by Penny Reid
“That’s right.” He tilted his head to the side and took my backpack from my shoulder.
My stomach fluttered again. I swallowed to combat the sensation. “How come I didn’t know this?”
His eyes followed the line of my hair past my shoulders. “You must’ve missed the memo when it was sent out.”
Taking a deep breath for bravery, I climbed into the truck. “Next thing you’re going to tell me that Moses’ uncle was named Darnel or Cletus.”
“Nope. His uncles’ names were Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.” And with that, he placed my backpack at my feet and shut the door.
I watched him walk around the front of the truck, his steps unhurried, his hands resting on the tool belt around his narrow waist. I liked his tool belt; it made him look even more capable. Plus he had a nice walk. Not at all the sort of walk a murderer would employ.
As soon as he opened the driver’s side door, he said, “But Moses’ mother was also his father’s aunt. Seatbelt.”
I stared at his profile as he shut his door. “Moses’ mother’s name was Seatbelt?”
“No.” He flirty chuckled, his hazel eyes all twinkly as they moved over me, like he thought I was adorable. “Put on your seatbelt, miss.”
I did as instructed while I sorted through his earlier statement rather than allow myself to be flustered by his capable and reassuring attention. “So, Moses’ mother was also his father’s aunt?”
“That’s right.” He nodded once, starting the ignition and checking his mirrors. “Moses’ mother was named Jochebed, and her nephew Amram was Moses’ father.”
My mouth opened, then closed, then opened. At length I was able to manage, “So that would make his mother his great aunt?”
“And his grandfather was also his uncle, and his father was his cousin.”
The Ranger made a U-turn, heading in the opposite direction I’d been going, and we were off.
“Huh. . ." I thought about this fact and not necessarily my words as I mumbled, "Well, you know what they say.”
“What’s that?”
“If you can’t keep it in your pants, keep it in the family.”
His eyes bulged and he choked on his astonishment, throwing me a shocked glance.
Poor adorable Ranger Jethro. He looked like he didn’t know whether to laugh or shriek in horror. I’d shocked his delicate man-sensibilities.
He coughed out a strangled response, “I’ve never heard that before.”
“Really? I would have thought—well, you know. Being up here, in the backwoods of Appalachia. . .”
Oh. Shit.
“Did I just say that out loud?” I groaned and shut my eyes.
“Yes. You certainly did.” Now he was laughing full stop, a robust belly laugh. It sounded nice.
“Well, I thought, you know, I thought you people, um. . .” Now my face was red again, and this time it wasn’t due to my cardio-map-assault workout. But the fact that he was laughing actually helped ease my mortification.
As a comedian, I honestly didn’t care if people laughed with or at me. It was the laughter I was after, by any means necessary.
“You people what?” He pushed, his tapering chuckle a deep, wonderful rumble.
Still, I was embarrassed, because the words betrayed the narrow-minded direction of my thoughts. “Wow. That really came out wrong, garbled.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re an eloquent speaker and it sounded very clear to me,” he teased.
Did he just say ‘eloquent’?
Rather than respond, That’s an awfully big word for a hot guy, I said, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I’m saying. Please accept my apology. I’ve been driving around for hours and I haven’t eaten since. . . I don’t know when. In fact, what is my name? Where am I? I have no idea.”
“You haven’t told me your name, so I can’t help you there. But you’re in Green Valley, Tennessee on Moth Run Road.”
Wait. . . what?
I peeked at Ranger Jethro. “You don’t know my name?”
“I suppose you could always look in your wallet if you got desperate.” He indicated with his chin toward my backpack, a smile still hovering on his features. “Once you figure it out, and if you’re inclined to share, I’d like to know it as well.”
I straightened and twisted in my seat, gaping at his profile. “You really don’t know who I am?” I’m sure my tone betrayed the level of my surprise because Ranger Jethro’s smile fell away.
He stopped at a red light, switching his blinker on even though we were the only vehicle on the road. His gaze flickered over my expression and his was unmistakably anxious.
“Should I?” he asked warily.
I blinked once, downright dumbfounded by his response.
Slowly, the wheels turned and the curtain was lifted, exposing the truth of my present situation.
The flirty smiles, the lingering gazes, the gallant rescue—Ranger Jethro fancied me!
Me.
He’d been flirting with me.
Not Sienna Diaz, the movie star, comedian, millionaire, Oscar winner, America’s sweetheart.
By Rodan’s nostrils, I couldn’t remember the last time I hadn’t been recognized.
Plus, judging by the way he was looking at me now, I surmised he was worried we’d met before and he’d forgotten my name. Perhaps he even thought we’d slept together and he’d forgotten that too.
And I finally realized what kind of hot guy he was. He was the serial-dating hot guy, the most dangerous of all. Because they’re smart, they’re funny, they’re capable, and they’re typically charming.
Also, they’re easy to fall for, because who doesn’t want a hot, smart, funny, capable guy?
The problem is, they’re not very nice. They’re dangerous because they only want one thing—hot ladies. Lots of them. All the time.
And good for Ranger Jethro!
He should have his hot ladies. A year ago I would have gladly been one of his hot ladies. But just as I had no current interest in dating, I had no interest in losing my heart to a serial dater.
He swallowed thickly, looking acutely worried and bracing. And I couldn’t help it, I honestly couldn’t.
I threw my head back and I laughed.
~End Sneak Peek~
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Penny Reid Booklist
Knitting in the City Series
(Contemporary Romantic Comedy)
Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance (#1)
Neanderthal Marries Human: A Smarter Romance (#1.5)
Friends without Benefits: An Unrequited Romance (#2)
Love Hacked: A Reluctant Romance (#3)
Beauty and the Mustache: A Philosophical Romance (#4)
Ninja At First Sight (#4.75)
Happily Ever Ninja: A Married Romance (#5)
Dating-ish (#6, coming summer 2016)
Marriage of Inconvenience – #7 TBD 2017
Winston Brother Series
(Contemporary Romantic Comedy, spinoff of Beauty and the Mustache)
Truth or Beard (#1)
Grin and Beard It (#2, coming 2016)
Beard Science (#3, coming 2017)
Beard in Mind – #4 TBD 2017
Dr. Strange Beard – #5 TBD 2018
Beard Necessities – #6 TBD 2018
Hypothesis Series
(New Adult Romantic Comedy)
The Elements of Chemistry: ATTRACTION, HEAT, and CAPTURE (#1)
The Laws of Physics – #2 TBD 2017
Book #3 – TBD 2018
Irish Players (Rugby) Series – by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid
(Contemporary Sports Romance)
The Hooker and the Hermit (#1)
The Pixie and the Player (#2, coming spring 2016)
Book #3 – TBD 2017
and the Pixie (Rugby #2)