An Officer and a Maverick
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Teresa Southwick
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17.9K
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16
Chapter One
Fourth of July
“I wouldn’t be surprised if someone strips naked and jumps in the park fountain,” Lani Dalton said out loud, to no one in particular.
And no one in particular paid any attention to her, what with all the partying going on around her at the wedding reception. Everyone was having a really good time. Braden Traub had married Jennifer MacCallum, and there was little that folks in Rust Creek Falls liked more than celebrating a happy occasion. And wow, were they celebrating!
It looked as if the colors of American independence had exploded all over Rust Creek Falls Park. Picnic tables were covered by red-and white-checkered oilcloth covers, while red and blue tarps had protected people from the afternoon sun, although it had gone down a while ago. Fireworks had been shot off but people were still hanging around, dancing, talking, laughing and drinking wedding punch.
She’d just finished two-stepping with her brother and figured there was something weird going on for that to have happened. Nothing said relationship loser like dancing with your brother. Anderson was her favorite, but still... After chug-a-lugging her fourth—or was it fifth?—cup of punch, she felt a little light-headed. Sitting down suddenly seemed like an awfully good idea.
Walking around and searching for an empty seat, she wasn’t watching where she was going. As a result, she ran into what felt like a brick wall and was nearly knocked onto her backside.
Strong hands reached out and steadied her. “You okay?”
Lani was pretty sure that voice belonged to Russ Campbell, a detective from Kalispell who filled in sometimes to help out Sheriff Gage Christensen here in Rust Creek Falls. She felt a familiar quiver of attraction lick through her as she looked up to confirm her suspicion. “Detective Dreamy.”
“Excuse me?”
“Lani Dalton.” She pointed at herself. “I work part-time at the Ace in the Hole, the local bar and grill. You’re Russ Campbell.”
“I know.”
“I know you know who you are.” She giggled and that surprised her because she wasn’t normally a giggler. “I meant that I know who you are and was introducing myself to you. Lani Dalton,” she said again.
“Okay.”
“Not much of a talker, are you?”
The sheriff was short a deputy and Russ filled in at least once or twice a week. That’s about how often he came into the bar but he never really paid much attention to her. She, however, had definitely noticed him. He was tall and broad-shouldered with thick, wavy brown hair and hazel eyes that didn’t miss a thing. Except her.
He was nice-looking, but if you happened to catch a glimpse of one of his rare grins, he was absolutely adorable. As far as she knew—and she’d asked about him—no female in Rust Creek Falls or anywhere else for that matter was on the receiving end of those smiles.
“Okay, then.” He cleared his throat and continually scanned the crowd of people who were getting happier by the minute. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have to keep moving.”
After months of being ignored, Lani had finally struck up a conversation. Sort of. It was an opportunity, and she wanted it to go on.
“Are you here for the bride or groom?” she asked.
“What?”
“Are you a friend of the bride or groom?”
“Neither.” He indicated the gold shield hooked to the belt at the waist of his worn jeans. “I’m working. Sheriff Christensen hired me to help with crowd control.”
Looking way up at him, his features seemed to blur and she swayed a little. Again, his hands reached out to steady her. She couldn’t help noticing his arms, where the sleeves of his black T-shirt stretched across impressive biceps. It was swoon-worthy—that must be why she was a little woozy.
“Wow, you’re really strong. And your reflexes are really good.” Did she just say that? It wasn’t like her to say whatever popped into her head.
He was already frowning, but her words seemed to turn the frown into a scowl. “I think you should lay off the liquor.”
“All I had was punch from the reception, and they said it was some concoction with sparkling wine. No hard alcohol allowed in the public park. You should know that. So I haven’t had any liquor to speak of. I swear,” she said, raising her hand, palm out. “That’s the thing. I work at the bar but I hardly ever drink alcohol. Am I talking too much?”
“Uh-huh.” His tone was unnecessarily sarcastic. “Let’s find you a place to sober up.”
“I’m not drunk. And I was looking for a place to sit when you ran into me.”
“For the record, you ran into me,” he said.
