Reality Hero by Ashlynn Monroe Page B

damp coat over his arm and walked away as if nothing had happened. He watched the ambulance arrive and hoped the shopkeeper would live to bake another loaf of bread. He knew what it was like to be alone, and he hoped the young woman didn’t have to endure that pain.
    * * * *
    Dina walked to the coffee machine. The nasty brew tasted like sludge, but it was full of caffeine—something she needed desperately.
    “Hey there, girl,” Emily Montgomery called out to her. Dina stopped and gave the friendly reporter a big smile. “Did you hear about the robbery? Your star saved a woman’s life.”
    Dina felt cold. Just like the old days. I’m standing here wondering if he’s alive. “No,” Dina replied quietly. She was cautious to keep her face blank.
    Emily chuckled. “No worries, your show will go on. Mind Man saved the day and from all reports, he left when the police had the suspect in custody. You aren’t going to have to cancel the show.”
    I guess I’m wearing more of an expression than I thought. “Um, thanks, Emily.”
    “Don’t mention it,” she said cheerfully and walked past Dina to the elevators.
    When Dina put her money into the machine she noticed her hand shaking. Her heart was racing. This was why she didn’t watch the news, she couldn’t face him dying. Just like Aaron. She pushed the dark thought away and managed to get her coffee with only a little spillage from her tremors. Taking a deep breath, she took a sip and closed her eyes. Zane…
     

Chapter 6
     
    A bird sang, with annoying cheerfulness, in the gray dawn light. The hour was very early. Worry had kept Dina from sleeping most of the night. She missed Honey, her cat. She’d taken him for boarding at a very well rated kennel. She knew he would be mad at her when she picked him up again. Honey loved to sleep on her stomach. Guilt over the creature’s probable discomfort didn’t help her relax. She got up and turned on the laptop. Dina worked past midnight before the sandman called and she lay down and fell into a fitful sleep.
    Zane would be poofing in later. She hoped he remembered to wear the costume he hated so much. Rebellious thoughts about how the midnight blue spandex clung to every inch of him suddenly tormented her. The mask covering his eyes added to his sex appeal. She didn’t think of masks as particularly erotic, but on Zane the thing was crazy sexy. She knew how her hand would feel sliding effortlessly over all that silky spandex encasing the hard body underneath. Closing her eyes, Dina imagined she could even smell his cologne. Today was going to be a very long day. She bit her lip. I hope I can get through this without ripping off his clothes or ripping out a contestant’s hair. The last thing she needed was to become some kind of crazy, jealous ex-girlfriend for the camera.
    She arrived where the bus waited in the early morning light. There was still a cool chill in the air and it was relatively smog free at this hour in the day. The girls started converging on the quiet parking lot of the abandon gas station. Dina stared out into the distance, remembering when the station had been open. She and Zane came there for cheap hotdogs and slushies. Those had been the only dates they could afford.
    “Ms. Dell, can we get on and go? I just want to get on the bus and go back to sleep.”
    Amber’s whining broke Dina’s daydream, and she quickly covered her spaced out look by looking down at her planner.
    “We’re waiting for Purity to arrive, then we can go. Everyone is tired, but we need to be incognito and leave early. If you want to go home instead of doing the show, you still can.”
    “No, I don’t want to leave, but I just want to get going.” Her whiny voice went up an octave, grating on Dina’s last nerve.
    “Just go find a place on the bus if you want and go to sleep. I promise you won’t miss anything. I’m not going to tell you where we’re going until we get there.” She noticed that all the girls