Bianka Kamber's deepest desire after Bachelor sa国际传媒's Brad Smith proposed in Barbados wasn't what you might expect.
"She said, 'I want to get Wendy's so bad right now!' " recalled Smith, laughing alongside his fianc脙漏e at Sidney's Mary Winspear Centre after the Nov. 2 tapings of Women Tell All and After the Final Rose, which wraps the Citytv reallty show's first season Nov. 28.
This revelation seemed more bizarre when you consider Kamber, 28, is a self-described connoisseur of fine food. Fashionably dressed in heels, a thin black shirt and silver-red sequined mini-skirt, the brunette beauty also seemed more svelte off-camera.
"In Rhode Island we were tanks, though" laughed Smith, who shares Kamber's weakness for junk food.
It showed during his hometown visit to Hudson, Que., where he took her on a date to Restaurant Sauv脙漏, his favourite steamed hot dog and burger joint. And Kamber revealed she loves Toronto's The Burger's Priest, known for items with titles like Holy Smokes and the Vatican City.
Said Smith, 29: "We both tried to keep a certain physique on the show, and then as soon as we were done I said, 'What do you want to do?'... We pulled over and stopped at Wendy's."
Even if you were unaware of what was then a secret - that Brad would choose the palliative care nurse from Mississauga, Ont., over Whitney Lee, 24, the ruthlessly competitive Calgary administrative assistant - you could tell they were lovebirds.
Beaming with affection, the boyish bachelor and his fianc脙漏e, who is of Croatian descent, couldn't keep their hands off each other. They kissed, caressed, admired that sparkling rock and Smith removed his jacket, covering her shoulders when he sensed she was cold.
It's no wonder the couple was giddy. It had been weeks since they'd seen each other because of contractual obligations.
Although they were per-mitted a getaway to Rhode Island after what Smith termed "absolute relief" - June 29, "the day the show stopped"- they could only phone or Skype each other since Sept. 4, the last time they had seen each other.
"We went to a place where nobody knew who we were," said Smith, admitting he even tried to convince Kamber to marry him during their Rhode Island sojourn. "We could go to dinner, movies, have nobody look at you or cloak-and-dagger everything."
Common sense prevailed and any thoughts of elopement were put on hold, they said, smiling and nodding in agreement.
Kamber, who had to cool her heels backstage since she wasn't in the Women Tell All special, said it was nerve-racking being separated from Smith for so long. She said she felt worse for him, however, "because at least I didn't have to face everyone."
Smith was featured with several bachelorettes in Women Tell All, and reunites with Kamber in After the Final Rose.
Shielding the bachelor and contestants from certain story developments and imposing restrictions - such as separating the bachelorettes even after they vacated the luxury Bear Mountain home that became their "mansion" for two months - was essential to maximize the drama and let it unfold organically, and to preserve the element of surprise, say staffers.
Smith, for instance, wasn't told that Kamber dated NBA player Kris Humphries for two years before Humphries dumped her for Kim Kardashian, whom he's since divorced.
All Smith knew, and better understands now, is that Kamber had trust issues.
"I didn't mention any names," she said. "I'm just a normal person who dated. I shared the story but it was never important to give a name."
Smith said he admires Kamber for not trying to "push another agenda" - even when he asked for more details in Barbados.
"That's why I love this girl even more," he said, taking her hand. "She didn't come on pushing that she's a somebody."
Although Smith noted participants are contractually prohibited from revealing too much about what wasn't shown on TV, he said it was when the cameras were off he got to see the true nature of the bachelorettes, who numbered 25 at the start.
"I feel [Brad and I] were no different on-camera or off," added Kamber, whose adventures with her husband-to-be included a comical sea-kayaking adventure in Newfoundland and a dream date in Paris. "It was just about getting that extra time."
While the couple said they loved Victoria, they lamented they were too preoccupied with production to really appreciate it. They playfully acknowledged there's a certain multimillion-dollar mansion on Bear Mountain for sale, so they could be back.
"We're planning on buying it and starting a life there," joked Smith.
"In $5 instalments," added Kamber.
Just don't expect them to return for their honeymoon.
"I'm going to the hottest destination possible and that way I can see her in a bikini," quipped Smith.
Other plans included a trip to Arizona and going to the Grey Cup, but not because the pro footballer misses the game.
"Hockey's really my passion," he emphasizes. "I just happen to be good at football."
As much as Kamber cherished doing Bachelor sa国际传媒 - "I have what I came for" - she says she's eager to move on.
"What we're looking forward to most is just sitting on the couch and crashing ... not having to worry about being on-camera."
