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

understand.” Bobby considered her closely. “If you’re so set on Pigeon Hollow, why not just do your show and leave the Gordons out of it?”
    Mandy shook her head. “Without a signed consent form, I’ll have to blur Jared out of any shots he gets his damn hunky, hot body into.” Oh, shit. Had she said that out loud? Maybe Bobby didn’t notice.
    Bobby choked on the swallow of beer he’d just taken. Apparently he’d noticed. Might as well keep talking now that she had his complete attention.
    “What Jared doesn’t understand is what I can do for this town. I stopped by today to get my nails done at Delilah’s Salon.”
    “Delia’s,” Bobby corrected.
    Feeling looser than she had in a year or more, Mandy waved one hand in the air. “Whatever. Anyway, it was totally dead. I was the only person in there. Now, I bring in a crew of over a dozen here for two months, think what an economic boost that’ll give to the small businesses. Every one of that crew is going to need food, drink, lodging, salon services, gasoline, supplies...”
    Bobby nodded. “Yeah, and what happens once you leave and take all those people with you? Where are we then?”
    Shaking her head, Mandy took another slug of her light beer, which wasn’t feeling so light as it went right to her head. “After the show hits the air, travelers who used to whiz past on the expressway may decide to stop in the quaint little town they saw on television. They’ll stop for a break and a bite at Mac’s diner before continuing on. There will be so many tourists the Hideaway won’t be able to accommodate them all. Maybe a bed and breakfast or two will open up and then the visitors will stay for the weekend. Don’t the people of Pigeon Hollow deserve that chance? And who the hell is Jared Gordon to take it away from them?”
    Mandy stopped mid-rant when she noticed Bobby’s gaze settle on something just above her shoulder. With a sinking feeling she instinctively knew what he was staring at. She turned slowly in her chair. “Jared. How long have you been standing there?”
    “Long enough.” There was an angry set to his jaw. The same jaw she’d briefly fantasized about nibbling on. That wasn’t going to happen now.
    He went from focusing his hazel eyes on her to a point somewhere up in the corner of the ceiling. It wasn’t a good sign that he wouldn’t even look at her.
    Standing, she shook her head. “I didn’t say anything just now that I wouldn’t have said to your face, Jared. You want to know what I think is really bothering you? You know every damn word is true.”
    Mandy slammed her beer bottle down on the table. After nodding to Bobby, she spared one last glance at Jared and then was out the door.

Chapter Five
     
    Jared sat again and grabbed his beer, refusing to even look as the bar door swung shut behind Mandy.
    Bobby, however, watched her dramatic exit with an amused expression on his face. “She’s hot for you.”
    “Are you fucking crazy?” Jared had nearly choked on his beer at that suggestion. “She’s only here to get her damn show made. She just made that more than obvious.”
    Here Jared had been thinking Mandy was flirting with him because she liked him. How stupid could he be? Letting out a bitter laugh, he wondered exactly how far she’d been willing to take her little come-on to get him to agree to the show. He didn’t want to consider the answer to that question. He’d really liked her, proving he was a stupid man.
    Bobby shook his head. “Nope. Well, yeah, she wants this show made, but she could pick another town if she really wanted to. You heard the stories she told us. There’s a ton of places more interesting than Pigeon Hollow. I think she’s so attached to this town because of you.”
    “No, you’re wrong. She is single-minded and conniving and the only reason she sashayed her butt in here in those tight jeans tonight is so I’d agree to her show.” Jared was willing to bet she would have wiggled