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  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. “Anyway, you look fantastic. Do you still think you’re having a girl?”

  Sophie looked around and then lowered her voice to a whisper. “Actually, I’m almost certain it’s a boy. I don’t know why, but I think so. Which would be cool, because we could name him Nathan, after my uncle.” She all but beamed. “Plus, Leila thinks she’ll have a little brother, and I swear, that kid is psychic sometimes.”

  “True,” Juliet murmured. Leila was Jake’s daughter from a previous marriage, and the six-year-old was definitely precocious.

  Sophie grinned. “You are so good at changing the subject, aren’t you? We were talking about you and my brother-in-law, sheriff hottie.” Sophie waved. “There they are.”

  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,” Juliet said.

  “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 her 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 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 3000?”

  “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.

  Chapter Two

  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 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?” Jake asked.

  “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 six years old and way too wise for her years, maybe because her mother had passed away when she’d been so young. But she’d found a new mama when Jake married Sophie, and now she wanted everyone married and happy.

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

  Quinn sat down. Nothing snuck 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 up from her knees. Her boobs pushed out of 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 he 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 any dream. An Irish sprite in his Montana world. His 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.

  She smiled. “Oh, Amy, you’re so sweet. I bought this at Saks in New York last season. They have the nicest personal shoppers in the designer section. You really must give them a try—they’re masters at helping women choose the, well, the right size for their figures.” She turned toward Sophie. “How is the design for the golf course in North Carolina coming?”

  Delight flashed across Sophie’s pretty face. Quinn had a feeling the delight was due to the smack-on insult Juliet had delivered so classily and not from the question about design, but who the hell knew. Women had a language he’d never fully understood, although Juliet had a couple of levels to her he hadn’t anticipated. Classy, elegant, and tough. She handled the political situation like she’d done so her whole life. But she came from a small town in Idaho, right?

  “I’m almost finished with the practice greens,” Sophie said with a grin. Multitalented, Sophie designed golf courses when she wasn’t painting. Her first art show would be in a month at Juliet’s gallery, and both women seemed to be working hard.

  Amy interrupted Sophie, her blue eyes flashing sparks. “When were you in New York, Juliet?”

  Juliet took a sip of her wine. “Last year. Every once in a while, I like to visit the galleries in the city to see what’s new just so our Western art is up to speed at my gallery.”

  Her hand shook slightly as she set her glass down. Most people wouldn’t have noticed.

  Quinn Lodge wasn’t most people. The woman lied. Why?

  He glanced at his brother to see if Jake had noticed, but Jack was busy tracing Sophie’s knuckles with his fingers. Damn newlywed. “Jake, how did your hearing go today?” Quinn asked.

  Jake lifted his gaze, his expression knowing. Oh yeah, he’d noticed Juliet’s discomfort. “Fine. The hearing was a status one regarding an upcoming trial. Not nearly as interesting as a good election fight.”

  “Speaking of campaigning”—Miles looked down his patrician nose—“I find it odd Bennington isn’t here tonight.”

  The governor shrugged. “Perhaps he’s not as serious about running for sheriff as the two of you.” Faded eyes appraising, the governor surveyed the room.

  “He’s probably busy running his ranch,” Quinn said smoothly. He liked Bennington, but the guy had a fierce temper and shouldn’t carry a gun or badge. He should stick to his ranch and the wildness surrounding them all.

  “Bennington doesn’t have much backing.” Miles leaned forward. “I’ve heard the Kooskia Tribe doesn’t support him. Frankly, the tribe only supports its own.”

  Quinn smiled. “The tribe supports the best person for the job, regardless of tribal affiliations. Always has, always will.” Right now, the Kooskia Tribe backed him, and he liked to think it was because he did a fine job. Though he was self-aware enough to know it probably didn’t hurt that he was a tribal member and his grandfather the chief.

  Miles rubbed his Rolex. “I’m sure you could always get a job with the tribal police force.”

  “I’m sure I could.” Quinn met the man’s gaze evenly. “I like collaborating with them and still policing the entire county.”

  Mile’s quick smile promised fierce competition. “Interesting.”

