Why not Wyoming? (Wyoming Wilds Series Book 1)

by Anneliese Brand

  Boone nodded. “Have you been drinking, Ms. Owens.”

  “What the fuck, Boone? Ms. Owens? We’ve known one another for over twenty years.”

  “And I could assume from your actions and speech that you’ve been drinking, but I thought I’d ask, Teresa,” Boone drawled sarcastically.

  “CJ’s being a dick.”

  “Because he won’t sleep with you, or because he has a pretty new girlfriend?”

  “She’s not that pretty,” Teresa shot back sulkily. “She’s hippy with big thighs.”

  “Not all of us are straight up and down with a fricking thigh gap, Owens,” Mendoza said, pulling her cuffs off her belt. “Move your skinny ass. You’re under arrest.”

  CJ bit his tongue. Feisty was right.

  “For what?” Teresa demanded, forgetting about the skin tight dress she was trying to wiggle back into.

  “Public intoxication, driving under the influence, disturbing the peace, harassment, indecent exposure,” Mendoza intoned. “Do I need to go on?”

  Teresa’s head whipped toward him, her eyes pleading. “CJ doesn’t want to press charges. Do you, baby?”

  “It’s not up Mr. Barrett at this point,” Boone said, nodding to the female deputy to move things along.

  Mendoza yanked Teresa’s forgotten stretchy dress down into place and politely held her long coat for her. The blonde was shaking as she slid into the leather. The tears streaming down her cheeks didn’t look so fake now. A sob broke her lips.

  “CJ!”

  Guilt gnawed at him as the cuffs snapped on and Teresa was read her rights. Mendoza escorted her out the door. He looked back at Boone, but his friend was already shaking his head.

  “This can’t go on, CJ. Not only is it a waste of our department’s time, but you got lucky last time that we found a witness in the parking lot. What if she pulls this shit and it truly comes down to he-said she-said? Think about your reputation, your business, or that cute new girlfriend.”

  “Where did you see Annie?”

  The frown left Boone’s face. “Facebook. There are wedding pictures up on Tyler’s page and a bunch more on the lodge page.”

  “And you deduced I had a new girlfriend from that?”

  “I caught a glimpse of her in the Jeep the other day when I flashed my lights at you. When one of my oldest friends doesn’t stop to chat, he has something hide. So, I went poking around Facebook. Lo and behold, a certain pretty brunette from the wedding party closely resembled the woman from the Jeep. You two looked cozy in a couple of shots. All it took was a question or two to the right people to confirm the facts. Police work.”

  “My tax dollars in action.”

  “Night shift is boring,” Boone drawled, his shrug unapologetic. “And that’s life in a small town. I’m happy for you. I hope it works out.”

  “Me too.”

  “In the meantime, we’ll get the crazy Ex out of your hair. You’ll need your beauty sleep for the Hollywood crew tomorrow. “

  “Do you know everything?”

  “I’m good at my job.”

  “Modest too,” CJ said, clapping his friend on the shoulder as he went out the door.

  “I’ll send the wrecker out to impound her car and we’ll let you know when we need you to stop in.”

  Boone jumped off the porch and strutted over to Mendoza’s driver’s side window for a quick chat. A minute later CJ watched the whole dog and pony show go back down his drive, minus the lights and sirens. Locking up, he shut off the lights and headed back upstairs. He glanced at the clock. He ached to talk to Annie now more than ever, but one-thirty in the morning was probably not the time to do it.

  Elbows resting on the steering wheel, Annie dug her thumbs into the base of her skull. She’d slept fitfully and woke up with a throbbing headache. Neither fact gave her great hope for the day ahead. CJ hadn’t called back. The rational side of her brain said there were a million possible reasons why. It also reminded her that the man she was falling for had a job that took him out of contact for days and weeks at a time. Getting clingy now was not a good idea. She rolled her neck. Being rational was all good and fine, but her heart wasn’t listening and her stomach was freaking out.

