the contract and get back to you.”
“That’s all I ask.”
Wyatt shoved the phone back in his pocket, but before he could get back into the other room, the group had decided to break for snack time.
That’s how he found himself smiling for selfies and signing autographs for everyone in the house.
Except one.
3
After packing up the leftover book goodies, she brought, Madi watched Wyatt drive off in what looked to be an older model Honda SUV.
One of the highest paid players on the Crimson Knights, and he drove the same car she had in high school?
He’d made quite an impression on the women of the book group. Madi was fairly certain Mrs. Braverman had no idea who he was, though the older woman was a Crimson Knights fan, too. At least Madi knew what he’d been hiding at dinner.
However, Madi and Wyatt - aka The Baseball Star Who Blew The Most Important Series Of His Life - hadn’t said more than three words to each other after his comment during the discussion. At least it hadn’t been a repeat of their awkward attempts over dinner.
Before she could think about it any further, her phone buzzed. Almost everyone had left. Mrs. Braverman wouldn’t care if Madi took the call. Mrs. Lotson would have.
“This is Madi.” Though she knew the call came from HEA TV, she wasn’t sure who at the network was calling.
“Hi, Madi. This is Elaine.”
It took Madi a second of searching her memory banks to remember Elaine was part of the publicity team for the upcoming Parade of Love movie. “Hi.”
“I’m sorry to bother you on a Saturday, but we just had an incredible opportunity drop in our laps for you.”
Great. That probably meant she couldn’t say no, even if she wanted to. Her introverted self was learning to do the publicity the network requested of her.
It hadn’t been too bad - yet, but they were arranging television interviews and podcasts and some online video interviews. She wasn’t looking forward to them, but she would do them.
“What is it?” she asked, trying to keep the weariness out of her voice.
“It’s a reality dating show thing. It’s a new concept, but something like the old ones where a woman asks three different men questions then picks one to go out with.”
“What’s the catch?” It couldn’t be that simple.
“You’re going to do that, then go on a couple of day long dates, then choose which one you want to date for the next month. You’ll both have cameras in your homes, provided by the production company, of course, and film your time together.”
“So I have to interview these guys, date each one, then date one of them every day for a month?” Sounded like an introvert’s worst nightmare.
“While being filmed most days,” Elaine confirmed.
Definitely not a dream come true.
But as with all of the other things they’d asked, Madi felt she had no choice but to say yes. “Let me see the contract? I want to know for sure what I’m getting into.”
“Of course.” But the tone in Elaine’s voice let Madi know she was expected to cooperate.
Fantastic.
The good news was that the network wouldn’t ask her to do anything too outrageous. Not with their wholesome image.
“I won’t sleep with anyone. No overnight dates.” Madi did her best to sound adamant and intimidating while also being non-threatening at the same time.
“Of course not.”
Madi could hear clicks on the other end of the line.
“The contract is in your email.”
“Thank you. I’ll be in touch.”
“We need to know by first thing Monday.” Elaine sounded apologetic for that. “Filming starts asap and if you’re not willing to do it, they need to find someone else.”
“I’ll let you know.”
Elaine disconnected the call.
“Contract?”
Madi turned to see her aunt taking a seat in the recliner. She explained the little she knew from her call with Elaine.
“Do you want me to look it over?” Mama Beach picked her laptop up from where it was hidden next to the chair.
“That would be wonderful.” That weight lifted off Madi’s shoulders. She sometimes forgot her aunt was a semi-retired lawyer-turned-judge.
Mama Beach handed over the laptop so Madi could sign into her email and print off the contract. It was about fifteen pages in length.
While Mama Beach read over the contract, Madi went into the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee. She found some pumpkin spice creamer in the refrigerator but decided on vanilla instead.
When she walked back into the living room, Mama Beach set down the last piece of paper.