The Badge and the Bad Boy (Redemption Ranch, #1)

by Lena Hendrix

I’d learned in the academy that to be a female police officer, you had to develop a thick skin and handle a certain amount of ballbusting to have a chance of surviving.

“I don’t even know what’s going on.” Val gestured toward me. “What’s your problem?” “Val,” Ma began, “Evan has just discovered that you share a very important connection.” Val looked between the two of us. Ma added, “Evan is also from Chicago. He is the man who stepped in front of a bullet for you.” Val shook her head in disbelief and raised her palms. “No. That’s not possible. Both men died that night.” She steadied herself and seemed to be processing the information Ma had slung at me. “Wait, is Officer Bucholz alive?” Ma’s voice dipped lower. “Unfortunately, no. You did lose a fellow officer that day. However, as you can see, Evan is very much alive.” Val rubbed her temples as the weight of the information settled in. “The girl. There was a girl there. Tell me she was real.” “Gemma.” My voice was rocky over my sister’s name. A deep sigh whooshed out of her. “I knew it. I knew I wasn’t crazy.” “Ma, why is she here? Is she testifying? She’s a cop who was there that night. She puts us all in danger.” Anger dripped from my words, and Val winced beside me.

“Why? Why did you step in front of the gun?” His hands squeezed my arms gently. I could feel my body sway toward him as though an invisible tether pulled me closer. “You saved my sister’s life when I couldn’t.”

“When you’re with me, you don’t have to worry. I’ll take care of you.”

In a heartbeat, Evan was in the man’s face. “Disrespect her again. I fucking dare you.”

“A man like me always wants what he can’t have. But you, baby girl, are the most dangerous thing on this ranch.”

“Playing games, baby girl?” Evan’s voice was pure velvet over gravel. A breathy groan was all that I could muster. “If you don’t stop making noises like that, I’m going to lose my fucking mind.”

“Nights are mine.” Evan paused as his eyes drank me in. His wide palm delicately wrapped around the column of my throat. My pulse hammered beneath it. “You,” he

whispered as his head bent forward to nip my ear, “are mine.”

“I know you should leave, but if you go now, you’d be taking my heart with you.”

I’d started off with what Gemma called a spicy romance but quickly found myself eyeballs deep in everything from blue aliens to minotaurs to rodeo cowboys with an attitude. There was truly something for everyone, and I was, Here. For. It.