by: Lora Leigh
Series: Moving Violations
Genre: Western Romance
Release Date: September 28, 2021
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh comes Her Renegade Cowboy, the final book in the Moving Violations trilogy…
He will risk his life…
The oh-so-proper school teacher, Lily Donovan has learned, the hard way, that men are not to be trusted. Period. Until Levi Roberts, the new cowboy working at her cousin's ranch, tempts her carefully-built resolve and awakens an all-consuming passion she thought lay dormant. But when she discovers his deadly secret, and her own secrets come to light, Lily unwittingly joins the lethal cat and mouse race between Levi and the man he’s been hunting for weeks.
To save her heart…
Former Ranger Levi Roberts has seen his fair share of deadly trouble during his years as a tough-as-nails operative. The ultimate expert in undercover investigations, he’s been tasked to find a man with a dangerous agenda in town. Routine work has been boring…until he runs into Lily, the prickly school teacher who tempts him like no other. Getting under her skin has been deliciously satisfying for his red-hot desire, but when Lily lands in the hands of the very man he’s been investigating, Levi will have to fight with every ounce of his heart and soul to save her—and to heal the heart he broke.
From Her Renegade Cowboy by Lora Leigh. Copyright © 2021 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.
Chapter Two
Levi sat at the bar at the Broken Horn Brewery, the local sports pub, finishing up his burger and fries. A lot about a town and its people could be gleaned from watching, listening, and even just chatting up the bartender.
Deer Haven, California, was a small enough town that everyone knew everyone and no one’s business stayed private for long. Gossip flowed like whatever beer was on tap, and the locals seemed to drink it up just as eagerly. Curious eyes watched him as well, regulars curious about strangers and newcomers. Levi made a point to introduce himself to the bartender and let her know that he’d been hired at Jacob Donovan’s ranch. No need to draw attention to himself when he could squash curiosity by putting the word out easily enough through the grapevine.
“You want another beer?”
Levi looked over at his nearly empty glass. “I’m good. Thanks, though.”
The bartender—Amelia— grinned. “Okay, sugar.” She slid his check along the bar and secured it under the glass. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
He gave her a nod and went back to surreptitiously scanning the bar. The front door swung wide and a group of four women crowded the entrance. He perked up at the sight of light auburn hair and watched as Lily, her sister, Shay, and two other women walked through the bar and took seats at a booth.
Levi got Amelia’s attention and jerked his chin in the direction of the booth. “I’d like to buy those ladies their first round.”
She gave him a knowing smile. “You’ve got it. Which one do you have your eye on?”
Levi replied with a wry grin, “What makes you think there’s just one?”
Amelia laughed. “Good answer. Keeping your options open.”
Hardly. He waited as a waitress took their order and came back to the bar. Amelia mixed four drinks, set them on the tray, and leaned over the bar with instructions. Again, he watched as she wound through the maze of tables back to the booth and set down the drinks. She propped the empty tray against her hip as she talked to the group for a few moments and pointed over to where he sat. Four heads turned in unison and Levi tipped his hat. The darker-haired of the women, Shay, if he remembered correctly, smiled wide and waved. Lily, on the other hand, gave him a suspicious, narrow-eyed gaze, her lips pursed petulantly. So much for making a good impression.
Rather than approach the table and invite himself to join them, Levi let it be. He turned his attention back to his burger and watched the preseason baseball game on the big-screen television above the bar. Amelia passed by and he said, “You know, I think I will take another beer.”
She reached for the taps and produced an already-full glass. “I knew you would,” she said, and set the glass in front of him.
Levi popped a fry into his mouth. From the corner of his eye, he caught movement from the table Lily sat at. He dipped his head, angling it to the right, and watched as she slid from the booth and crossed the bar in his direction.
She wasn’t carrying her drink. At least she didn’t mean to throw it in his face.
She stepped up to the bar beside him, one hand moving to rest casually at her hip as he turned to face her. His gaze swept the length of her frame, from the shapely calves and thighs hugged tight in a pair of skinny jeans to the supple curve of her hips that gave way to her torso. A vanilla and spice scent surrounded her, and the soft waves of her auburn hair shone like strands of silk. Levi’s fingers twitched at his sides, eager to reach out and touch. To see if it was truly as satiny soft as it looked. She was a good head shorter than him, affording Levi a glance at the generous swell of her breasts that disappeared in the V neck of her blouse.
“Thanks for the drinks.” She was all but glaring at him.
“Any time.” He tipped the beer in reply but watched the frustration and confusion that edged at her expression.
This woman wouldn’t be an easy sell where a man was concerned. He’d have to work for this one, he knew.
“Did you even know who you were sending the drinks to?” Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
If he’d ever seen a woman itching for a fight, then it was this one. Pent-up anger all but burned like flames in her gaze.
“Boss’s cousins and his wife.” He sipped at the beer again, his gaze never leaving hers. “I saw you and your sister at the ranch and met Mrs. Donovan later. I’m Levi Roberts. I just hired on with your cousin’s spread.”
“Jacob will kick your ass for flirting with his wife.” The prediction was made with no small amount of glee as she ignored his introduction.
Levi couldn’t help but chuckle. “Can’t say as I’d blame him, but I wasn’t trying to flirt with her. Or your cousins.”
Her lips parted as though to speak, then pressed into a firm line.
Yeah, it was Miss Lily he was after.
He sipped at his beer again, wondering what she’d accuse him of next. She was like a little cat, all wary and ready to scratch.
A second later, her chin lifted defiantly. “Mrs. Donovan and my cousins thank you for the drink.” She seemed to force the words past her lips. “Good evening, Mr. Roberts.”
From Her Renegade Cowboy by Lora Leigh. Copyright © 2021 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.
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Lora’s family and her writing life coexist, if not in harmony, in relative peace with each other. Surrounded by a menagerie of pets, friends, and a son who keeps her quick wit engaged, Lora finds her life filled with joys, aided by her fans whose hearts remind her daily why she writes.
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