Flaming Hearts (Beyond Reality Book 2) (12 page)

Becky could feel his hardness against the small of her back. Jesus. He felt amazing. She shook her head and tried to concentrate as he chuckled, seemingly knowing what she was thinking about.

He leaned down and said right next to her ear, tickling the hair hanging there. “Yes, just a few little yips should do it. As I said before, she knows you’re here, it’ll be your call to her.”

Becky felt utterly ridiculous, and a little off kilter after the amazing kiss she’d shared with Dean, not to mention still feeling his amazing body as he’d cradled her against his body, but she gave it a try anyway.

She howled a bit, softly at first, trying to get the hang of it and to find the right pitch. When she did find a tone that was comfortable and didn’t sound too abrasive to her own ears, she increased the volume just a bit and yipped three times.

Dean moved his hand from her waist to her stomach and felt the sounds move through her. He immediately got harder than he already was. Christ. There was no way he could hide it from Becky, seeing how her back was plastered to his front. Her howl broke a bit, but then picked back up again as she yipped some more. He felt her shift and actually push back against him. Holy mother of God…he wasn’t going to make it. Sweat broke out on his forehead and the iron control he had on his body almost broke. She might be embarrassed about calling to the coyote, but it was sexy as hell to Dean.

Becky let her voice fade off and waited. She would’ve waited there forever in Dean’s arms, but suddenly she saw a shape off in the distance. It was the little coyote! She was slowly making her way toward them.

Becky gasped and kneeled down, clutching the fence. She was really coming toward them! It’d worked. She looked up at Dean, beaming.

Dean didn’t think he’d ever seen anything as beautiful as Becky at that moment.

“She’s coming!” Becky said reverently to Dean. He nodded and watched as the little coyote approached them cautiously.

Just as she had earlier, Becky started talking in a low voice. Telling the little coyote that everything was okay, that she had to leave, but she’d hopefully be back. But in the meantime she should trust Dean.

Dean kneeled down next to Becky, reached forward and took her hand in his, holding it close to the fence with his.

Becky understood what he was doing and said, “You can trust him, little star,” Becky told the coyote. “He’s with me.”

Dean could feel Becky hold her breath as the coyote slowly inched her way toward them.

“That’s it,” she crooned. “You have to trust him and the others, they won’t hurt you, they only want to help you.”

They stayed like that for a few minutes. Dean and Becky kneeling, with the coyote on the other side, sniffing their interwoven fingers as they gripped the fence. Finally, the coyote rolled over on her back as if to say, ‘Rub my belly!’

Becky laughed low.

“I can’t rub you today, but I’ll be back,” she said, hoping she wasn’t lying to herself or the coyote. “Go on now, go and find the other coyotes and try to make friends. Be sure to come and get something to eat tomorrow, you’re too skinny!”

As if the coyote could understand her, she stood up and ran for the trees. She stopped once, looked back at the two humans and took off again. Becky stood up awkwardly, feeling Dean brace her as she stood.

“Star?” he asked with a smile in his voice.

“She looks like a Star to me,” Becky told him sheepishly. “I thought she deserved a beautiful name. She might be small, but she’s a Star in my eyes.”

Dean hugged Becky to him again, unable to help himself. His woman was so unassuming and unselfish. He was the luckiest man alive.

* * *

Steve insisted on driving Becky back to the production set. Becky sat between him and Dean on the front seat of the truck. She felt very protected between the two large men. She sighed, knowing her lovely night was about to end. She didn’t want to go back into the house and deal with the comments and jokes she was sure to get. She also didn’t want to continue with the show, but she knew she didn’t have a choice. She’d signed the stupid contract and she was obliged. Thank God it was almost over. It couldn’t end soon enough for her.

Steve pulled up outside the gates of the house, much as Dean had the first time he’d dropped her off. Neither man moved. Becky looked from one to the other in confusion, waiting for someone to say something.

Finally, Steve broke the silence.

“Becky, we’re thrilled to have met you today and want you to know that we approve of your relationship with Dean. We hope you’ll come back soon. We want to get to know you better and we want you to get to know us better.”

Becky wasn’t sure what to say, so she didn’t say anything, but nodded her head in agreement.

Dean took her hand and she turned her attention to him.

“I’ve told you before, Becky, but I’ll tell you again now…you’re mine. I’m sorry if that comes out too macho and controlling, I don’t mean it to, but when this silly show is over I want you to stay. I want you here with me and my friends and family. I know I’m asking a lot. Believe me, I know it. I get that you have a job and you’d have to move away from your home and friends, but I want to be with you. We can do the long distance thing for a while until you’ve worked things out back home, but eventually I want you here…with me.”

