Page 73 of Wild As Her

Beau grins. “Oh, I guess I gotta hear this.”

I groan. “No, you don’t.”

Ollie leans back, folding his arms. “She’s Jack Jessop’s assistant now. But it’s definitelynotpersonal.”

Beau raises an eyebrow. “Jessop Ranch Jack?”

“The very one.” Ollie smirks. “And Cami is definitely not interested in him at all.”

Beau glances at me. “You look real guilty for someone who’snotinterested.”

I stand abruptly. “Okay, this was fun, but I have places to be.”

Ollie chuckles. “Yeah, yeah. Go check on your live in not-boyfriend.”

I flip him off and wave to Beau as I leave the firehouse.

But instead of heading home, I found myself driving toward Jessop Ranch.

For completely legitimate reasons.

I should have gone to bed, but I was feeling restless. That could be because I had ended up making a detour earlier to the Jessop Ranch to spy on Jack on his oh so romantic picnic date. Now, here I am, out in the pastures, the cool Wyoming night stretching out like a quiet, open promise. The stars above are sharp and bright, the kind you only get in a place like this, where the sky isn’t smothered by city lights, just endless and wild, like the land itself.

Mouse, my stubborn little sweet boy, flicks his ears as I guide him on a peaceful walk through the open field behind Wilder House. I didn’t even bother saddling him, just hopped on bareback, letting the rhythm of his steps settle something restless in my chest.

Iam notthinking about Jack or how he spent all evening on a picnic date with another woman. Fake contestants or not, it still gets to me.

I am not thinking about how he laughed at something she said.

I’m not?—

A horse’s snort sounds from behind me in the dark.

I sigh. Of course.

“You stalking me, Jessop?” I call without turning.

Jack’s voice, smooth and lazy, drifts through the night air. “I could ask you the same thing. You were mighty interested in my picnic earlier.”

I scowl but still didn’t turn around. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Mm-hmm.”

"I saw you, Wilder."

Mouse flicks his ears again, clearly picking up on my tension. I exhale, forcing myself to loosen my grip on him.

Jack and Pesto walk up beside us, Jack looking obnoxiously at ease.

He studies me, smirking like he knows exactly what is going on in my head.

“So,” he says casually. “Why are you taking a lot of these late-night rides?”

I shoot back. “Some of us have reality TV commitments occupying our very busy schedules.”

Jack chuckles. “Ah, so you’re saying you’re jealous of my very demanding filming requirements?”

I snort. “Oh yeah, so jealous. Must be exhausting getting fed cheese and crackers while sitting in the grass.”

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