Page 17 of Grimm County Wishes (Grimm County Lawmen #4)

“ W e’re halfway through meeting the contestants, so we’ll take a quick break to reset the lights and shift angles. Stay close, and nobody better leave the set unless you don’t plan on coming back,” Lindsey called out.

Jeannie walked over to the gazebo with a bottle of water and a honeybun. She passed them to Al and sat next to him on the bench.

“Thought you might need to recharge.”

“You’re the best,” Al said, tearing into the honeybun.

“What did you think? You have six lovely prospects so far. Although I guess it’s actually five, with the twins sharing the same soul and all.”

Al shook his head as he washed down the honeybun with his water.

“Do you think if I marry two women, they’ll give me double the bonus?”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that,” Jeannie said, knocking him playfully with her shoulder. “Why not go for triple? I bet you could convince Mercedes to join in. She seems up for anything.”

“Oof.” Al grimaced at the thought. “I’d probably have to quit my job. I doubt I’d be able to patrol the streets of Grimm with my dick rubbed raw from all that pussy.”

Jeannie’s eyes narrowed as a stab of pain hit her heart, but she quickly shuttered her expression. He was only doing what she’d asked him to do. What she’d begged him to do. But still …

“Shane’s pretty cool, don’t you think?” she asked, secretly enjoying the way Al tensed at Shane’s name.

“I guess, if you’re into washed up teen has-beens.”

Jeannie laughed. “Jesus, Al. Judgy much? He made bank when he was sixteen and doesn’t need to work as much anymore. I can’t say I would have done any different. I had such a crush on him back then. It’s crazy to actually meet him.”

“Speak of the devil,” Al mumbled as Shane approached.

“Lindsey is ready for us to begin. We’ll have a quick chat, then gear up for the next round of women.” He turned to Jeannie and winked. “Cupcake, would you mind keeping my seat warm for me?”

Jeannie giggled and felt her face flush. He was so handsome. Like Prince Charming with his prefect white teeth and slicked back hair .

Al made a noise that sounded like a growl. Probably a burp from inhaling that honeybun. He always ate too fast.

Jeannie waited in Shane’s director’s chair. It was as comfortable as it looked. As soon as he returned, she stood up and was shocked when he sat down and patted his lap.

“I’m good standing, thanks.” He’d been flirty the few times they’d met when she’d gone to New York. She’d ignored it, assuming that flirting was part of the job description for teen heartthrobs.

But this? Asking her to sit in his lap in front of the entire crew?

Maybe he was interested in something more.

But was she? Why wouldn’t she be? The man was hot.

And rich. Like, really fucking hot and rich.

And she would need something to distract her from the ten-ish cunts going after her man.

Shit. Al was not her man. He was her friend.

Her neighbor. She sighed and turned her thoughts back to the show.

Jasmine, or Jazz, stepped out of the sixth patrol car in a beautiful blue gown.

She was one of Jeannie’s favorites and probably would be one of Al’s too.

Jazz was from Virginia, so only one state away, and worked as an attorney.

With Al being a deputy, they should have plenty to talk about.

And not that any woman on the show was unattractive, but Jazz was particularly striking due to her mixed Middle Eastern heritage .

Jazz was followed by another of Jeannie’s favorites, but for a different reason.

“I’m Lilith,” the woman dressed in head to toe black droned. With black hair, nail polish, lipstick, and dark eyeliner, she definitely gave off witchy vibes. “I cast a spell so that I would conceive your child on the next full moon.”

“Woah!” Al stepped back, holding his hands up. “I’m not really up for that.”

Lilith shrugged. “A common problem. But don’t worry, I have a potion you can take.”

Jeannie snickered and Al glared in her direction.

She knew Lilith would remind Al of Carina.

But for the show to work, it needed to be entertaining.

She’d helped the producers to cast a mixture of women.

Some that would be contenders for Al’s heart and some that would be fun to watch.

Lilith was in the fun to watch category, although she probably wouldn't make it through the night.

There was no way Al could relax knowing another witchy woman was in a ten-mile radius.

“Shh,” Lindsey whispered as Jeannie continued to giggle.

“Sorry!”

Two more contestants came and went. Paige, the pro soccer player, and Katy, a corporate secretary. One more to go, and another one of Jeannie’s top picks. Not that Jeannie liked this one, but she knew Al’s type and this girl fit the brief.

“Why do you think your previous relationships haven’t worked out?” the casting director asked the gorgeous woman with the flaming red hair.

“Because I didn’t want them to,” Iona answered with a shrug. “I wasn’t interested in a long-term relationship before. I wanted to have fun. Live life. The usual. But now, I’m done with all that and I’m ready to settle into something permanent.”

Jeannie drew a star next to Iona’s name. That was a perfect answer, one that she was almost certain Al could have given himself.

“And do you think Al is someone you could settle down with?”

“Absolutely. I mean, look at him. He’s hot as hell.”

Jeannie chuckled. The girl wasn’t wrong.

“And I like that he’s a sheriff’s deputy. A man in uniform is sexy, and it also shows he’s got a good heart to put his life on the line for others.”

Jeannie added another star. It was important for Al to be with someone who understood his commitment to the job. It wasn’t just about the reality show. It may have started that way, but he was a deputy first and foremost.

“And what do you think Al would like about you?”

“Well, I, too, am hot as hell, so we have that in common. We’d make beautiful babies.”

Jeannie flipped her pencil around and moved her eraser to the star.

“But more importantly, I think he’d like my personality. I’m a fighter. I fight for what I want, just like he’s been fighting for his success all these years.”

Jeannie paused. Al was definitely a fighter. He would like that about Iona.

The casting director laughed. “Oh really? So does that mean you will fight for your man?”

“Hell, yes. Al is going to be mine, and I’ll fight any bitch that gets in my way.”

Jeannie grinned and circled Iona’s name. Every reality show needed a villain, and they’d found theirs. And make that a villain who could potentially win the whole thing? That was a guaranteed hit maker.