Page 55 of I Want Crazy (Loco, Texas 3)

“Yeah, but…okay, but this is fantastic!”

“Thank you,” he said, unsnapping his jeans. “I think it would be more flattering if you didn’t seem so surprised.”

“Can you blame me? You have said at least twenty sexist things to me since I got to town, and you don’t exactly have ‘I heart Romance’ tattooed on your ass. Which would be totally hot, by the way.”

“Remind me to never get drunk with you near any tattoo parlors,” he said as he shucked the rest of his clothes until only his boxers remained.

She set the book aside and opened her arms to hug him when he crawled onto the bed. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she kissed along his cheek and jaw, punctuating each kiss with a word, “You…are…brilliant.”

He relaxed slightly and murmured, “Thanks.”

“So, is it about anyone?” she asked as her lips nipped at his neck.

“Not really. I do find a few things from my everyday life popping up in my work, but in general they aren’t about a particular person or event.”

Her lips rained kisses along his chest. “Huh, well, I love it. I want to keep reading.”

Red groaned. “Really?”

“Fine, I’ll finish it tomorrow,” she said, lying down with her back to him.

“You are a tease, woman.”

She reached behind her to smack him and got him in the stomach. “Don’t call me woman.”

He turned off the light and snuggled in behind her with his arm around her waist. “I’m sorry.”

“I forgive you,” she whispered, bringing his hand from her wrist up to her lips, kissing the back of it gently. “Thank you for letting me stay.”

“Any time.”

And as her breathing evened out, he realized he didn’t want her to leave in the morning. Or ever, if he was being honest with himself.

* * *

Red walked into the Loco Inn and didn’t even have to go to the front desk to find Jessie’s ex-boyfriend. He was currently standing in front of the owner, Margie Talbert, screaming at her.

“I asked for fresh towels, and these are still damp! I realize I’m in a white trash hick town, but does that mean you people don’t understand basic English?”

Margie’s cheeks were bright red, and her eyes were starting to water. A sweet woman in her early thirties, she was a widow and didn’t deserve t

his shit.

Coming up behind Will, Red clasped him by the back of the neck and squeezed. “You will apologize to Mrs. Talbert.”

Will stilled under the pressure of his hand and tried to look over his shoulder at him. “Why don’t you mind your own damn business, you fucking hillbill—”

Red spun him around and smashed his fist into Will’s jaw. The man crumpled at his feet, and Red sneered in disgust as Will lay on the ground, looking dazed.

“I hate bullies, so here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to get back on your feet and apologize, and then you’re going to get the hell out of town. If I see you here again, you’re going to really disappear. Got it?”

Will started to come out of his stupor, and Red wasn’t surprised that the idiot didn’t take his advice. “Not until that bitch gives me—”

Red grabbed him by his shirt and hauled him up with both hands, letting the arrogant douche’s feet hover off the floor. Noting the fear in the other man’s eyes, Red growled, “I’m not going to repeat myself. Get out of my town.”

He threw Will away from him, and the coward scrambled to his feet and up the stairs. Turning to Margie, he said, “I’ll stay down here and wait for him to go.”

Margie looked relieved. “Thanks, Red. That man scares me to bits. Something about him is just shifty.”

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