She shook her head—that was a big mistake. “I don’t think so.”
“Take my word for it.” His mouth tightened as he scanned the tables and didn’t spot an empty place. “Let’s go over here.”
She felt his fingers on her arm as he led her through a maze of people who moved for him as if he was Moses parting the Red Sea. “Where are you taking me?”
“To the park fountain. The edge is wide enough to sit on, and it’s cooler there.”
They were passing the last of the tables when she saw her older brother Travis chatting up a pretty blonde who Lani happened to know was dating a hot-tempered, jealous cowboy. She would have warned him off, but Detective Dreamy had her in a pretty tight grip. And she spotted her other brother Anderson moving in. He would make sure Travis didn’t do anything stupid.
“Here you go,” Russ said after they crossed the open grassy area then reached the fountain that was spewing water in the center. “Have a seat.”
Lani did and set her flag-stamped cup beside her. “Thank you, Detective.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ma’am? She was a generic female who could be anywhere from nineteen to ninety-five? Seriously? She knew he was on duty, but it wouldn’t hurt him to work on his people skills. Honestly, sometimes she wondered why she was attracted to him at all. Except he was pretty cute, and she’d seen him at the bar, chatting up other people and making them laugh. Apparently, he just wasn’t that into her. Well, she wasn’t into being called ma’am.
“You can call me Lani. I’m not crazy about sweetie, honey or babe. But please don’t ever call me ma’am. It’s like nails on a chalkboard.”
“Understood.”
Loud voices suddenly cut through the general celebratory hum of activity. They were coming from the direction where Anderson had just walked. Skip Webster, the jealous cowboy, was arguing with Travis, who was trying to back away. Then the cowboy took a swing when Travis wasn’t looking. Instead of turning the other cheek, his fists came up to retaliate. Anderson stepped between them to defuse the situation. The other man punched him, and Anderson lashed out with a fist, a knee-jerk reaction.
Skip went down then started shouting for help. He spotted Russ and hollered for an immediate arrest.
“I have to go,” Russ said.
Lani had a bad feeling. “What are you going to do?”
“Arrest that guy for assault and battery.”
That guy would be her brother Anderson, and that wasn’t good anytime, but he had a personal legal issue pending. An arrest wouldn’t work in his favor considering he was going to try to get custody of a child he’d just learned he had. Detective Russ Campbell was headed toward that ruckus unless she did something to stop him. Whatever it was had to be loud and immediate.
She heard the water gushing from the middle of the fountain behind her and did the first thing that popped into her mind, which was clearly becoming a habit tonight. She jumped into the water then gasped at the cold liquid soaking the bottom of her skirt. Russ looked at her as if she was nuts then started toward the arguing men. She couldn’t think how else to stop him, so she started belting out “Firework,” her favorite Katy Perry song, which certainly made her more of a spectacle!
Well, good. Anything to help Anderson...
At the same time she smacked the water, sending a wave over the edge that hit Russ’s back. When he turned, she added some dance moves to go with the song.
He walked over and stopped in front of her. “Please come out of there, ma’am.”
Now she was just mad and used both hands to shower him with water. Satisfaction circled through her when he swiped a hand over his wet face, and she sang even louder. Surprisingly, she was enjoying herself.
“Okay, you’ve had your fun.” Russ was using his I’m-the-law voice. “The show here is over.”
But it seemed no one was listening to him. A few people were stopping to see what the disturbance was all about. Lani appreciated her fan club, especially because Russ kept glancing over at her brothers and Skip Webster, who was still demanding justice at the top of his lungs. Officer Campbell was clearly dying to give it to him—at the expense of her brother. She couldn’t let that happen and had to up her game.
“Come on in, the water’s fine.” She waved to the few onlookers who seemed to like the idea of a dip in the fountain.
“Whoa,” Russ said, putting his hands up to warn them off. He sent a glare in her direction. “That’s inciting public disorderliness. If you don’t come out of there voluntarily, I’m going to have to arrest you.” He glanced over his shoulder again.
Lani didn’t much like the idea of going to jail, but better her than Anderson. She didn’t have any legal problems, although that could be about to change.
