Roping My Bodyguard

Lone Star Security Romance

by Annee Jones

👑💪👑 A death threat. A fake boyfriend. And roping lessons that are definitely against the rules...


Someone's threatening me, and my overprotective father hired the most inconvenient solution possible—Rhodes Foster. Six-foot-three of solid muscle, sarcasm, and enough cowboy swagger to make my knees weak. The problem? I run a pageant coaching business. Clients will panic if they know I need protection. Rhodes's solution? Pretend we're dating. Now he's living in my guest room, charming pageant moms at tea parties, and teaching me to rope for my star student's Teen Star Texas talent. Every lesson means his body pressed behind mine, his hands on my hips, his mouth at my ear. I'm supposed to be in control. Poised. Perfect. But around Rhodes? I'm coming undone.

I've protected senators and CEOs. None of them made my heart slam against my ribs like Presley Danforth in her designer heels and that killer smile. She thinks the fake relationship is just cover. That the touches are for show. That when I kiss her, it's only to sell the story. She's wrong. Every time she looks up at me during roping lessons—flushed, frustrated, beautiful—I want to back her against the barn wall and prove exactly how real this is. Someone wants to hurt her. They'll go through me first. And when this case is over? I'm keeping her. This cowboy's done pretending.

CONTENT INFORMATION
💋 Scorching fake relationship with a guaranteed HEA!
🤠 Grumpy cowboy bodyguard meets sunshine pageant coach in small-town Texas
🔥 Forced proximity, only-one-bed, protective alpha with a dirty mouth and dirtier thoughts
💪 Former Marine hero—dry wit, calloused hands, zero patience for threats
✨ Perfectionist heroine learning that losing control feels really, really good
⚠️ Stalker suspense with multiple suspects (never underestimate pageant moms)
🪢 Light BDSM/rope play
🎯 creative uses for lassos, creative definitions of "necessary" kissing, and a hero who goes from fake to forever

In Valor Springs, Texas, the only thing hotter than the summer sun is what happens when a pageant coach tries to tie down her bodyguard.

******************************************************************
SERIES

Meet the heroes of Lone Star Security. Cowboy bodyguards forged under the Texas sun. Dangerous when they have to be, gentle when it counts, these ranch-bred alphas wear Stetsons over steel and carry more scars than they’ll admit. They don’t do anything halfway. Instead, they do sunup to sundown, with dust on their boots and love in their hearts. These protectors will ride through hell and high water to prove worthy of the women they love.

Start 2026 with a bang. This January, these bodyguards discover the best part of falling in love is breaking protocol for a kiss worth the risk.

102 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2026

About the author

International bestselling author Annee Jones writes romance that ranges from sweet to scorching, sassy to dark, contemporary to fantastical. Perfect for your coffee break or midnight escape—quick reads for wild hearts.

Outside of writing, Annee works as a disability counselor where she helps her clients navigate through complex medical and legal systems while rediscovering their wholeness in Spirit. She loves practicing Barre, relaxing in the sauna, and staying up way too late reading.

Subscribe to Annee’s newsletter to stay up to date on new releases, sneak peeks, and exclusive giveaways: https://www.anneejones.com/newsletter

Find out more about Annee and her books here: https://linktr.ee/anneejones

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Better to be cautious and wrong than careless and sorry."~Daniel.... Presley's Dad

"I care about you. Caring about you makes this different. It means I want you to trust me with more than your body---your pleasure, your vulnerability, your surrender. All of it."~Rhodes😍

"My chest ached--the good kind, from feeling too much at once."~Presley😍

Welcome to small town, country living, Valor Springs, Texas. Where things are about to heat up hotter than the summer sun when cowboy bodyguard Rhodes Foster gets called in to watch over the very sweet and thoughtful Presley Danforth. Presley runs her own business: Crown and Grace Pageants teaching young girls and teens to embrace their, as Mama Ru calls it👸🏽:**uniqueness, nerve and talent**!! Shout out to the legendary Queen.💐 So expect every pageant Mama to get involved and push their girls to win the Teen Star Texas competition that will be happening in a few weeks. But there are people who aren't happy with Presley. Someone is watching, sending threats to her, damaging her place of business, trying to shut her down. 👥🧱👥 And Presley is not about to go quietly.🫡

She calls her Dad and voilà here comes the scarred and rugged mystery man Rhodes from Lone Star Security. I like him. He has lived his life and it shows. He carries wounds like all of us do. Rhodes does a thorough quiet investigation while posing as her boyfriend. Small town gossip. And you go to church on Sunday.⛪ Expect close proximity, her home to be exact, as these 2 put on the best show while drawing out the likely suspects. Who is causing this trouble?🤫 There's drama. World building. Some twists. And suspense. While trying to not act on their obvious chemistry.😜💋 I like how I wasn't expecting the discovery, a new exploration, this former Marine gives and shows to Presley. Not going to spoil that here. It was talked about and handled with thought and care.😉🚦😚😚🔥🔥🧣

I enjoyed the short story. The characters are likable. Presley is trying to help everyone and be sincere in doing so. Rhodes is the man who is a protector, supporter, and only has eyes for Presley. He even said please. That. That needs to be explored more in romance books. Just saying.😄 FYI The young girls competing are not mean girls.

