by Lori Wilde
Delaney nodded. “Letitia didn’t want to know any of the details. She just wanted Mad Dog Moore out of her daughter’s life. Permanently.”
Lucy wished she had a can of hair spray handy right now. Industrial strength.
Delaney sighed. “It all went perfectly until you started digging around in the case. I thought I could keep an eye on you.”
“It was you who broke into my apartment,” Lucy surmised.
He shrugged. “That’s what you get for planting phony tips in the newspaper. But now it’s getting too messy. Madison and Gryzynski are involved now, as well as some witness named Lily Vyne. So I guess it’s up to me to start tying up loose ends.”
He pulled a length of clothesline cord out of the back pocket of his slacks. “Good thing I brought some rope.”
Just what she needed. A killer with a sense of humor. “You won’t get away with this.”
“Sure I will. Everybody will think Clarence or Jamie did it.” Delaney snorted. “Besides, the only man who ever came close to catching me was old Captain Holden. He suspected the Protégé Project was a front from the very start. I even went to the trouble of planting drugs in his car to discredit him. But then he conveniently had a heart attack. Of course, I never could have predicted his grandson would confess to the crime.” He laughed, slapping the rope against his knee. “Isn’t that a hoot? The old man never let me out of his sight when I was a rookie. Always hounding me. Passing me up for the big promotions. He didn’t think I deserved to be a cop. Just because I cut a few corners along the way and roughed up a couple of call girls. Big deal.”
Lucy swallowed. Poor Lily. No wonder she didn’t want to come forward.
“Next thing I know, he reports that I’ve got a gambling problem and Internal Affairs is breathing down my neck. So I decided it was time to get even.” Delaney chuckled. “Now the old man’s dead and his grandson’s brought shame on the great Holden name. Talk about poetic justice.”
“You framed Nick,” she said, adrenaline fueling her anger. “Then you framed my big brother.” She threw back her shoulders. “And now I’m going to make you pay.”
“Oooh, I’m scared,” he mocked, laughter shaking the soft belly hanging over his belt. “The big bad librarian is going to get me.”
“You should be scared,” she warned. “Librarians are very resourceful.” Then she flipped on the power switch of the overhead projector in front of her, the intense beam aimed directly at his face.
The bright light blinded him. His gun hand faltered as he brought up his other hand to shield his eyes from the glare.
Lucy ran for the door, making a wide arc around Delaney. She heard his muttered curses as she pulled the door open, then his footsteps behind her as she headed for the locked front entrance. Grabbing a book off the shelf of new releases, she hurled it through the electronic sensor near the front doors, then ran for the rows of towering bookshelves.
A piercing alarm sounded throughout the building. Lucy leaned against the biography section, gasping for breath. She knew the security alarm rang at the police station after library hours. She also knew it would take them at least ten minutes to get here.
“Don’t make me shoot you,” Delaney said, his voice carrying over the stacks. “I was going to go easy on you. Tie you up. Set fire to the building. You’d die of smoke inhalation before the flames ever got to you.”
Lucy edged around the nonfiction section, listening intently. By the sound of his footsteps, he was checking each row. Cautiously checking each row. Score one for the librarian; she’d obviously taught him not to underestimate her.
Unfortunately, the only weapons left in her arsenal were a hairpin and a number two pencil.
“Letitia Beaumont has been itching to build a new library,” Delaney said, his voice uncomfortably close. “Maybe they’ll even call it the Lucy Moore Memorial Library. Got a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
She swallowed the bubble of hysteria in her throat. Was this supposed to tempt her out of hiding?
“This is your last chance, Lucy.”
She could see him now through a small gap in the books on the shelf. Only one row away. He crept nearer, the rope in his hands, his gun still tucked inside his holster—which meant he still didn’t consider her much of a threat.
Librarians just don’t get enough respect.
She braced her hands on the heavy frame of the ten-foot oak bookshelf. He stood directly opposite her now, only the bookshelf between them. His gaze fell on her through the same small gap. Then he smiled.
Lucy pushed with all her might, tipping the shelf far enough for a cascade of books to rain on Delaney. His shouts of pain and anger filled the air as she rounded the bookshelf to make her escape, Delaney right on her heels.
