and makeup.

  Brian was relieved Eva was out of sight. He could concentrate on the men he needed to interview and not watch her for the signal they worked out. Plus, having her out of the room improved his conce
ntration in general.

  “So, Pete, tell me what it is about Eva that you find attractive.”

  Pete leaned forward in his chair. “Urraaappp. Excuse me.” He beat his fist against his chest.

  Brian tilted his head. Men burped, that was all there was to it. But on TV?

  “You were going to tell me what you found attractive about Eva,” Brian reminded.

  “Yeah, Eva. She’s got some legs on her, am I right?” Pete threw his elbow out in Brian’s direction looking for commiseration.

  Brian hoped Pete would talk about her beautiful eyes or the way her smile lit her face. He wasn’t comfortable condoning the man’s blatant focus on her legs. Granted, they were spectacular, but that was beside the point.

  “Have you enjoyed getting to know her?” Brian asked. A different tactic was better in this situation.

  Pete shrugged. “She’s a classy broad. She’s a woman…I’m a man…you know how it works.”

  The interview wasn’t getting any better.

  “Well, thanks and good luck to you tonight.”

  Pete held his lips tightly together as his cheeks puffed out and a small urp sounded in his throat. At least he held that one in.

  Brian was anxious to see what Eva would do with the twelve men. They weren’t all like Pete, but there were definitely a few gems like him in the bunch. Brian wondered if the staff threw them in for the TV factor. She had to eliminate someone, right? Maybe the audience would get laughs from the losers before they were shown the door.

  If it were up to Brian, there would be more than two men going home that night, but nothing was up to Brian. Any decisions regarding Eva were past due. He could’ve leaned over and asked her out dozens of times during the past year when they chatted over a cute little puppy or an older tomcat, but he lost his chance. And now, he had to help her choose someone else.

  EVA FOLLOWED MIKE from the green room back to the set. The twelve men she met that evening stood in a semi-circle with a pedestal of dandelions in the center of the room. Eva knew what she wanted to do. In fact, the first round of decisions ended up being obvious. But, she didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.