“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.
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.
“I guess that means you were with a guy?” Lindsay’s brown hair was pulled into a messy ponytail on top of her head. She was wearing boxer-style sleep shorts with SpongeBob SquarePants printed on them and a pink, spaghetti-strapped tank top.
“Define with,” Lani hedged.
“Look, I saw you get out of the sheriff’s car just now. Why did he drive you home? Something is up, and I want to know what it is.”
Her sister’s voice was a little louder, and Lani glanced at the stairs leading to the second floor, where her parents were sleeping. “Shh. You’ll wake Mom and Dad.”
“I’m okay with that.” Lindsay folded her arms