A Date for the Hunt

By Heidi McLaughlin and L.P. Dover

Allison Wood is single and not looking to mingle. Unfortunately, her sister, Erin, doesn’t take no for an answer. As the producer of a new reality TV show, that turns a traditional Easter egg hunt into a dating show, Erin believes her sister would be a perfect contestant and secures her a spot.

Instead of cozying up at home and biting the ears off a chocolate bunny, Allison finds herself in Aruba hiding an egg while America watches. She could have been paired up with a slew of other guys. But who does fate match her with? Sexy fireman Hudson Bryant, who happens to be the same guy that made Allison’s high school years miserable.

Go on a dating show, they said. It’ll be fun, they said.

When viewers learn of their history, the pair instantly become a fan favorite. Everyone is eager to see how their story will unfold. For the good of the show, Allison agrees to play nice with the former jock... for now.

Can Hudson make amends for the past and crack through Allison’s hard candy shell to her cream-filled center? Or will her time with him leave a bitter, black jelly bean taste in Allison’s mouth?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heidi McLaughlin
• Release date: Jul 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005232696

Heidi McLaughlin

Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018.

Book preview

1

Allison

G ood afternoon, Mr. Bishop, I say as I walk over to the register. Mr. Bishop always has the sweetest smile. The same goes for his wife who regularly comes with him to the pharmacy. They both have stark white hair and are in their late seventies. Obviously, that doesn’t stop them from having their fun.

I already know what Mr. Bishop is here for because I refilled the prescription yesterday. He gets his Viagra every single month. One day, I hope to be just like them. Unfortunately, I’m a twenty-eight-year-old pharmacist who works too much. Not to mention, I’m single. Things didn’t work out with my last boyfriend because he ended up working more than me. We never saw each other.

Mr. Bishop takes off his gray flat cap and smiles as he slowly comes up to the counter. How are you this afternoon, young lady? he asks me.

Grinning, I scan his bottle of pills and slide them into a bag. Pretty good. It’s Friday and I’m about to go home for the weekend. I’m tempted to ask him what he and his wife will be doing, but I already know. Just the thought makes me giggle.

Mr. Bishop hands me his cash because he never uses a credit card. I hope you have a great one, sweetheart. Mrs. Bishop nods her head in agreement.

I hope you both do too, I reply, handing Mr. Bishop his prescription. Your receipt is in the bag.

Side by side, they stroll away, and Mr. Bishop reaches down to hold his wife’s hand. They are so stinking adorable, my tech says, coming up beside me. Cecilia is a junior at UNCC in Charlotte, studying to be a pharmacist. She reminds me of myself with her ambition for knowledge. Not to mention we have the same bright blonde hair and green eyes. The only difference is that I’m eight years older.

I look over at Cecilia and smile. Yes, they are.

Cecilia glances up at the clock. Aren’t you about to leave?

Yep, I say, grabbing my purse from underneath the counter. As soon as Rachel gets here, I’m gone. And just as I say it, Rachel waves as she walks in the front door, dressed in her white lab coat with her auburn hair pulled back in a low ponytail. I was her tech when I was in college, and ever since then, we’ve been best friends.

Good afternoon, ladies, she calls out happily.

I set my purse on the counter. What’s got you in a good mood? I ask, staring curiously at her. It’s April Fool’s. Doesn’t Robert usually prank you with something?

Groaning, she walks around to the back of the counter. Yes. And I hate it. I’m still waiting to see what he has up his sleeve today. Robert is her husband. They’ve been married for ten years and have been trying to have kids ever since. I keep praying it’ll happen for them.

I grab my purse and slide it up to my shoulder. "Maybe you should prank him? He deserves it."

She smirks. Maybe. I’ll have to think about it. Her grin widens and I get a feeling there’s something going on. Have you gotten any phone calls recently? she asks.

Brows furrowed, I glance over at Cecilia and then back to Rachel. No, why?

Rachel shrugs, but I can see the mischief behind those hazel eyes of hers. No reason.

And just then, my phone rings. I pull it out of my purse to see that it’s my sister. Rachel’s face lights up and she watches me. What are you doing? I ask, looking at her like she’s lost her mind.

She turns away, but still stays close. Nothing at all. I wonder what your sister wants. She peers at me over her shoulder and smiles.

Nosy much, I say with a laugh. I slide my finger across the screen to accept the call. Erin, what’s up?

Hey, sis. You off work yet?

Yep. Getting ready to walk out, I say. Rachel is clearly trying to listen in, and it makes me wonder what’s up. She’s good friends with my sister, but I can’t think of what they’d be in cahoots about. Then again, they’re trying to set me up with their husbands’ friends all the time.

Erin giggles. Good. Do you mind stopping by the station on your way?

