Ty laughs hard, deep from his belly. ‘It is a little bit like that, I guess. I’m just glad that I look like I’m coping—it doesn’t feel like it all the time.’

Bonnie smiles, taking her time to take in his features and appreciate these few precious moments that they have to themselves. They’d spent the day at a farm. Bonnie can already imagine the footage the camera guys must have gotten of some of the girls literally knee-deep in cow manure. A few had been shrieking hysterically, disgusted at farmyard life. Even though Bonnie was far from an expert herself, she’d found it all very amusing.

‘So, you’ve ridden horses before?’ he asks, referring to the first part of the group date.

‘I had lessons when I was a kid,’ she admits. ‘Begged my mum for months. I was a little obsessed—pony club and all that. I can’t actually remember why I decided to give it up.’ She imagines Carla writing confident horse rider on Bonnie’s application form. ‘It’s been years since I’ve ridden.’

‘You made it look like you do it all the time.’

‘My legs don’t agree,’ she says, rubbing at them. ‘I’m pretty sure I might not be able to walk tomorrow.’ There had been only three on the date who could ride. The others were hopeless, needing constant attention. A ride that should have taken about twenty minutes took four hours to film. Bonnie can already feel muscles in her body that she hasn’t felt in years. ‘You seemed like you knew what you were doing.’

Ty laughs. ‘Really? I kept thinking that I was going to look like an absolute idiot. I had some intense lessons last week,’ he admits, his eyes widening as he says intense. ‘The producers thought it’d look better if I appeared competent.’ Ty seems rather amused by this.

Bonnie returns his smile. ‘I don’t know, seeing you clinging on for dear life would have made for some good viewing.’

‘Yes, probably very true’—he reaches out and puts his hand on her thigh—‘but not very manly.’

‘Cut!’

Bonnie is snapped out of the moment, her focus from Ty slipping. She’s suddenly staring at the camera, the big lens pointed directly at them. Ben, the camera guy, gives her a smile.

‘Okay, guys,’ Darcy says, approaching them from the side where the rest of the production team are watching. ‘We’re just going to do a makeup touch-up. Ty’s looking a bit shiny.’

‘Can’t have that.’ Ty raises his eyebrows at her like it would be the worst offence. The way he looks at her warms her cheeks. She’s definitely attracted to him and her heart seems to beat faster, louder, anytime she’s close to him.

‘Before we do that, do you reckon you guys could give us a kiss?’