Shoot, even now her cheeks felt warm. What thirty-year-old woman couldn’t kick a high school crush? How many nights over the years had Jenny confided to Molly that she loved her brother? Too many, all starting back in high school when she’d circled his name in hearts. Even when Ash had flirted with her in college, the sparks had never panned out to anything more than heated glances and breathless moments.
Jenny tried to act nonchalant. “Maybe you should see what he wants. That sounded like a lot of phone calls.”
“Text messages too,” Molly added. “He hates to be ignored. Not everyone hops to his attention when he wants something. Drives him crazy.”
Kind of like he drives me crazy. Jenny shuffled through her purse without reason. Pathetic, really, but every time he came around or called, she became a mess.
Over the years, Asher had become rich and famous. Incredibly important. She wasn’t in the same ballpark as him with her hodgepodge of jobs. Nothing that would constitute a career. Jenny helped her sister, Sugar, with the gun shop and range she owned. But mostly, she honed her craft. She was an actress. A few good parts here and there. A few commercials. A couple of cable pilots that had never taken off. But live performances were what made Jenny’s heart flutter and pound.
Much like Asher McIntyre did. She laughed and ignored Molly’s sideways glance. Her mind had come back full circle to him. No one stacked up to him because, like it or not, she’d been in love with him since she’d met him. Just like no other type of acting stacked up to the roar of an applauding crowd on opening night.
Whatever. When she needed an Asher fix, all she had to do was read a newspaper or check a tabloid. He was all over it, pretty girl hanging on his arm.
Molly nudged her. “Jenny? Pizza? You okay with delivery?”
“As long as we stop and grab a bottle of wine.” They moved into the plane’s aisle and trudged into National airport. The crazy flight was the topping of a crazy week. Jenny couldn’t comprehend that Sugar was married now. Her sister was the wildest, toughest girl she knew, and Sugar had basically eloped in Vegas, adopted a kid, then celebrated her wedding reception at Disney World. Sugar always knew what she wanted and got it. Me? Not so much. Part-time gun-range assistant, full-time wannabe acting star. At least it kept the bills paid and offered a super lax schedule.
“Wine. Good deal.” Molly nodded.
They rounded the corner from the long hallway into the airport waiting area. Six men in black suits waited, watching each passenger. Their stances and their looks screamed that they were packing heat.
Jenny knew those types all too well. Hard to ignore them when Molly worked with the high society of the political world, and when Ash was the Asher McIntyre, Mr. Rising Star Politician, the congressman who was soon to be the senator to New York State. Hell, probably soon to be president, give him enough time. And even if he didn’t carry that title, he had any number of Most Eligible, Most Handsome, Most Beautiful crowns that had been printed for the whole world to see the smile that about made Jenny pass out from hormonal over-exposure.
Congressman today. Senator in a little more than a month. President…whenever he wanted. His career was just another reason why nothing would materialize into a relationship. Ash was world famous; everyone hung on his every word. And she was clinging to an acting career where no one seemed interested in watching her say anything on stage. Stop that! Big audition in a couple days. They’ll love me.
The leader of the suits brigade stepped in front of Molly. “Ms. McIntyre, Ms. Chase, come with us.”
Molly turned to her, rolling her eyes and cracking a smile. “Guess I shouldn’t have stolen the bathrobe, huh?”
“Should’ve checked your text messages and voice mail,” Jenny whispered back.
No matter how many times law enforcement escorted Molly somewhere for work or inspected their apartment after the McIntyre family had another threat, men with badges made her nervous.
Other passengers streamed around as the obvious men encircled them. “Congressman McIntyre has asked that you come with us.”
“Of course he has.” Molly was used to the protective detail routine. She never looked concerned. “And you are?”
“Special Agent Murphy—”
“FBI?”
The man nodded.
“Give me a second to talk to Ash.” Her best friend fished her phone out of her purse, hit a button, and had a fast conversation that ended with her mouthing, “Fine. We’ll go with you.”
Jenny picked up her carry-on bag and let the men whisk them to baggage claim. “Least we don’t have to take the metro.”
Why not have an armed caravan take them home? It was the perfect ending to a crazy week and crazy flight.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CHASED AT www.CristinHarber.com.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Amy Knupp, editor at Blue Otter Editing, whipped my novellas into shape. Love all your suggestions and advice.
Thank you to my wonderful critique partners: Jamie Salsbury, Racquel Reck, Sharon Cermak, and Amy Anhalt. You guys have pushed me to meet my deadlines and keep the storylines flowing. I love working together and can’t wait to see each of your new writing adventures.
A huge shout out to my family. I can thank you enough for the incredible love and support. XO.
COPYRIGHT
GAMBLED
Copyright 2013 by Cristin Harber
All rights reserved. This book or any portions thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author and publisher except for the use of brief quotations used in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally.
ISBN-10: 0989776077
ISBN-13: 978-0-9897760-7-3
Genres: Romance, romantic suspense, military romance, short story, novella
www.CristinHarber.com
Gambled - A Titan Novella Page 10
