Jared: Red, Hot & Blue, Book 4

by Cat Johnson

  “Deputy.” His single word, delivered in a deeper than average voice, interrupted her thoughts.

  “Excuse me?” Mandy dragged her spinning mind from visions of the sheriff character on screen back to the man seated right in front of her.

  “I’m a deputy, not the sheriff.” He stared at her over the rim of the coffee mug held in his hand.

  “The sheriff. You mean there’s only one?” She flashed back to sheriff Andy Griffith and his deputy Barney Fife in small town Mayberry back in the black-and-white days of TV during the sixties.

  He frowned at her as if he thought she was an imbecile. “’Course there’s only one.”

  “Of course. Sorry.”

  Still looking suspiciously at her, he set his mug down on the counter. After throwing a few dollars down next to it, he inclined his head to her in a kind of goodbye gesture that managed not to have one bit of warmth in it. He strode his booted feet right out of the diner and she regretfully watched him go. If she didn’t get to tape the show in this town, she’d never forgive herself.

  “You lookin’ for Jared Gordon?”

  Apparently the fun wasn’t over just yet. Just as “I’m a deputy” left, the waitress came over.

  Mandy looked the chubby young woman up and down. Her nametag read Misty. How sweet. “Yes, Misty, I am.”

  “You, uh, dating him?”

  She’d used the word dating like it was a euphemism for something else, a word that wasn’t quite so nice and would get you an FCC fine if you used it on network TV. Well, well, well. Was this jealousy she saw before her? The plot thickened.

  Mandy answered Misty’s question with one of her own. “Are you?”

  The brunette shook her head, sending the ponytail held back with the unfashionably large hair accessory flying from side to side. “Nope, but my friend is. She wouldn’t take kindly to no woman snooping ’round her man.”

  Hmmm. What was this? A warning? A threat? More importantly, why the hell was Mandy experiencing something that felt suspiciously like jealousy over the news that Jared had a girlfriend? She supposed it spoke to how serious the relationship was, or wasn’t, since he’d never brought whomever this girl was home to meet his mother judging by what Lois had said.

  An existing love interest for Jared in the show. Mandy’d have to think about how to work that angle. Meanwhile, she had Misty to deal with. “I’m not snooping. I have business with Gordon Equine.”

  “What kind of business? You ain’t looking like no horsewoman to me.”

  Mandy had had about enough of the waitress and her grammatically incorrect interrogation. “Private business. Thanks for the coffee.”

  She dug a dollar bill out of her purse and slipped it beneath the coffee cup.

  Mandy stood and called a goodbye to Mac in the back. With Misty still shooting daggers at her, she was out the door. Perhaps she was enjoying the fact she’d left the waitress suspicious as to her intentions toward Jared a bit too much. Good, it would serve the girl right for being so nosy.

  Still not knowing why there was a Gordon truck parked outside and no Gordon inside, Mandy decided to head over to the farm. If she couldn’t find Jared, she could at least talk to his mother. Maybe woman to woman they could work out a deal. She had to have at least one Gordon on her side and get them to sign the consent form. This town was too intertwined to film here if she didn’t have all of the main characters on board. As far as Mandy was concerned, the Gordons struck her as the town headliners.

  The trip to the Gordon’s house didn’t fail to impress her, even the second time. She drove beneath the trees lining the winding gravel road that led to a beautiful white farmhouse complete with porch and rocking chairs. It was all too perfect and it would photograph beautifully.

  Mandy breathed in the scent of jasmine as she pulled herself out of the rental car and into the warm air. Ignoring the front door, she followed the path to the back door where she’d entered two days ago.

  She saw Lois Gordon right where she expected her, in the kitchen. Mandy knocked on the screen door just as Lois was pulling a pie out of the oven and looking younger than ever in capri jeans and a button-down shirt tied at the waist.

  Hands still covered in oven mitts, Lois turned toward the door with a smile. “Hey there, darlin’. Come on in.”

  Mandy swung the screen door open and it squeaked charmingly. Even the noises around the farm added to her love of the place. “Thank you, Mrs. Gordon.”

  “Lois.”

  “Lois, then.” Mandy nodded. “Do you bake a pie every day?”

  Lois pulled off her oven mitts. “Pretty much. Jared and the boys who work for us enjoy it, but this particular pie is for my book-club meeting tonight. Sorry I can’t offer you a piece. I’ve got some fresh lemonade made though.”

  Mandy held up a hand. “That’s fine. Thank you anyway.”

  “What can I do for you, darlin’?”

  “I was just wondering if you’d thought any more about the show. I really think you’d be great.”

  Lois sat down and patted the seat of the chair next to her. Mandy lowered herself into it.

  “Darlin’, that decision isn’t mine to make. It’s Jared’s. More than half the responsibility of working this farm is already his, but all of it will be when I’m gone. I have to respect his decision.”

  Mandy smiled. “I don’t think you’re going anywhere for a long time.”

  “From your mouth to God’s ears, but nobody knows what’s in store for them.”

  She had to have this woman, this town, on her show. Mandy hadn’t wanted anything this much in a long time. Frustrated and running out of ideas, Mandy idly ran one finger over a small crack in the old table. She could picture Lois and Jared seated here, eating pie. “I truly don’t understand why your son is so set against it.”

  “He can be stubborn, I can tell you that.” Lois let out a short laugh. “It’s a Gordon trait, I’m afraid. In any case, you’ll have to talk to him yourself.”

  Mandy pursed her lips. “I was planning on it. I saw a Gordon Equine truck parked outside the diner, but I didn’t see Jared there.”

  Lois shook her head. “The boys took the truck to run some errands in town. Jared’s here. He’s out back behind the barn unloading the hay truck.”

  Mandy sat up straighter in her chair. “Really? He’s here now?”

  “Really.” Lois nodded. “You can go on back and see him if you want.”

  “I think I will. Thank you.” Newly inspired, Mandy jumped up from the chair.

  “I’ll be seeing you, Mandy.”

  Mandy paused in the kitchen doorway. “I hope so, but if Jared doesn’t agree, I’ll be leaving for LA tomorrow.”

  A slow, knowing smile crossed Lois’s lips. “I think I’ll be seeing more of you.”

  The entire trip to the barn, Mandy wondered how Lois could be so sure of that.

  Standing on a mountain of tightly stacked hay bales, Jared flung another two from his perch atop the trailer. They flew through the small door in the wall of the barn.

  He pulled his shirt off and wiped the sweat from his face with it. If he had known the guy he bought hay from was going to drop the truck off today, he would never have let Raul and Mick both go into town to pick up horse feed. Since it was lunchtime, they’d probably stopped at the diner too, so he didn’t expect them back for a while.

  Jared huffed out a breath. He’d get the hay off the truck and into the barn by himself, but they could have the pleasure of stacking the two-hundred-plus bales inside the hay room when they got back. That thought helped a bit, but not much. He adjusted his gloves, grabbed the string of two more bales, one in each hand, and heaved them through the door.

  “Hey, Casanova!”

  Jared smiled when he heard Bobby’s voice from below. “Bobby. Perfect timing. You’re just in time to help.”

  “Are you crazy? I joined the department so I wouldn’t have to be a farmer. Too much damn work.”

  “You’re tellin
g me.” Jared paused in his work and walked to the edge of the stacked bales so he could better talk to his friend. “Why are you calling me Casanova?”

  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 f
inally 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.