“I dare you to come in and get me, Detective Dreamy.”
Russ reached out to grab her, and the frown on his face deepened when she backed up and eluded him. “Come on, Lani. Out of the water.”
“You’re not the boss of me.”
“As it happens, I am. I told you already, Gage brought me in for crowd control, what with the wedding and Fourth of July celebrations going on at the same time.” He looked around at the happier-than-normal people scattered throughout the park. “And it was obviously the right call.”
“You look hot under the collar.” Although he wasn’t actually wearing a collared shirt, or technically a uniform. But there was something about his ensemble of choice. The black T-shirt, jeans and boots made him about as hot as a man could get.
“Doesn’t he look hot?” she said to the crowd around the fountain.
“Cool him off,” someone called out.
“Okay.” She sent walls of water at him as hard and fast as she could. Not much connected, though, on account of her keeping her distance so he couldn’t grab her. The physical effort had her staggering, and she almost slipped.
“That does it,” he said impatiently. “I’m arresting you for drunk and disorderly conduct.”
“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Detective.” Until a few minutes ago it was practically the only thing he’d ever said with the possible exception of could you get me a beer.
His expression went from grim to really grim as he stepped over the edge into the fountain. Lani winced at what the water would do to those leather boots. Well, it couldn’t be helped. This was for Anderson. She backed away from the advancing lawman while one person started chanting, “Lani! Lani!”
With the water choppy from their movements, it was hard to dodge him. He was bigger, stronger and faster, so she couldn’t get away indefinitely. But the longer she could keep his attention focused on her, the better.
She backed up a step, and her sandal hit a slick spot on the bottom of the fountain. Down she went, not completely underwater, but enough to soak the top of her dress and ruin her hair. A second later Russ was right there in front of her, holding out a big hand to help her up. She wasn’t sure where the idea came from but at this moment she didn’t really care. After putting her hand in his palm, she yanked forward with all her strength. He was already off balance and fell on top of her.
“Damn it,” he sputtered. “You’re under arrest—”
“So you said.” She brushed the hair out of her face.
He gripped her arm and tugged her up with him when he stood. “You have the right to remain silent but there’s probably a snowball’s chance in hell of that happening.”
He finished with her rights then started walking her out of the fountain. When she slipped again, he swore under his breath before swinging her into his arms. Lani sincerely regretted that fate hadn’t warned her about Russ Campbell picking her up, because she would have lost a few pounds in preparation. Points to him that he made her feel as if she weighed nothing.
After stepping out of the water, he set her down. When she wobbled a bit he asked, “Can you walk?”
“’Course. I’ve been doing it for years.”
“Good.” He curved his fingers around her upper arm and, without another word, started moving.
“Aren’t you going to put the cuffs on me?” she asked sweetly.
His eyes narrowed as he looked down at her. “Are you going to resist arrest?”
“No.”
“Okay, then.” He kept walking and tugged her along with him.
Wow. She was going to the slammer.
For the first time since running into Russ she didn’t say what popped into her head. She didn’t think it would improve his mood if she started singing “Jailhouse Rock.”
* * *
Russ Campbell walked Lani Dalton into the sheriff’s office, his temper rising with every step. This was the last place he needed to be—and she was the last person he should be with.
Her eyes were wide, but she looked more curious than scared. “Wow, I’ve never been in the slammer before. This is kind of exciting.”
Glancing around the room he tried to see the hub of Rust Creek Falls law enforcement through her eyes. It was a big room with a couple of desks, one where the dispatcher sat. The other was for the deputy, although Gage was short one right now. While the sheriff looked for a replacement, Russ filled in when he had time off from his detective job with the Kalispell Police Department. A room off to the right had a closing door, and that’s where the sheriff worked. The place wasn’t especially intimidating, but then again, he’d worked in Denver, where the department was bigger—and so were the problems.
“If you think this is cool, wait until you see the cell.”
“Isn’t there some law against false imprisonment?”
