Janet Evanovich - Full Speed

She finally had their attention. Jamie grabbed Harlan's microphone. "I am addicted to blue light specials and red dot sales. I can't resist a bargain."

"We understand, sister," Harlan said, reaching for his microphone.

Jamie held it aside. She was on a roll. "I'm so …" She paused and hung her head. "Sick!"

The crowd nodded sympathetically.

From his place in the second row, Max rolled his eyes and shook his head sadly. In the back, Dave edged away from a man who was scratching himself.

Jamie turned and raised her eyes to Rawlins's. Still holding the microphone, she covered it with one hand so that the congregation could not hear her words. "What I just said was a lie," she whispered. "I'm not really a shopaholic. I'm a sex addict. I just couldn't bear to tell everyone."

Two blond brows shot high on his head. Sweat beaded his brow. "I'm sorry for putting you on the spot."

Jamie swallowed. "I'm so ashamed."

He put his hand on her shoulder, and he squeezed it, massaged it, actually. "Brothers and sisters, we have heard this young lady's confession, and we both know how hard it is to battle an addiction." He turned to Jamie, and his eyes were bright with interest. "Sister, are you willing to go into private counseling with me in order to beat this?" he asked. "Because you know with the Lord's help we can lick it once and for all."

"I'll do anything," she said. She fluttered her lashes, hoping they didn't stick to her cheek. "Anything."

Harlan swallowed so hard his Adam's apple bobbed erratically. "I'll speak with you after the service."

Jamie saw the promise in his gaze that made her suspect he wasn't exactly thinking along spiritual lines. "Oh, thank you." She clasped his hand tightly, bent down, and kissed it. The crowd applauded. She lingered for a moment, letting her warm breath fan over Harlan's skin, and she was almost certain he shivered.

Jamie reclaimed her seat in the front row. It was all she could do to keep from grinning. "Gotcha," she whispered.

* * * * *

Jamie exited the church some minutes later after setting an appointment with Rawlins for the next day. She headed straight for her truck, where Fleas waited. Danged if she wasn't beginning to like the dog. That didn't mean she planned to keep him. He needed to live on a farm where he'd have plenty of space to run. Not that she'd actually seen him run or even move at a fast pace, mind you. He sort of ambled about. Mostly he slept.

Jamie suddenly felt a presence. Max.

He grabbed her wrist. "Oh, no, you don't."

Jamie turned. Had they not been surrounded by people, God-fearing church folks, she would have let him have it right there. After what she'd been through she was ready for a showdown. Instead, she very politely extricated herself from his grasp.

"Max, I'm only going to say this once. Get out of my face and my life."

"What do you think you're doing here?" he demanded.

"Going after a story, that's what."

"I specifically told you—"

Jamie hated that she still found him so attractive. "I don't give a rat's tail what you told me, Holt," she said. "Go away."

"Not until you explain that outfit. But first, let's start with the hair."

Jamie hitched her chin high.

"Not that it's any of your business, but this outfit, not to mention the wig, is designed specifically to entice Harlan Rawlins. It's all part of my plan to get close to him. Learn his secrets."

"How did you get here?"

Jamie was thankful he hadn't pushed for more information with regard to her plan. "I bought a truck." She motioned to the pickup. Fleas's head was propped on the side, and he was drooling.

"Damn, Jamie, that's the ugliest thing I've ever laid eyes on."

He could be so annoying, she thought. Max Holt had a way of getting under her skin in the worst way. "So it has a little rust on it. I got it for a steal."

"I'm talking about the dog."

"Don't bad-mouth my dog, Holt," she said. "It just so happens he's pure bloodhound. Comes from a family of champions."

"Right."

"And I figured I needed a guard dog."

Max looked dumbfounded as he glanced from the dog back to her. "A guard dog? Looks like he couldn't catch a dried biscuit. You know, you're taking a huge risk being here. This could be dangerous."

Jamie crossed her arms in a businesslike manner. "I have to do it, Max. I need the story for my newspaper. And I'm following my dream."

"Your dream is to dress like a hooker and drive a junk heap?" he asked.

"Very funny. I had a lot of time to think during my drive here, and I realized I needed to make some changes in my life. I'm tired of writing about high school football games and city council meetings. I want a story with some meat in it. As for the way I'm dressed, I'm on assignment."

"You sound pretty serious about this."

"I've spent my life doing what was expected of me." Which was true, she reminded herself. She'd spent years taking care of a sick father and trying to save the family newspaper from one calamity after another. "I'm done with people-pleasing, Max. From now on, I only have to please myself."

"I'm glad to hear it, Jamie," Max said. "It's about time you started thinking about yourself. But we still need to talk." He glanced toward the truck he and Dave were sharing and found his friend leaning against it, watching the crowd. Max waved, managing to get his attention. "I'll catch up with you later!" he called out to the man. Dave nodded, climbed into the truck, and drove away.

"Here, give me the keys to your truck," Max said. "We can talk at my cabin."

"Excuse me?" Jamie snatched the keys from his reach.

"I think it's great, what you're doing, but I refuse to stand by and allow you to put yourself in danger."

Jamie waved a hand in front of him. "Hello-o-o? Did you already forget what I just told you? I'm doing this for me. Besides, you dumped me."

"I did not dump you. You jumped out of my car and refused to get back in."

Jamie noticed they were drawing stares. She hitched her chin high. "Look, Max, I don't want to make a scene, OK? But if you don't leave me alone I'm going to have to slug you."

He grinned. "You wouldn't really hit me."

She hated when he grinned like that. It just emphasized his sexiness. She could almost imagine her bones getting soft under her skin. Trouble was he knew exactly what he was doing to her. "What do you want, Max? You only grin like that when you want something."

The smile turned lazy. "What I want and what I need are two separate things, but would you at least give me a lift back to my cabin? My ride just drove away."

"Your ride left you?" she said. "Sounds like you got a problem, Bubba."

Max arched a brow. "Bubba?"

"All right, I'll give you a ride if you'll promise not to say anything to annoy me."

He looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure that's possible."

Jamie almost laughed. "Put some effort into it. And no more wisecracks about my dog."

They climbed into the truck, and Jamie started the engine.

"This thing is pretty rough inside," Max said.

"See that, you've already done it. Annoyed the hell out of me."

"Only because you're still angry with me because I didn't think you should get involved in this, er, job."

"In order to be angry with you, I would have to be emotionally invested, and that's just not the case."

He chuckled. "Face it, Swifty. You're still hot for me."

"I can't hear you," Jamie said, turning on the radio. All she got was static. She pushed the button, and a country-western song came on. Max started to say something, and she turned up the volume to drown him out. She was not going to let him goad her. All at once, Fleas pounced against the window and began growling.