Becky swallowed…hard…opened her mouth to respond, and nothing would come out. She was nervous about the whole situation, but it felt right, and that scared her more than anything else. She didn’t think Dean was being macho and overpowering. At this moment, she wanted to be with him as much as he apparently wanted to be with her. Goosebumps rose on her flesh at the thought of him wanting her as much as he did to brave saying all of these things in front of his dad.

Dean squeezed her hand. “Don’t answer now. Think about it for a while, sweetheart, but know, from the bottom of my heart to yours, that I want to be with you. What we have between us is real.”

Becky nodded and watched as Dean scooted out of the truck, she followed behind him, turning when Steve spoke.

“Becky, if you ever need anything, please know I’m here for you and so is my wife…anything at all, even if it’s just to come out and see your coyote again…we’re just a phone call away. Dean will give you our number so you can get in touch with us. Okay?”

Becky nodded her head and finished sliding out of the truck. Dean leaned down and captured her lips with his in a swift, but intense kiss. He then kissed her forehead and held her for a long moment before letting go and stepping back. Becky knew he watched as she let herself through the gate and onto the grounds of the house. The truck didn’t pull away until she was safely inside the house. That small act of respect and protection made her smile.

The next night, after another day of the same old crap, Becky lay in bed, waiting for Dean to call. It seemed as if her late night talks with Dean were the only thing keeping her going. There were now only five men left on the show and the pressure was getting to all of them. James, John, Jose, Derek and David were the last contestants. Marissa was unbearable, expecting all five of them to be showering her with attention all the time. She’d even begun playing one against the other, enjoying the jealously they displayed and the lengths they’d go to keep her attention. Marissa hardly talked to Becky anymore, but that was perfectly fine with Becky. Marisa was a raving bitch and Becky didn’t want anything to do with her.

The only bright spot in the last week was a visit from Sam and Alex, who were on Eddie’s previous reality show in Australia. Eddie had called them and asked if they’d visit the set.

They’d arrived hand in hand and Becky could see the love they had for each other. It was unexpected, but truly awesome to witness. She didn’t think anyone could find love on TV, but they seemed to have done it.

Sam and Alex met with the group that was left and they laughed about Alex’s experiences while he was in Australia. Becky noticed that Sam didn’t say much, but she seemed to try to be friendly for Alex’s sake.

At one point Sam asked if she could talk to Becky alone. Becky jumped at the chance. She really wanted to get Sam’s perspective of the whole reality show thing, especially after remembering what Kina had said about how Eddie edited the show. Sam had been where she was. Sam
knew
what she was feeling. At least Becky thought she might.

After settling on a couch on the other side of the room Sam didn’t beat around the bush and jumped right into the conversation. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m okay. I’m ready for this whole thing to be over,” she answered honestly.

“I bet you are,” Sam told her. “Is having two women competing over all the men as bad as it sounds like it’d be?”

“You have no idea!” Becky said with a laugh. “If I had my way, I’d tell Marissa she could have them all and walk off the set today!”

Becky expected Sam to laugh, but was surprised when she not only didn’t laugh, but asked, “Why don’t you?”

“Uh, because I signed a contract?” Beck said with some surprise. Surely Sam had to sign the same sort of contract when she joined the Australian reality show.

Sam sighed and looked around as if to see if anyone was within earshot. Upon seeing no one, she leaned toward Becky and said softly, “In case you didn’t know this, Eddie will do whatever he can to twist the show and make it good for ratings. Even if you
did
walk off at this point, Eddie wouldn’t care. He’d probably think it’d be a ratings boon. And in a sick way, he’d be right.” Sam laughed with Becky and then continued, “Seriously, Becky, I was on the show for weeks, and he edited me right out of the show just because I didn’t fit the mold of what he wanted the women on his show to be. I’m sure he has some twist up his sleeve for this show too. Just be careful.”

Becky nodded. Because the conversation had gotten pretty intense, she changed the subject. “So, did you really save Kina’s life while you were in Australia?”

Sam laughed and told her the entire story of how Kina was filming her walking around in the Outback and had almost stepped on a deadly snake. She couldn’t move or the snake would’ve bitten her. Sam explained how she’d distracted the snake so Kina could get out of the way.

“Kina wasn’t allowed to talk to me on set, for obvious reasons, but after the show was over she contacted me and we’ve been friends ever since.” Sam turned serious again. “She’s told me about some of the things that have been happening on this show, Becky.” At Becky’s blush Sam continued quickly. “Please, don’t be embarrassed. I’ve been in your shoes, literally, and I
know
what you’re going through. Keep your chin up. Don’t let them get you down. The only reason I agreed to come with Alex to this damn set was to see you. If I had my way I’d never talk to Eddie again. He hurt me. I wasn’t pretty enough or good enough to be on his show and he didn’t care if I knew it. I don’t think I, or Alex, will ever forgive him for that. He certainly knows how to make money, but he doesn’t know how to treat people decently.”

