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“No.”
“Then how are you qualified to endorse marriage?”
“There’s a lot to be said for it.” He hoped that didn’t sound as lame as he thought, especially because it didn’t really answer the question. He just kind of liked the way her eyes flashed when she was annoyed. It made the green and gold flecks stand out, warm colors that hinted at the fire inside.
“Like what?” she demanded.
“Well...” He thought for several moments. “Having someone waiting for you at the end of the day.” He’d missed that when Alexis walked out on him. “Someone there to listen to you bellyache about the bad stuff. And celebrate the good.”
“I have girlfriends for that.” She slid a little closer, practically quivering with indignation. “Frankly, I don’t get the appeal of being with one person for the rest of your life. Guys just stand you up. Make promises they don’t intend to keep. I mean, seriously? The very expression—tying the knot. Sounds an awful lot like a noose around your neck.”
“You said yourself that marriage is working for your brother and sister,” he challenged.
“Yeah, well, those two always were the black sheep of the family. Who wants to be tied down? Take the plunge? Think about that. Every expression referring to wedded bliss has a negative connotation. And I don’t think I’d like having to answer to someone else when I want to come and go.”
If that’s what she wanted, why should it bother him? And that, in a nutshell, was the damn problem. It did bother him. The idea of her playing the field seemed wrong. When confronted with right and wrong, wrong tweaked his temper every time.
“You know what?” he said. “Forget I mentioned it.”
She rolled her eyes. “How come your badge is all bent out of shape? You brought it up.”
“No, you did,” he reminded her. “Asking about my family and telling me about yours.”
“I thought most guys wanted to be bachelors, but you’re the one pushing the perks of matrimony. I disagree with everything you said, and now you’re crabby—” She stopped. “Make that more crabby.”
She was full of intensity and obviously capable of strong feelings. More than his next breath he wanted to hold all that passion in his arms. And every rational part of his brain not drenched in testosterone was telling him to move as far away from her as he could get. The problem was the locked door meant he couldn’t go anywhere. Shutting down this conversation was his only choice.
“You are absolutely right. Being on my own is good. I like being on my own.” His face was only inches from hers. “The best thing about my life is not having any commitments.”
“A girl could get a serious case of whiplash the way you change your mind. Just what makes you so happy about not being committed?”
Before Russ even knew what was happening, he closed the small distance between them. “Because if I were committed, I couldn’t do this.”
He hadn’t planned to kiss her, didn’t know he was going to until his lips touched hers. But once it happened, he couldn’t seem to stop. She had, without a doubt, the sweetest mouth he’d ever tasted. He cupped her smooth, soft cheek in his hand, ready to go wherever she would take him. Her sigh of contentment said she’d take him somewhere special, make him forget where they were.
That thought was like getting a bucket of ice water dumped over his head. They were in jail, dammit. With an effort, he pulled back and dropped his hand. “I’m sorry. That was wrong.”
Lani blinked at him, trying to focus her fuzzy brain. “Why?”
“I’m an officer of the law. Using a position of power to take advantage of you is the very definition of sexual harassment. You have every right to be upset.”
Upset? Lani wasn’t the least bit upset. He’d finally noticed her! He’d kissed her and it felt really, really good. She wanted him to notice her some more. “I’m not upset.”
“Well, I wouldn’t blame you if you added sexual harassment to that false imprisonment complaint.”
“Why did you really stop?” She slid closer, until their thighs were touching, and her arm brushed his. The heat of just that small contact threatened to make her go up in flames.
“I’ve sworn to uphold the law. There are rules.” His voice was ragged, and he was breathing hard.
So was she. And right this moment she didn’t give a flying fig about rules.
“Maybe rules were made to be broken.” She searched his eyes for a moment and then leaned in and kissed him.
She felt his hesitation and heard him make a sound that was somewhere between a groan and a curse. Suddenly, he was kissing her back, touching her everywhere, and she was tugging the shirt from his waistband. All she could think about was getting closer. The sound of their ragged breathing filled the small space.
“Damn it. I don’t have protection.” Frustration snapped in his voice.
“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m on the pill.”
“Oh, thank God.”
He slid her dress up to her waist then yanked his shirt off and lowered his jeans. She couldn’t believe that he wanted her as much as she did him. Still, it seemed they’d been heading toward this since the moment he’d scooped her into his arms earlier. Never taking his mouth from hers, he gently lowered her to the mattress and slid her panties off. He ran his hand down her side, letting his fingers graze her breast. Everywhere he touched she caught fire, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
“Lani, I want you.” The words were hardly more than a breath against her lips.
