Close Encounters of the Sexy KindClose Encounters of the Sexy Kind by Karen Kelley

**first posted on Sept 6, 2007**

If you haven’t already, check out Karen’s site. She has done an awesome redesign on it. You can now find her blogging with the Brava Authors as well as Vamps and Scamps and her personal blog.

On Mala’s home planet, male robots satisfy women’s every desire. Which is nice and all, but Mala craves a real man—like the rugged looking specimen called Sheriff she saw in a video brought back from Earth.

Sheriff Mason McKinley is having a hell of a week, what with reports of a UFO landing out near Devil’s Bend. But when Mason rides out to investigate, instead of little green men he finds the sexiest woman he’s ever laid eyes on. Mason doesn’t want to take advantage of a lost soul, but Mala’s pretty clear about what she wants…and it’s only polite to show the lady a little Texas hospitality…

EXCERPT

Mala struggled through the brush, thorns scraping her legs, letting more of her blood flow. Where was the weakness that came with the end of life cycle? If this was what it felt like to extinguish, then it wasn’t so bad. She might yet see a bit more of this planet.

If she hurried.

A burst of energy bolted through her as she pushed forward, clamoring into the clearing, landing on her knees when her legs tangled with bushes.

Exhilaration, and yes, regret swept over her. She’d made it out and was still alive, even though the light around her was fading fast.

“Ma’am, you okay?” a deep voice spoke from high above her.

She jumped, her gaze jerking upward. He sat upon a black shiny animal that pranced beneath him, the fading light washing over man and beast.

His hat was pulled low on his forehead, practically obscuring his rugged features. What little breath she had left, he was stealing away from her as her gaze traveled over the handsome stranger. Her inspection of the human came to an abrupt halt when her gaze landed on the star penned to his shirt.

“Sheriff,” she whispered. Tears formed in her eyes. How appropriate that she should see the man in the documentary: Debbie Does The Sheriff. Not that this one looked exactly like the other one, but he was the same breed.

“Ma’am, you okay?” he repeated.

“No,” her voice hitched. “I’m…” She sought words he would understand. “Well, hell, I’m dying.”

All the strength drained from her body and she collapsed on the ground.