  A horn honked behind her. She jumped, ring tangling in her hair as she tried to jerk her hands back to the wheel. Yanking it loose, she glanced both ways before hastily accelerating through the green light. Navigating Monday morning traffic, she pulled strands of hair out of her ring with a shudder and blew out a shaky breath. She needed to get her mind back on what she was doing. She needed to get her mind back period. With the wedding, and now all the promotional stuff for Mackinac Monday, she hadn’t scribbled anything besides her name in weeks. Writing was her therapy. It was what kept her sane, or at least what passed for sanity for a writer.

  Hitting her turn signal, she eased the Jeep into a parking spot. Maybe a morning of coffee and donuts with the library ladies was just what she needed. Her first signing had been here, at the Grand Rapids main branch. The staff had gone out of their way to calm her nerves and make a young local author feel welcome. Their zeal for the written word was infectious and humbling. Along with two dozen or so curious carpool moms and retirees, they had made her feel like Nora Roberts that day. Annie had been back with every book since.

  Her folding handcart was lightweight aluminum and a real back saver. Loading the boxes, she reached up to close the back hatch and her phone went off. Pulling the dolly up onto the sidewalk, she fumbled for her cell. Her heart soared when she saw CJ’s grinning face.

  “Hello!”

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  His voice was rough with morning rust. He sounded so sexy.

  “Hey, handsome. I miss you.”

  CJ’s laugh sounded relieved.

  “I miss you too. You wouldn’t believe how much.”

  “It’s early out there.”

  “Yep. Just sipping my first cup of coffee and thinking about you.”

  Glancing up and down the sidewalk, Annie played with the cart handle.

  “I got your message that said we need to talk,” she whispered.

  “Wow. Did I make it sound that ominous?”

  “Those words do tend to have a negative connotation when put together,” Annie admitted, hunching her shoulders and cupping the phone closer to her ear.

  “I didn’t mean them that way. I just…” There was a long pause. CJ cleared his throat. “Leaving you was really hard. I had a lot of time to think on the plane, and during the layover in Denver. Long distance relationships rarely work. I think—”

  “Annie! Good morning! It’s so good to see you again. I can’t tell you how excited we all are about the new book. The reviews have just been fabulous and so tantalizing!”

  The enthusiastic greeting and smothering hug drowned out CJ’s words. Annie stumbled back, holding up a desperate wait-a-minute finger to the sweet librarian.

  “OH! Sorry, sweetie. I didn’t realize you were on the phone.”

  “That’s okay, Margaret. Just give me a minute here,” she said, turning her attention back to the phone. “I’m sorry. Are you still there?”

  “It’s okay, but it sounds like I better let you go,” CJ said.

  “No!” she cried and then immediately lowered her voice, turning away from the older woman. “I’m sorry. I want us to talk.”

  “And we will,” CJ said, his deep voice soothing. “Don’t stress, baby. Please. I know you’ve got a lot going on today. I just wanted to tell you good morning, and that I’m thinking about you.”

  Panic threatened and her words came out choked.

  “Don’t give up on me.”

  “Annie, I’m not giving up on you, or us. I promise.”

  “Rarely doesn’t mean never,” she insisted.

  “I know that, and if anyone can make it work we can.”

  “Do you really believe that?”

  “I do. I love you, Annie. We’ll figure this out. Trust me.”

  �
��I love you too,” she whispered, lips curving at finally saying the words.

  “That’s what I wanted to hear, beautiful,” CJ said, the smile so clear in his voice she could picture the dimples. “Now, go make those readers fall in love with my talented, witty woman. And anytime you start to feel nervous today, just imagine me there holding your hand.”

  “I will.”

  “Not sure how late I’ll be, but I will try to call you tonight. Text me when you’re done for the day.”

  “Okay. It doesn’t matter how late it is. Just call,” Annie said, looking up as another of the library staff arrived with more donut boxes in her arms.

  “If you’re sure.”

  “I am. Be safe out there.”

  “Will do. Love you.”

  “I love you too. Bye,” she whispered.

  Hanging up, she could feel herself blushing. She smiled shyly at the older women, waggling her phone at them before pocketing it.

