Page 29 of The Nanny and the Beefcake
“Let’s go,” the shorter cop said, waving them out. The man had Libby’s bag in his hands.
Ah, evidence.
“Are we getting booked?” he asked, maneuvering his large frame out of the car.
“I don’t know what’s going on with the two of you. It’s bizarre,” the man answered. “I’ve never had anything like this happen before.”
“What does that mean?” Libby asked from the other side of the car as the taller officer unlocked her cuffs. She rubbed her wrist. “Can we go home?”
“No, the chief wants to see you,” the shorter officer answered.
“The police chief wants to see us? Why would he want to do that?” Raz pressed as the cop uncuffed him. He couldn’t make heads or tails about what was happening. Had Briggs come through? Had Rowen preemptively searched the police database for their arrest and overturned it?
“The chief is ashe. And why do people feel the need to hurl sex toys at each other in front of an audience? Your guess is as good as mine, buddy,” the taller cop answered, then gestured for them to enter the precinct.
They walked into the bustling station, and the shorter cop gestured to a bench, then handed Libby her bag. “Have a seat. You can put on your shoes while you wait.”
That’s right. She’d been barefoot this entire time.
She unzipped her bag, then removed her trainers. He leaned back and ran his hands down his face when that flash of red returned.
But this wasn’t a magical hue. No, it was bloody Madelyn Malone. She tossed the scarlet scarf over her shoulder as amusement glittered in her eyes.
What was there to be amused about?
The matchmaker glanced between himself and Libby, busy tying her shoes.
“Erasmus Cress,” Madelyn said, her rich Eastern European accent massaging each syllable of his name. “You’ve beaten me to the punch.”
Libby looked up from tying her laces. “Madelyn?” she uttered, bewilderment woven into the word.
“What do you mean, I’ve beaten you to the punch?”
“I had planned on introducing you to your nanny candidate tomorrow morning,” she replied smoothly.
Did she track him down to a police station to discuss nanny business?
No, there was more to it. There always was with this woman.
“And?” he pressed as electricity thrummed in his veins.
A slow smirk bloomed on Madelyn’s lips. “She’s seated right next to you.”
Five
Erasmus
“Libby Lamb is the nanny candidate?”he shrieked like a schoolgirl.
No way. No bloody way.
He turned to Libby and watched the color drain from her cheeks.
“I don’t know anything about this, Raz. I never agreed to nanny for you.” She flicked her gaze to the nanny matchmaker. “This is the first I’m hearing about it. You never even spoke to me, Madelyn.”
Unbothered, Madelyn smoothed the lone lock of silver that cut through the maze of her dark tumbling curls. “But I did. I emailed you both a few hours ago and proposed the nanny match.”
“You sent us an email? That’s it?” he asked, his tone taking on an accusatory bend.
