Page 56 of I Want Crazy (Loco, Texas 3)

“After I escort him outside, I want you to get on the phone and let the guys at the station know we have a parole jumper in town. If he comes back, they’ll arrest him and ship him right back to where he came from.”

“I’ll be fine. He just caught me off guard, but if he had kept at it, I would have shown him the fun end of my good-bye stick.” She pulled a shotgun from beneath the counter with a grin. “The shells are filled with rock salt, so it wouldn’t kill ’im, but he won’t be getting up too quick, neither.”

Red grinned. “Margie, where have you been all my life?”

“Get on with you. I’ve seen the way you are with Jessie, and don’t try to deny it. I know a goner when I see one.”

Every thought fled his brain at that statement, and he realized she was right. Since the minute Jessie had speared him with those too-green eyes and sharp tongue, he was definitely a goner.

* * *

Jessie parked in front of the Inn and saw Red’s Charger parked up the street. As she climbed out of her car, Will came out of the Inn, sporting some darkening bruises. Right behind him was Red, looking large and menacing.

Jessie thought he looked like a hero, his arms loose at his sides with the morning light glistening off his hair. He caught sight of her the same time Will did, but where Will’s expression was dark, Red’s grin was bright and open. Her stomach flipped over as butterflies spread up under her rib cage.

Will started to say something, and Red slapped him upside the head. “No. You get in your car and don’t say one fucking word.”

Jessie almost smiled until she finally looked away from Red to see Will’s face.

His expression was murderous.

Shaken to her core, she almost ran to the front of the Inn and pushed inside. Margie, the owner, greeted her with a friendly hello, but Jessie just wanted to get back to her room and put some barriers between her and Will. Despite Red chasing Will out of town, Jessie didn’t think her ex would give up that easily.

She reached the second floor and went to unlock her room door, but when she took the knob, the door squeaked open. Had she left it unlocked?

No, she remembered locking it. When she pushed the door all the way open, nothing looked disturbed at first glance. In fact, she vaguely remembered leaving her dirty clothes in the bathroom, telling herself she’d pick them up later.

But they were now lying across the made bed. Maybe Margie or the maid had come through and straightened up. And just forgot to lock the door.

Hands fell on her shoulders, making her jump a mile in the air.

“Hey, sorry. I just wanted you to know I followed him to the town line. Told him what would happen if he came here looking for you again.”

She took a hold of his hand while her heart slowed down. “The door was unlocked when I came up here. Nothing looks disturbed, so it might have just been the staff tidying up, but—”

“But it might have been him snooping. I’ll help you double-check everything.”

The two of them went through the drawers, all her boxes and bags, but nothing seemed to be missing. Relieved, Jessie grabbed a pair of ripped jeans and a black cotton top.

“Since it appears I’m just losing my mind, I’ll change for work.”

“Okay,” he said, kissing her forehead. “Call me when you get there.”

“You chased him out of town. I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Humor me.”

As he turned to go, Jessie wondered why he hadn’t tried for more. She really didn’t have to be at the bar until ten thirty.

Maybe he finally realizes you’re damaged goods.

Chapter Sixteen

Jessie had decided Friday night was Sports Movie Night at the bar, and she’d brought in Friday Night Lights, Rudy, and The Longest Yard. After a unanimous vote, everyone had decided to start with Friday Night Lights. The deal was if they bought a pitcher of beer, they got a large seasoned popcorn.

She smiled and tried to pretend her mind wasn’t on other things, but she couldn’t stop thinking that she’d spent the night with Red every night this week, and he hadn’t tried anything. He’d cuddled with her, kissed her, but nothing else. At first, she’d been relieved—she hadn’t really been in the mood after Will’s surprise visit, but now that he was gone, she wanted things to go back to the way they were before. Red’s lack of interest had her thinking that maybe her fears that no decent guy would want her anymore were true.

Red was a good old boy who went to church every week, his parents had been married for thirty years, and, above all else, he was a catch.

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