Prologue
Francine Hayward Duvall left Valene and Wyatt Campbell’s party after only an hour. It had been a very nice get-together, but she wasn’t in the right frame of mind for a celebration. She didn’t want the reason for her bad mood to be misconstrued.
She was elated for Valene and her unexpected happily-ever-after with her mostly human sheriff. Their subsequent reunion after being separated by fate and circumstance was thanks to a technicality, but whatever worked. Valene deserved to be happy.
Plus, the news of a little one on the way for the youngest and only girl of the Grey clan—while initially getting her six very protective older brothers riled—inflated the joy of the party. It was too much happiness for Francine’swoe is meattitude. Not to mention the fact she’d decided to attend the party for one reason only. She couldn’t get Luther Boudreaux out of her mind.
The mysterious bounty hunter captured her attention when he arrived on Earth to help round up the escapees from a gulag-bound ship. She’d seen him twice in the underground facility hidden from the human world by the Big Bang Truck Stop, first with a cadre of Grey brothers and others on their way to hunt the escaped prisoners, then, later, engaged in a hushed, serious discussion with the Big Bang’s Fearless Leader, Diesel Grey, and his brother and chief of security, Cam.
She hadn’t spoken to Luther either time, so this was her chance.
Wyatt introduced them almost the moment she stepped inside the door. “Francine, this is Luther Boudreaux. He’s a bounty hunter from Ichor-Delta. Boudreaux, this is Lucy’s sister, Francine Duvall.” She offered her hand in human greeting, her skin tingling in anticipation of his touch.
“Pleasure to meet you,” he said and reached for her hand, his gaze so intense she almost faltered.
“Nice to meet you, as well,” she managed to say in a rush as she came to her senses. Barely. Their fingers connected and slipped into a full-fledged grip as his gaze drilled deeply into her soul. She was embarrassed to feel heat rising in her face from chin to roots at his mere regard. He didn’t say anything else, but one side of his luscious mouth, which fascinated her, lifted in a sexy half smile that made the warmth in her cheeks intensify.
If he noticed her reaction, he didn’t call her on it, earning her eternal gratitude.
A large man she didn’t know clamped a paw on Luther’s shoulder and unceremoniously started to hustle him through the foyer, jerking Luther’s hand from hers. “Come on, Boudreaux. We gotta go.”
She had no idea who the big man was, and frankly didn’t care. He’d pulled Luther from her personal space, and that made him a nameless enemy she would never forgive.
Luther resisted the man’s hold long enough to meet her eyes. “Sorry, I have to leave. Hope to see you again, Francine,” he said before his companion shoved him right out the front door. She waved, but knew he hadn’t seen her. Pity.
Francine couldn’t wait for their next meeting. Would they really meet again? Or was he on his way across the galaxy to catch his next bounty and she’d never see him again? Perhaps he was simply being polite.
If she put a bounty out on herself, would he accept the contract and take her down? She used to have the means to make it lucrative for him, but no longer. She mentally sighed. Besides, how sad was that? Paying a man to take an interest in her.
Francine shook her head at her own foolishness. Yes, the idea of beingtaken downby the very attractive bounty hunter from Ichor-Delta was more than appealing. And foolish. Too foolish to give another thought.
Chapter One
Midnight, parking lot of the Supernova Superstore in Alienn, Arkansas
Francine Hayward Duvall, formerly of the Designer-class Duvall family,theDuvalls of Alpha-Prime, experienced the abrupt panic of an uncontrolled fall as her face headed for the concrete walkway. One moment, she walked the path without giving her destination much thought, mind on other things. The next, a little black kitten landed in her path from seemingly nowhere.
The acrobatics that ensued as she attempted not to squash the small, sweet creature underfoot led directly to the disaster. As she went down, a recently read detail flitted through her mind concerning some Earther superstition about crossing the path of a black cat or some such thing leading to a curse for seven years, maybe even longer. Or was that if she stepped on a crack? Either way, she didn’t want to hurt the tiny animal with her clumsiness.
Mere inches from the ground, Francine felt strong arms wrap around her body, pulling her up and away from a pain-filled tumble.What?
“Got you,” said a familiar masculine voice. Her body, tense as it braced for impact, went limp in a rush of relief and surprise.Where did you come from? And, boy, do you smell good.
Those arms effortlessly maneuvered her upright and stayed around her as he steadied her on her feet. Her eyes focused on the most handsome man she’d ever seen in her life on any planet, but definitely here on Earth. Dark hair, dark eyes, sunglasses propped on his head despite the late hour. His complexion was light, nearly pale, but it didn’t take away from his looks in the least. Or his muscles. Or his height. Or how amazing he smelled. She resisted the urge to lean closer and sniff his chest. She hadn’t seen Luther Boudreaux around town lately and assumed the beefcake bounty hunter from Ichor-Delta left the planet to go, well, hunt bounties.
Francine’s memory of their first official meeting rose to the front of her mind, bringing with it a hot blush she felt to the roots of her hair. He’d been on her mind often since that all-too-brief handclasp and introduction at Valene and Wyatt’s party.
If she noticed then how great he smelled, she might have done a bit of her own hunting to indulge in a longer introduction.Who are you kidding, Francine?She would never be so bold, even in her wildest dreams. That wasn’t her style—though it would be fun if it was. She wasn’t interested in seeking any sort of romantic relationship with a man, no matter how much he made her think less-than-pure thoughts. Was she?
She was too busy building her simple new life, away from her controlling, social-climbing parents who were always on the lookout for opportunities to make more money, gain more status, even at the expense of their daughters’ happiness. So what if life had been lonely of late, her general mood rather blue. Maybe itwastime to seek someone to share a little uncomplicated romance with. Maybe this man wouldn’t crush her heart and soul.
Wrapped in his arms and pressed close to the extremely well-defined muscles she could feel under the fabric of his shirt, she couldn’t seem to think clearly. Giddily, she inhaled deeply and felt her eyelids grow heavy in sensual delight. A voice inside her scolded that she had more brain cells than this, more self-possession, but a louder internal voice said, “Take another sniff, Francine. You know you want to.”
The man—she couldn’t for the life of her bring his name to mind with her scattered brain cells—shifted his hold on her.
