Page 68 of I Want Crazy (Loco, Texas 3)

She shook her head. “No, Dad. I love you, but I need to get back to Texas. I have friends and a life and…and a man who loves me.”

Her dad stood there for a moment before folding his arms over his chest. “You’ve been here for over two weeks, crying over this man.”

“It was all a misunderstanding,” she said.

Her father looked like he didn’t believe her. “Fine, but I’m coming with you.”

Her stomach dropped out, and she gulped. “Really, Dad—”

“This isn’t a discussion. I want to meet this man and have a few words with him. Then we’ll see if you’ll be staying in Texas or not.”

Jessie wasn’t worried about her dad not liking Red, not anymore. But even if he didn’t, nothing was going to keep her away from Red, not even her father’s stubborn, protective nature.

Grinning widely, Jessie ran to pack her things. Maybe if she hurried, she could get her dad out on the next evening flight to Texas.

Chapter Twenty

Red stood off to the side, admiring the foundation of his soon-to-be house, and smiled. He’d gotten a call from Elizabeth that his copy edits would be back to him within a month and that the book should release on time. He’d even started writing something new. Life was finally taking a turn for the better.

Well, except for one thing.

He hadn’t heard a word from Jessie since he’d mailed her his book a week ago. He’d gotten a tracking number, so he knew it arrived and her dad had signed for it. He also knew she’d talked to Rand a few times, but as for him, nothing.

Maybe it was for the best. He’d told her how he felt, laid his heart out for her, and she still compared him to Will. He was nothing like her dirtbag ex, and if she couldn’t see that, it was her loss.

Red headed back to his trailer since the guys were knocking off for the day anyway. Climbing up the steps, he walked inside and found Jessie sitting at the table, scratching Orange behind his ear.

“Hey,” she said.

Red couldn’t seem to get the words out, he was so surprised. “Hey.”

“I hope you don’t mind. My dad dropped me off.”

“No, I don’t mind,” he said, his heart pounding.

She stopped petting Orange and reached into her bag, pulling out his manuscript. Setting it on the kitchen table, she said, “I read your book.”

He leaned against the wall, and tried to sound casual. “So?”

She did that little hair-toss thing that drove him nuts and smiled. “Well, I have some notes.”

“Of course you do.” He couldn’t stop the heavy beat of his heart that belied his coolness.

“For instance, I hate her name. Really, hate it.”

“What’s the matter with Whitney?”

“Ugh, I mean, kill me.”

“Well, what’s your suggestion?”

“Why not Tambryn or Darian? Something that hasn’t been done to death.”

“What other notes do you have?” He held his breath while he waited.

“The sex scenes are too wordy. I mean, seriously, no one thinks that much during sex.”

He laughed. “It’s a book. Thoughts are the only way to set the tone of a scene.”

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