Excerpt from "CEOs Don't Cry" by Jocelyn Vaughn

Mark found several of the things on Minnie’s list. The eBay auctions had a couple days to go, so he added them to his watch list.

“I heard you have a new boss at the tax place,” Bryce said, tracing the broken edge of his fingernail along the wood grain on the table. “Is she pretty?”

This was it. This was why Bryce was badgering him. Why he thought Mark might need an extra ticket to the race.

Mark made some notes on his list before answering. “Yeah, some uptight career woman from the big city. She spends all day tapping away on her laptop.”

“A woman, huh? Is she hot?” That would be the only thing that concerned Bryce.

Mark sighed. Like Bryce hadn’t known the new manager was a woman. Leslie had been in town less than twenty-four hours. Enough time for Bryce to learn her measurements in Carterville. “She has brown hair she wears all twisted up and I’ve seen more curves in plank of wood. I’m not asking her out.”

“I wasn’t suggesting it.” Bryce shook his head; then he rocked his chair forward and leaned toward Mark. “You could use a date to the race.”

Mark considered elbowing Bryce in the nose. “She wouldn’t be interested. In me or the race. I don’t think her shoes have even touched dirt.”

“How long do you think she’ll last here?”

Mark shook his head. “I think she wants to get back to headquarters as soon as possible. She won’t be in town one minute longer than she’s required to be.”

“If the Ladies know that maybe they’ll leave her alone,” Bryce said.

“I’d be happy if they left me alone,” Mark mumbled, closing the window on the screen and tossing the golf pencil back into the scrap paper basket.

“There’s only one way to make that happen,” Bryce reminded him.

“I’m not dating anyone just for their sake.” Mark stood and pushed his chair in.

“At least you don’t have to worry about them setting you up with your boss. If she’s leaving town, they won’t be interested.”

Mark wasn’t sure anything short of death would dissuade the Ladies, but it did give him hope.