Rebecca Zanetti - Under the Covers

Watchful intelligence filled his eyes as he glanced up. A cop’s eyes. “Why not?”

“I have not had time to find the right one and choose a plan.”

“Interesting.” He slipped the phone into his pocket, turned on the heel of his cowboy boot, and headed for the door. “Be ready at six tomorrow night for the Excel Foundation Fund-raiser in Billings. The drive will take us an hour.”

All tension disappeared from the room as he left. Well, except for the tension at the base of her neck from the phone being silent. It had been ringing for almost a week with nobody on the other side. Surely a bunch of kids just goofing off, but she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that kept her up at night. Well, when erotic images of a nude Quinn weren’t haunting her dreams.

She sagged against the ladder as she forced herself to relax. Yeah, right. Pretending to be the sheriff’s girlfriend would be anything but relaxing. What in the world had she just done?

…

The fund-raiser was located at the Billings Mountain Hotel, and the grand ballroom sparkled like something out of New York. Chandeliers lined the ceiling, and real crystal decorated the tables.

Juliet willed her nerves to stop jumping.

Just inside the main doors, Sophie Lodge grinned and looked her up and down. “You are gorgeous. Now stop being a chicken. I let you drive in with me earlier so you could avoid Quinn, but your time is up.”

Juliet smiled to keep from frowning at her friend. “First of all, we needed to come to the city to choose the music for your showing next month. Then, apparently, you needed to shop like you’d won the lottery.” It had been fun to shop with a friend again. Although her life had been odd, at one time, she’d had friends she’d enjoyed shopping with. Cool, cultured friends who minded their own business.

Not Sophie. Nobody in the town of Mineral Lake minded their own business. Shopping with Sophie had been more like an inquisition into Juliet’s feelings for Quinn.

Sophie flipped her wispy, blond hair over her shoulder. The mass framed her pixie face perfectly. “The menu we chose from the caterer was ideal, too.”

Yes, it was. Unfortunately, the deposit for the food included the last dime Juliet owned. Now she had to go through with the sheriff’s charade no matter what. It was way too late to turn back.

Sophie teetered on her heels. “It was nice of the hotel to let us change in one of the guest rooms.”

The hair prickled on the back of Juliet’s neck. Was somebody watching her? She cased the room, and too many shadows slithered around the corners.

“I really like your dress,” Sophie continued chattering.

For goodness’ sake. Juliet needed to get a grip. Nobody was watching her. She glanced down at the sparkling green dress she’d brought when she moved to Montana. “I think I should’ve worn basic black.”

“Why?” Sophie smoothed her hands over the blue fabric hugging her hips and the very slight baby bump. She’d wanted a fun pregnancy dress, but at only two months pregnant, everything had been too big. Her dress had spaghetti straps, a cinched waist, and great lines. “We work hard and deserve a break. Every woman should sparkle.”

The last thing Juliet wanted to do was stand out. “This was such an incredibly bad idea.”

Sophie shrugged and peered at the crowd. “If you ask me, it was about time Quinn made a move.”

“Your brother-in-law and I are friends. He needed a date, and I said yes.” Maybe she should tell Sophie the whole truth.

“There they are.” Sophie waved.

Juliet turned to spot Quinn standing by Sophie’s husband, Jake, by the far bar. The men were dressed in black suits. She swallowed. The sheriff looked amazing, tough and sleek, in the suit. It was open at the collar and showed a crisp white shirt. Even then, the sense of contained power vibrated around the man. “Oh, my.” Juliet steeled her shoulders.

Sophie nodded vigorously. “I know, right? Those Lodge boys clean up nice. Really nice.”

“I see the honeymoon isn’t over for you.”

“Nope.” Sophie started to lead the way through the crowd. “We’ve been married for a whole month now, and I don’t think the honeymoon will ever be over.”

Happiness all but oozed from the woman, and a pang of want hit Juliet. What would it be like to have a wonderful husband, a family, and a life without fear? “Please tell me I can drive home with you tonight.”

“Nope,” Sophie repeated, tossing a grin over her shoulder. “Jake and I are staying at the hotel. I guess you’ll have to drive back with Quinn.”

Juliet glanced up to discover dark eyes watching her. Her knees trembled, but she gracefully moved between chairs and people on the three-inch heels. While her mother hadn’t taught her much, she had taught her how a lady appeared in public. Whether she liked it or not.

Sophie reached Jake first and was instantly captured in a kiss that belonged in private. Juliet ignored them and kept her focus on the sheriff. “Quinn.”

He clasped his hands at his back. “You look beautiful. Can I touch you yet?”

She grinned, her heart lightening. How did he know just what to say to make her laugh and relax? “No, but I’m glad you remembered the rules.”

He sighed, a woeful frown dancing on his face. “Rules are meant to be broken.”

Boy, did she wish he actually meant those words. “You enforce rules…rather sternly, or so I’ve heard.”

“I believe I’m tough but fair.” He used air quotes on the adjectives, a smile in his voice.

A round man three inches shorter than Juliet breezed around the bar. “Sounds like a campaign slogan, Sheriff Lodge.”

Quinn turned his head and nodded. “Juliet Montgomery, may I introduce Governor Nelson?”

The governor took her hand in his moist one. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“And you, Governor,” she said softly. “Congratulations on getting House Bill 3000 passed. Very impressive.”

His wide chest and even wider belly puffed out. “A beautiful woman who follows politics. You’re a lucky man, Lodge.”

“Yes, I am,” Quinn said, his gaze warm on her.

The lights flickered, and the governor released her hand. “Well, I guess it’s time to sit down for dinner. I need to make a quick phone call and will meet you at our table.” He bustled off.

