The Bachelorette's Heart

By RaeAnne Hadley

Sheri knows loss; has even become friends with it in a twisted way. She deals with it the best way she knows how, forging on with her lonely life. When her best friend reveals she has submitted and accepted on both of their behalves to be on a reality show, Sheri thinks that is the last thing she needs or wants in her life. Very quickly she realizes that she may have fallen, literally into something larger than anything she could have imagined. Her life was definitely going to change.

• Language: English
• Publisher: RaeAnne Hadley
• Release date: Jan 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386755043

Book preview

Other books by RaeAnne Hadley

Love's Everlasting Song

Double Numbers

119 Days

Stetsons & Stallions

Coveralls & Cornstalks

Loving You from Afar

Coal in her Stocking

Rescuing Colorado

Hindsight Wishes

The Bachelorette’s Heart

RaeAnne Hadley

Copyright © 2017 RaeAnne Hadley

All rights reserved

This is a book of fiction . Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

The Bachelorette’s Heart

She lost her love in a tragic accident. Sheri knows loss, has even become friends with it in a twisted sort of way. She deals with it the best she knows how, forging on with her lonely life. Then one day, her best friend reveals that she has auditioned both of them for a bachelorette reality series! Sheri thinks that is the last thing she wants or needs in her life! And if that isn't bad enough, both girls are actually accepted to be on the show! Not able to tell her enthusiastic friend no, Sheri reluctantly agrees and both girls are off on their adventure. Very quickly, Sheri realizes she may have fallen-literally-into something much larger than she ever could have imagined. A gorgeous British cameraman, corporate ambition and technical contracts are among a few of her newest roadblocks. She must choose to let go of her past once and for all, if she ever hopes to embrace an even brighter future!

Dedication

This dedication is for my friend, Sheri. She has always supported me even when I was still a small author. Her belief in me kept me going so this one is for her. I have so many others who have been there for me from the very beginning and believe me, you are not forgotten. I’m working on your story too! Life is meant to be fun and I’m really enjoying the journey. Thank you!

ONE

The whole thing felt so surreal; the cameras, the lights, the other twenty girls and the producers talking with the staff. Sheri looked around the living room of the fifteen thousand square foot mansion that she would be spending the next three months living in. She tried to focus on the woman explaining the rules of the house and what was to come but she was only able to catch words here and there. The murmuring of the other women was distracting and made it impossible to focus.

It was a new network that was vying for the ratings that The Bachelor and The Bachelorette had successfully accomplished. There were differences of course. This network was going to focus on five eligible women, then bring in thirty men. Those men would be able to date and woo their favorite lady. The list would be narrowed down as the five women chose their top guys, slowly eliminating the extra men. The network’s goal was that more than one woman would be fighting over the same guy and cut throat tactics would ensue. More drama meant higher ratings and while they claimed they were trying to find true love for five couples, Sheri knew they were looking for a reality soap opera to play out.

Sheri hadn’t been looking for love but she hadn’t been avoiding it either. She’d been a victim of circumstance, having lost her fiancée in a construction accident two years before. Dustin had been her best friend, her lover and her future. They’d talked of marriage and raising a family, a normal boring life in Montana. Her idea of heaven. They were both twenty-four years old and weren’t in a hurry to rush their lives. They spent their summers hiking and traveling, wherever their whimsical imaginations took them. She had her general teaching degree and enjoyed having the summers off from teaching the 5th grade. After Dustin died, she became a robot, teaching through the school year then secluding herself during the summer months. She spent her time reading and escaping into other lives, finding her own too painful to deal with.

Her little bubble was burst when her best friend, Brittany, showed up at her apartment waving a letter in her hand excitedly.

Oh my god! We got in! Can you believe it? We got in!

Sheri rolled her eyes and walked away from the open door. Got in to what? What did you sign us up for now? She was used to Brittany signing them up for crazy activities. One time it had been painting while drinking wine, another was zip lining alone one of the canyons in Montana. She appreciated her attempts to get her back into life but it all felt dead to her.

"We are going to be interviewed to be one of the bachelorette candidates for S&M’s new reality show!"

Sheri couldn’t help the snort that came out of her nose. "S&M? You’re joking, right?"

It was Brittany’s turn to roll her eyes. "You need to stop living under a rock. S&M stands for Self & Mindfulness. They are a hot new network wanting to create love connections. They are looking for five eligible ladies to date thirty guys and find their love connection. And we were chosen!"

Dismayed, Sheri turned to her friend. "How did they get my name?"

"Well, you can thank me for that. I made a video and submitted it. And they want to interview us. You can’t say no, I won’t let you. I was your maid of honor, I was also his friend and I miss him terribly but he wouldn’t want you to piss your life away, so suck it up. We are going to California and be spoiled rotten. Who knows? You may find your soul mate."

Sheri felt the anger well in her gut and whirled on her friend. "I