Page 36 of Grimm County Wishes (Grimm County Lawmen #4)

A black SUV with the letters NYPD splayed across the side pulled up to the set. Al watched as a uniformed officer stepped out of the driver’s side and opened the back door. Iona stepped out, looking elegant in a silver sequined dress, like she was ready for the front page of a magazine.

This was it, the final elimination. He’d been unsure of a lot of things with this dating show fiasco, but of this choice, he was certain.

Iona was a sexy, confident, strong woman, but there was something about her he couldn’t get past. It was one thing to be snarky.

He liked snarky. Jeannie was snarky and he loved that about her.

Liked that about her. But Jeannie’s snark came with rolled eyes and a playful grin. Iona was just mean.

She stood in front of him, and he reached out to hold both of her hands in his.

“Iona, I feel privileged to have gotten to know you over the last few weeks. I don’t think our paths would have crossed otherwise, and I’ll be forever grateful to this show for introducing us.

” All lies, big fat lies. He’d gone back to memorizing them though, after being caught reading them by Jazz.

At this rate, he was going to owe Marina a month of free drinks.

Iona smiled, her teeth bright enough to rival Shane’s. Shit. She must think she’s going to be picked. Things were about to get awkward.

“However,” he began, and her smile faded, “I have stronger feelings for someone else. While there was a lot of evidence of our attraction, there wasn’t enough for me to move forward. Our case for love has been dismissed.”

Iona jerked her hands from his and stared at him in silence.

Al looked around, hoping one of the crew members would step in. Lindsey looked almost gleeful, rubbing her hands together as she stared at the video feed on her laptop.

“Um, so I guess this is goodbye.”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” she finally said, hands on her hips.

“Oh. Um, no, I’m serious.”

“You’re picking that mousy, cheap lawyer over all this?” She waved a hand over her body.

“This is about you and me.” Al tried to deflect her anger.

“You and me? Since when has it been about you and me?” She motioned to the crew surrounding them. “It’s been you, me, and the twenty cast and crew of this bullshit TV show.” She shook her head. “You’re going to be sorry.”

“Oh, I think I’ll be—”

“I have a mouth like a fucking hoover.”

Al’s eyes widened.

“If you’d have just let me show you, but now you’ll never know.

And trust me, that homey bitch doesn’t have the skills I have.

Fuck it. I’m glad you didn’t pick me. You are a fucking joke.

A goddamn himbo. You say you’re a deputy, but what kind of cop models underwear and posts selfies all day?

You’re fake, the show is fake, and I bet that bulge in your pants is fake. ”

She flipped her hair and stalked back to the SUV. Al blinked, shaking his head. As far as breakups went, that was probably the worst. Worse even than Betty Silverstone. He chuckled, remembering how she’d egged his side of the duplex and painted dicks all over his car.

He turned to find Jeannie, so they could reminisce, only to remember she was gone. She was at that interview for a new job away from Grimm County, away from him. His heart clenched and he took a deep breath. Would he ever stop seeking her out to share life’s moments?

** *

“Marina, I need some advice.” Al turned away from the cameras for privacy.

It was ten o’clock at night. There’d been a massive fire a few blocks over that had delayed filming by hours.

All the sirens and low-flying news helicopters were incompatible with an intimate garden setting, according to Lindsey.

“Al? What’s wrong?” Marina’s voice called from the phone.

He rubbed a hand over his face, pacing across the gravel in front of the archway. “The bachelor on these shows,” he cleared his throat, looking around before lowering his voice, “does he have to choose somebody?”

“Al! Are you freaking kidding me? Did you send someone home too soon and want to bring her back? I love it when that happens!”

“Uh, not exactly. Look, I don’t have much time.”

“Right! Okay, it’s rare, but no, he does not have to choose someone.

It’s risky though, because the fans might feel like they wasted their time if there’s no happy ending.

They could turn on you and sympathize with the ladies for being led on.

Most likely you’ll emerge as the villain instead of that red head.

Depending on how bad it is, you can probably kiss Dancing with the Stars goodbye. ”

Al nodded, thinking it over. He didn’t remember his contract saying he had to propose to anyone. He’d still get paid but might not get any future deals out of it. Which was fine. He would love to go home and not worry about posting pictures and repping products for once.

“Thanks, Marina.”

“At the end of the day, you’ve got to do what’s right for you, Al.

That’s the number one thing. The more genuine the bachelor, the more the audience likes him, whatever he decides.

