Page 14 of Cowboy Seeks Husband
Roan blinked at her. She’d seemed like a hardass on the drive over, but she’d also seemed like she was on their side. She’d stated that it was her job to make sure one of them was in the finale and to always rely on her to do what was best for them.
But right now it seemed like she hated him.
She lifted a brow and smiled meanly. “I have about ten other potential contestants programmed into my phone, Roan. The higher-ups might’ve wanted you on this show, but that doesn’t mean I can’t axe you right now for holding up the schedule. Sit, so we can get this done.”
Roan’s heart thudded as he sat down and waited. Molly flicked through a file with harsh, jerky movements, mumbling to herself. “Okay, so it says here you requested your mom’s illness to be kept from Walker.” She lifted her head. “Why is that?”
“I…it’s personal,” Roan said, his palms beginning to sweat in earnest. “I don’t want to start this whole thing with everyone pitying me.”
“Okay. Well, in a minute the camera’s going to start rolling, and I’m going to ask you why you’re here. What are you going to tell me?”
Roan had rehearsed this part. “I’ve always been drawn to farm life. As a kid—”
Molly held up her hand and pinched the bridge of her nose with the other. “Oh look, here’s a story I haven’t heard a million times already. No. This is what we’re going to do, babe. Walker and the other contestants aren’t going to see this clip until filming’s long done and you’re back in Minnesota or wherever you’re from.”
“Ohio.”
“I don’t care. Here’s what your story line’s going to be. You tell the camera everything about your mom, the real reason why you’re here. Money. Then, over time, you’re going to start to fall in love with Walker, and the money will become a secondary motivation. The public will eat it up. You’ll be the underdog, here for the wrong reasons but out of desperation, so you’ll have their sympathy. Then when you start to fall for him, they’ll love you even more. It’s perfect.”
“I don’t—” Roan shook his head.
“Don’t get squeamish on me now, babe. Weren’t you planning on acting like you were into him?”
Shame churned in Roan’s gut, but he nodded. “Yes.”
“Well then, this is no different.”
“I don’t want to use my mom—”
“You’re not using her. It’s the truth.” She narrowed her eyes. “Isn’t it?”
“Jesus Christ, yes. Of course it is.”
“Well then.” She nodded at the camera guys, plastered a fake smile on her face even though she remained out of the shot, then said, “Welcome Roan. Please tell me why you decided to take part in the inaugural season of the LGBTQ reality TV showQueer Seeks Spouse.”
Roan took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, and folded his hands tightly together in his lap. “My mom has stage four ovarian cancer. I was in grad school when we found out a year ago. I came home to be with her. It’s…it’s hard. Money’s tight. And there’s a drug trial we want to get her into, but if we can’t then…” He spread his hands in frustration. Heat burned in his cheeks, and his eyes filled against his will. “So yeah, I’m here for the money.” He stared at his white knuckles, and another flash of shame made him tremble.
He didn’t believe for a second all the others were here out of true love aspirations and not for the big check at the end of the game, but they were probably not as ashamed about it as he was. Maybe they really intended—hoped—to fall in love. “I know I’m not here for the right reasons,” he admitted quietly. “But I’m desperate. I didn’t know what else to do.” He fell silent.
After a long few seconds, Molly murmured, “Perfect. Nicely done. I’m glad to see you can be produced. There might be hope for you yet.”
Roan wrapped his arms around himself. “Can I go?”
“Yes, please do. Don’t tell any of the others what we discussed in here.”
“Okay.” Roan stood and turned to the door, then halted. “I was promised my mom would be able to reach you guys at any time and I could leave the competition if she got worse.”
Molly didn’t look up as she scribbled something in the file. “Yes, you were promised that.”
When Molly said nothing else, Roan walked out.
“You okay?” Chad asked when Roan climbed back into the SUV again. “You look pretty bad. What happened?”
“Let’s just say Molly is too sweet a name for that witch of a woman. We need something better.”
“Mean Molls?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of bunch-back’d toad.”
