Katie Price is a new woman. Falling in love with Alex Reid has changed the star once better known as wild, party-mad Jordan.
Since meeting and marrying Alex, she has felt far more mellow, mature, secure, loved - and much happier.
Here, in the second part of our exclusive excerpts from her new autobiography, You Only Live Once, mother-of-three Katie, 32, explains how cagefighter Alex has finally tamed her.
'After splitting with Pete I'd begun to feel no man would ever want me again. So it felt like a huge deal that Alex wanted to be with me.
He saw very quickly what I'm really like. I can be a bitch when it comes to my work and business, but in my personal life I'm completely different.
Alex instinctively understood how insecure I am, how I need to be cuddled, how I need so much reassurance and love.
We both knew very early on we'd fallen in love with each other. Within a matter of weeks we were talking about getting married and having children.
We first "met" on Facebook. My friend was going to bring a couple of cute guys from the gym along to my friend Michelle Heaton's birthday party.
Then he emailed me: "Change of plan. I'm asking my friend Alex Reid. Trust me, Kate, I think you'll like him."
He sent me the link to Alex's Facebook page. I couldn't really tell what he looked like from his profile picture so I requested him as a friend.
I think I sent my message on a Wednesday and only heard back from him on Friday. Two whole days later! "That's a bit cheeky," I thought.
Finally Alex did get in touch and we exchanged a series of messages. Ever the straight talker, I asked him what he liked in a girl but his replies were frustratingly unflirtatious and nor did he text me that much. "Maybe he's just not interested," I thought, feeling disappointed.
Being left by someone doesn't exactly do wonders for your self-confidence. I so wanted Alex to like me and find me attractive. And, yes, to fancy me because I admit that even from the brief contact we had had, I fancied him.
On July 18, 2009, the night of Michelle's party, when I turned round and saw Alex for the first time I thought, "Wow, he really is gorgeous!"
Right from the start, there was a strong attraction between us.
You can always tell, can't you? You get that butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling, where you want to give them all your attention and to know that they're giving you all theirs.
I've never been into one-night stands. I've always had relationships. And I've always made the guy wait a month before I sleep with him, wanting to know that he respects me and it isn't just about having sex with Katie Price or Jordan.
But I didn't feel that I needed to be like that with Alex. Even though I'd only just met him, something told me things were going to be serious between us.
And so, just hours after meeting for the first time, we spent the night together. Without going into detail, I can tell you that the sex was good, really good.
I did have a moment's panic when I thought, "Oh, no! I've blown it. He won't want to see me again because I've slept with him on the first date. He'll think that I'm a dirtbag."
But that concern quickly faded. Being with Alex felt so right that it didn't matter we'd only just met. And, after all, was there anything to be ashamed of?
My husband had walked out on me, my marriage had ended. I was newly single and free to do whatever I liked, with whomever I liked.
The first time in my entire life that I slept with a man on a first date, I ended up marrying him! I can't help feeling that my wedding to Pete had been more like a show. I was in love with him, and wanted to marry him, but we seemed to get overtaken by the big event that our wedding became.
Whereas my wedding to Alex, in Las Vegas on February 2, was far more intimate and laid-back. We went with the flow. It was just about us, no one else, and it was so romantic.
There was no glossy magazine deal, I hadn't wanted that. I wanted everything about this wedding to be as different as possible from my first one.
So there was no endless posing for formal pictures. When I saw the photographs of our wedding the following day, I was struck by how incredibly happy and carefree I looked - just the way a bride is supposed to be.
Alex definitely changed my outlook on life. Being with him was making me feel calmer and more chilled out. He's quite a spiritual person who is into meditation and yoga.
Right from the start I felt that we had a very equal relationship. Alex is a professional fighter and he is very good at what he does. I have my work, and the two worlds are kept separate.
Since being with him, I decided to cut back on the interviews I did. I was sick of the gossipy slanging matches I'd got involved with in the past. I didn't want to do any more trashy interviews slagging other people off.
I realised that I didn't want to hate anyone any more or be drawn into tit-for-tat slanging matches with other celebs. It doesn't get you anywhere, being bitter and twisted. Life is too short and I just want mine to be happy.
If I did interviews I wanted them to be based around things that were actually worth talking about. I wanted to be more mature, to concentrate on doing things with the kids, on my relationship with Alex, on my business interests and on my horse riding. I wanted to be happy.
Alex and I are not jealous of each other's past at all. He accepts mine and I accept his. But he also doesn't put up with any s**t from me.
For instance, early on when we went out together and I did my thing of having a few drinks and then going off and chatting to other people - and, yes, I admit it, maybe flirting a little bit with the guys - Alex wouldn't stand for it.
There was no big scene. He simply said very calmly, in a way which told me he absolutely meant it, "Don't treat me like that. I'll only tell you once and then it doesn't matter how much I like you, I will walk away. Of course I don't mind you talking to other people... but I don't expect you to blank me."
That told me! And do you know what? I loved the fact that he'd got the measure of my character.
It did make me wonder if I'd ended up losing respect for Pete in our marriage when I stopped listening to him. I respect Alex, and because of that I listen to everything he says.
All I want to do is be a good mum, have a good relationship with Alex and buckle down to my work and my horse riding. I feel as if I've turned over a new leaf.
Alex is the love of my life. I know people will say, "Oh, yeah, we've heard that one before". And, yes, you have heard it before - I was in love before! But who says you can't fall in love again?
Alex accepts me for who I am. He's my knight in shining armour. He has made me realise what's truly important in life. He's so grounded. Fame doesn't faze him, and our jobs don't mean anything compared to how we connect, our chemistry and the strong bond between us.
Fame doesn't last forever anyway. If I stop being famous it won't matter because I'll still have my children and a husband who loves me. Hopefully, everything's in place for Alex and me to have our happy ever after...'
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