Summer Kisses (328 page)

“Lou!” Josh Pendleton’s cheery voice startled her out of her musings. “Jack tells us you watched every episode together. What did you find most surprising about seeing your romance unfold week by week?”

“I think I was most surprised by the number of hidden cameras you guys had squirreled away around the mansion. Particularly around the Jacuzzi.”

The host gave a jolly old elf of a laugh. “Audiences really admire your candor, Lou, even though you sometimes had some rather unflattering things to say about
Marrying Mr. Perfect
as a route for finding true love. Since the show has been such a success for you, are you ready to change your tune?”

“You do realize I wasn’t actually a Suitorette, don’t you?”

Josh rocked in his chair with his over-enthusiastic laughter. “Of course! But you stole the show, capturing American hearts and minds. To what would you attribute your success?”

Lou could have cited her long-standing relationship with Jack or the authenticity of emotion the viewers saw when they looked at the pair of them, but this was one question she knew exactly how to answer. She looked straight into the camera and smiled. “My best friend Kelly taught me everything she knows about
Marrying Mister Perfect
. She wrote the book on this show.”

The host gave another fake, jolly laugh. “Oh, no, our contestant
Marcy
wrote the book.” He turned to the camera with a cheesy grin. “Tune in next season for
Romancing Miss Right
, ladies and gentlemen, when Marcy Henrickson has her pick of thirty of the most eligible bachelors in America on the quest for her own happily ever after!”

Lou met Jack’s eyes, nearly laughing out loud at the ridiculousness of the spectacle.

All the things that had driven her crazy in the beginning were now just jokes they shared. She’d suffered through watching the other girls kiss him, and he’d made each kiss up to her a thousand times over. The kids had squealed with delight whenever they saw themselves on screen—and seemed not emotionally scarred in the least by their brush with child-stardom.

They’d withstood the media spotlight while the show aired by staying in most nights, away from the curious glances and paparazzi lenses. Their life had more or less returned to its normal routine. The kitchen remodel was finished and looked amazing. They had no plans to sell the house, though they were discussing a few changes. First among them turning the little guest bedroom upstairs, the one no one ever used anymore, into a nursery.

Lou grinned at Jack as the audience cheered. Yeah, he was Mr. Perfect, but even more importantly, he was perfect for her. No fantasy could compare to that reality.

THE END

Winner of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart Award, Lizzie Shane lives in Alaska where she uses the long winter months to cook up happily-ever-afters (and indulge her fascination with the world of reality television). She also writes paranormal romance under the pen name Vivi Andrews. Find more about Lizzie at
her website
and sign up to receive Lizzie’s
New Release Newsletter
for updates on upcoming Reality Romance releases.

Romancing Miss Right

Falling for Mister Wrong

Planning on Prince Charming

Courting Trouble (Coming January 2016)