Jared: Red, Hot, & Blue, Book 4 Read Online Free PDF Page B

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