Cowboy Cop

by Lori Wilde

  He stood up, tossing his napkin beside his plate. “It’s been great, but I’ve got to go.”

  Vanessa looked at him in surprise. “Go? You can’t just go. You’re bought and paid for. You’re all mine tonight, Nick.”

  “Maybe the Friends of Pine City will give you a refund,” he said as he placed a generous tip on the table.

  Vanessa was still sputtering as he strode out the door of Rawling’s Steakhouse. Part of him felt like a heel for deserting her in the middle of their date, but he didn’t have any choice.

  Lucy was in big trouble. Again.

  Lucy clutched her big handbag against her chest as she huddled against the cold brick wall of the Hanover Building.

  Somehow, going undercover as a call girl wasn’t quite as adventurous as she’d imagined. Teetering on her spiked heels, she looked up and down the shadowed street. So far, she’d gotten three leg cramps, two blisters, and a run in her nylons—but no inside information from the regulars that walked the streets of downtown Pine City.

  She’d expected the women to either ignore her or laugh at her, but not to compete with her. Every time a prospective customer approached, one of the regular girls would sidle over so the guy could do some comparison shopping. Not that Lucy wanted to sell her body—for any price. Which was a good thing, because no one was buying.

  And she was really trying not to take it personally.

  At least her efforts weren’t completely wasted. She’d handed out several bookmarks with the Heritage Library’s address and hours to the women on her corner, recommended books on everything from beauty tips to auto repair, and even invited those who were interested to a library seminar on job training.

  Lester wouldn’t be happy, but then Lester was a bit of a snob. Every time she suggested implementing a literacy program or inviting the kids from Bale Street to the weekly story hour, he’d look at her as if she was crazy.

  Of course, he’d led a sheltered life. At forty-seven, he spent most of his spare time with his collection of cheeses from around the world. Still, she got tired of his constant toadying to the wishes of Mrs. Beaumont and the other members of the Heritage Library Foundation. As library director, Lester needed to remember that the public library belonged to all the citizens of Pine City.

  Lucy stifled a yawn as she glanced at her watch. Fifteen more minutes, then she’d head for home. Maybe she’d try it again tomorrow night.

  A pair of headlights shone in the distance. Lucy’s fingers curled around her handbag. A light-blue Ford Escort had tailed her all the way to Rawling’s Steakhouse earlier this evening, the same car she’d been seeing in her rearview mirror for the past several weeks. But it had never been quite close enough for her to identify the driver.

  The car passed under a streetlight, illuminating the shiny silver exterior. She let out her pent-up breath. It wasn’t the same one. Probably just another nineteen-year-old with twenty dollars to burn. She’d given the last one a lecture on the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and sent him on his way.

  The car slowed as it approached her, the driver anonymous behind the shaded windows. Then it stopped, the whir of the electric window blending with the sounds of the street.

  “Get in the car.”

  Lucy peered through the passenger window. “Nick, is that you? Where did you get the car?”

  “Just get in, Lucy.”

  “You didn’t steal it, did you?”

  He closed his eyes. “Grandma Hattie’s car is in the shop. This is a loaner. Now, get in the car.”

  “How did you find me?” Lucy edged closer. “And what happened to Vanessa?”

  “We aren’t going to discuss this now,” he said, his voice strained. “Get in the car.”

  “I’m fine. Really. There was a little mishap between some rival gang members earlier, but it’s pretty quiet now.” Lucy waved him on. “You’re going to blow my cover. I’ll call you in the morning. We’ll compare notes.”

  He dropped his head forward, banging it lightly against the steering wheel.

  She walked to the curb, leaning into the open window. “Are you all right?”

  He sighed as he lifted his head. “I think I’m having a nervous breakdown.”

  “Well, don’t have it here! I’m trying to flush out a witness—the woman who might be able to identify the real arsonist.”

  “In that outfit, you’ll flush out every pervert in Pine City! Now, are you going to get in this car, or do I have to come after you?”