Now I’m glad you called. Jeannie had promised to Facetime the finale, and clearly, it’s going to be a finale for the ages! Can you pass the phone over to her?”

Lindsey’s whistle cut through the air. “Okay, people! Jazz is on her way! I need everyone in place in two minutes. Make sure the ring is nearby!”

A soft sheen of sweat dampened his forehead.

“Hellllo! You still there?” Marina’s voice came through the phone.

“Oh, right, sorry. I’ve got to go in a minute.

” He tried to remember where the conversation had left off.

“Jeannie’s not here. I guess she’s been thinking about joining a big marketing firm, or company, or something.

” Al rubbed his hand over his face. “Some guy offered her a job, so she went to have an interview.”

“This late at night?” Marina snorted.

“I mean, it’s the city that never sleeps, right?”

“I guess,” Marina hedged.

“I pointed that out to Jeannie as well, but apparently, he also does music or recording or something, so he has to be in the studio during the day. He could only see her at night.”

“A record producer? Who wants to meet her late at night?” She went silent for a few beats. “Did she tell you his name?”

Alarm bells rang in Al’s head. “What’s going on, Marina?”

“His name. What is his name?”

Al racked his mind to think, but he’d been so pissed when she’d told him that most of the conversation was a blur. “It was, um, something, like, uh, Vance? And something about food. Crawfish maybe?”

“Vance Crawfish? Crap, Al. Do you mean Victor Crawford?”

“Yes! That was it. Do you know him or something?”

“Al, listen to me now and listen to me good. That man is a horrible, disgusting pig. My dad—you remember him, right? ”

Al paled as he considered the implications that Jeannie was meeting a man with connections to Marina’s mafia father.

“My dad tried to sell me to Victor. He told me I was getting a record deal. I thought I was going to sing and make music and maybe go on a tour. But when we met with Victor, he made it clear those weren’t the only things he expected of me.”

“You mean like—”

“Sex? Yeah, and my lack of enthusiasm would not have been an issue for him.”

“Al! Jazz is arriving now. You have to get in place.” Lindsey was clearly pissed, but he couldn’t bother with her now. She could wait. They all could wait. In fact, they could all shove this damn show up their—

“Al,” Christian’s voice came over the phone. “You still with us?”

“Yeah, but, um, fuck.” His heart pounded in his chest. Jeannie had been gone for hours. That Victor asshole could be doing all manner of horrible things to her, and the last thing he’d said to her was—

“Al!” Christian barked. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop. Spiraling won’t help Jeannie now. Do y’all still have that GPS app on your phones? ”

“Yes.” The pressure on his chest lifted slightly, remembering that he had a way to find her.

“Go hail a cab and get to her. Now. This guy is a real piece of work. I’ve been looking into him for a few months.”

“Aww, really? That’s so sweet.”

“Focus, Marina. Anyway, there have been rumors circulating about him for years, but no one has formally pressed charges. Just get to her as quickly as possible.”

“I’ll let you know when I have her.”

Al ended the call and pulled open the app they used for emergencies.

“Al, did I hear that right? Jeannie’s in trouble with some creepy asshole?” Diane asked. Where had she come from?

He glared at the camera on her shoulder, and she rolled her eyes, whispering, “I’m buying you time, dumbass. As long as Lindsey thinks you’re over here having an emotional breakdown, she’ll stop yelling for you to get on with the show.”

Al nodded. “Sorry, thank you. Fuck. I have to go.”

“What about the show?”

“I don’t care about this show!” Al loosened his bowtie and walked away from the garden.

“And the money for Jeannie’s brother?” Diane hissed, still carrying the camera on her shoulder as she jogged next to him .

Al stopped suddenly and glared at Diane.

“What? I heard you guys arguing.”

He looked around the set, at the dozen crew members set up to tape his maybe proposal. The NYPD SUV sat on the street with Jazz, beautiful as ever, sitting in the back seat.

Diane had a point. If he left now, he’d be giving everything up.

It was one thing to end the series still single.

But running off in the middle of the finale?

Could they even air the series at that point?

He’d be violating half a dozen clauses in his contract which meant he wouldn’t get paid and would definitely be fined.

Without the money, Ben would continue to rot in jail.

But Jeannie was in danger, and none of that mattered.

He would kick his own ass if he left her to that fate.

Ben would happily stay in jail to protect her.

He tossed the final evidence card to the side and walked off set.

“Al, wait!” Diane called out, eyes darting around before landing on the SUV. “I’ve got an idea!”