Another great read from Ms Jones. I recommend. Shout out to Rhodes' 2 horses on his ranch. Rhodes is a rodeo roping cowboy.🤠🪢 The horses don't have names in the book but I will just call them Jack🐴 and Rose🐴. Everyone has a HEA. Including Jack and Rose. It's just how I roll.😂 Happy reading.*•>§<•*❤️🧡❤️🧡

💁🏼‍♀️🌠🕵🏻Thank you to Ms Jones and Booksprout. The opinions shared here are my own.🕵🏻🌠💁🏼‍♀️

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Love in the Midst of Chaos -
Presley wasn’t really happy when her father insisted on hiring a bodyguard after threats were made against her, but her attitude changed from the moment she laid eyes on Rhodes. Ever since Rhodes returned from his last deployment, he has carried heavy guilt from the loss he suffered, so he put his attraction for Presley to the side and made her safety a priority. However, spending time together in close proximity and dealing with the threat on Presley, heightened the tension between them and exploded into a passion-filled encounter.

Nevertheless, the threat on Presley’s life and livelihood increased her anxiety exponentially, but Rhodes took it upon himself to calm her down and make sure there were security plans in place to ensure her safety. Unfortunately, Presley took a little detour from her security protocol, which led to a near fatal incident, but Rhodes was able to get there in time to deal with the situation. Rhodes and Presley confessed their feelings for each other once their lives returned to normal and took steps to ensure they would get a chance at a happy future.

This was an absolutely awesome romance story, filled with suspense, intrigue, drama, emotional moments and the right amount of panty melting steaminess to make this a worthwhile read. The story had me hooked from the first page and kept my attention all the way through to the end. If you are looking for your next gripping page turned to keep you entertained for a few hours, then look no further than this book.

I received a free review copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Presley is a pageant coach in small town Valour Springs, juggling a packed schedule with junior clients, when things take a scary turn and she starts receiving threats. When it escalates, her father calls in backup from Lone Star Security, and enter Rhodes - ex-Marine, lives just outside town, owns horses, and has a background in rodeo and roping. To keep things low-key, he pretends to be her boyfriend while protecting her, by her side every day 24/7 as she trains the girls for their upcoming pageant competitions.… and yes, it’s exactly as fun and swoony as you’d expect as those fake feelings turn very real.

This was a short but intense read that hooked me from page one. The characters pulled me right in, the emotions hit just right, and the suspense kept things moving without overpowering the romance. I loved how the story focused on being true to yourself, even when you’re in the public eye, and learning to let the people who care about you help carry the weight of the world. The writing flowed smoothly, I loved the whole Texan vibe, and the roping theme in particular felt really well thought-out and woven into the story.

This book is part of the multi-author Lone Star Security series, and I've honestly enjoyed so many from this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Better to be cautious and wrong, than careless and sorry"

Rhodes finds himself drawn into Presley's world, a world he has never seen before, but the more he sees, he cannot help but respect. However, he sees the toll the expectations of perfection and stress takes on Presley, and he knows he can show her an escape. An escape that helped him deal with his PTSD and can now help Presley....an escape that he is eager to share and experience with Presley. This is a heartwarming journey of self discovery for both Rhodes and Presley, they find comfort, acceptance, love and passion together in a way neither has found before. I read this on Kindle Unlimited.

[Melissa Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of a multi author series called Lone Star Security. Tropes: ex military, bodyguard, pageant trainer, and forced proximity. Presley owns a company that specializes in training young girls for pageants. After getting a threatening letter and vandalism to her building Presley's father hires a bodyguard. Rhodes is prepared to protect Presley but wasn't prepared for feelings he was developing for his client. Fast enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cynthia Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lone Star Security story of Presley and Rhodes. That was incredible and shocking who the stalker turns out to be. I thought for sure it was one of the parents. This one keeps you guessing and turning the pages to see what happens next. The love these two find turns real and lasting is what every romantic wants to read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[LA FITCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Presley trains girls for pageants in Texas, as a former pageant queen herself she knows what she is doing. When she starts getting threats her father arranges a bodyguard. Step in Rhodes as said bodyguard. Their forever is a tad steamy and there is danger when it all comes to a head in Austin at the pageant. I couldn't put this one down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! I really liked how strong Presley was and how she only wanted to hero her “girls” be the best versions of themselves. When Rhodes is hired to guard her, he admired her strength and passion. They really worked well together and their chemistry was off the charts.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah Freilinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read

About 90 minutes to get the full story of a cowboy bodyguard and his pageant queen. There is mystery, A little kink, and passion.

[Kimberly Rahr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. It’s a little slower in the beginning, but once it hit I couldn’t put it down.

[sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Presley has a stalker. Rhodes is hired as her bodyguard. Turns out they need each other in more ways than one.