  She tugged up the low neckline of her costume, a red sequin cocktail dress she’d bought for a New Year’s Eve party ten years ago, but which was now two sizes too small. “I’m trying to blend in.”

  He shook his head in disbelief. “Don’t you realize how dangerous it is out here?”

  “Don’t worry about me,” she said. “I’ve got plenty of hair spray and great instincts. Besides, I grew up in the meanest neighborhood in Pine City. I can take care of myself.”

  Nick got out of the car, circling the front bumper to stand beside her on the sidewalk. “We are not going to argue about this anymore.” He grabbed her elbow. “Now, let’s go.”

  A voluptuous bleached blonde appeared out of the darkness. Her neon-pink hot pants clashed with the orange halter top that stretched across her ample chest.

  “What’s your hurry, darlin’?” she asked, snapping her bubble gum. “How ’bout letting Babette join the party?”

  Lucy whirled out of Nick’s grasp and extended her hand to the prostitute. “Good evening, Babette. I’m Lucy. Have you been working this neighborhood long?”

  Babette’s gaze moved from Nick to the shiny Buick Century. “Long enough to know a big spender when I see one.”

  Nick folded his arms across his chest. “We’re looking for a woman named Daisy, or Chrysanthemum, or…some flower name. Do you know her?”

  Babette ran one long fingernail down the length of his coat sleeve. “Honey, you don’t need to look any further. I’m your woman. You want something from Babette, you just have to ask.”

  “And pay,” Nick said dryly.

  Babette shrugged. “Business is business, darlin’.”

  “That’s what I thought.” He grasped Lucy’s elbow. “Let’s go.”

  Lucy didn’t budge. Her instincts told her Babette knew something. She looked up at Nick. “No, not yet. She might really be able to help us.”

  “Lucy…”

  She squeezed his arm. “Please.”

  With a reluctant sigh, Nick took out his wallet and withdrew a twenty-dollar bill. He handed it to Babette. “Now what do you have to say that’s so important?”

  Babette tucked the bill inside her generous cleavage, then drew out a shiny silver badge. “You’re under arrest, darlin’.”

  “You’re off the hook, Holden,” Luke Rafferty said as he strode into his tiny office at the Pine City police station, “thanks to your friend Lucy.”

  “Lucy is the one who got me into this mess in the first place,” Nick muttered, raking his fingers through his hair. “She’s impossible.”

  Luke grinned. “At last, a woman who can put a few dents in the Holden armor. Sounds like a keeper.”

  Nick scowled at his old friend. “Very funny. Keep it up, Rafferty, and I’ll have her demonstrate some of her self-defense techniques on you. You’ll never be the same again.”

  “Actually, I might take you up on the offer. I’ve always been partial to big brown eyes.”

  “Stay away from her,” Nick barked. Then his tone softened. “She’s a dangerous woman.”

  Luke laughed out loud. “Dangerous? That sweet librarian, who must be all of five foot six? Give me a break, Nick. Just tell me she’s off-limits and I’ll keep my distance.”

  “She’s off-limits.”

  Luke tipped back in his chair, clasping his hands behind his head. “So my old partner has finally taken the fall. Was it love at first sight?”

  Nick frowned. “More like hives at first sight. Love has
nothing to do with me and Lucy. She hired me to do some investigative work. That’s it.”

  Luke smiled. “Right.”

  “If you don’t believe me, just ask her.”

  “I did. She told me your relationship is strictly professional,” Luke said. “And that Babette misunderstood your little transaction.”

  “Babette.” Nick shook his head. “Is that really her name?”

  “Yep. The department’s newest recruit. A good cop, but a little overzealous in her work.”

  “Overzealous?” Nick echoed, rolling one stiff shoulder. “That woman put me in a headlock so fast, I could hear bones cracking. Where did you find her? American Gladiators?”

  “Hey, we had to fill the void somehow after we lost you.”

  A terse silence filled the room.

  “Ready to tell me what really happened eighteen months ago?” Luke asked.