Quinn stepped close enough for her to smell pine and male, but he didn’t touch her. “HB 300?”

“A new bill allowing Montana residents to trap mountain lions if they’re a threat to livestock.” She shrugged. “I Googled recent bills before heading into town earlier.”

“Googled?” His grin flashed his dimple. “I think I love you.”

Her knees trembled with the need to step back. Even though he was kidding, heat slid through her skin. She smoothed her face into calm lines. “That was easy.”

His dark eyes narrowed. “Did I upset you?”

“Of course not.” Why in the world did he have to be so observant? She had to get away from him. No way could she spend time in his vicinity and keep her secrets. While she hadn’t broken any laws in Montana by using a fake name, she had definitely crossed a line or two. Or maybe having fake identification was a crime. But she hadn’t used it, so did it count? Of course, the laws she’d broken back home would land her in prison, without question. She hoped to any God who listened that Quinn Lodge wouldn’t be the man slamming the steel door shut.

Quinn leaned closer. “What thoughts are flashing so quickly through that pretty head of yours, darlin’?”

She dropped her eyelids to half-mast. “I was just noticing how sexy you are in a suit, Sheriff.” If all else fails, flirt.

“Hmmm.” He gestured toward a round table in the center of the room. “How about we go sit down before I press you to be honest with me?”

Instinctively, she batted her eyelashes. “You’re talking in riddles.” Turning on her high heel, she sauntered through tables and chairs to reach their spot. Her rear end burned from his gaze, and she couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder.

She shouldn’t have looked. He stood, his focus on her bare skin, fire in his eyes.

The sheriff wanted her—and he had no intention of hiding it.

Grabbing a chair back, she stopped moving before she fell on her face. This was going to be a long night.

Quinn waited for the bartender to count his change, his gaze on the woman sitting at their table. He’d settled her in her seat before returning to the bar. They had the white wine she liked, and he wanted her happy.

His brother shot him a grin. “Sorry I couldn’t ride in with you earlier—my hearing today took longer than I thought.”

“No problem.” Quinn had always been damn proud Jake was such a hotshot lawyer.

“I know.” Jake eyed the table. “You and Juliet, huh? Finally?”

“Yes.”

“How?” As usual, Jake went right for the throat.

Quinn dropped a tip in the jar. “I told her I needed a date, in fact, I needed a girlfriend until the election.” Which was the truth. Her sticking by his side would certainly ease the situation with the governor and his niece.

Jake snorted. “Juliet fell for that?”

“So she says.” Quinn couldn’t stop the wry grin. “She required a push, she’s a sweetheart who wants to help, and it seemed to work.”

“Maybe she just doesn’t want to date you. How many times as she turned you down, anyway?”

“Twenty or so.” Quinn lifted a shoulder. “Though she’s interested.” He frowned and accepted the change. “There’s something about her that seems off. Not dangerous, just off.”

Jake took a glass of Scotch and an orange juice from the bartender. “I’d run her.”

Yeah, Quinn had thought about a background check. He grabbed Juliet’s wine and his ginger ale. “I’d rather she told me the truth.”

“I get that.” Jake turned toward the table. “My daughter is thrilled you’re finally out with Juliet because she’s ready for a new aunt.”

Quinn almost spilled the wine. “I like Juliet and think we’ll have some fun. You need to explain things to Leila.” Leila was five years old and way too wise for her years, maybe because her mother had passed away right after she was born. But she’d found a new mama when Jake married Sophie, and now she wanted everyone married and happy.

His brother shrugged. “Sometimes marriage sneaks up on you. Trust me.” He sat next to Sophie and handed her the juice.

Quinn sat down. Nothing sneaked up on him, and he wasn’t the marrying kind. At least, he wouldn’t marry until he stopped being a threat to the people around him. While he had his emotions mostly under control, some nights he awoke from a nightmare, thinking he was in Afghanistan and looking for somebody to hurt. Until reality set back in.

Juliet reached for her Riesling and cut him a quick glance.

Next to her, Amy Nelson chattered on about the summer collection of designer shoes she’d just bought. What was it with women and shoes? She should’ve spent more money on material for a dress. The white one she wore stretched tight against her ample bust and stopped several inches too far away from her knees. Her boobs pushed out the sides and up the top, and she’d probably have bruises from the fabric cutting in. Her uncle, the governor, sat next to her, texting something on his phone. A widower, he’d apparently brought his niece as a date.

Next to him sat Miles Lansing, one of Quinn’s two opponents in the sheriff race. Lansing was a politician, not a cop, and didn’t belong with a gun in his hand. His wife, a brunette with hard eyes and a slinky black dress, sat to his left, her gaze appraising.

Quinn glanced at Juliet again. Her green dress clasped at one shoulder, leaving the other one bare and inviting for his mouth. It cinched at her tiny waist and flared down to her feet. Although the sparkles covered most of her, she was sexy as hell. An Irish sprite in his Montana world. He cock instantly sprang to attention, which was nothing new when Juliet was near. He leaned over to whisper, “You really do look stunning, Juliet.”

A sweet blush rose from her neck up over her porcelain skin.

Sophie’s head jerked, and she raised an eyebrow at Amy, the expression a woman got when she was about to defend a friend. Quinn rolled back the last few minutes of chatter in his mind. Oh. Amy had made a comment about homespun dresses and Juliet’s sparkles. That was a girl insult, right?

He opened his mouth to say something nice about the dress, only to stop when Juliet patted his hand. The innocent touch shot straight to his groin, and he snapped his jaw shut to keep from groaning.