Ranger Guardian

by Angi Morgan

  “I’m sure all the Rangers standing behind Heath helped convince Jerry to disclose where Brantley Lourdes was staying.”

  “What do you mean, ‘one down, one to go’? Are they arresting Brantley Lourdes?” Heath looked at Slate for the answer.

  “You ready to go, or should I let you guys talk?” Wade pointed toward his truck. The one Heath was currently using.

  “Were you trying to get me out of here before you took off to follow another lead?” Heath turned to Kendall. “Are you trying to question him without me?”

  “Actually, you’re both heading home,” Major Clements informed him. “You have only two options—the hospital or the comfort of your own bed. Which is it going to be?”

  Heath slid across the seat, attempting to hide the winces and groans.

  “Give up, Lieutenant. You can barely stand. You won’t be any good out there if you pass out. Time to go home to your little girl,” the Major said.

  “He’s right.” Kendall extended a hand to help him from the truck.

  He had to admit defeat by sitting on the edge of the seat. “What about you? Somehow I’m getting the impression that you have different plans.” He wouldn’t let her go without him. “At this moment, Lourdes is still out there and you’re at risk.”

  “I’d be fine, but I told them I need to head home. They’re sending the new agent who’s in charge of the case here. She has a couple of questions.”

  “Why didn’t you say so?” He tried to push himself to stand on his own.

  “We’ve had a couple of interruptions,” she whispered.

  Most of the time he was a tough guy. Now...not so much. Wade and Slate each claimed a side, ready to help. Wade’s fingers began clenching his biceps as a dark-haired woman walked into their circle.

  “Kendall. Heath...if I may? I’m Special Agent Therese Ortis.” She stepped forward to shake his hand. “I have a few questions for you both. Then you can head home. I’d be glad to catch you next week for your full statement.”

  That look. The shy moment when two people who know each other try to keep it a secret. It happened between Therese and Wade. Heath had a hunch, but he’d respect their bare acknowledgment of each other.

  “What can we do for you, Agent Ortis?”

  “I’d like to face Brantley Lourdes with a little more knowledge of his group. Why did you think the word furgle was so unusual?”

  “Jerry used it on Kendall more than once when he was her partner.” Heath’s dislike of the man had begun as soon as they’d looked up the meaning.

  “It’s a word used in the book Catch-22. Jerry always used it out of context, and I didn’t appreciate it,” Kendall said.

  “We found the book upstairs in his bookshelves. But you never reported him for his actions?”

  “She told me, but she took care of the problem herself,” Heath answered.

  “Did Special Agent Fisher read a lot?”

  “Not really,” Kendall said.

  “Would it surprise you to know we found at least thirty top literary titles?”

  “Yes. He doesn’t talk about reading. I’m not certain what that means, though.” She thought of something important. Her mouth formed a perfect O before she pulled out her phone. “Heath, what’s your password to your backup file for your phone? You know, the one where your photos are stored automatically.”

  “The same as it’s always been.” K-n-H-4ever. He still believed that could happen. “What did you remember?”

  “The pictures you took of Saundra Rosa’s crime scene. There’s one.” She rapidly swiped through the pictures. “There’s the other.”

  She flipped the phone toward Agent Ortis.

  “They have the same books. This is great. The books are their key. I can work with this. Good work. I’ll be in touch.”

  “Let’s get out of here.” He lifted his arm and waited for Kendall to dip her shoulder under it to hold him steady while they walked to his truck.

  Once out of the apartment garage, they continued around the block to where he’d parked and his partners were waiting to drive them home.

  “You made the agency come to you,” he said once they reached the truck. “I didn’t think you’d ever walk away from a case.”

  “One thing I think we’ve both realized this week is how important our family is. We’re needed at home.”

  He handed her the keys and she helped him into the passenger seat.

  “Did you see the way Wade looked at Therese Ortis?” Kendall sounded lighthearted and teasing by the time she had her door shut. “I swear, I think he’s got a thing for her.”

  “She has to be the informant who saved his life after that beating he took. Before we left, Jack told her that Megan would be in town this weekend.” He could play along and avoid the all-important question of which room he’d be sleeping in tonight.

  “Oh my gosh, so much has happened that I forgot to tell you Jack is supposed to propose. I guess those plans are on hold.”

  “Good for him. He’s been head over heels for Megan since they met.”

  “What about Slate and his new love life?” Kendall turned onto the highway, heading home.

  “Vivian wants to get back on her feet, but they’re still exclusive. Is that the word nowadays? I’ve been away from that rodeo for a while now and was never that much into it before I met you.”

  “Really? Come to think of it, you’ve never mentioned any old girlfriends. Surely you had a girl in every city.” His wife smiled. Teased. Winked and smiled some more.

  He shook his head, afraid to break the relaxed atmosphere inside the truck’s cab.

  “Not even in college?” she asked.

