Jared: Red, Hot, & Blue, Book 4 (4 page)

Bobby shielded his face from the sun with his forearm as he looked up at Jared. “You know of any reason why a cute blonde in expensive-looking city clothes would be asking about you at the diner?”

Jared broke out in a grin. “She was? Hot damn.”

“So you do know her. I should’ve figured that.” Bobby shook his head.

“Hell yeah, I know her.” Not near well enough. He’d definitely like to get to know her better.

“All right, that’s all I needed to know. I’ll be on my way then before you figure out a way to make me help.”

Jared laughed. “That’s okay. With the news you just brought, I’ll give you a reprieve from helping this one time.”

Bobby raised a brow, considering. “I think I might rather hear what happens when she finally finds you.”

“Well, that’s gonna cost you because hopefully it’s gonna to be one hell of a story. At least a full hay truck worth of help, maybe two.”

Bobby laughed. “I’ll have to think about that. I’m still on duty. I’ll see you tonight at the bar.”

“Yes, you will.” Unless he was otherwise occupied with his city girl.

Resisting the urge to drive into town right then, Jared sincerely hoped Mandy did find him and soon. Hopefully, he’d have something worthwhile to tell Bobby about when he met him later tonight. At least for now he had something good to occupy his mind while he finished unloading the truck. He grabbed another two bales and hefted them into the barn.

Turning to reposition himself, he saw a sight that was even better than his imagination. The pretty little thing herself was walking toward him as if she was tiptoeing through a minefield.

“I’ll have to remember not to wear my best shoes when I come here.” She shaded her eyes with her hand as she looked up at him.

“It sounds like you plan on coming here often.” He grinned. That was fine by him.

“You agree to do the show and I’ll be seeing you every day for eight weeks.”

Hmm. Tempting and disappointing at the same time. “Darlin’, if that’s the only reason you’re here, I’m afraid you wasted your time.” Of course that was it. She wanted to see him about the damn show. Too bad. He’d hoped she was interested in more than just that.

She smiled up at him sweetly. “Can’t blame a girl for trying, but no. That’s not the only reason I’m here.”

Now they were getting somewhere. He dropped down to the ground next to her and leaned against the bed of the trailer. He watched her eyes drop to his bare chest before she finally raised them back to his face. Very interesting.

“Why are you here then?” he asked.

Mandy laughed, her brilliantly white teeth as dazzling as the rest of her. “I’m not really sure anymore. On my way over here to see you, I met a friend of your girlfriend’s at the diner. She pretty much told me to stay away from you.”

“I don’t have a girlfriend in town.” That just figured. One indiscretion—all right, three months worth of indiscretions—with Sue Ann and she was going to try to ruin his life forever.

“You sure about that, Jared?” She raised one perfect brow.

“Very sure.” Jared’s blood pressure shot sky high.

“The waitress thinks you do.” Mandy pursed her tempting heart-shaped lips but Jared could barely enjoy looking at them in his anger.

Damn Misty, butting her nose in his business. Jared scowled. “The waitress is wrong.”

Mandy watched him closely for a moment. “I’ve got a room at the Hideaway, heaven help me.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll be staying there until I leave for LA tomorrow.”

Jared had just been enjoying her very low opinion of their local motel, not that he blamed her, when she dropped the bomb about LA. He frowned. “You’re leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes, I don’t have a reason to stay. Unless you give me one.” She waited expectantly.

He drew in a deep breath. “I can’t agree to that show.”

“Understood.” She turned to go.

He put a hand on her elbow to stop her. “Wait. That’s it?”

She turned back. “That’s all I’ve got to say. Do you have anything more to say?”

This girl wasn’t going to make it easy on him, was she? First she tells him where she’s staying, and then she leaves? Talk about mixed signals. Things were just too damn confusing when women were in charge of them. He’d have to take control and get them back on track.

“I’m gonna be at the bar right next to the Hideaway tonight. I’m meeting a friend there.”

“A friend?” She raised a brow.

He laughed. As if he would invite her to come if he was meeting a girl there. “A guy friend. Why don’t you walk over and join us there?”

“Why? Are you willing to talk more about the show?”