Then she saw Nick standing by the front desk. Her handsome, brave, unarmed hero.
“Nick! I love you!” Lucy shouted, barely avoiding the large rolling book cart in front of him. “Run for it!”
Delaney saw Nick, too, skidding to a stop just before he got within swinging distance. He dropped the rope, reaching for his gun.
“There will be no shooting in the library,” Nick said, ramming the solid wooden book cart into Delaney’s gut. The lieutenant flipped headfirst into the waist-high cart, his gun skidding away harmlessly and his head hitting the bottom of the cart with a resounding thud. His flailing legs stuck straight up as he struggled to right himself.
Lucy picked up an oversize edition of Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary off the front desk and flung it on top of his head. The ten-pound version. Delaney stopped moving.
Nick looked down at her handiwork. “Remind me to look up the word concussion whenever I start underestimating librarians.” He took a closer look at the unconscious man. “Or maybe the words fractured skull.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt him that badly,” Lucy said, frowning down at the still body.
“Forget about him.” Nick slowly drew her to him, wrapping her in his strong, protective arms. “Did you mean it, Lucy? Do you really love me?”
She gazed up into his gray eyes, her throat tight with emotion. She’d never seen him look so vulnerable, so full of hope. “Yes, Nick. I meant it. I love you. Now and forever.”
He hugged her, burying his face in her hair, squeezing her so tightly she couldn’t breathe. And she didn’t care.
A weak groan emanated from the book cart. Nick turned her away from it, still holding her close to him. She could feel his heartbeat melding with her own.
“Don’t worry about Delaney,” he murmured against her ear. “He’ll live. Let’s just hope he doesn’t plead amnesia when it’s time to take the witness stand.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said, pulling away just far enough to smile up at him. “I’ve already got his confession.”
His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“When Delaney showed up in the audiovisual room, I punched the record button on a tape recorder. He thought I was just shutting down the computer.” She took a deep breath as Nick’s strength and warmth flowed into her, slowly thawing the icy fear inside her. “So I kept him talking. I thought if he killed me, at least I could save Melvin. Someone would hear that tape and know the truth.”
“You amaze me,” he whispered, pressing his lips to her hair. Then his mouth sojourned along her jaw, lingering at every point along the way.
“And that’s not all,” she murmured, distracted by his kisses. “Your grandfather didn’t do it.”
His lips stilled on her neck. He pulled away just far enough to gaze into her eyes. “What did you say?”
“I said your grandfather was innocent. Delaney knew your grandfather was onto him, so he planted the drugs in his car. Only, you took the blame instead. I’ve got it all on tape.”
“You’ve got it all on tape?” he repeated, looking completely stunned. “You got it all on tape?”
She nodded. “I keep telling everyone librarians are very resourceful. Why won’t anyone be
lieve me?”
“I believe you,” he declared, lifting her up in his arms and whooping with joy. He twirled her around until she was dizzy, before setting her back on her feet.
“And I love you, Lucy,” he said, proving his point by kissing her senseless. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He grinned. “And then some.”
Lucy melted against him. Dizzy, breathless, and happier than she’d ever been in her life. Only a tiny twinge of doubt remained. “I love you, too, Nick,” she said. “I think I’ve loved you since the night of the stakeout. But are you sure? Absolutely sure? I know I’ve been nothing but trouble for you since the first day we met.”
“You are trouble,” he agreed, his gray eyes shining with passion and promise. “Just the kind of trouble I want in my life.”
The Pine City police station buzzed with the news of the veteran officer gone bad. Luke ushered Nick and Lucy into his office to escape the pandemonium about Lieutenant Ed Delaney’s downfall.
Luke perched on the corner of his desk. “We’re bringing Letitia Beaumont in for questioning, as well as Ralph Rooney and several other members of the Friends of Pine City Association. Looks like they had quite a setup.”
“What about my brother?” Lucy asked.
“Mad Dog Moore and his new attorney have been notified about the new developments in the case. He’ll go before a judge tomorrow morning to have the charges dropped, but that should just be a formality. Then he’ll be a free man.”
