Chaos in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law Mystery/Romance Series) Read Free Page A

frowned. “Well, now that I think about it, I guess wouldn’t no one know until I missed a fishing tour. Yeah, I see your point. Hey, maybe I should get one of them girlfriend things…so’s she could set up an alarm if I didn’t come home.”
    Colt smiled and clapped Harley on the back. “I think you should get right on that. I bet there’s a girlfriend thing just waiting for you to show up and sweep her off her feet.”
    Jadyn’s lips quivered and Colt could tell she was trying not to smile.  
    “How about you?” Harley asked, giving Jadyn the once-over. “You got a man?”
    Jadyn’s lips and the rest of her froze and her eyes widened. “Me? No, I’m not in the market for a man.”
    Harley nodded. “You go for women. I figured as much, being that you have a man’s job. Oh well, guess I’ll have to check out Pete’s tonight. Bet I could hook me a good one there.”
    Jadyn’s mouth dropped open as though she was going to respond, but she must have decided it was pointless, or safer, because a second later, she closed her mouth and pulled out her cell phone. “I’m going to give Marty a call and head back to town. I’ll let you know if I find something on the boat. Nice meeting you, Harley.”
    “Nice meeting you,” Harley said and shook his head as he watched her walk back toward her Jeep. “Damn shame about the woman thing. I bet she’d look good in a cast net and rubber boots.”
    Colt grimaced. “Yeah, it’s the bedroom outfit of choice for men all over the world. Listen, I best get going. I appreciate you reporting this.”
    “’Course,” Harley said, but his gaze was still on Jadyn, probably mentally dressing her in different fishing equipment.
    Before he could offer up another ensemble, Colt headed for his truck, giving Jadyn a wave before she pulled away. With any luck, the shrimper would be having coffee and cussing at his insurance adjuster. Colt gave the boat once last glance before climbing into his truck.  
    The thing was, Mudbug hadn’t seen luck in a long, long time.
     

 
    Chapter Two
     
    Jadyn’s heart pounded in her chest as she drove down the narrow dirt road that led back to the highway. But her uptick in pulse had nothing to do with her missing boat captain and everything to do with Colt Bertrand. Since her arrival in Mudbug, her job and Colt’s had been intertwined, forcing her to spend more time with him than she was comfortable with.  
    Colt was everything a red-blooded Southern woman wanted in a man and probably more than most could handle. He was gorgeous to look at, built like an athlete, smart, hardworking, and one of her personal requirements, deadly. The last thing she’d come to Mudbug looking for was a man, but Jadyn could no longer deny her attraction for the sheriff.  
    The last time their jobs had crossed paths, things had ended in a gun-slinging showdown that had almost gotten them both killed. Then Colt had kissed her and despite the lack of bullet wounds, Jadyn was certain she’d been shot. Just not a flesh wound.  
    Her heart, on the other hand, had clenched as though it was in a vise. Then he’d left almost immediately for a conference and she’d spent the past week watching reruns on television and taking cold showers. Colt certainly knew how to get to a woman. That one kiss had marked the moment she’d given up completely on pretending she didn’t want Colt Bertrand in every way possible.
    But was it worth the risk to go for it?  
    Granted, if things didn’t go the way she wanted, the only casualty would be her ego. But romantic rejection was the worst kind of ego bruise. Jadyn would be the first to call herself tough, but she was still human. Wanting someone who didn’t want you back was the worst kind of suckage.
    And that was the crux of the issue—Colt seemed to blow hot and cold. At times, Jadyn was certain of his interest. It was as if it were written in bold lettering across his face. Then just when she thought he was going to