He took her arm and led her through a doorway, where there were two six-by-eight-foot cells. Either she was naturally sassy, putting on a front to hide her nerves, or she was still not sober enough for her situation to sink in. Sink wasn’t the best choice of words after that surprise swim in the fountain. He couldn’t believe he’d let his guard down and should have known better than to let her distract him. But Lani had been a distraction from the first time he saw her.
“This arrest is ridiculous. My father is a lawyer, and I’ll be out of here before my dress dries.”
He figured she was trying to look defiant but with those pretty big brown eyes of hers, she only managed to come across as innocent, and they both knew she wasn’t. The drive over from the park was short, and she was still wet. He was having a devil of a time not staring at the way that bright yellow sundress clung to her small waist and curvy hips. And, dammit, the material was wet, which made it practically transparent. He didn’t need her reminding him about that.
He curled his fingers around the smooth skin of her arm and tried not to think about the fact that he could use another dunking in the fountain to cool off. “Come on. I’ll give you a guided tour of the slammer.”
“I can see it just fine from here.” She stood her ground and looked up at him, wobbling just a little. “Is it really necessary to lock me up?”
“Yes. Between the Fourth of July and that wedding reception, there’s been way too much celebrating going on in this town. I’ve been looking the other way most of the night, but things are starting to get out of hand. My job is to not let that happen.”
“So I’m the lucky one you decided to make an example of. But you don’t really work here in Rust Creek Falls,” she reminded him.
“That’s funny. Gage Christensen pretty much said he was paying me to be on duty. Sounds like work to me.” He gave her his detective glare, the one he used to intimidate people who broke the law. It came more naturally right now, since his jeans were heavy, and water squished in his boots. “Thanks to you, I’m really earning that paycheck tonight.”
“The sheriff wouldn’t have arrested me.” Her tone was defiant. “But you’re not from around here.”
Not one of us, she was saying. That struck a nerve. Before he’d left the Denver Police Department everyone had been avoiding him as if he had the plague. He was treated like an outsider for blowing the whistle on a crooked cop then busted down to patrol. When his career went backward his fiancée dumped him. So much for loyalty—and love.
“I might not live in Rust Creek Falls, but I’m the one with the badge.” He drilled her with a look. “You broke the law on my watch, Lani Dalton.”
Her eyes widened a fraction. “Since when aren’t you calling me ma’am?”
Not using her name was a way to keep his distance, and he’d been trying to do that since the first time he’d seen her. She had long brown hair and creamy skin that tempted a man to touch her. Resisting that temptation tested his willpower under normal circumstances, but nothing about this night was normal.
“Do you know who my father is?”
“You said he’s an attorney, but right this minute I don’t much care.” He walked her through the doorway and into one of the cells then pulled the door shut behind them. The bolt clicked into place and echoed off the bare walls.
She flinched slightly. “So, we’re locked in.”
“No,” he said. “You’re the one locked up, and I’m the cop who has the key in his pocket.”
Her eyebrow rose. “You’re sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“You’re very confident.” Lani shrugged then walked over to the metal-framed bunk. She lifted the sheet covering the thin, plastic mattress. “Wow, five-star accommodations. That looks like a yoga mat.”
“Let me know if it’s comfortable. You’re going to be here awhile.” She wasn’t as far gone as some he’d seen under the influence. In his opinion, she could be left alone, and that was a good thing. Russ didn’t have time to babysit the princess. “It’s nuts out there, and your stunt in the fountain took me away from where I need to be.”
“Lighten up, Detective. Everyone’s just having fun.”
“I don’t think the cowboy who got decked was having such a great time.”
“Oh? I didn’t notice.” She put just a little too much innocence in those words.
“Then you’re the only one in Rust Creek Falls who didn’t. Now I have to go deal with the guy who decked him.”
“You’re not really going to arrest him?” Her bravado slipped for the first time since he’d politely suggested she exit the public fountain.
“Yeah, I am. On the upside, you’ll have some company in here tonight.”
“Seriously, you’re going to leave me alone?”
Apparently, the reality of the situation was sinking in, because some of the spunk finally seemed to drain out of her.
“You’ll be fine.”