  “That case is closed,” Nick said evenly. “I’d rather talk about the case against Mad Dog. Did you find any fingerprints on that matchbook I gave you?”

  Luke shook his head. “Nope. And it pretty much disintegrated during the testing. So I guess you’re at a dead end.”

  “Maybe not.”

  That got Luke’s attention. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on top of the scratched desktop. “You’ve got a new lead?”

  “I’m working on it.” Nick fingered the new matchbook in his pocket. “Could you do me a favor?”

  “Name it.”

  “Harold and Letitia Beaumont held an anniversary party the same night as the fire. I’d like to see a guest list.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” Then Luke’s brow furrowed. “Are these Beaumonts related to Mad Dog’s old girlfriend?”

  Nick nodded. “Her parents. But Mad Dog wasn’t invited to the party. He and Vanessa had a big blowup about it.”

  “That’s right.” Luke rubbed his chin. “Actually, that plays into his motive. He wanted to impress his rich girlfriend, so he set fire to the warehouse for the insurance money.”

  “Lucy thinks he’s innocent.”

  Luke grinned. “So she’s pretty, sexy, and loyal. A lethal combination. No wonder you’re a lost cause. Does she have a sister?”

  “As I said before, you haven’t changed a bit, Rafferty.”

  “Hey, somebody has to ask the tough questions. Why don’t you and Lucy join me for a beer after my shift is over? I can tell her about the time you chased down a suspect on your horse.”

  “No way. Those days are over for me. I’m playing it safe now. And I certainly don’t need Lucy to get any more crazy ideas. After this last stunt, I’m tempted to lock her inside her apartment and throw away the key.”

  “You don’t approve of her undercover work?”

  Nick stood up and began pacing back and forth across the office. “Approve of her masquerading as a call girl in one of the most crime-ridden sections of Pine City? No, I don’t approve. She could have been assaulted…nabbed…killed.” He swallowed hard. “I don’t even want to think about it.”

  “You want to tell me again how she doesn’t mean anything to you?”

  “It’s not like that,” he explained, trying to understand these odd feelings himself. “I just feel responsible for her. She’s alone, vulnerable, and…”

  “Dangerous?”

  Nick stopped and let out a deep breath. “Extremely.”

  Luke nodded. “I think you may be right, Nick. Lucy Moore may just be the most dangerous woman you’ve ever met.”

  12

  Lucy could sense a lecture coming on, and she just wasn’t in the mood. A full moon glowed in the night sky. A lilting ballad played softly on the car radio as Nick pulled up along the curb in front of her apartment building.

  The roomy front seat of the loaner car reminded her of another car…another front seat…another night alone in the moonlight with Nick.

  And a kiss she couldn’t seem to forget.

  She swallowed a sigh, fingering the bright-red curls of the wig on her lap. She’d scrubbed off all her makeup at the police station and pinned her gaping bodice shut with the safety pin Nick had thrust at her.

  He’d barely said two words to her since the arrest, but she could see his jaw working and knew he couldn’t contain himself much longer. She settled back against the seat, waiting for the lecture to begin.

  “Let’s go,” he snapped, switching off the ignition.

  She blinked. “Where?”

  Nick turned to look at her. “Up to your apartment. We have some things to discuss.”

  She didn’t like the sound of that. And she definitely didn’t want him to see her apartment in its current condition.

  “Come on, Lucy,” he prodded. “I’ve wasted enough time tonight already.”

  “My place is a mess.”

  “I won’t even notice.” He popped the door open and stepped out of the car before she could say another word.

  For an employee, he wasn’t very good at taking orders.

  Lucy dragged herself behind him, all too aware of his loose-hipped stride and the wide breadth of his shoulders. She forced herself to look away.

  Melvin was running out of time; she was running out of money, and Nick was running out of patience.

  The last thing she needed to do was fantasize about the hired help.

