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“Oh shit!” Mercedes reared back, clapping Judy on the back. “Is that a librarian burn?”

“Well, clearly she needs some lessons.”

“Clearly,” Mercedes laughed, “but you strike me as more of a lover than a fighter, so take some of this.” She pulled a mini bottle of tequila from her breasts and dumped it into Judy’s orange juice.

Judy eyed the drink with suspicion. “I’ve never had a screwdriver before.”

“Then how do you know what it’s called?” Jazz asked. “And pour me some of that, too.” She held out her cup to Mercedes.

“How else? Mixology, 641.874.” Judy shrugged and gulped it down.

The women howled with laughter, and at this point, they all joined the winner’s table with Mercedes serving as bartender. She also had rum, vodka, and gin mini bottles so everyone was happy. They quizzed Judy on more topics, and she knew the Dewey decimal number for each one.

Al finally returned, looking very sheepish with tousled hair and lipstick all over his neck. Jeannie’s lip curled. Of course he’d made out with Iona. The woman was sex on a stick and exactly his type. She turned to Shane. “Time to move this along.”

“Are you sure? I overheard the twins saying they wanted to steal him for a little two-on-one action. Just one clip of that in our previews will guarantee top ratings for our first episode.”

“There’s no time!” Jeannie snapped.

Shane put his hands up. “Sorry, sweetheart.”

Jeannie sighed. He was right. She should let that play out, but one make-out session was enough for the night. “We also don’t want Al looking like a manwhore. That might turn off some viewers. Besides, the sun is about to set, and Lindsey wants the lighting for the arraignment.”

One hundred percent not true, but Shane didn’t have to know that.

“Whatever you say. You’re in charge.” He winked and blew her a kiss as he strode into the scene to announce the end of dinner.

Huh. They’d been flirting for weeks. Maybe it was time to turn things up a notch. Al certainly was.

Chapter 21

Al waved goodbye to the crew and pressed the unlock button on his key fob. After sending home Judy (“I’m more of a movie kinda guy”) and Leann (“I’m just not feeling that spark”), all Al wanted to do was go home and crawl into bed.

Well, go home, take a long hot shower, and then crawl into bed. Iona had practically mauled him during their time alone. If the cameras hadn’t been there, he was sure she’d have tried to pull his dick out. She was hot, no doubt about it. But he wanted to know a person before getting down to business.

Jeannie stood at the back of the parking lot, next to trailers. “Need a ride?” he called out.

“Why would you give her a ride?” Mercedes , causing Al to jump with her sudden appearance.

“Because she’s my neighbor and her car is busted?” Al said. He’d tried to patch her tire, but there was no patchinga razor blade puncture and neither of them had had time to get a new spare from the auto shop.

Mercedes put her hands on her hips. “I don’t think you should drive some randomputaaround.”

“Hey, now,” Al said, not wanting to get into an argument, but not willing to stand by while Jeannie was called names. “That’s my best friend, and you need to get moving before you miss your ride back to the hotel.”

Mercedes opened her mouth to say something else, but Jazz dragged her toward the bus, shouting words in Spanish along the way.

“Well, that was intense.” Jeannie twirled her ponytail with her finger. “But maybe it’s a good sign that she’s feeling so territorial?” She watched Mercedes and Jazz enter the van. “But I wonder if …” She shook her head. “Anyway, thanks but no thanks. I’m going out for drinks with the crew. Shane will make sure I get home safe.” She turned and followed Shane to his car.

“Hey, Shane!” Al called out when they’d made it about halfway. “You got a second? I have a question about our next scene.”

Shane whispered something in Jeannie’s ear and raised his key fob to unlock the door of his ridiculous yellow Corvette. Leaving her to walk the rest of the way, he jogged over to Al.

“What’s up?”

“Just curious about your intentions with Jeannie.”

“My intentions? What are you, her father?”