Free Her Last Defense by Vickie Taylor Page A

your guys are willing.”
    “You give them protective gear, they’ll be willing. This is their town that monkey has put at risk.”
    “We’ll give them gear, but I won’t lie. There are still risks. Comes with the job.”
    “Some things are worth the risk. I figure their town, their families fall into that category.” He trailed along on her heels, watching her gather her gear. “You’re going out there, too, aren’t you?”
    “I wouldn’t ask my people—or yours—to do anything I wouldn’t do myself.” She pressed her lips thin. “Besides, it might be their town, friends, neighbors and families, but it’s my damned monkey. My virus.”
    He picked up his respirator and followed her to the door. “Then I guess you’re going to need a partner, too, partner.”
    She turned and looked up at him, her heart going soft and slushy. “Fate’s smiled on you twice. You sure you want to test her again?”
    “I’m a Texas Ranger. I live to test fate.”
    “Is that why you kissed me, Ranger Hayes?” The words popped out before she could stop them. Mortified, she stared at the ground.
    He lifted her chin with a finger. She hadn’t realized how close they were. How large he was. How daunting.
    His pupils dilated a fraction. His lips parted and she thought he might kiss her again, but instead he said, “No. But since we do seem to have moved beyond the handshake and formal greeting stage, Macy, maybe you could call me Clint.”
    He dropped her chin. She wanted to ask why he hadkissed her, if it hadn’t been to test fate, but she couldn’t seem to form the words. Could barely think coherently.
    But she did remember one thing. Under the table behind her sat a plain stainless-steel bucket with a plastic lid that sealed airtight. The gas pellets should have done their sterilization trick by now.
    She picked up the bucket, opened it and pulled out his badge and then his gun with her thumb and forefinger. “If we’re going to be partners, Clint, then I guess you should have these.”
    “Thank you.”
    The corners of his mouth crinkled a fraction as he took them.
    She took that as a Texas Ranger smile.
     
    Yesterday’s sunshine and blue skies were gone. As Clint followed Macy’s lead into the woods, titanium clouds weighed as heavily on his shoulders as his mood. He was grateful to her for giving his gun and badge back. For reminding him he was still a Ranger, if only for another day. For as long as he carried it, he had a duty to the badge. A duty to the people of the state that gave it to him.
    He had no business letting himself be distracted by a woman.
    The problem was, as surely as Macy had reminded him he was still a Ranger, she had also reminded him he was still a man. It had been a long time since he’d even noticed a woman, much less thought of one as anything more serious than an entertaining way to spend an evening, or let off a little steam.
    But Macy Attois had gotten deeper under his skinthan most. She had him wanting to do outrageous things just to see her warm coffee eyes widen in surprise. Wanting to protect her from any and all comers, microscopic or otherwise.
    If he really wanted to protect her, he’d leave her the hell alone. She had enough on her plate without adding a down-on-his-luck, soon-to-be-ex-Ranger.
    He actually considered warning her off. Telling her he was damaged goods. That he wouldn’t be a Ranger, wasn’t sure he’d be much of anything, once this nightmare was over, the monkey caught or found dead, and he got back to Dallas so he could sign his resignation. Trouble was, he suspected telling her would only draw her to him more.
    Big-hearted as she was, he’d bet she couldn’t pass by a three-legged dog on the side of the highway, either, without stopping to pick it up.
    His bad shoulder aching, he straightened up and leaned on the machete he’d been swinging. The underbrush was nearly impenetrable in this part of the forest. The going had been slow, as they’d taken