Sam took Becky’s hand in hers and finished, “You’re beautiful, Becky. I know you probably can’t see it now, but hang in there, finish up the damn show and go on with your life. Things can work out, look at me and Alex!”

Becky squeezed Sam’s hand and nodded. She was right. She had to look out for herself and all she had to do was get through the next week of the show and she’d be done with show business for good.

“Thanks for coming today, Sam. It was great to meet you, and I’m so glad you’re happy.”

The two women hugged each other briefly. Becky watched as Alex seemed to know exactly when Sam was done talking to her because he came over and grabbed her hand. They laughed together and walked around the set saying hello to the camera operators they’d met while in Australia. Becky watched as both Sam and Alex gave Kina a big hug. Sam hadn’t been lying, she and Kina
were
friends. Becky shook off the embarrassment she felt knowing Kina had told the other woman all about what was happening on the set. Oh well, the whole world would know it sooner rather than later, she had to get over it.

Lying in bed, Becky reflected on the day’s visit with Sam and Alex. Sam’s talk with her helped immensely. It gave her some of her self-esteem back and Becky felt stronger. While she wasn’t glad Sam had gone through what she did in Australia, it was nice to know she wasn’t alone. Becky was done with the crap the men were giving her and she was done with Marissa. She’d do what she wanted, what she had to do to be done with the show and see if she could work things out with Dean. She knew he wanted to be with her, he’d told her repeatedly, and Becky knew she wanted him back. When she talked to him tonight she’d tell him she’d stay here in Arizona after the show was over. She wanted to give them a chance.

After waiting what seemed to be forever, Becky finally felt the vibration of the disposable phone Dean had given her and eagerly answered it. Expecting to hear Dean, she was surprised to hear a different voice.

“Becky? This is Steve.”

Becky sucked in a breath. Why was Steve calling her? It couldn’t be good. “Oh my God, is Dean all right?”

Steve was quick to reassure her, “Yes, he’s fine. I’m sorry. Jeez, I didn’t think. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Becky breathed a sigh of relief. She knew she liked Dean, but she didn’t realize how much until she thought Steve was calling to tell her he’d been hurt or worse. She tried to control her adrenaline rush and asked, “What’s up?”

“Dean asked me to call. You know he works in security, right?” At Becky’s affirmative response he continued, “Well he’s going to be out on a job for about four days. He won’t be able to contact you as he’ll be going up into the mountains around Fresno and won’t have any cell service. He wanted to let you know how sorry he was that he couldn’t tell you himself. It was a sudden thing and he had to leave right away.”

“Is everything all right?” Becky asked.

“It will be,” Steve told her. “I can’t give you any specific details, but there’s a woman who’s being stalked and her stalker found where she’d been staying and attacked her. She left town as soon as she could but she’s still scared that he’ll find her again. Dean was called in to make sure the house she’s staying at in the mountains has adequate security and that no one can break in, or if they do get near her, she has time to call for help.”

Becky felt bad. Steve sounded almost sad for her.

“It’s okay, Steve,” she told him brightly. “I’m glad he’s going to help that woman. She has to be so frightened. Four days isn’t that long and I’ll be finishing up this show anyway. If you talk to him, tell him I’m fine and I’ll see him when he gets back.”

Steve knew Becky wasn’t as fine as she was trying to let on, but he also knew if he called her on it, her pride would be hurt.

“Becky, I’ve told you this before, but if you need anything please don’t hesitate to contact me or Jonathan. Even though Dean is out of town, we’re still here. Did Dean give you my number? You have it, right?”

“Thanks, Steve, I have it.” Becky didn’t tell him she wasn’t planning on having any need to call him. What could go wrong in four days? Yes, the show was awful, but there wasn’t anything that Steve or Jonathan or even Dean could do about it. She’d just have to hang in there, like she’d been doing, until the end of the show and then see if there was anything between her and Dean in the “real world.” She was excited about that prospect, just dreading getting through to the end of the show.

Becky thanked Steve again. “Thanks, Steve, I appreciate you calling and letting me know about Dean. I think there’s only about a week left on the show and then I’m free!”

“When you’re ‘free’,” Steve said with a laugh, “Let Dean pick you up and bring you here. We’ll have a huge party!”

Becky laughed and agreed. They said goodnight to each other and hung up. So much for her relaxing phone call from Dean. She mentally shrugged and snuggled down into the covers to try to catch some sleep so she could make it through the next few days.