Rachel tries to hide her smile and fails. Sure. Care to tell me what’s going on? Rachel’s barely keeping it together here.

Erin groans. She’s so horrible at keeping secrets. Get out of there before she spills the beans. I want to tell you first.

Be right there. We hang up, and before Rachel opens her mouth to speak, I hold up a hand. Don’t say another word. Apparently, you and my sister know something I don’t. She wants me out of here before you squeal.

I hurry past her and she breaks out in laughter. Fine, go. But I want to talk to you tonight.

Throwing my hand in the air, I wave as I jet for the door. The TV station isn’t far away so it only takes me ten minutes to get there. When I walk in, Erin is at the front desk waiting for me. For sisters, we look nothing alike. I take after our mother and Erin looks exactly like our father with his brown eyes and dark brown hair.

She opens her arms and hugs me excitedly. Yay, you’re here. Let’s go to my office.

I love that she’s so happy, but it’s got me curious. What’s going on? I want in on the news that you apparently told Rachel before me.

We get to her office and she shuts the door behind me. I know. I know. I’m sorry. I was on the phone with her when I got the news. Everything’s just happened so fast. She motions to the two chairs in front of her desk and I sit down. Her excitement has me aching to know.

Tell me, I say quickly. I have to know.

Erin sits down behind her desk and blows out a sigh. Remember a couple months ago when I told you I had a great idea for a reality TV dating show?

I was liking where this was going. A big smile spreads across my face. Yeah. Your boss wanted something holiday related.

She beams. Exactly. And he didn’t want the usual Christmas or Valentine’s Day crap. That’s what everyone else pitched to him. But do you want to know what I came up with?

I’m literally on the edge of my seat. If there’s one thing I love about my sister, it’s that she’s super creative. What?

She takes a deep breath and lets it out slow. "You are looking at the newest producer of an Easter holiday special called A Date for the Hunt. We’re going to have ten single men and ten single women. All will be headed to Aruba in two weeks to have the biggest Easter egg hunt of their lives."

Mouth gaping, I’m impressed but also intrigued. Nothing like that has ever been on TV before. I think that’s amazing, I tell her. What all do you have planned?

Her face lights up even more. For starters, everyone will arrive in Aruba, including myself. I get to oversee the entire production. Jason gets to come with me too. It’ll be a two-week vacation.

I laugh. The perks of being a TV producer.

She rolls her eyes. Hey, I work my ass off. I deserve to go. Anyway, back to the show. Everything will be televised. Once everyone is settled, the women will be given an egg. On Easter night, they will hide those eggs at the resort, then the men will go out and search for them. None of the men or women have seen each other so at the big reveal, it’ll be a surprise.

And let me guess, I cut in, the man who finds a certain woman’s egg will be paired with each other?

Erin nods and claps her hands. "You got it. For two weeks, they will do everything together. Excursions, snorkeling, lounging on the beach. You name it. This is totally different from The Bachelor."

Yes, it is, and very unique. This is awesome, Erin. You really hit it out of the park with this one. I’m proud of you. But what happens if the guy and girl don’t get along?

Her eyes twinkle. Don’t worry, we have a few tricks up our sleeves. We’re anticipating that.

How are you picking the participants? The show starts in two weeks.

She sighs. I know. I didn’t realize this was going to happen so fast. A lot of my co-workers here have family and friends who are interested so we’re picking from them. None of them will know until the day before they’re set to leave. They all have to be between twenty-five and thirty-four-years-old, single, and never been married.

Wow. Such short notice. I’m sure you won’t have a problem filling the spots though. I mean, who wouldn’t want to go to Aruba?

Her smile broadens. Thanks, sis. I was hoping you’d say that.

Have you told Mom and Dad? I ask.

Sheepishly, she bit her lip. Yeah.

I purse my lips. And you tell me last. I get it. I’m not as important to you now that you’re big time and I’m just a small-town pharmacist. Belmont, North Carolina, used to be a small town, but it’s constantly growing every year. Especially with it being next door to Charlotte which is one of the biggest cities in the state. I like to think it’s still small.

Erin rolls her eyes. A small-town pharmacist who’s not only smart as hell, but gorgeous with a hot body. Any man would love to date you.

Thanks. If only I had the time.

She bit her lip again. Actually, you do.

I snort. Yeah, right. Have you not seen how much I work?

That’s only because you work for Rachel when she goes on vacation with Robert, she says, daring me to challenge her. You could have time off if you really wanted it.

And I could. I throw my arms in the air. What’s it matter anyway? I haven’t met anyone to take time off for.

Not yet, Erin replies cautiously, but you might be pretty soon.

For some reason, I’m no longer liking where the conversation’s heading. How is that?

She gets up and walks around her desk