Rescue Love

By Melissa Keir

Dogs, Danger, and a Cross-Country Trip….

Nothing has gone easy in Alexis Bandit's life. On a trip to rescue mistreated puppies and drive them to their forever homes, she meets up with a tuxedo-clad cowboy on the run and offers him a ride.

Jason Fields thought he had it all—a beautiful fiancée, a loving family, and great job—until he overheard his future father-in-law talk about arranging his murder. Now he's on the run, without money, a phone, or a credit card.

With a killer on their tail, four mischievous pups, and many miles of highway, what could go wrong?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melissa Keir
• Release date: Jun 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393804987

Book preview

Rescue Love

Melissa Keir

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The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or events is coincidental and not intended by the author.

If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher. In such case the author has not received any payment for this stripped book.

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Rescue Love

Copyright © 2018 Melissa Keir

All rights reserved.

5764 Woodbine Ave.

Pinckney, MI 48169

Edited By Kate Richards

Cover art By The Write Designer

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This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The copying, scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Rescue Love

Dogs, Danger, and a Cross-Country Trip....

Nothing has gone easy in Alexis Bandit’s life. On a trip to rescue mistreated puppies and drive them to their forever homes, she meets up with a tuxedo-clad cowboy on the run and offers him a ride.

Jason Fields thought he had it all—a beautiful fiancée, a loving family, and great job—until he overheard his future father-in-law talk about arranging his murder. Now he’s on the run, without money, a phone, or a credit card.

With a killer on their tail, four mischievous pups, and many miles of highway, what could go wrong?

Other Books by Melissa Keir

Wilder Sisters Series:

Forever Love

Beach Desires

A Christmas Accident

Coming Home

Holiday Homecoming

Home is Where the Heart is (combine print of the Wilder Sisters’ Books)

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Charming Chances:

Charming Chances (print of combined ebooks)

Second Time’s a Charm

Three’s a Crowd

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Pigg Detective Agency:

Protecting His Wolfe

Protecting Her Pigg

Protecting His Red

Tempting Danger (combine print of The Pigg Series)

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Magical Matchmaker

Chalkboard Romance

One Night in Laguna

One Night Behind Bars

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The Cowboys of Whisper, Colorado

The Heartsong Cowboy

The Heartbroken Cowboy

Claiming a Cowboy’s Heart

A Pigskin Cowboy

Broken Dreams

Broken Vows

Redeeming Dreams

Bidding for the Cowboy’s Heart

Gamble on a Cowboy

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The House that Built Me

My Secret Mate

Crash and Burn

Redeeming Love

Musings of a Madcap Mind (memoirs)

I Believe (True Stories of Miracles)

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The Spitfire and Scoundrel (with Dawne Watling)

DEDICATION

To the many furbabies who have been a part of my life, from Smokey to Thunder and Gris and Calleigh. Each one of you have made my life brighter.

And to my husband who puts up with the many animals coming through our home. Thank you! <3

CHAPTER oNE

Come on, Frodo. Do your business. We don’t have all day. Alexis tugged on the leash then turned toward the open hatchback of her vehicle. I’ll have you all out in a bit, Freya, Precious, and Sam. A warm spray soaked into her cotton tennis shoe. Frodo. Bad dog. I’m not your fire hydrant! She bent over, lifted the puppy into her arms, and carried him toward her SUV.

"Obviously, a Lord of the Rings fan, but why Freya? She’s not a character in any of the movies."

The puppies barked at the strange voice. Alexis jumped and turned toward the man with the deep Texas drawl. He wore a black tuxedo with a white button-down shirt open at the collar. The dark-gold vest drew out the oranges and yellows in his eyes. His dark-blond five o’clock shadow highlighted his full lips. The scuffed cowboy boots didn’t fit with the outfit, keeping him from looking like he’d stepped out of a high-fashion magazine.

Why does a homeless man get to comment on the names I selected for my pups? She pulled Frodo in front of her while sticking her other hand near the crate to quiet the other puppies. It has to be Freya riling the rest of the pups up. She’s already become a handful at eight weeks but is my favorite.

Homeless man? The stranger took a step closer to her, but when Frodo growled and flashed his teeth, the man stopped and put his hands up. I’m not a homeless man.

Then why the getup? Do you often take walks in the rest area in your high-society clothes? Alexis couldn’t help but ask what this crazy person needed. Her curiosity wouldn’t let it alone. She should have been scared shitless, alone with a stranger in a public area. Wasn’t this how every episode of Criminal Minds began?

Look. I ducked out of my wedding with only the clothes on my back. No cell phone, no wallet, no car keys. Not the smartest plan in the world. He dropped his hands and looked at the ground, shuffling his feet like a child caught sneaking a cookie before dinner.

Alexis shook her damp foot as Frodo licked her cheek. She shouldn’t even consider giving this loser a ride. After all, who ditches their own wedding and doesn’t have a backup plan? Always the soft heart, she’d done her share of rescuing animals over the years. She’d worked on the South Carolina beaches during turtle-nesting season and volunteered at the local animal shelter. It was that last job that got her here, with a wet foot and four puppies in an SUV traveling cross-country. She wanted to give him a ride, but she shouldn’t. It’s not safe.

Where are you heading? She longed to slap her hand over her mouth, but the guy’s sob story hit the right notes.

He ran his hand through his thick hair. I don’t know. I can’t go back to the church, nor can I go home. I’m sure my former fiancée hasn’t gotten over my leaving, yet.

I’m only passing through Texas on my way to Ohio then Michigan. She pointed at the pups. They’re on their way to their forever homes. So, I’m not sure I can help.

Perfect. I’m not in any hurry to head home. I’d love an adventure. He strolled around to the passenger side and climbed in. I can travel with you for a bit and then call my brother to have him wire me some money and fly home.

Wait...I didn’t... Alexis bit her tongue. She knew better than to argue with a stubborn man. She ducked into the rear of the SUV, opened the crate, and let Frodo climb in. Taking out Precious, she attached the leash to the puppy then lifted her and set her on the ground. All right, Pea. Do your thing, but not on my shoe like your brother did. Lost in thought, Alexis replayed her conversation with the tuxedo-clad man. Where had it gone wrong? She’d been nice enough to ask how she could help, but she never thought he’d take her up on more than borrowing her phone. How was she going to handle a drive across five states with him?

When Precious yanked on the leash, Alexis glanced down at the pup. Did you do your business? The white bichon frise puppy hopped on her back legs in a circle as if she was a show pony in the circus ring. After she picked her up, Alexis turned toward the hatchback. She grabbed a peanut butter treat from her pocket and fed it to the pup. A lick on the nose showed her appreciation.

Two steps later, her foot slid on the grass. She glanced down to see she’d stepped into a pile of shit. What the...? Alexis shuffled her shoe on the grass as she tried to get as much of the poop off as possible. Had she been paying attention, she’d never have stepped in the shit. It was all that man’s fault.

Is everything okay? he leaned over the back of the seat and called out through the puppies’ crate.

"No. Everything is not okay. So far, one has peed on me, and I’ve stepped in shit. Could this day get any worse?"

Red-and-blue flashing lights had Alexis cursing