The Wedding Audition Read Online Free PDF Page B

nudge.
    “Goodbye, Ms. Smith-Jessup.” He leaned against a huge rusty plow and propped an elbow on the machinery, waiting for her to leave.
    She chewed her lip.
    “Isn’t there a back way out of here?” She peered around the property, noticing the road she’d driven in on continued in two different directions behind the house. “I’d love to… er… protect your privacy by causing as little disturbance as possible.”
    “Won’t your fans be disappointed?” He glowered at her.
    He excelled at glowering. Annamae thought he would make a convincing TV villain. Female fans would swoon over him, even if he was the opposite of hero-material Boone Sullivan in every way.
    “They’re mistaken, remember?” She picked up Bagel and snuggled her new pet before settling him back onto the front seat of her car. “I’d appreciate it if you’d let your friends know the next time you see them.”
    He growled out a frustrated breath. “I’ve got a camera on a back gate.” He pointed toward the road that led left. “Head that way and when I see you reach the gate, I’ll open it. Briefly. I suggest you drive out as fast as possible.”
    Definite villain material. She smiled brightly, calling on all her good girl charm, honed on camera for so long she hardly knew who she was underneath the act.
    “Of course.” She scribbled down the number for a prepaid cell phone on a piece of paper and handed it to him. “Please let me know if you change your mind about the rental. I’m going to visit my grandmother, but I’d love to hear from you anytime.”
    And while he was thinking, she would be figuring out how to work her way into that carriage house.
    He took the paper and shoved it in the pocket of his jeans.
    “Off to grandmother’s house.” His lips stretched in a way that was more snarl than smile. “I hear the woods are full of wolves, Red. Be careful.”
    Red? She patted her polka dot crimson head scarf self-consciously, a move that made him smile for real. Forgetting all about her effort to charm him, she hit the gas and drove off, away from Heath Lambert and all his surly smugness.
    She would convince him to rent that place to her, one way or another. She’d dealt with tougher wolves than him surviving in her father’s world.
    *
    Wynn ignored his ringing phone a few hours after his unwanted guest’s departure. It had been easy enough to track her identity online as soon as he’d typed in Annamae… the search suggestions practically begged him to search for Annamae Jessup, who’d just made headlines back in Atlanta by jilting one of baseball’s best athletes. Why did a TV personality have to show up in the town he’d studied backward and forward to ensure a quiet, anonymous existence?
    Not exactly what he was looking for when he’d moved here a year ago after his investigation of a street gang had exploded. After his identity was compromised, U.S. Marshalls had encouraged him to get out of the city and into a safe house until the trial to protect his testimony, but Wynn refused to soak off the system long term. Bad enough he had to take an enforced leave from the city’s police force. He would go stir crazy in a tiny hotel room for months on end. This seemed a stronger cover and wiser hideout.
    Until now.
    He might not have a choice if his enemies saw his picture in a newspaper thanks to Annamae’s presence in Alabama. He used a different name now, but he hadn’t done much to change his appearance besides shave off a beard since Beulah was so small. Remote.
    The trial started in three weeks. Surely he could weather that time here. But a part of him had begun to wonder if he’d been foolish to let Annamae leave. At least on his property, he could keep an eye on her. Because what if he’d somehow compromised her safety?
    The thought chilled him.
    Plus, if she truly wanted privacy—a fact underscored by the way she’d sneaked out the back gate—he could provide that here. Annamae Jessup could all but