Texas Ranger, Runaway Heiress. Carol Finch

defied logical explanation. When she came within two feet of him, her body reacted with reckless abandon. How was this even possible? she wondered bewilderedly.

      This man didn’t like her. He thought she was spoiled and selfish. Maybe she was, but he had no right to sit in judgment. Furthermore, he had no right to arouse her when she didn’t want to like him, either. Unfortunately, there was no denying her fierce and lusty reaction to him.

      Hud clamped his hands on her hips, pressing her against his thighs, making her vividly aware of his masculine response. Then his hand glided up to brush the side of her breast and another flame of desire scorched her.

      Bri told herself to back away now that the potential threat of being recognized by Eaton had passed. But the feel of Hud’s palm gliding over the fabric covering her breast made her burn with insatiable need. When he teased her nipple with his thumb, her legs wobbled and her breath sighed out raggedly. The embrace quickly became even more personal and intimate than the ones from the previous night.

      Bri moaned in helpless surrender when he lowered his head to kiss her hungrily. He cupped her breast again and insinuated his muscled thigh between her legs, making her weak with need.

      “Come back to my room,” he whispered between devouring kisses and arousing caresses.

      “Hey, mister, get yer hands off of her!” came an irate adolescent voice from the black depths of the alley.

      Hud jerked up his head, surprised to see three ragtag boys, each carrying a makeshift club, prepared to defend to the death the Lady In Gray. He glanced down, hoping to get a good look at her features, but she turned her head away from him quickly and looked back at the boys.

      “We mean it, mister.” The chubby runt from the ragamuffin trio raised his club threateningly. “Let her go…N…O…W.”

      “Yeah, you better back off right this minute or we’ll make you damn sorry,” the middle-sized urchin sneered boldly.

      Hud was still standing there, his body throbbing with unappeased desire, when the mysterious woman lurched around and darted between the three boys.

      Hud shook his head, trying to clear his senses. No doubt about it, the elusive female was spinning some sort of magical web around him. One minute she was kissing him until his brain went up in flames and his body burned into a pile of frustrated ashes. Then poof! Off she went again. This time she had three half-grown guard puppies trailing behind her. Were they her children or her siblings? he wondered.

      Scowling at the oddity of his encounters with the Lady In Gray, Hud pivoted on his boot heels. Thanks to that steamy interlude, he needed another drink. He also needed a cold bath to douse the fire the kissing bandit left burning inside him—again.

      Chapter Four

      Bri half collapsed against the back wall of the freight office to catch her breath and collect her wits. If she believed in voodoo, she would swear that dynamic Ranger had cast a magical spell that boiled her good sense into mush and her inhibitions into a cloud of steam.

      Blast and be damned, how could she keep responding so immediately and intensely to Hudson Stone? She melted beneath his scorching kisses and bold caresses in one second flat.

      “You okay, miss?” the oldest, whey-faced orphan asked worriedly.

      “Did he hurt you?” the second lad wanted to know.

      “We’ll fix him good if he did,” the youngest urchin promised vengefully.

      “I’m fine. He caught me off guard, is all.” She patted each boy on the shoulder. “Thank you for coming to my rescue. I’m indebted. Will you tell me your names?”

      “Tommy,” the skinny lad said then gestured to the runt. “This is my brother, Howie. And this is our friend, Georgie.”

      “I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance.” She shook their hands. “My name is…Ellie. I have an idea where we might find jobs that will give you a fresh start away from this rowdy town. If you’ll gather your gear, we’ll be on our way as soon as possible. Are you interested in an adventure?”

      “You mean leave all this behind?” Tommy snickered as he gestured toward their improvised home.

      Bri chuckled. “I’ve always had a thirst for excitement and adventure. I have an idea that will get us out of town and on the road to a promising and rewarding future. We can strike off together after we retrieve our belongings. We’ll meet back here in an hour if you’re willing.”

      The boys nodded eagerly then darted away.

      Bri started in the opposite direction then paused a few minutes later to glance skyward. “Happy now, Benji? I can see why you pointed me in the direction of those boys. But I’m not particularly pleased that infuriating Ranger got tangled in the middle of this.”

      At least she’d conjured up a plan to leave town without inconveniencing Hud further. He’d made it glaringly apparent what he thought of her and how annoyed he was with this assignment. She had dismissed him—and she damn well meant it. Now she wouldn’t have to make the entire trip alone and she could help the urchins begin a new life while she was at it.

      Quickening her step, Bri hurried to the hotel to grab her satchels.

      

      The next morning Hud rolled from bed and cursed the restless night’s sleep that made him out of sorts—even before he confronted the feisty Gabrielle Price. His arousing encounters with the elusive Lady In Gray had fueled his fantasies. Unfortunately, the commander’s daughter kept appearing out of nowhere to spoil his erotic dreams.

      Yawning, Hud raked his fingers through his tousled hair then doused his face in cool water from the basin. Wherever the kissing bandit was hiding out, she had three ragamuffins looking after her. Hud knew he wouldn’t see her again so he might as well squelch the lusty anticipation that gnawed at him. He had to suffer through his mandatory duty of babysitting Gabrielle Price and her fiancé. Alluring and intriguing though she was, she symbolized everything he wasn’t. Plus, she challenged him and defied him. The chances of her obeying his direct orders during the trip were a fifty-fifty proposition at best.

      Hud grabbed his saddlebags, slung them over his shoulder and ambled down the hall to fetch Princess Price. He rapped on the door, but she didn’t answer so he knocked harder the second time.

      “Mizz Price!” he called out, becoming more annoyed with each passing second. “Rise and shine!”

      Damn it, if she was delaying their departure on purpose he’d have more than a few words with her. “Ready or not, I’m coming in.”

      Hud opened the door then choked on his breath as he gazed incredulously around the room. The pitcher and basin that usually sat on the commode were shattered on the floor. The nightstand was overturned and the bedding lay in a pile at the foot of the bed. Hud walked over to step lightly on the bundle of blankets to make sure Gabrielle wasn’t under them. Sure enough she wasn’t.

      Not only was Gabrielle nowhere to be found but her two satchels were also missing.

      “Damn,” Hud muttered as he lurched toward the door.

      This was his fault. He had shown no enthusiasm whatsoever when he assumed his duty as bodyguard. He had been rude and disrespectful to the commander’s daughter and he had voiced his displeasure for this assignment. Then he had left her to fend for herself in this raucous town. She’d had no one but her dandified fiancé as protection and now she was gone!

      “What in God’s name happened here? And who are you?”

      Hud glanced over his shoulder to see Eaton Powell II—or so he presumed, since he was decked out in the very latest fashion—puffed up like a toad. The snooty politician was glaring disdainfully at him.

      “What have you done with my fiancée?” he demanded loudly.

      “I haven’t done anything with her,” Hud replied. “I