All she could say was yes and that was all he needed to hear. When he tenderly and carefully entered her, she wrapped her legs around his waist. With every stroke he took her higher until pleasure exploded through her and she cried out from the sheer power of the feelings.
“Lani—” A groan cut off his words, and he went still then found his own release.
Their breathing slowed and returned to normal, the only sound in the small cell. Cuddled up to Russ, being held in his strong arms, made Lani decide that getting arrested wasn’t so bad, after all. She wasn’t sure what she’d been drinking at the wedding reception, but something had lowered her inhibitions and let her go for it.
And suddenly she was really sleepy and found her eyes sliding shut.
She wasn’t sure how long she dozed, but sometime later she felt him move.
“My arm is numb.”
Lani blinked her eyes open at the sound of the deep voice. It took her several moments to realize where she was. And what she’d done. What they’d done, right here in the cell. And he’d let her sleep, long enough for his arm to go numb. That was awfully sweet.
“We better get dressed.” Without waiting for a response, Russ rolled away from her and off the bunk. He picked up her panties and handed them to her. Then turned his back while she righted her clothes.
“Thanks.” Although he was correct that they should dress, she missed the warmth of his arms around her, his body pressed to hers. And he’d gone back to the good-looking guy who didn’t notice her.
A little while ago they’d been as intimate as a man and woman could be, but now he wouldn’t even look at her, and you could cut the awkwardness with a dull knife. She straightened her dress then stared at the bars. If they weren’t locked in, she could quietly slip away, but any walk of shame was limited to a six-by-eight-foot cell.
“I feel as if I should say that this isn’t something I normally do.” Russ met her gaze.
“Me, either.”
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You look kind of—I don’t know.” His mouth thinned to a straight line, clearly regretting what happened. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She shook her head. An apology implied what they’d done was wrong, and she refused to believe that. The responsibility for them being in this situation was hers, and she had to confess. “Look, I need to tell you something—”
He held up his hand to stop her. “I know what you’re going to say. I guess technically it’s morning and you hate yourself.”
“No, I—”
The outer door opened and slammed closed. “Russ? You in here?”
“Back here,” he called. There was a grim look on his face. Probably because he was about to face his boss and explain how he got locked in here.
Gage appeared in the doorway and did a double take when he saw them in the cell. “What the hell?”
“Boy, am I glad to see you.” Russ dragged his fingers through his hair.
“You want to explain to me what’s going on here?” the sheriff asked.
“Not really. But I guess you should know, since you’re the boss.” Russ took a deep breath. “I lost the key.”
A wry look settled on Gage’s face. “I’m not a detective like you, but I sort of figured that out. It’s the part where you’re in the cell with Lani Dalton that could use some kind of explanation.”
“I arrested her for creating a public disturbance.”
“It’s true,” said Lani, looking as apologetic as possible—and truthfully, she felt pretty bad at the moment. At least, about nearly getting caught doing the deed with Russ. She’d only meant to stop him from arresting her brother, not get him in trouble altogether! “I was dancing in the park fountain. And I pulled him in. I swear I didn’t have liquor. Not really. They’d said that punch was only sparkling wine, but punch was sure the right word for the wallop it gave me—”
“This is my responsibility—” Russ’s voice was clipped.
She felt the least she could do was come to his defense, since this was all her fault. But he gave her a don’t-do-me-any-favors glare that kept her silent.
“Be that as it may,” Gage said, “Russ, I’d like to know why you were on that side of the barred door when it automatically closed.”
“Lani—the prisoner—was anxious about being left alone. And argumentative.”
“You couldn’t have calmed her down and argued with her while standing over here?” Shaking his head, Gage put a hand on the barred door in question. “Rookie mistake.”
“How long before I live this down?” Russ asked.
“Hard to say. Could take on legend status,” the sheriff told him, grinning. He inserted the key, and the lock opened with a loud click. “Good thing I have another set of keys or you’d be stuck in there a whole lot longer.”
Lani was okay with that, but one look at Russ told her that one minute more than necessary in here with her was about as appealing as brain surgery with a chain saw. When the door slid wide, Russ walked out and Lani started to follow him. He stopped, and she ran into his broad back.
