The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson

know anything about tact?
    Apparently not, because he gave her an unimpressed once-over.
Taycee suddenly wished she’d changed into frumpy sweats instead—which she would
have done, had he not turned and headed for his truck. Taycee followed. “Do I
get to drive, too?“ she asked, pointing to the Razor.
    Alec’s head shook. “Sorry, but it’s my name listed on the
rental agreement—not yours.” With an insincere apologetic look, he opened the
door and jumped in.
    Taycee blinked. Wow. She turned in search of the camera. Was
Burt getting all of this? She felt like grabbing the camera and saying “Did you
see that people? Not only is Alec NOT a gentleman, but he won’t even let me
drive the UTV. I don’t care how handsome he is, if any of you vote for him
again, you’re idiots.”
    Burt had his cameral rolling, so Taycee walked around and
opened her own door. Megan was already in back with her camera light on, so
Burt climbed in beside her. Alec drove to some nearby mountain trails and
backed the Razor off the truck while Burt and Megan set up the cameras. Then Megan
stayed on the ground while Burt jumped in the back.
    Normally, Taycee would have loved romping around in an awesome
UTV, but by the time Alec pulled to a stop, she couldn’t wait to get out. Not
only did he really not let her drive, but he’d done nothing but talk about
himself the entire ride. As far as Taycee was concerned, Alec could catch the
nearest plane back to New York—assuming there was room for his enormous ego.
    Her head pounded as she climbed from the vehicle and forced a
smile. “Great ride.”
    Alec patted the hood. “Yeah, I think I’ll have to get me one
of these when I get back to New York. It’s not nearly as exciting as motocross,
but it’s pretty cool.”
    Yeah, yeah, she got it already. He was a motocross fanatic.
He’d also played baseball in high school, preferred to make money rather than
get a higher education, was a connoisseur of fine wines (or so he claimed), and
thought he was God’s jpgt to women. Okay, so maybe he didn’t really say that
last bit, but he sure acted like he thought it.
    “How about some dessert?” Alec said during the drive back. “We
could stop at that diner in town—not that it will have much to offer.”
    “Actually, Maris’s apple pie is amazing.”
    “I’m sure it is.” His voice dripped with condescension, and
Taycee fought the urge to tell him to stick it.
    “I’m really not that hungry though,” she said. If this was a
chance to end the date a little early, she’d take it.
    Alec tapped his hand against the wheel as they drove back
toward town. He glanced lazily around as if bored. “Do you know of any good
motocross races nearby? I was thinking we could check one out on our next
date.”
    Taycee bit her tongue. Hard. It was the only way to keep from
shouting, “If you think I’d ever go out with you again you’re one stick short
of a bundle!” Miles had used the expression during one of his rodeo stories,
and she’d liked it so much she’d committed it to memory. It fit Alec perfectly
right now.
    “I don’t,” she said. “I’ve never been much for motocross.”
    That’s all it took for Alec to start talking about the sport
yet again, only this time he focused on all the dangers associated with it—as
if she couldn’t figure them out on her own. Race a bike around a dirt course
riddled with hills, turns, jumps, and several other riders, and what do you
get? Lots of opportunities to break bones or kill yourself.
    Duh.
    When Alec launched into a detailed account of every injury
he’d ever received, Taycee tuned him out and made a mental list of the flowers
she’d need to pick up tomorrow morning. A rush order had come in right before
she’d closed up—too late to call in for the following day’s delivery. Oh well.
A funeral in a neighboring town was something she’d never say no to.
    By the time Alec dropped her off, forty-five minutes ahead of
schedule,