  “Sorry about that. My boyfriend is in Wyoming, and we’ve been playing phone tag.”

  Even though their conversation had been short, and the talk was looming, it felt good to still be calling CJ her boyfriend. She sent up a prayer that they could make this work. Rubbing her chest to chase away the tightness, she checked the key fob to make sure the Jeep was locked. The library was a safe haven. Margaret and Audrey were like old friends. There was no reason to panic.

  “Let’s get you inside out of the cold.”

  “With the smile he puts on her face, Annie isn’t feeling the cold,” Margaret teased.

  “Well then let’s get inside, get the coffee started, and let me get a look at this new book so I have something to warm me up,” Audrey said, giving Annie a saucy wink.

  She laughed and grabbed the dolly. “Lead the way, ladies. A little caffeine and sugar sound like heaven this morning.”

  Temple resting against the glass, Annie stared sightlessly out the passenger window. Sleet bounced off the other side of the smooth barrier. The chill did little to soothe the thudding pain that still wracked her skull. She swallowed hard, closing her eyes as her stomach pitched dangerously. The hours at the library had been pleasant and more than successful enough to wave off her publicist’s qualms about the small time stop. They’d had the argument before and it was why Annie had gone on her own this morning. They’d met up for a signing at Grand Rapids’ largest remaining bookstore at noon, and now were making the two-and-a-half-hour drive to Detroit.

  “Are you sure you’re not pregnant?”

  “For the third time, I’m sure,” she growled out through gritted teeth.

  “It would explain the moodiness, nausea and, if you told him, your good luck charm’s sudden need to leave town,” Cami said with a humorless smirk.

  The publicist was still not happy with CJ.

  “He has a job,” Annie said, not sure how many times she’d said that today.

  “He wasn’t too worried about that job at the launch party. Weren’t you appropriately grateful for his hand holding?”

  “If you’re asking if I put out after the launch party, none of your damn business.”

  “I’m going to take that as a no.”

  “Take it any way you want.”

  “You’d think with the big payday this close he’d be doing a better job of kissing ass,” Cami said waving a newly lit cigarette as she held her thumb and forefinger apart, indicating how close they were.

  The words were too reminiscent of Angie’s nasty whisperings at the café. They stabbed deep. It seemed her family and publicist, who she’d considered a friend, thought money was the only reason a man like CJ would be interested in her. If that was the case, she was in trouble. There was no guarantee of this big payday everyone was talking about. Early numbers looked good, but at this point that’s all they were, numbers. Numbers weren’t dollars and hopes weren’t promises. Neither of them paid the bills.

  Letting her head fall forward, she massaged the back of her neck, thumbs digging into the tense muscles. Most authors weren’t going to get rich. A vast majority never made enough to quit their day job. Her first five novels had been distributed through a small press. Annual sales had left her far short of the Federal Poverty Level for a single person. Thank God for her uncle’s careful investing and the steady monthly interest payment.

  When e-books had hit the market, Annie had explored the option on her own. Not only had the new format delivered a boost in sales and income, but the exposure had helped her find an agent, who had sold her sixth book to her current publishing house. She smiled, remembering how the fifteen-thousand-dollar advance from the large company had seemed like a fortune. After her agent’s percentage and taxes, she’d quickly figured out that it wasn’t. With a little luck she’d earned out her advance and procured a slightly larger one for book seven. The next deal had been for three books with the publisher paying her thirty thousand per book and hooking her up with the driven publicity dynamo known as Cami. Each novel had done a little better than the last. Mackinac Monday was her tenth overall and the final book in the current deal. They both had a lot riding on its success.

  “Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat before the signing? You don’t want your blood sugar tanking. We don’t want a repeat of Naples.”

  The thought of food was repulsive. Annie shook her head, face hidden behind the curtain of her hair. She knew she’d promised CJ she’d eat, but it just wasn’t possible right now. Maybe it was good that Cami wasn’t talking to him.

  “My treat even,” Cami offered. “What are expense accounts for?”