  “I think I told you things got hard about that time. I worked at the ranch in Alpine every spare minute I had. Mom needed my help so I lived at home.”

  “Unlike my mother, who has never needed help. Sometimes I wonder...”

  “Wonder what?”

  Kendall stopped at the corner of their street. “I wonder if she did...you know, if she needed someone, she might actually find a person who makes her happy.”

  * * *

  THERE WERE FOUR Rangers guarding her house and visitors inside. Kendall hesitated to drive the truck into the driveway, wondering how to tell Heath she needed a little time. He reached over and took her hand. Maybe he’d sensed her hesitation. Maybe she needed some type of explanation for how well he knew her.

  “I need time to figure this out. Alone. My emotions are all mixed up.”

  “Take all the time you need. Moving is a big decision for all of us.”

  “I’m just an emotional wreck right now,” she finished with a long involuntary sigh, shutting the engine off in their driveway.

  “I get it.” He caught her hand, bringing it to his lips and making her smile. “Wait. Before we go inside, I’ve been trying to say this all week. So bear with me.”

  “I just need a little time—”

  “Sweetheart. It’s my turn. I’m going to respect your time, but I think I need to move back in for a while. I love you and Skylar Dawn more than life. I thought my biggest fear was if something happened to the two of you because of work.”

  “But it was my job.”

  “Just hear me out.” He scratched his chin. “I found out that’s not my biggest fear. That would be living without you.”

  “And Skylar Dawn.”

  The squeals of children at play inside the house brought her statement home.

  “Honestly, she’ll always be my daughter. Nothing will be able to take that away. No matter how far away she is or whether or not I live in the same house. I don’t want to grow old without you. And believe me, I’m feeling the creaking bones earlier than I thought I would.” He rubbed his ribs with his free hand. “You don’t have to say anything now. I’m sorry for all the assumpti
ons and for leaving you alone. I should have just told you that a long time ago.”

  Her hand shook. “For one of those strong, silent cowboy types...you know just what to say.”

  They got out of the truck. He stood on his own, not needing her help. She liked helping him, enjoyed him leaning on her—literally. It was a reason to touch him and feel safe.

  More sounds of children playing had her feet moving up the steps. She waited at the top for him.

  “I’m going to talk to the guys before I head inside. But—” His brow crinkled in concentration.

  “What?”

  He stepped up and pulled her into his arms, kissing her like it was the first time. Exploring her mouth, accepting her passionate response.

  “I love you, Kendall. I always will.”

  He waited as she turned and quietly opened the door and then clicked it closed. No one heard her come inside. She let him go without telling him. She leaned against the door with her hand on the knob about to return to him.

  “Real pretty speech.” Bryce, the Ranger who had stayed at the corner of the porch, had hung back until she’d come inside. “She’ll come around.”

  She waited. There was a long pause before Heath responded. “I don’t know. There’s been a lot of space between us in the past six months.”

  “I have the first shift on your porch tonight before your partner takes over. He’s ready to take you to the ranch. If that’s really where you want to go.”

  “Need. Not want.”

  “Like I said, she’ll come around before you know it. See you in the morning.”

  She ran down the hallway away from the door, away from Heath.

  Did she really need to think about their situation? She was emotional and out of control. Waiting was the logical thing to do. And she’d always been logical. Waiting to make a choice—that was the way to go.

  So why was her heart breaking again without him by her side?

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Why had he come to the rodeo? He’d gotten up early to feed the horses after a restless night of tossing in his bed alone. But he’d needed to get away from the ranch. Needed to get away from everyone really. Needed to be with people who weren’t worried about him.

  His parents’ house was too far away to visit and be back to work in a couple of days—if he could concentrate on anything. It had been less than a full day. He couldn’t go by himself, and he didn’t want Kendall to think he was pressuring her for an answer. Instead, he reassured his mom that he was okay via text...about every three hours.

  Hell, maybe he should pack up Jupitar and take a trip home to see his mom and dad. The major had looked him in the eye and told him he’d put him on desk duty for six months if he showed up for work sooner than a week.

  But the major didn’t know Heath was sleeping on the couch. Officially...he didn’t have a home at the moment. Maybe that was the real reason he’d come to help at the rodeo. He didn’t want everyone to know he wasn’t with Skylar Dawn and Kendall.

  Dammit, he was a chicken after all. Even his morning ride had lost its appeal.

  “What are you out here for, Heath? Did that bronc throw you a little softer than we thought last week?” the manager of the rodeo asked.

  “Afraid I’ve got some broken ribs, Bobby Joe.”

  “And you’re spending your free time here? Don’t you have a life, kid?” He cupped Heath’s shoulder before he walked off to the next thing he had to do.

  A rhetorical question that shot straight through his heart. He didn’t want to think. His thoughts would only land on Kendall. And who knew how long she’d take. He might not know what to say or when the right time to say it was...but she always needed time to think.