“I don’t think so.” She put a shaking hand up to her forehead and swayed on her feet, the color draining from her face. “I’m feeling a little dizzy. I think I might be sick.”
In one stride he was beside her, sliding an arm around her waist. She collapsed against him, clingier than the wet dress. She was deadweight, and her hand clutched him, just below his belt, trying to hang on and keep from falling. He practically carried her to the bunk and settled her on it, sitting beside her.
“Take deep breaths. Put your head between your knees.”
“I’ll fall on my face.” She sat stiffly on the thin, plastic mattress, hands clenched into fists on either side of her, and breathed deeply several times. “I think I’m feeling a little better.”
Russ studied her face and noted the color was returning. “I’ll get you some water.”
“No.” That was a little more emphatic than necessary. “What I mean is, I’m afraid it might come back up.”
“After drinking too much, the best thing you can do is hydrate. And a couple of aspirin wouldn’t hurt, either.”
There was something about her that brought out his protective streak, but he chalked it up to doing his duty. The job he could handle, but being in this small space with Lani Dalton was trouble. There wasn’t enough room for him to avoid the sweet scent of her skin. That made him want to lean in even closer and find out if that sassy, sarcastic mouth of hers would taste as good as he’d been imagining for months now.
Abruptly, he stood and turned his back on her.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
Behind him there was the sound of the plastic mattress creaking as she shifted her weight. He turned, and the innocent expression he’d noted moments ago was back in place. She sat quietly looking at him, hands folded in her lap. Her dress was still wet, and the sight of the thin cotton clinging to her breasts ignited the familiar conflict inside him.
He was really attracted to her but knew that acting on it was a complication he just didn’t need. Not now, not ever. His heart had taken a hit, through and through, and that experience made him determined not to be a fool again. His new philosophy was never trust anyone unless they gave you a reason to. So he’d decided not to get to know Lani Dalton better. And she’d done nothing tonight to make him regret the decision. Although that wet dress was giving his self-control a real workout.
“Okay, I have to go now. Looks like you’re fine.”
“I still feel nauseous. What if I have to throw up?”
“Do what you have to do.” And he would do the same, which meant getting out of here, away from her. “And right now I have to go make rounds and investigate that assault-and-battery incident. I’ll be back before you even know I’m gone.”
“Solitary will be an improvement.” She folded her arms over her chest, trying to look bored.
“Be sure to put that on the customer satisfaction survey.”
But Russ was sure some vulnerability was trickling out. And with that thought he knew it was past time to get the hell away from her. He moved the short distance to the barred door at the same time feeling his jeans pocket for the key. The familiar outline of the metal wasn’t in the usual place so he dug deeper. It wasn’t there. He checked his left pocket then the back ones.
Nothing.
“That’s the damnedest thing.”
“Is there a problem?” She didn’t sound the least bit anxious.
“I don’t have the key.” He met her gaze, waiting for her to mock this turn of events.
Lani held her breath, waiting for Russ to figure out that she’d taken his keys and shoved them under the “yoga mat.” She was feeling very bold for some reason and figured she had nothing to lose. The plan was conceived in desperation, and she didn’t expect to get away with it, but couldn’t think of any other way to stop him from arresting her brother.
“I guess you forgot to put the keys in your pocket. And that’s understandable considering how crazy it is out there. It feels like a horror movie—night of the living party-animal apocalypse.”
One corner of his mouth tilted up, and for a moment she thought he was going to give her one of his adorable smiles. But he seemed to catch himself then pulled his cell phone from a back pocket.
“I’ll just give Gage a call.” He pushed some keys and frowned. “Apparently, water and sensitive electronic devices are incompatible.”
“I’m so sorry.” And she really was. Ruining his phone hadn’t crossed her mind when all she could think about was helping her brother. And the longer Russ was distracted with her, the better it would be for Anderson. So she was kind of glad he couldn’t call the sheriff. “I’ll pay for a new phone,” she offered.
He glared at her. “I don’t suppose you have one that works.”
“I do. Because it’s at home.”
“A likely story.”