“Not so fast.” He turned and looked down at her. “In case it slipped your mind, I arrested you.”
It kind of had slipped her mind, what with having sex in the slammer. She may have locked them in, but he’d started that. All things considered, the park incident felt like years instead of hours ago, and her head was starting to pound.
“Let her go, Russ.” Gage rested his hands on his hips. “Given the way this night has gone, her behavior is small potatoes. Sometimes you can pick and choose which hill to die on, and this is one of those times. She’s not a hardened criminal, and it was nothing more than mischief. You and I have more important things to deal with right now.”
Russ looked at the sheriff for several moments then nodded. “Whatever you say.”
“Do you need a ride home, Lani?” Gage asked.
“No.” She was already feeling guilty for taking up law enforcement time on false pretenses.
“Okay, then. Don’t get into any more trouble and make me regret cutting you some slack.” Gage gave her the intimidating lawman look that was becoming familiar tonight.
She saluted. “Yes, sir.”
Gage grinned again then turned and walked out, leaving them alone on the free side of the cell door. Lani was feeling equally happy to be sprung and guilty for what she’d done. Even though protecting her brother was a sound enough reason as far as she was concerned. But all of a sudden it seemed very important that Russ not think too badly of her.
She cleared her throat. “Russ, I just want to say—”
“Not now, Lani. I’ve got work to do. And first I have to make sure you get home okay.”
He walked her to the door of the sheriff’s office then opened it and waited for her to go outside. When she did, he let the automatic locking door close behind them then moved to the sheriff’s cruiser parked at the curb and opened the rear door. She had no choice but to get in.
Shouldn’t she feel better about this reprieve? About this get-out-of-jail-free card? She probably would except that she felt guilty, and Russ refused to even look at her.
So nothing had changed. He was back to ignoring her.
Chapter Three (#ulink_b471979e-422b-5473-bcb8-a9a7c9c79d6b)
When Russ pulled the sheriff’s department cruiser to a stop in front of her house, Lani opened the rear door. It was a short ride from the office, but he hadn’t said a word to her the whole time. The overhead light revealed the tension tightening his jaw.
“Can you get inside by yourself?” he asked.
She almost winced at the curt, cold tone. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“There might not be anyone home. You don’t have a purse and that means no keys.”
Guilt swept through her, and she wished for another cup of wedding reception punch and whatever magical ingredient had made her bold and fearless. She didn’t feel that way now.
“I can get in. Thanks.” She met his gaze. “Look, Russ, let me just say—”
“Please close the door, Lani.”
“Okay. I’m sorry. Good night.” Empty words because she knew his night had already been anything but good. Thanks to her. But the next time she saw him at the Ace in the Hole, she would buy him a beer and not let him ignore her. “I appreciate you bringing me home.”
She got out, shut the cruiser door then watched until the red taillights disappeared when he turned the corner. One glance at the house’s dark windows told her that her parents and sister were in bed, which was a big relief. There might just be a chance that her fountain performance would slide by under the Dalton family radar.
Her parents kept an emergency house key hidden in the backyard under one of the bricks that lined the patio. She retrieved it and let herself in the French door to the family room. Moving quietly through the shadowy interior toward the kitchen, she saw the microwave’s green digital readout of the time. Holy cow, how did it get to be so late?
Apparently, time really did fly when one was having fun. And she really had been—between the time she’d gotten Russ talking about himself and the moment he’d frozen her out after making love to her. Probably she should feel remorse about being “easy” but couldn’t muster it. What happened had really meant something to her but now, thinking about being in his arms, the experience seemed surreal, as if she’d been dreaming.
It was good she wouldn’t have to face her family right now. She’d have time for her head to clear and sort out what went down before seeing anyone.
Suddenly, she heard the click of a light switch and lights blazed on.
“Where in the world have you been?” Her sister, Lindsay, was standing at the bottom of the stairs where the kitchen, family room and front hall all came together.
Startled, Lani let out a screech. “Dear God, you scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry.” Her sister didn’t sound sorry. She sounded irritated and anxious. “I heard noises and came down to check it out.”
“Why are you still up?”
“Couldn’t sleep. I was worried. In the park I looked everywhere for you. We were supposed to meet after the fireworks and come home together.”
“Unless one of us hooked up, remember?” When they’d discussed the plan, Lani had added that but was joking. She wasn’t psychic and never in the world could have predicted she would hook up with Russ.