  Juliet smoothed out her napkin. “Miles, what experience do you have in law enforcement?”

  Warmth flooded through Quinn. The pretty redhead had just defended him.

  Miles cleared his throat. “I’m more of a financial leader, which we need in the county. Not every sheriff needs to swagger around and shoot people.”

  Jake snorted. “Have you been swaggering and shooting people again, Quinn?”

  “I guess so. Don’t tell Mom.” Quinn slid his arm around Juliet’s chair, careful not to touch. Something in him wanted to tuck her close and hold tight.

  Dinner passed quickly and included veiled insults from Amy, classy counters by Juliet, and threats from Lansing about how new blood was needed in the sheriff’s office. By the time the waiter removed their dessert plates, Quinn’s temples pounded.

  Sophie nudged him. “I can’t believe you’re not drinking,” she whispered.

  He could use a Scotch. Or three shots of tequila. “I’m driving Juliet home, and I’m on call tonight.” Several deputies were out with the flu going around town, and he needed to be alert.

  “Bummer.” Sophie took a healthy gulp of her orange juice.

  Sometimes Quinn wanted to drop his sister-in-law in the lake. At her impish grin, he smiled back. Nah. He adored the pixie-sized smart-ass.

  An orchestra in the corner started playing softly, and he pushed away from the table, glad for the reprieve. “Juliet? Let’s stretch our legs. Please excuse us, folks.”

  “I’d love to, Sheriff.” She rose from the table, all grace, all beauty, and smiled at the group at large. “Thank you for a wonderful dinner. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

  The governor patted his round belly. “We’ll see you Saturday at the charity ride? It’s for the boys group outside of Missoula and is so important to our constituents.”

  “We’ll be there,” Miles Lansing said, a smirk on his lips.

  Quinn forced a smile. “Juliet and I wouldn’t miss it. See you then.”

  They needed to get away from the table. Quinn followed her as she all but glided around tables and people to a quiet area by the bar. Tall and curvy, she moved with an intriguing elegance. Her backless dress revealed a sexy spine right down to her tiny waist. Damn, he loved backless dresses. His fingers itched with the need to touch her silky skin, but he’d made a promise.

  Juliet stopped, turned, and rested against a three-foot-wide wooden pillar. “Well, dinner was interesting.”

  His shoulders relaxed for
the first time all evening. “Do you understand why I didn’t want to escort the governor’s niece?”

  “Yes. I can’t believe you dated her.” Juliet’s eyes glowed like emeralds in the soft lighting.

  “Me either.” He glanced over his shoulder to catch their table watching him. He focused back at the stunning woman within his reach. “They’re watching us. How about a kiss to convince them we’re truly together?”

  “We’re not.” Pink wandered across her high cheekbones. She’d worn her dark red hair up in a sophisticated twist he wanted to tangle. “There’s nothing between us, Sheriff. You need to know that.”

  He loved a good challenge, so he stepped close enough to smell citrus and woman. “I disagree. There’s a lot between us, Juliet. Now, how about my kiss?”

  …

  Juliet had sipped just enough wine, dealt with just enough snide comments from Amy, and fought off enough attraction to the sheriff to pick up the challenge. All night she’d been aware of the heat pouring off the man and of every contained move he made. “You think you can kiss me without touching me?”

  “I didn’t promise not to touch you. I promised to keep my hands off you.” Dare, with more than a hint of male, glittered in his eyes. “One kiss to convince people around us that we’re together…and to convince me that you’re not interested in me.”

  She pressed her palms and her back against the smooth wood. For so long, she’d been afraid to date. Most men turned tail and ran when they got to know her. Quinn would never get the chance to run because she’d run first. So why not accept the sexy promise in his challenge? Freedom flushed through her. “All right. Let’s see what you’ve got, Sheriff.”

  His eyes darkened to a dangerous hue. Slowly, keeping her gaze, he put both hands on the pillar on either side of her head, effectively caging her.

  The breath caught in her throat. Desire hummed awake in her abdomen. The world silenced around her, narrowing to the man suddenly in her space.

  He leaned forward until his lips hovered over hers. “Close your eyes.” The words brushed against her skin in a soft but unmistakable order.