huh?”
“You’ve got more input than being sold to the highest bidder.” She took a step closer and placed her hand on his shoulder. “This has to be about you and your choices. No one is pressuring you on who to keep around.”
He dipped his head and glanced at her sideways. “You sure about that?”
She swallowed. Held her clipboard tight to her chest. “Positive.” She patted him on the shoulder. “And don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Not even me.”
“Thanks.” He left her and walked toward the field, where the game would be played.
Ignoring her confusing feelings, she strode into the midst of the chattering women. “Okay. Listen up. We’re playing slow-pitch softball. Pinks versus greens. Three innings. Winners get to have dinner at Rick’s diner plus immunity in the next elimination. Questions?” She glanced around quickly and, seeing no hands, blew her whistle. “I’ll meet you on the field.”
* * *
R ICK SAT IN the bleachers while the teams took their places. He leaned back and tried to get comfortable. It was different sitting in the stands when he’d rather be out in the field. Made him restless. Not that he didn’t watch sports. Most of his evenings were spent watching televised games or highlights from them. But he would much rather be the one playing.
Lizzie walked up to the bleachers to where he sat, then continued up two rows past his seat. He’d noticed how some of the contestants treated her as if she was some kind of interloper. He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Come on, girls.”
“That isn’t sexist at all.”
He turned and smiled at her. “I can’t exactly play favorites, so I’m cheering them all on.”
She kept her eyes on her clipboard, punching things into her cell phone at the same time. Didn’t she get confused working like that? “Do you love her?”
He didn’t have to ask who she meant. “I don’t know her enough yet. But I plan on spending a lot more time with her.”
She looked up at him. “You want her to have the first one-on-one?”
He winked at her. “Oh, definitely. And make it superromantic. Over-the-top. You know. Flowers. Music. Good food. The kind of stuff you guys are known for.” He looked back to the field as the first woman got up to bat. “And I want a group date, too. I need to get to know more of them better. I’m blanking on half their names.”
He could hear the scratch of her pen as she made notes. “What did your mom say about the first night?”
He chuckled at the words his mom had used in describing some of the women. “She has her favorites already, but she’s a good judge of character. That’s why I wanted her to help me.”
“Devon said the viewers like how the family is involved this time around.”
Rick frowned and turned back to face her. “When did he find that out? We just aired.”
“Hollywood works fast. He called me ten minutes ago with the numbers.” She returned to her clipboard and made notations. Didn’t look at him. “They’re good.”
He grimaced. “But not great.”
“Do you care?”
He shrugged and turned his attention back to the game. If they wanted his reaction shots, he’d have to actually pay attention. “I know you care. What matters to me is that I meet the right woman.”
“You met Melissa.”
He considered this. He’d met each of the women for at least five minutes, but what could you tell in that amount of time? Sure, Melissa had intrigued him from the start. He wasn’t ready to propose, but he wouldn’t mind getting to know her better. See if she could be the right woman. “It’s early.”
She nodded. “Bachelor Kevin knew the first night which woman he would propose to.”
“And how did that end? Right. He dumped her for an actress.” He shook his head. “I hope I’ve learned some things since my last appearance. And I’ve been watching replays of the previous seasons. Trying to figure out what worked. What didn’t.”
She cocked her head to
“You’ve got more input than being sold to the highest bidder.” She took a step closer and placed her hand on his shoulder. “This has to be about you and your choices. No one is pressuring you on who to keep around.”
He dipped his head and glanced at her sideways. “You sure about that?”
She swallowed. Held her clipboard tight to her chest. “Positive.” She patted him on the shoulder. “And don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Not even me.”
“Thanks.” He left her and walked toward the field, where the game would be played.
Ignoring her confusing feelings, she strode into the midst of the chattering women. “Okay. Listen up. We’re playing slow-pitch softball. Pinks versus greens. Three innings. Winners get to have dinner at Rick’s diner plus immunity in the next elimination. Questions?” She glanced around quickly and, seeing no hands, blew her whistle. “I’ll meet you on the field.”
* * *
R ICK SAT IN the bleachers while the teams took their places. He leaned back and tried to get comfortable. It was different sitting in the stands when he’d rather be out in the field. Made him restless. Not that he didn’t watch sports. Most of his evenings were spent watching televised games or highlights from them. But he would much rather be the one playing.
Lizzie walked up to the bleachers to where he sat, then continued up two rows past his seat. He’d noticed how some of the contestants treated her as if she was some kind of interloper. He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Come on, girls.”
“That isn’t sexist at all.”
He turned and smiled at her. “I can’t exactly play favorites, so I’m cheering them all on.”
She kept her eyes on her clipboard, punching things into her cell phone at the same time. Didn’t she get confused working like that? “Do you love her?”
He didn’t have to ask who she meant. “I don’t know her enough yet. But I plan on spending a lot more time with her.”
She looked up at him. “You want her to have the first one-on-one?”
He winked at her. “Oh, definitely. And make it superromantic. Over-the-top. You know. Flowers. Music. Good food. The kind of stuff you guys are known for.” He looked back to the field as the first woman got up to bat. “And I want a group date, too. I need to get to know more of them better. I’m blanking on half their names.”
He could hear the scratch of her pen as she made notes. “What did your mom say about the first night?”
He chuckled at the words his mom had used in describing some of the women. “She has her favorites already, but she’s a good judge of character. That’s why I wanted her to help me.”
“Devon said the viewers like how the family is involved this time around.”
Rick frowned and turned back to face her. “When did he find that out? We just aired.”
“Hollywood works fast. He called me ten minutes ago with the numbers.” She returned to her clipboard and made notations. Didn’t look at him. “They’re good.”
He grimaced. “But not great.”
“Do you care?”
He shrugged and turned his attention back to the game. If they wanted his reaction shots, he’d have to actually pay attention. “I know you care. What matters to me is that I meet the right woman.”
“You met Melissa.”
He considered this. He’d met each of the women for at least five minutes, but what could you tell in that amount of time? Sure, Melissa had intrigued him from the start. He wasn’t ready to propose, but he wouldn’t mind getting to know her better. See if she could be the right woman. “It’s early.”
She nodded. “Bachelor Kevin knew the first night which woman he would propose to.”
“And how did that end? Right. He dumped her for an actress.” He shook his head. “I hope I’ve learned some things since my last appearance. And I’ve been watching replays of the previous seasons. Trying to figure out what worked. What didn’t.”
She cocked her head to
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