LITMIR.BIZ

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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

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