Cover Reveal & Excerpt
Blind Reality
by
Heidi McLaughlin
~ Synopsis ~
Joshua Wilson, an up-and-coming movie star, is turned off by the
idea of marriage. His Oscar-winning smile and breakout role in the summer’s
hottest romantic comedy bring in enough attention to satisfy Joshua’s cravings
for the spotlight – not to mention the never-ending supply of willing
women.
Joey Mitchell is down in the dumps after finding out that her fiancé cheated on
her with her best friend, and is living at home with her parents until she can
get back on her feet. Without Joey’s knowledge, her overbearing and neurotic
mother submits an application for her to appear on the reality show,
Married Blind. When the producers surprise her with the news that they
have cast her, Joey wants nothing to do with the show but agrees to participate
because, at this point in her life, she really has nothing to lose.
Lights, camera, action… Welcome to another season of Married Blind.
Contestants are about to take the plunge, but only one couple will come out of
the house winners!
~ Excerpt ~
I hear a few gasps and can only assume that I’m approaching where I need to be.
My father hasn’t let go yet, and for that I’m thankful. He’s keeping me steady
on my feet and somewhat calm, even though thoughts of hanging my mother by her
pedicured toenails are filtering through my mind. If she thinks I’m going to
share my winnings with her, she’s off her rocker.
Winnings?
How can I even think about winning? I’m not going to be able to pretend to be
okay with this for three months. And what if he likes me? What if he finds me
attractive and tries to kiss me? Then what? Ninety days of purgatory that’s
what. I’m so not ready to live in a house with five people I don’t know all
while trying to compete for Best Betty Crocker.
The
announcer clears his throat and gets the audience cheering. Behind my
blindfold, I’m rolling my eyes and glaring simultaneously at my groom. I know
he’s standing in front of me; I can smell him. If anything, his cologne smells
good, but it’s probably something his production assistant told him to wear.
Is he
nervous like I am? Is he sweating from standing under these heat lamps? Are his
parents here, too? What made him so desperate that he had to come on national
television to find a bride? That’s the answer I want to know, but will never
ask for fear of what he might say.
Neither
of us should be doing this and yet here we are. I could run. I could slip off
my blindfold and run without looking back. But what if he’s my soul mate and I
don’t know it?
What
damage could three months do?
Everything!
My
father places my hands into those of my groom and while I should cringe, I
don’t. My fingertips, hands, wrists, arms and everywhere else tingle. I feel
warm, but not from the lights. It’s a different kind of heat. My tummy
flutters. My heart pounds furiously in my chest, drowning out the audience, the
music blaring overhead, and the crackle of the microphone. It’s all too soon
when the music stops and I’m quickly reminded that this is just a show. I
shouldn’t be excited.
“Do you
take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to
compete with in good faith, from this day forward for better, for worse, for
richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, or until three months has
expired?”
Um …
what? What’s his name? Don’t I get to know his name at least?
“What
do you say?” the announcer’s voice bellows through the microphone. I can hear
mumbling from the crowd as they wait with bated breath on what I’m going to
say. Do people actually come on this show and say no?
“We
need your answer.”
I bite
my lower lip and nod. If he can make me feel the way he did when he held my
hand, maybe three months won’t be so bad. “Yes,” I squeak out, my voice barely
audible.
“She
said yes,” the announcer roars, and the applause is deafening. I can’t help but
smile even though I’m dying on the inside.
My
groom’s voice is almost as quiet as mine, making me feel somewhat better that
he’s just as nervous. I sigh in relief when he says yes. The crowd cheers again
and the announcer pronounces us man and wife.
Here it
comes. I sense my groom moving closer, and I hold my head high. His
hand fumbles on my neck until he rests it gently on my cheek. The crowd is
hushed and everyone is waiting for the moment that seals us. His lips brush
softly against mine, and he pulls back before I feel his wet lips press against
mine again, this time fully. If not for his hand, I’d be crumbling to the
ground. My knees start to buckle. My palms, already damp from earlier, are
sweating profusely. My heart has stopped beating, but I can hear his. This is a
first kiss for the records, and the only thing missing is his face.
The
announcer clears his throat and my groom steps back, much to the delight of the
viewers. “This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for,” the announcer says. I
read from the rules that the groom’s blindfold comes off first. There’s a
collective gasp, followed by a series of ‘oh my God’s’ and ‘that lucky bitch’. Gee
thanks, audience members. I can safely assume my groom is cute. Great,
perfect. I have a cute husband who can turn my insides to goo when he holds my
hand. Hopefully he’s not planning on winning many competitions that require
physical touching because I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it.
Someone
comes up from behind me and starts to untie my blindfold. I keep my eyes
closed. I want to see him fully when I open my eyes. I open them slowly, but
keep them focused on the ground. Slowly, I take in what he’s wearing—black
patent leather shoes, with black tuxedo pants. His hand rests at his side, and
I see the glint of a wedding band and quickly look down at my own hand. Was I
so lost in my rambling thoughts that I don’t remember him slipping a ring on my
finger, or me giving him one?
I
remind myself that this marriage is not real.
“I’ll
get you a bigger one,” a familiar voice says.
My head
moves up quickly, and I’m caught in the dark, smoldering eyes that I’ve studied
for hours on end. I swallow hard and say, “Holy shit,” before the darkness
takes over, and I crumble to the ground in a heap.
♥ Books by Heidi McLaughlin ♥
Forever My Girl - The
Beaumont Series #1
~ About the Author ~
Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now
lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting
space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup, two
Parakeets, Gonzo & Hedwig, and their newest addition of a Highland
West/Mini Schnauzer, Jill.
During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking
about Land Use. At night, she's writing one of the many stories planned for
release or sitting court-side during either daughter's basketball games.
