Page 10 of I Want Crazy (Loco, Texas 3)

He raised his eyebrows. “You walked? From where?”

“I’m staying at the hotel on Main Street. I haven’t quite found a place yet, but I’m looking.”

The Loco Inn had been remodeled and updated on the inside, but they had kept the outside almost exactly the same as when it was built, besides a fresh coat of paint. It was a pretty nice place to stay, but still, it was a mile down the road, and at night…

He looked at her dark sweater and blue jeans and knew what he had to do.

“That’s a long walk, and no one is going to see you in that black sweater. I’ll give you a lift.”

“It’s okay, I think I can make it,” she said

“I’m trying to be a good guy here. Can’t you let me be nice to you?” he asked. “Don’t worry, it probably won’t last.”

She turned away from him, but not before he caught her smile. “Fine. Where’s your car?”

He led her to his Dodge Charger and opened the door for her. Once she was settled, he walked to the other side, shaking his head.

He was just being a good guy. It didn’t mean he was interested in a sass mouth from California.

So you say.

He climbed in next to her and caught her smirk.

“What?”

“I didn’t think you’d fit in this car.” She sounded as if she was about to burst out laughing and he realized he was discovering quite a bit about Jessie Dale.

For one thing, she was a smart-ass who found amusement in every situation. And especially at his expense. It didn’t seem like she was being mean; it was more like she looked at life as one big joke.

Which had him wondering for the hundredth time why he was so damn interested in her. “Some people would call you a bully.”

“Some people shouldn’t take themselves so seriously.”

Which just confirmed his suspicion that she looked at life as if it was one big joke, and for once he wanted her to talk about something real. Something she couldn’t just wave away with snark and a smile.

“So, why Loco, Texas?”

For the first time, she was quiet. He started the car and backed up, waiting. As he pulled out of the parking lot, he was just about to ask if she’d forgotten why, when she finally answered. “I just needed a fresh start and started looking for bars that had proven profits, but the owner just wanted out. I liked the building, and when I got here, I liked the town.”

“Yeah, but it’s strange. Most people try to get out of Loco, not in.”

“So, how come you stayed, then, if this place is such a pit?” she asked sharply.

“I never said this place was a pit.” Red didn’t know why she could rile him so bad, but he found himself almost spitting mad. “I blew my knee out playing college ball. With no scholarship and no money, I moved home. I got a loan that paid for a mechanic’s program and worked at Jose’s shop until I got a degree, but had no idea what I wanted to do.”

“Did you ever figure it out?” she asked.

He glanced her way, but she was looking out the window.

“Yeah, I guess I did.” He wasn’t going to elaborate, though. The last thing he was going to tell her was he made his living writing romance novels. She’d get a kick out of that, and it wasn’t like it was common knowledge. The only people who knew were his best friends, Jake and Rand, his parents, and his sisters. Lord knew, if the men in town found out, he would be the butt of every joke.

“And what did you figure out? What do you do?”

“Why don’t you answer my question first? Since you want to be friends and all.”

“I told you why. I needed a fresh start.”

“Why would a young woman just up and move halfway across the country?” He saw her shift in the seat. He looked into her angry face and figured he’d pushed too far.

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