  And he always gave it to her.

  “So what do you say, cowboy? What are you doing after you’re finished?” asked a sweet voice he recognized but didn’t expect to hear.

  Heath dropped the edge of his Stetson to block the sun from his eyes. “Kendall?”

  “I had to come down here to make sure the rodeo groupies were behaving themselves.” She wore her tightest, lowest-cut jeans and had her shirt tied in a knot just under her breasts.

  “I’d let out a howl but it might draw attention to you.”

  “And that’s bad?”

  “Sure it is. No way do I want to share your company.”

  “Oh. Really?” She turned to face him.

  “You can’t be surprised.”

  “I’m just... I’m not very good at flirting anymore.”

  He looked around, searching for their daughter. She was with the Parkers, heading for the stands. Two additional Rangers from Company F flanked her and his mother-in-law. Bryce hung back, waiting on Kendall.

  Her shy mannerisms reminded him of his ability to get tongue-tied. He tried not to crowd her when cowboys passed by and needed more space. But he liked crowding in close to her.

  “I see Skylar Dawn found her hat,” he said, tipping his up a little to see her better.

  “Actually, Josh’s twins asked to visit Stardust. You know they have their own horses. I agreed because I thought you went to the ranch.” She stuck her fingers into the front pockets of her jeans, but they didn’t disappear very far because they were super tight.

  It had been awhile since he’d seen her in his world. Jeans and boots looked great on her. The wolf whistles would start pretty soon if he didn’t get her shirt untied from under her breasts and tucked into her waistband.

  “Anyway, we went out there this morning. We might have to get her a bunch of farm animals after what the Parkers were telling her about baby pigs and chickens.”

  “We?”

  “Dammit. I’m going to sound crazy, but I don’t need time to think about whether I love you or not.” She threw her arms around his neck.

  “You sure? You seemed to have a plan to wait yesterday. Waiting is sort of your thing.”

  “That’s ridiculous. If I knew what I was doing, don’t you think I’d be doing it right now? I’m stumbling around in the dark.”

  She switched her hands into her back pockets, drawing even more stares from the cowboys.

  “Hey, babe. It’s kind of chilly out here. Do you have a sweater?” Heath didn’t wait for an answer, he took his jean jacket off and draped it over her shoulders.

  * * *

  THE MEN BEHIND them laughed. Kendall waved, flirting a little more by dropping the jacket off one shoulder. The wolf whistles ensued. Bryce covered his laugh behind his hand. Heath glared then looked up toward their daughter to smile.

  “Changing the subject, Skylar Dawn seems to be doing okay. She’s walking around without you and laughing.” He waved at the stands.

  “Jackson and Sage have talked a little about how scary it was to be kidnapped. They’ve been a big help. Our daughter is bouncing back faster than I thought possible.” She turned to wave at everyone in the stands.

  “Enjoy the show, Bryce. I can take care of my wife for a while,” he said in a louder voice. “Maybe we should go somewhere we can talk?”

  “Home?” she asked.

  “I was thinking about a walk around the pens. That is, if you don’t mind the smell.” Heath wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her behind the staging area.

  Kendall tugged his arm to head to a secluded corner. “What do you say, Heath? Will you give me another chance to get this right?”

  “I don’t want to go through life without you, sweetheart. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. And I’m asking you to help me decide about our future.”

  Heath took off his hat, circled it in the air and let out a big cowboy holler. He grabbed his ribs and winced, but not for long before he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

  When he let her up for air she told him, “I’m ready to ride off into the sun
set, cowboy.”

  * * * * *

  Look for the next book in USA TODAY

  bestselling author Angi Morgan’s

  TEXAS BROTHERS OF COMPANY B miniseries, RANGER WARRIOR, available next month.

  And don’t miss the previous titles in the

  TEXAS BROTHERS OF COMPANY B series:

  RANGER PROTECTOR

  RANGER DEFENDER

  Available now from Harlequin Intrigue!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from RULES IN BLACKMAIL by Nichole Severn.

  Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Intrigue story.

  You crave excitement! Harlequin Intrigue stories deal in serious romantic suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat as resourceful, true-to-life women and strong, fearless men fight for survival.

  Enjoy six new stories from Harlequin Intrigue every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

  Other ways to keep in touch:

  Harlequin.com/newsletters

  Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  HarlequinBlog.com

  Join Harlequin My Rewards and reward the book lover in you!

  Earn points for every Harlequin print and ebook you buy, wherever and whenever you shop.

  Turn your points into FREE BOOKS of your choice

  OR

  EXCLUSIVE GIFTS from your favorite authors or series.

  Click here to join for FREE

  Or visit us online to register at

  www.HarlequinMyRewards.com

  Harlequin My Rewards is a free program (no fees) without any commitments or obligations.

  Rules in Blackmail

  by Nichole Severn