Luke (Armed and Dangerous Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

Joyce brushed her chest against his, then moved back, like it might have been an accident. “I’m sure you know how to ride.”
    Luke went to take a drink of his beer, but he’d already drained it. Fast as a flash, Joyce had his empty bottle out of his hand, trailing her nails over his knuckles as she took it away from him. Then she was off toward the bar, her hips bouncing back and forth like somebody was hitting drums and cymbals to keep the rhythm.
    She works it well, but I don”t want that.
    But, hell. He didn’t know what he really wanted anymore. His dedication to his work had cost him every important relationship he’d ever managed to build, so he’d stopped bothering to try. Skylar MacKenna—yeah, she had piqued his interest before Zack Hunter had come back, but he’d never acted on it.
    And then there was Rylie Thorn—a real spitfire friend of Skylar’s. Now, that woman might have sparked Luke’s libido if she hadn’t reminded him so much of his younger sister.
    Luke watched as Joyce passed by Cochise County’s new sheriff, Clay Wayland. Wayland was at the buffet table, talking to a sexy cowgirl with brown hair and blue eyes, who owned a ranch just east of Douglas.
    New man in town, around the same time as the new competition for the Guerreros. Despite Luke’s earlier conversation with Wayland, the fact the sheriff could be involved had potential, though Luke couldn’t imagine two crooked lawmen in the same small town. By and large, those who swore to serve and protect did exactly that.
    Wayland’s attention was on the cowgirl—was he just being polite or horny, or was he investigating some lead or other? As Luke watched, Wayland excused himself from the woman and took a call. A few seconds later, the man left without looking back, and
    Luke figured he’d gotten the call about the trouble at the Larson ranch that Rios had informed Luke of earlier.
    Too bad.
    That little cowgirl looked like she might have some spirit. Clay Wayland probably just lost out on a night of fun and relaxation.
    The mellow malt flavor of beer lingered in Luke’s throat as he contemplated the fact it had been too long for his liking since he’d enjoyed the company of a fine woman. He’d known his share of ladies, but in the past few years, since he gave up trying anything serious, he hadn’t met any ladies who could keep his attention for more than a night or two of good, hard sex.
    Past few years? Hell.
    If he got honest with himself, he’d have to admit that had been a problem most of his life.
    He was more attached to his truck than most people. Probably a consequence of growing up hard and alone, then going into law enforcement. Like Clay Wayland, he rarely got a night of uninterrupted fun. And until he brought down the Guerrero operation and whoever it was starting a war with them, he’d be too busy for any kind of involvement.
    That whole cattle bullshit Woods had arranged for Guerrero had just been a distraction, a sleight of hand, and a little more cash for the asshole. The real scheme involved smuggling drugs in from Mexico using illegal immigrants, UDAs, for Guerrero mules.
    Noah Ralston of Customs and Border Protection had been notified of the UDA’s and immediately took over that aspect of the investigation. Ralston and the CBP had subsequently called the DEA. What CBP hadn’t known was that Luke and his agency had already been sniffing around Guerrero.
    Luke sure would like to know what that weasel Woods knew, but the bastard wouldn’t say a word even to cut his potential prison time. The men that Clay Wayland, Zack Hunter, and Luke had rounded up with Woods had been damn near worthless as far as information on the Guerrero operation.
    Gritting his teeth, Luke clenched and unclenched his fists. No sign of Joyce. She was lost in the crowd at the bar. For half a second, he wished he could take the night off and have some fun, get the edge off, but time was one thing he—and Douglas—didn’t have. And