“Nope. But what else have you got to do? Oh, wait, I think the Hideaway might have free cable. Yeah, you probably will want to stay in tonight.” He watched the emotions dance across her face. She was definitely tempted. She was also stubborn as all hell.

Finally, she let out a huff. “What time?”

“Around eight.” Jared couldn’t suppress his smile. She turned to go without a word, but he wasn’t done yet. “See you there.”

“Maybe, if I’m not too busy.” She didn’t even turn around to answer him, but just kept walking. That was fine. He enjoyed watching her ass move beneath her dress.

Jared shook his head at himself. He was obviously insane. She was definitely one high-maintenance chick. She was going to make him work hard for it, if
it
ever ended up happening. Why did that realization make her seem even more appealing?

He climbed back up onto the hay truck with a whole lot more to think about now.

Chapter Four

A squirrel ran in front of Mandy’s car and she slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a stop, but her heart didn’t slow quite as readily. It kept pumping away as she tried to calm herself.

“Stupid squirrel.” It was easier to blame the animal than herself.

The fact was she’d been driving back into town without paying any attention to the road ahead of her. She couldn’t get the vision of a certain cowboy out of her head. The vision of Jared, half-naked and throwing hay bales two at a time like they weighed nothing, was enough to get a woman’s juices flowing. So was his invitation. Oh yeah, he’d left no doubt. Tonight was not to talk about the show. Tonight was about him and her.

She’d see about that. He didn’t have a girlfriend. Or at least that’s what he’d said. She tended to believe him more than Misty, the local gossip at the diner. Though she had a feeling there was definitely a story there. She’d get to the bottom of it somehow. Jealous exes and pissed-off women made for great television.

In any event, if she had to woo the man to get the show, so be it. Envisioning the slick sheen of sweat accentuating all of the many ripples of his muscles, she had to admit seducing the man would be a pleasure on her part, show or no show. Getting him for the show would be a really nice fringe benefit.

Of course she was going to be at that bar tonight, regardless of what she’d said to him before she left. She’d only been pretending she was merely considering it. Hell or high water wouldn’t keep her away. If she couldn’t convince a small-town guy who was already attracted to her to sign the consent form for the show while under the influence of alcohol, then she had better hang up her producer hat. Really, if she couldn’t handle the folks here in Pigeon Hollow, forget about the sharks in LA.

Mandy spotted a small store on the corner of Main Street. She could do some errands while she was in town. It wouldn’t hurt to soak up some more of the local culture and make more notes. Maybe she’d even stop by and get her nails done for her date with Jared.

Date. Even just the word brought a smile to her face.

When Mandy had finally killed all the time she could in town, she headed back to the motel. The Hideaway loomed before the hood of the rental car as she pulled up to her room door.

In spite of her low expectations, it really wasn’t that bad. She’d been pleasantly surprised upon check in. There was no visible grime or bugs. The furnishings in the good-sized space, though worn and unfashionable, were at least neat and clean. The housekeeping was decent, so she wouldn’t have to wear rubber shoes to shower in or anything like that. There was even a hookup for her laptop.

Imagine that, Pigeon Hollow, keeping up with the age of the Internet. And there were enough rooms at the Hideaway that if some of the crew doubled up, they could all stay there together during taping.

Happily making further plans for the crew as she stepped out of the shower, she began to rifle through her suitcase. Were two hundred dollar rhinestone-studded designer jeans too much for the honky tonk next door? They had to be more appropriate than one of her suits and that was what her choices amounted to at the moment. She pulled out a tank top and heels and she was good to go.

Unfortunately, she was still too early. She had no intention of getting there before Jared arrived, so she booted up the laptop and checked her emails. Meanwhile, as she kept checking the time in the corner of the laptop screen, Mandy told herself she was anxious to get to the bar to start working on Jared about the show. It definitely wasn’t that she was excited to see him personally.

Time moved more slowly than ever before simply because she was waiting to be able to leave. She didn’t want to arrive before Jared and his friend.

