Free Reckless by Jenna Byrnes

Love, LeAnn
     
    The card was signed Love, LeAnn. Your biggest fan.
    Troy McBride looked at the dozen red roses and thought it curious that someone would send them to him. The receptionist at the studio couldn 't offer any information, other than a nondescript woman in a florist's van delivered them.
    " Oh well," Troy murmured to himself, "fans can be crazy sometimes." He dropped the card in the trash can and set the box of flowers on the table. Too bad things hadn't worked out with his last girlfriend, Carrie. He could have given them to her. Carrie was a knockout, with long, curly black hair and a gorgeous figure. She could have any man she wanted. And she hadn't wanted one who attracted so much attention from other women.
    Maybe he 'd give the flowers to one of the girls on the set and make her day. But which one? The very idea made Troy smile, as he realized how much trouble he could get into. He was chuckling at the thought when his assistant entered the room.
    " What's so funny, McBride?" Dave Evans dropped an armload of mail on the table and looked at his boss and friend.
    " Someone sent me flowers." Troy motioned toward the roses. "They're from my biggest fan ."
    " Yeah, well, which one is that?" Dave ran his hand through the stack of mail. "You're getting more popular every day."
    " Say that when the network execs are around, would you? I'll be renegotiating my contract pretty soon, and I can use it to my advantage."
    " Ha!" Dave dropped into a chair at the table. " Kismet is the hottest reality show on TV right now, and you are the hottest host. The network isn't letting you go anywhere."
    " Yeah, well, we'll see." Troy grinned again.
    Dave shook his head. They both knew Troy loved the cat and mouse chase, especially when money was involved, as in contract negotiations. Dave opened the box and looked at the roses. "Nice flowers, though. Too bad Carrie's out of town. You could send them as a peace offering."
    " Like that's going to help." Troy studied himself in the mirror. His short dark hair was gelled to within an inch of its life, just the way he liked it. The casual-messy style took his hairdresser approximately forty-five minutes each day to achieve. He rubbed his hand over his scratchy chin and mentally noted that he might need to shave in a couple of days, so the stubble didn't get too thick. The unshaven look also had to be carefully crafted. "So," he began, still gazing in the mirror, "are we going out tonight after the taping? Catch some dinner and a few drinks?"
    " That's the plan." Dave stood and shoved the mail into a pile. "I'll get someone to answer these—you want to autograph pictures to send?"
    " Nah." Troy finished inspecting his appearance. "Have them use my signature stamp—it looks as good as an autograph." He was loath to spend any of his precious time on something so trivial, when he could pay someone else to do it instead.
    " Okey-dokey." Dave rolled his eyes slightly at Troy before starting out of the room.
    " Hey, you want these flowers?" Troy called after him. "Give them to someone, get a little lucky?"
    Dave thought about it for a moment, then smiled. "Sure, thanks." He picked up the box and left the room.
    The taping of Kismet lasted two hours, and went smoothly. The audience was raucous, waving signs and mugging for the camera when it turned on them. Troy was amused by the number of propositions he got via signs in the audience. He was looking over tonight's crop when one sign caught his eye.
    Troy! I 'm your biggest fan! Love, LeAnn. He strained to get a glimpse of this fan, assuming she was the same person who sent the roses. He couldn't see her through the crowd of people and signs, and the next chance he had to look for the sign, it was gone.
    Troy was in a wonderful mood when he finished taping , looking forward to his evening. Up until now, with a live-in girlfriend, it was rare that he had time to do 'guy' stuff. The prospect of such freedom made him almost giddy. He was