“Seriously?” She glanced down at her dress and realized the still-damp cotton made her body half a step from being naked. She should be embarrassed, but that tendency toward boldness was still firing on all cylinders. “I rode to the park with my parents and left my purse at home. And really, if I had one on me, it would be as wet as yours. It would also have to be somewhere a gentleman wouldn’t go looking for it.”
“No one would accuse me of being a gentleman, but you’re right about one thing. There’s no point in searching even if you’re lying.”
“Well, that hurts my feelings.”
“Which part?” he asked.
That she was a liar? Or her body was not interesting enough? “Both.”
But what was that saying about poking an angry bear? Lani had lost count of all the times Russ Campbell had been at the Ace in the Hole with Gage Christensen and never talked to her. She’d asked Gage about him and knew Russ was a detective on the Kalispell Police Department and had moved back to Montana from Denver. No one knew why.
Now she was finally having a conversation with him, but it was about her being deceptive and lacking even a speck of sex appeal. That was disappointing and humiliating in equal parts. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, now there was every reason to believe he really didn’t like her. Well, he was pretty cute, but that didn’t stop her from being a little annoyed with him right now, too.
He sighed. “I just meant that if you had a phone, yours wouldn’t work, either.”
“It’s really not important,” she finally said.
That all-seeing hazel gaze of his narrowed on her. “You’re one cool customer, Lani Dalton.”
“Oh?” Cool as in attractive, intriguing and alluring? Or cool as in nervy and annoying?
“Yeah. I’ve seen women fall apart over being stopped for a speeding ticket, and you don’t seem the least bit upset about the fact that you’ve been arrested and locked up in jail.”
“So are you,” she reminded him.
“But I’m not in legal trouble.”
Okay, he won that round. She wasn’t too worried about the fountain dance, although after tonight probably a notice would be posted on it with a warning to keep out. But destroying his phone and helping herself to the jail cell keys could be a problem. Intellectually, she knew that, but her lovely buzz made it impossible to care.
“I’m not really worried. Ben Dalton is my father. You may have heard he has an excellent legal reputation.”
“Ah.” He nodded, but the tone and his expression hinted at a deep well of sarcasm.
“What does that mean?”
“That you’re the little princess. Rules don’t apply to you because daddy can find a loophole and make it all go away.” He moved back until bumping up against the bars stopped him.
Lani was pretty sure he was staying as far away from her as he could get, and it bummed her more than a little.
“You don’t know my father. Or me.” She didn’t much care about the angry defensiveness in her tone. Russ had gone out of his way not to know her. “He took an oath to uphold the law and wouldn’t compromise his principles. Ever. Not even for one of his children.”
That was the truth and probably why Anderson hadn’t said anything to anyone else in the family about his legal trouble and made her swear not to, either. She’d caught her brother at a weak moment, and he apparently had been feeling the stress of carrying this burden alone. That’s the only reason she knew.
Russ didn’t say anything, but clearly he wasn’t a happy camper. And who could blame him? Her cotton dress was drying faster than his jeans and T-shirt, and those boots were probably dead to him. She should offer to pay for those, too.
“Look, Russ—”
“I should be out there. Gage hired me to help him keep the peace with so much going on today, and now he’s alone.” He started pacing. “There’s no telling when he’ll check in. It might not be until morning what with half the town three sheets to the wind.”
Guilt weighed on Lani. If only she knew that Anderson and Travis had walked away and not escalated the situation, she would confess her sins and take her punishment. But she didn’t know and had to keep up her distraction as long as possible.
“Okay,” she said, “we’re stuck. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. We should talk.”
The look he sent in her direction was ironic. “I suppose it was too much to hope we wouldn’t have to.”
“Are you always this mean or do I just bring out the worst in you?” She met his gaze and refused to look away. “We should get to know each other.”
“That’s really not a good idea—”
“It could be. You have an opinion of me. I have an opinion of you and maybe we’re both wrong. Attitude is everything. Think of it as an opportunity to make a better impression.” She refused to be put off by the stubborn, skeptical expression on his face. “Okay, I’ll start.”
