Excerpt of The Rancher and the Renegade by Jackson D'Lynne

“God, what I wouldn’t give for a pair of shorts, a clean
bra and panties, and my own gun. How am I supposed to
kick ass if I can’t lift my leg higher than the hem of
this friggin skirt?”

“Careful, mulani, your century is showing. Nothing says
‘I’m not from around here’ quite like feminism and kung
fu.”

She snarled, not in the mood to trade witty barbs with an
invisible comedian.

“Tone it down, Wonder Woman, before you prickle Espada’s
nose hairs with whiffs of your wrongness and get him
sniffing around here trying to figure out why. Espada and
his men may look silly all dressed in matching black duds
as they are, but they are all business and all
dangerous.”

“I know that.”

“And now that they think you’re engaged to the rancher,
they’re going to watch you like a hawk, or try to get rid
of you. A heartbroken rancher is easier to manipulate.”

“What do you suppose I do? Huh? Act the dutiful little
woman?”

“No, but you can at least stop being a haughty bitch and
just do what you have to do to get the job done. How is
this any different than any other DEA assignment you’ve
worked?”

Mari couldn’t wrap her brain around it…why was this any
different? Why couldn’t she just go through the motions
to complete their task and get the hell out of Laredo?

Ty. Ty was the difference. He and the desire she felt for
him changed everything and getting involved with him
could screw it all up.

“How? How can getting involved with Ty screw up anything?
You want him, he wants you, you have a scorching fling,
and when the task is done, you cut ties and leave him
behind in the dust of a newly freed Texas town.” Perez
chimed in, not even trying to hide the fact he was
listening to her private thoughts.

The unrepentant ass.

“Would you please give me a moment to think without you
invading my thoughts?” she ground out, tired of his
nonchalant attitude and intrusive behavior.

“Whatever. Just think about it, will ya? A fling would do
you some good, loosen you up a little. You’re too tightly
wound, even for a cop.”

“This coming from the guy who screamed at me for having
naughty thoughts about Ty only a few days ago?” Her
incredulity leaked into her voice.

“Well, I changed my mind,” Perez retorted.

“Uh, huh.”

Seriously? He wanted her to consider having a pointless
affair with Ty?