  Shaking her head again, Annie slumped back in her seat. If CJ was in it for the money, he was likely to be disappointed. At her fairly pokey pace of a book a year, deducting for her agent, the shit load of taxes a self-employed person paid and the cost of personal health insurance—well, most years she’d make as much flipping burgers.

  “Okay, I sent the new schedule to your phone. It’s still Cleveland tomorrow morning, but now three New York signings, Boston, Philly, and Pittsburgh before coming back to Ohio for the Midwest loop,” Cami droned as the elevator crept toward their floor. “Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Indianapolis, South Bend, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Bloomington. Then a quick jump to Toronto before heading back down to Michigan for the home state small town tour.”

  Annie nodded at what she hoped was the appropriate moment as Cami continued with dates and details. Besides being exhausted, her head still hurt. How could she be starving and nauseous at the same time? Her eyes drifted shut. The seemingly endless list of cities had one thing in common. None of them were in Wyoming. She missed CJ.

  “Is any of this actually registering?”

  Her eyes shot open. What had she missed? She was saved by the elevator doors sliding open. Cami followed her out and patted her arm.

  “It’s all on your phone. Call your boyfriend, make up, and get some sleep.”

  “Thanks, Cami.”

  The publicist nodded with a small smile and strode off down the hallway. Glancing at the room number scribbled on the paper sleeve containing her keycard, Annie followed the signs to the end of the hall and her home for the night. Groping for the light switch, she visually swept the room before closing the door and pushing the lock into place. She shrugged out of her coat and hung it with the garment bag. She immediately missed the warmth. Cranking up the heat, she plopped down on the edge of the bed and unzipped her riding boots. Sighing, she wiggled her toes and looked around. The chain hotel’s décor was neutral and cookie cutter, lacking warmth or charm. Maybe it would bore her to sleep.

  Not really in the mood for TV, she pushed to her feet and wandered into the bathroom. She smiled at the heat lamp. It was a small thing, but one of her favorite hotel luxuries. Maybe a hot shower would help relax her?

  Starting the water, she retrieved her shower kit and pajamas from the other room. On impulse, she grabbed her phone as well. She’d sent a text letting CJ know she was done for the d
ay and didn’t want to miss it if he texted or called back. They needed to talk. After hearing his voice this morning she’d thought of little else. It was hard to focus on making idle chit-chat when her mind was wandering to the wilds of Wyoming. She was obsessed. Maybe there was a reason authors were supposed to be solitary creatures.

  Stepping under the hot spray, she sighed in pleasure. The heat lamp and water pressure more than made up for the bland décor. Turning, she bowed her head and let the stream pound down on the back of her neck. While the short conversation this morning had erased some of the ominous undertones of the initial ‘we need to talk,’ she kept coming back to what he had said. Long distance rarely works. That sounded like he had doubts, or someone he was talking to did. Was he thinking of nipping things in the bud now, rather than risk getting hurt if they didn’t work out?

  She tensed with the thought, fighting the urge to hug herself. Rolling her neck and shoulders, she shook her arms out. The shower wasn’t going to help if she didn’t let it. If she didn’t relax and get some sleep, Cleveland was going to get a very cranky Quasimodo tomorrow. Worrying wasn’t helping. She wasn’t going to know what he was thinking until they talked. Picking up her loofah and body wash, she prayed that was going to be tonight.

  She was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the bed brushing out her hair when Billy Idol’s White Wedding blared from her phone. Dropping the brush, she grabbed the cell up and stabbed at the screen in excitement.

  “Crys!”

  “Annie!” Crystal crowed back.

  “How was Bora Bora?”

  “Stunning,” her cousin breathed. “It was absolutely stunning. I have some amazing pictures to share.”

  “Please tell me you have clothes on.”

  Crystal’s laughter was light and genuine. It was so beautiful to hear after the stress of the wedding.

  “I’ll admit I’m wearing a bikini or a sarong in almost all of them, but I’m covered. Tyler is shy. Regular swim trunks are as risky as my hubby gets.”