Two hours passed before the producer called the women to assemble. The tension in the meeting room was thick enough to slice with a knife. So many women who wanted the same things as she—a steady man to love and share their lives.
A secure future.
There was something wrong with society if this many personable single women couldn’t find a mate. Or maybe featuring on a television show attracted their participation. Susan didn’t know. There had to be a better way to meet a man.
Besides, the idea of leaving her job at Maxwell’s… She loved her new job, the dancing giving her a physical outlet and pleasure she hadn’t known she’d craved.
Nolan’s questions about living in the country had given her things to mull over. Leaving her friends and her job in exchange for a quiet life in the country would be a huge step. Maybe fluffing her speed date was a good thing. Two of her best friends had found husbands already. Maggie had married their mutual friend, Connor, while Julia had married Ryan. Both women were shiny examples of love, and Connor and Ryan were awesome.
No, she wouldn’t panic or settle for second best.
Almost twenty-nine wasn’t exactly ancient. The right man would come along, and if he didn’t, then she’d deal. She had a great group of friends, both male and female. Love and friendship. Yeah, she had that already.
“I want you to split into your groups again,” Jennifer Williams, the producer shouted above the din made by a room full of anxious women. She was a tall and very thin woman, dressed in tight black jeans and a body-fitting green T-shirt. A no-nonsense kind of woman, she wielded her power by sheer force of presence.
The women quieted, and Jennifer repeated her request. “Line up behind the signs for your farmers, please, then I’ll call groups one-by-one.”
“Good luck,” Susan said to Christina.
“What I’d need is a miracle,” Christina said. “It doesn’t matter. It’s been a fun day.”
“True. Tonight we can commiserate over margaritas. Julia and Maggie will want the deets.”
“Done deal.” Susan gave her friend a swift hug and headed for her group. Who wanted a judgmental man in their lives anyway?
Not her. She’d worked hard to scrub the trait from her personality. Seeing it from the other side, she understood how her friends felt when she’d passed sentence on their actions. If she’d learned anything in the past five years, it was that nothing was black and white. Shades of gray swirled everywhere, and there was nothing wrong with the color.
She took a seat. None of the other girls wanted to chat, so she sat quietly and pondered her next step. If she asked, Connor would probably set up a blind date for her with one of his rugby mates. The guys in Ryan’s band were cute. It wasn’t as if she lacked opportunities to meet men.
Perhaps she was setting her standards too high?
She considered that for about two seconds. No, she wanted a husband like Connor or Ryan and refused to settle for less.
Jennifer strode into the room, the heels of her boots making a snappy beat on the wooden floor. “Ladies, Nolan is ready to share his choices.”
“It makes us sound like items on a dinner menu,” Susan murmured.
A blonde woman beside her frowned. “That’s a perfect description. I wonder who gets to be dish of the day.”
Susan let out a chuckle, but none of the other women appreciated the humor. Their swift glances held panic and censure. Susan was still grinning when she entered the private room.
“Ladies, please stand behind the chalk line and smile at the camera,” Jennifer instructed in a firm voice.
The women shuffled into position, and the tension ramped up a couple of notches. Susan’s heart thumped extra loudly, then the drumming evened out as she realized she didn’t want to win a man in a competition.
No, she’d return to work and tonight, while they were at the pub and comfortably ensconced with margaritas, she’d ask for suggestions of ways to meet men.
“We’ll start filming in a few minutes. Hailee Raymond, our hostess will have a quick chat with Nolan, and then Nolan will announce his eight chosen women. Afterward, Hailee will interview each of the successful dates. Are there any questions?”
“Do you have some tissues handy?” one of the women asked.
“I have my assistant standing by,” Jennifer said in a brisk voice.
Susan didn’t care enough to cry when she received her rejection. That thought alone cheered her. She wasn’t invested and didn’t care about Nolan’s opinion of her personality.
“Anything else?” When no one replied, Jennifer said, “Quiet on the set.”
The silence grew deafening, and Susan had an awful urge to giggle. Determined not to create another spectacle, she bit her bottom lip.
