Free Catch Me A Cowboy by Jacquie Underdown Page B

about that. Something inside him said there was potential between them. If he had met her in the local pub, or at a dance, he knew he would have pursued her. Without a doubt. Good old-fashioned chemistry zapped between them and it reared its head the first moment he looked into her honey-brown eyes.
    He also knew, after meeting all of the contestants, that some of them were here for their fifteen minutes of fame, or to further their careers. Many would not move to the country to make a life with him. And that was okay. He’d expected that. And, it made it a little easier to know who to eliminate tonight.

Chapter 12
    Decision time crept up and was upon them. The contestants formed three rows on the grass where they were for hours earlier that morning. Emily’s muscles were ticking. This was unlike her, but standing here, anticipating going home, had her stomach in knots.
    Wil stood beside Missy, looking deeply apologetic, as he called out ten names. Including Emily’s. Her stomach sank. Her ego was dented to know that she had not lasted a single day. But, then again, she was different from the other girls. They were all barely out of nappies and had resumes that said model, personal trainer and weather girl. One woman was even an ex-Playboy Pet.
    Emily and the nine girls were asked to stand in a group to the left of the other contestants. The corner of shame. Looking across at Wil, a pang of disappointment pulsed through her because she wouldn’t get to know him further. Despite this being a reality dating show, he seemed genuinely like a nice man. And when Emily had signed up for this show, that was the last thing she thought she’d be saying.
    She glanced sidelong at the winning group of women—Amber the busty blonde included. They didn’t appear to be the type of women Wil would choose, based on the small glimpse of his personality he offered her today.
    But men were men.
    No changing that.
    â€˜Thank you, ladies, for coming to my home and sharing the day with me,’ said Wil to the winning group of women. ‘You were all truly wonderful company and I regret, deeply, that I’ve had to make this difficult decision after a short space of time. But, unfortunately, you ten ladies will be going home tonight.’
    It took a moment for Emily to realise that Wil was still addressing the other group of women. They were the contestants going home tonight. Not Emily. She gasped and covered her mouth with her palm. Relief flooded her veins—more so than she could understand why.
    â€˜Seriously!’ came a high-pitched squeal from among the losing group. ‘You’re making me go home over them?’ Amber pointed to Emily and the girls standing around her. The camera zoomed in on Amber, not willing to miss a moment of her tantrum. ‘I’m one hundred times prettier than all those girls put together. This show is rigged. It has to be.’ She grabbed her breasts and pushed them up closer to her chin. ‘Who in their right mind could resist these? They’re state of the art, grade A breasts.’
    Emily bit down on her lip to stop herself from laughing. If Amber wasn’t going to win the show, she was going to make an impact with her exit. New determination brewed in Emily’s blood. If her being here and making it further in the show meant that girls like Amber lost, then that was an incentive to keep going.
    â€˜What are you smiling at, Grandma?’
    She met Amber’s glare and drew a deep breath in. All these ridiculous comments about her age were wearing thin. But she wasn’t going to get roped into this childish display of bad sportsmanship by replying. Not with the cameras recording her every reaction. Emily had her job to get back to after this show was over and her reputation must remain intact. So, Emily rolled her eyes and looked straight ahead, only to meet the gaze of Wil. Heat spread across her cheeks.
    Missy addressed the losing group,