An Officer and a Maverick. Teresa Southwick

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СКАЧАТЬ 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. СКАЧАТЬ