The urge to take a nap was strong. Last night’s hotel had been so bad it made the Hideaway look like the Ritz Carlton. She’d slept like crap and was paying for it now. She didn’t dare lie down though for fear she’d sleep right through the night. Instead, Mandy made notes, returned phone calls, checked if she had enough blank consent forms for all the main characters in town.

Finally it was just after eight. She flipped the lid of the laptop shut.

Perfect. She’d be fashionably late. Mandy checked her makeup one last time in the wall mirror and tried not to wonder what this mysterious non-girlfriend of Jared’s looked like. While she was at it, she adjusted the tank top to show just a bit more cleavage.

After shoving cash and her room key into her pocket, Mandy was good to go. She walked across the hotel’s parking lot toward the bar, cursing the deep, sharp gravel ruining the heels of her shoes with every step.

Mandy anticipated this bar would probably play a major role when it came time for taping. Drunks in a bar made for great television. She heard the jukebox pumping out a lively country tune before she even opened the door.

Once inside, she knew she was right about the bar being perfect for the show. It simply oozed small-town atmosphere. Right down to the fact the entire place quieted and every patron inside turned to look at her when she opened the door and stepped inside. She nearly laughed at the locals’ stereotypical reaction to her.

Jared and none other than the deputy sat at a table just off the dance floor. Jared stood when she entered. A country gentleman. She smiled at that idea and made her way to them.

“Hey there, darlin’. Wow, you look great. I gotta say, I didn’t think you actually owned a pair of jeans.” Jared glanced down at her approvingly.

“Of course I do. I’m not always dressed in stuffy business suits.”

He was looking pretty great himself even though he was now wearing a shirt. She had liked the view that afternoon without it so much better.

“Good to know.” He grinned at her. “Mandy, this here is my friend, Bobby Barton. Bobby, this is Miss Mandy Morris from Los Angeles.”

She was sure that Jared had already filled his friend in about exactly who and what she was, but that was fine. She made no pretense about why she was in town.

Mandy extended her hand. “We’ve already met, sort of. Nice to see you again, Deputy.”

He shook her hand with a stern nod. “Bobby is fine. I’m off duty tonight, Ms. Morris.”

She shook her head. “Nuh-uh. It’s Mandy. No business suits, no formal talk. Tonight is for fun only.”

Jared grinned wider, resting his hand lightly at the small of her back. “That’s good to hear too. What can I get you to drink?”

Supposing the bartender would be incapable of mixing up a good Cosmopolitan and that them pouring a decent wine was even more questionable, Mandy settled on something safe. “A light beer, please?”

“You got it, darlin’.” Jared grinned and headed for the bar.

Mandy had been looking forward to picking the deputy’s brain for a minute or two before the horseman returned. Unfortunately, Jared somehow procured the beer, and two more for himself and Bobby, faster than it took her to get seated and break the ice with the stone-faced lawman. To be fair, she’d bought the jeans to fit a bit tightly. It made settling into one of the three chairs tightly crowded around the tiny cocktail table a tough squeeze.

When she was seated, if less than comfortably, and Jared had returned all three of them crowded cozily around the table so small her knee kept bumping into Jared’s leg. He didn’t move out of the way, and neither did she. The second time it happened within about a minute, Mandy glanced his way. She found him grinning at her. Jared Gordon was definitely into games.

Fine. Two could play at this. She hadn’t bumped knees with a guy in awhile. She hadn’t bumped anything else with a guy in a while either, come to think of it. She was long overdue for that. For now, this would do.

Mandy adjusted her position beneath the table. Crossing her legs she aligned herself so she could slowly and tantalizingly run her toe up and down Jared’s calf.

His raised brow and wide smile that he tried to hide behind his beer as he took a long draw from the bottle told Mandy her little flirtation was affecting him. Damn, it was starting to get to her too as her insides began to warm.

Reminding herself she was here to get her release signed and not get laid, Mandy started making small talk that would hopefully lead to a discussion about her show. Maybe their little game beneath the table would loosen Jared up enough he’d reconsider. “This is a great place. No wonder you come here.”

Sipping on the longneck bottle—she had refused the glass so she’d blend in with the locals—Mandy felt the cold foam slip down her throat. With every swallow she thought more about what it would be like to take this thing with Jared to another level.