Ranger Protector. Angi Morgan

registered, even if only for a fraction of a second, that the robe she’d slept in was now open. It was hanging loose over the long T-shirt he’d given her and showing the well-toned body he’d done his best to ignore more than once.

      They both listened as the news report recounted events from the previous evening in Austin. The little bulletin strip kept running Megan’s name and that she was wanted for questioning by state authorities.

      “Rethinking that promise not to betray me?” Megan asked.

      “Actually...no. I was with you yesterday, so I know you’re being framed.”

      “Where are my clothes? I’ll get dressed and we can go clear this up.”

      “I don’t think it’s that simple, Megan. They have witnesses, too.” Damn. “Who the heck do you work for, and what’s an intelligence analyst?”

      “The Texas Department of Insurance, and I work for the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Our agency is a part of TDI. ‘Intelligence analyst’ sounds a lot more dramatic than it actually is. I gather information about fires and—” she shrugged “—analyze it.”

      “The news is making it sound like you’re a spy or something.”

      She shook her head, her long brown hair framing her face, hiding her expression. “Oh, no. Seriously, most of my job is in a cubicle. I have no idea why anyone wants to frame me for murder.”

      No idea? She was holding back why, and he knew it. “They have eyewitnesses.”

      “So do I, and mine’s a Texas Ranger. I mean, if you need an alibi, I have a great one.” She shoved her hair back behind her tanned face, then dropped her palm against the bare skin of her thigh. “Look, I don’t know what’s up, but you know I didn’t do this. Whoever’s behind the murder must be using a woman who looks like me.”

      “That makes sense, but I’m not the one who has to be convinced you’re telling the truth.”

      “So where are my clothes? I need to rent a car and get back to Austin. I made a huge mistake leaving.”

      “I don’t think you did.”

      Her mouth dropped open. If he looked hard enough, he might just see her tonsils. He was fascinated with how all her emotions were just...visible. No second-guessing what this gal was feeling.

      “So we’re agreed. I need my clothes.” She pulled the robe closed and tied the belt.

      “First of all, they aren’t dry. I was sipping my coffee before actually doing anything. Second, there was a reason you chose not to stay. Someone drugged you and tried to abduct you. Maybe you should remember that. Third thing—I might agree that it’s gonna look like a mistake by not turning yourself in, but that doesn’t mean you need to...yet. I gave my word to keep you safe. I’m keeping it. And fourth—”

      “There’s more?”

      “No rental cars or taxis in Liberty Hill. Only way you’re getting back to Austin is to hitch a ride. I’m pretty sure that’s not the best way for you to travel right now.”

      “For a small-town man, you certainly take a long time to get to the point.”

      “Sorry, I’m not trying to be evasive.” Nope, he was teasing her and couldn’t help it. “I’m a little distracted by the dilemma facing me if anyone finds out I’m harboring a...what? Or is it a who? You aren’t really a criminal. Not yet, anyway. So I can’t call you a fugitive.”

      “Please stop. Just stop.” She covered her eyes with her fingertips and then rubbed her temples. “I can’t think.”

      “This isn’t complicated. Okay, it’s a little complicated. Someone convinced my partner to protect you—” His brain screeched to a halt as realization clicked things in place for his guest. Or prisoner. He could see it going either way.

      She nodded. “Your partner? I thought Therese said they’d worked with you.”

      Jack was cussing a bit in his head. Since joining the Rangers, he’d given up smoking and curbed his four-letter vocabulary to consist of hell. It was much better for his image.

      His partner, on the other hand, didn’t have any reason to hold back and wouldn’t when he found out Megan was wanted for murder. That was, if he checked in anytime soon. Why would he put them in this situation?

      “So what now? How fast should I be ready to go?”

      “I’m not sure. This is a bit unusual.” Jack hated to think that his partner might be in serious trouble for circumventing an arrest. It didn’t make sense. He couldn’t get the sound of gunfire out of his head. And he was certain it had been gunfire.

      “Well, it certainly is for me. I’ve never been in trouble before. For crying out loud, I used to be a cop.” Her arms bounced up and down against her thighs, the sound muffled by his robe.

      “Wade might have a history of jumping in headfirst without checking how deep the water is. But...”

      Megan arched her eyebrows, clearly wanting the rest of the explanation.

      “I’ve never known why or how, but he’s almost always right.” There was no turning back. “The man has a sixth sense about things like this. He said you need protecting, and not twelve hours later you’re being framed for murder.”

      Hell, she was wanted for murder.

      “You can’t keep me here. You’re a Texas Ranger.”

      “Right.” He covered the short space to the door with a couple of strides. He needed to take a minute. Just think of something other than the consequences of going against orders—although he didn’t really have any at the moment.

      “You aren’t seriously thinking about trying to hide me. I don’t want to be hidden. No matter what anyone thinks, I’m the best qualified to discover why someone wants to frame me for murder.”

      He could believe that. If she was an analyst like she claimed, that meant she looked through information and solved problems. She probably had more experience than he did at solving mysteries of this nature.

      He hooked his thumbs in his belt and looked out back across the pasture. Mrs. D. waved as she got in her car. “See you in town, Little Jack.”

      Thoughts were racing through his head faster than he could collect him. If he did this, then that would happen. And if he did that, then this would happen. He pushed through the emotional tug of wanting to please everyone. A physical impossibility. Someone was going to get hurt.

      Or fired. He watched the horses grazing, wishing he’d carried his coffee with him across the room. When all was said and done, he could count on Wade. He already had done so more than once. Bottom line, he should wait before moving forward. Gather more information, but wait.

      “We may not know much about what’s going on, Megan. But there’s one thing you can count on.” He paused, waiting on her to look at him so she’d see his sincerity. “You can trust my partner.”

       Chapter Three

      Megan needed a minute of alone time and she was out of here. She could find a pair of jeans and keep them around her waist with a belt. She’d seen Jack’s keys in the end-table drawer with his ID and weapon. She would have to borrow his truck and hope it wasn’t a stick shift.

      There was a second vehicle inside the garage, but it was marked with the city insignia. It would be just her luck if it had City of Liberty Hill emblazoned on the back window.

      All she needed was a few minutes alone and she could be heading home. Shoot, she was already wanted for murder. What was a little grand theft auto?

      “Shouldn’t you shower before you leave?” she asked, hoping that he’d