“You did it,” Nick said, wrapping his arms around Lucy and pulling her close. “You saved your brother.”
“We did it,” she replied, snuggling against him. “We proved Melvin innocent. And you. Neither one of you is guilty of anything.”
“Except loving you.” Nick kissed the top of her head. “This is the luckiest day of my life. And believe it or not, it’s a Monday.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Or maybe the luckiest day of my life is the day we met.”
“That was a Monday, too,” Lucy reminded him. “And I knew you were the perfect man for the job. The police department was crazy to let you go.”
“It just so happens the police captain agrees with you,” Luke replied.
“What are you saying?” Nick asked, his arm circling Lucy’s waist.
Luke grinned. “Due to the severe shortage of police personnel and the fact that Delaney confessed to framing you a year and a half ago, the captain wants you reinstated on the force. Effective immediately.”
Lucy turned into his arms. “Oh, Nick! How exciting!”
Luke chuckled. “Nick may not agree with you.”
Nick forced his attention from a warm and loving Lucy to his old partner. “Are you kidding? I can’t wait to get back to police work.”
“That’s great,” Luke replied. “Because you’ve already been given an assignment—a suspected embezzlement scheme. And it’s one of those good news, bad news cases.”
“Save the good news for last,” Lucy said, a rosy blush in her cheeks. “I like happy endings.”
Luke nodded. “Okay, the bad news first, then.” He turned to Nick. “You’re going undercover as an employee at Farley’s Fish Hut.”
Nick groaned. “And the good news?”
“You get to wear this really cool cod hat.”
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading Cowboy Cop. If you enjoyed Nick and Lucy’s story, we would so appreciate a review. You have no idea how much it means to us! Blessings to you!
Please look for the next book in the Cowboy Confidential series, Cowboy Protector.
If you’d like to keep up with our latest releases, you can sign up for Lori’s newsletter @ https://loriwilde.com/subscribe/
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To check out other books, you can visit us on the web @ www.loriwilde.com.
Much love and light!
—Lori & Kristin
Did you love Cowboy Cop? Then you should read Keegan by Lori Wilde!
Snowbound at ChristmasThe tall, dark stranger needed Wren Matthew's help--and the shy schoolteacher couldn't turn away a man in distress. She didn't know why Keegan Winslow was out in the middle of an ice storm, but the spirit of the holidays compelled her to open her home to him. And although she'd sworn off men, she couldn't deny the sparks that crackled between them.Keegan was a cop on a mission when sweet, lovely Wren rescued him from the storm. But the haven--and the love--he found in her arms was a happiness he couldn't last. Especially when he couldn't offer her the one thing she wanted: his heart.If you like emotional, heart-tugging, wholesome holiday romance novels, you will love KEEGAN, the 1st book in the Texas Rascals series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Lori Wilde. Buy your copy today!
Read more at Lori Wilde’s site.
Also by Lori Wilde
Cowboy Confidential
Cowboy Cop (Coming Soon)
Handsome Devils
Handsome Rancher
Handsome Boss
Handsome Lawman
Handsome Cowboy
Handsome Hotshot
Handsome Wrangler
Handsome Hero
Handsome Flirt
Heartthrob Hospital
The Thunderbolt
The Jinx
The Hotshot
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Dad by Design
Dad on Demand
Southern Blessings
Her Redeeming Faith (Coming Soon)
Sweet Southern Charmers
Reece
Blake
Boone
Colton
Jared
Texas Rascals
Keegan
Texas Rascals Three Book Collection
Matt
Nick
Kurt
Tucker
Kael
Truman
Brodie
Dan
Rex
Clay
Jonah
Wanderlust Academy
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Watch for more at Lori Wilde’s site.
Also by Kristin Eckhardt
Cowboy Confidential
Cowboy Cop (Coming Soon)
About the Author
Kristin Eckhardt is the author of 49 novels with over two million copies sold worldwide. She is a two-time RITA award winner who loves writing romantic fiction. Her debut novel was made into a television movie called Recipe for Revenge. After earning a degree in Animal Science, Kristin and her husband raised three children on a farm on the Nebraska prairie. Along with writing, she enjoys baking, sewing, and spending time with family and friends.