  She had to keep her head, because no matter how good he looked in his clothes—or how much better he might look out of them—she still had to face facts. Nick Holden was an ex-con. A dirty cop. A thirty-three-year-old man who lived with his grandmother.

  But he was also a great kisser.

  Unfortunately, that probably wasn’t enough to base a relationship on. Not that he seemed interested in pursuing a relationship with her, or even dating her. Maybe she simply wasn’t his type. Maybe he liked them big and busty, like Babette.

  Or shallow and slinky, like Vanessa.

  “I hope you’re giving some thought to all the trouble you caused tonight,” he said as he held open the door to the apartment building.

  She stopped in the doorway, turning to face him. “Actually, I was wondering what type of woman you find attractive.”

  Nick looked baffled. “What does that have to do with the case?”

  “Nothing. I was just curious.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I think you’re trying to change the subject. We’re talking about the stunt you pulled tonight. The one that almost put me back behind bars, thanks to Babette.”

  “Did you find Babette attractive?”

  “It’s hard to fantasize about a woman when she’s got you upside down in a bone-crunching headlock. I’ll probably have nightmares about her.”

  “What about Vanessa?”

  “Vanessa won’t give me nightmares,” he said, leaning against the open door.

  She swallowed. “She is pretty.”

  “Stunning.”

  “And rich and sexy and skinny,” Lucy muttered.

  “And boring as hell.”

  She blinked. “What? You mean you didn’t fall under the spell of the Wicked Witch of Pine City?”

  Nick shook his head as he followed her inside the building. “She might not be guilty of arson but she could certainly bore a man to death. I could barely stay awake through the meal.”

  “Huh?”

  He scowled down at her when they reached her apartment door. “But then I realized you were off masquerading as a call girl, and I perked right up again.”

  “Vanessa bored you?” she asked, stopping in front of her door and inserting the key into the dead bolt.

  “Right up until the time she dropped the biggest clue of this case into my lap, figuratively speaking.”

  Lucy spun around. “A clue? Really?”

  “Possibly,” he amended. “But I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”

  That was like telling her not to breathe. She threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, Nick. A clue! A real clue? A chance to save Melvin?”

  His arms went arou
nd her.

  Lucy was suddenly very aware of his earthy scent, the long, hard length of his body, and the nearness of his mouth to her own. Her breath quickened. She wanted him to kiss her, to lose control. To make her forget all about her policy against ex-cons.

  They backed away from each other at the same time. Lucy’s heart skipped a beat as she struggled for something to say.

  “I have to go,” Nick announced, his eyes half-lidded and unreadable.

  “Wait a minute.” She reached out to grab his forearm before he could escape. His muscles tensed under her fingertips. “What about the clue? Tell me everything.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  She dropped her hand, staring up at him in disbelief. “You’re not going to tell me?”

  “No.”

  “That’s ridiculous. I have to know.”

  “Why? So you can hatch some new harebrained scheme?” He folded his arms across his chest. “Forget it.”

  She took a deep, calming breath. “But I’ve got a right to know. I’m paying you for information.”

  “You’re paying me to find evidence to clear your brother of arson charges. That’s what I’m doing. And the last thing I need is a lunatic librarian interfering with the case.”

  “Don’t you think ‘lunatic’ is a little extreme?”

  “I was being nice. You’re actually the most dangerous woman I’ve ever met. I’m lucky to still be alive.”

  “You’re exaggerating. And you’re shutting me out of the case because of a few little mishaps.”

  “Mishaps? Lucy, I almost got arrested tonight—for the second time in less than two weeks. You’ve tried to blind me with hair spray. And don’t forget about the peanut butter.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Well, if you’re going to bring up every little incident, I could lodge a few complaints myself.”

  “Such as?”

  “Such as…kissing me the night of the stakeout.” She met his gaze. “I’d hardly call that professional behavior.”

  “As I remember it, you kissed me.”

  “But you kissed me back.”

  He raked a hand through his short dark hair. “I’ve been in prison for the last fifteen months. What did you expect?”