Plot Synopsis

Bright and talented young executive Stephanie Hughes reluctantly agrees to be the next bachelorette contestant on "The One," the reality dating show for which her best friend Lisa is a producer. Upon arrival at the location, she meets Alex Fletcher, the athletic and handsome rancher who runs his family's Aurora Ranch along with his mother. From the start, Stephanie and Alex's interactions are prickly, yet beneath the verbal sparring there is a smoldering spark of attraction. On her first "date" she meets Oliver, who is everything a girl could want in a potential partner. The next day, Stephanie and Oliver set out for their second date, a hike facilitated by Alex. During the hike, a bit of competitiveness emerges between Alex and Oliver, and Stephanie and Oliver connect over their shared reluctance about finding love on a TV show. Meanwhile, when Oliver meets Kelly, another guest at the ranch, the two seem to have an immediate spark. As dates with Stephanie continue, Donna can see that Oliver and Stephanie are becoming friends, not exactly good for the show. Whenever Alex and Stephanie are together, however, the connection between them grows stronger and deeper.Stephanies fear of heights prevents her from participating in the next date with Oliver, a hot air balloon ride, and it is Alex who convinces her to face her fear. Swept up in the joy of the moment, Alex and Stephanie kiss, with the cameraman capturing every moment on film. Later, when Alex discovers Donna re-editing the show so that Stephanie has two bachelors from which to choose - him and Oliver he thinks Stephanie duped him. Furious, Alex confronts Stephanie, and they part ways, each secretly heartbroken over what might have been. Determined to face the old fears that have been holding her heart back, Stephanie heads to the Aurora Centennial celebration, hoping that Alex is there and that it is not too late for them to make a new start together, with eyes and hearts wide open.