Read Online Outback Hearts (Beyond Reality Book 1) by Susan Stoker - Free Book Online

tent.
    “Why haven’t you helped her?” Alex demanded of Eddie after bursting into his tent.
    “She didn’t ask for it,” he responded and went on, “besides, she signed the contract. She knew what the risks were when she agreed to be on the show, she can’t touch us.”
    Alex left the tent. He couldn’t believe all Eddie was worried about was being sued. He’d surely seen the scrapes. Why didn’t he care and why didn’t he do anything about it? Alex figured there wasn’t much that he could do about the situation at this point. If he admitted to Sammi that he knew about her being hurt, she’d know that there not only was a camera in the bathroom, but he had access to watch. He didn’t want anyone’s behavior at the camp changing because they knew he was watching them. Besides, it was written in his contract that he couldn’t say a word about it to anyone. He would just have to deal. If Sammi was strong enough to grit her teeth and push through her pain, the least Alex could do would be to honor that strength and not bring attention to her pain. It might kill him, but he’d do it.
     
     
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    The next morning, the women’s camp was a hub of activity. The eight women who’d won the competition the day before were going to meet Al and were very excited. They were running around, trying to make sure they wore the correct outfit, their hair was just right and that the outfits they’d chosen were appropriate. Sammi once again retreated to the overlook up the hill. Her side didn’t hurt as much this morning, but she knew it’d be tough to do any sort of strenuous exercise without it being painful. She knew she wouldn’t get any sympathy from anyone, and besides, it wasn’t as if she was going to get any kind of tropical disease from the scratches…at least she hoped not. Sammi turned back toward the camp just in time to see the bus pull up and the eight giddy women climb aboard. She shrugged and turned back toward the amazing view of the Outback. She was sure she and the other women would hear all about the visit with Al when the ladies got back to camp later.
     
    * * *
     
    Alex watched as the bus pulled up and the women almost tumbled out in their haste to get to him. He braced himself as all eight women surrounded him. They were all almost talking at once. Finally, he laughed and said, “One at a time, ladies.”
    One woman leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, closer to his lips than he was comfortable with, and said, “Hi, I’m Missy.”
    One by one, the other women followed suit. Alex felt like he was going to suffocate with all the different perfumes the women were wearing. The smell of the perfume was overwhelming and completely out of place in the beauty that was the Outback. He heard their names as if he was in a box…“Lori, Jennie, Kiki, Candi…” He remembered the conversation the day before with Sammi about everyone’s name ending in “ie” and he almost laughed out loud. Alex wasn’t surprised that his thoughts turned to Sammi. He’d been thinking about her all night and wondering how she was doing. He forced himself back to the present and concentrated on the eight women around him.
    After the initial introductions were over, Alex fell into the same routine as the day before. He met with each woman one at a time and then halfway through the meetings they had brunch. Then it was back to the conversations.
    After lunch, Alex first met with Courtnee.
    “Hello. Courtnee, isn’t it?” Alex said with a smile.
    Courtnee was obviously happy that he’d remembered her name. “Yes, that’s right. Hi, Al. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be here and to finally get time alone with you.”
    Alex wondered if she knew how corny that sounded. “Where are you from again? I think you said in your video that you were from Florida?”
    “Yes,” Courtnee gushed. “Pensacola. I just love it there, I have the cutest little house, it’s right on the beach,