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“Don’t mention cuffs or you’ll get what you asked for.” I didn’t mean to say it, didn’t even realize I’d been thinking it, but man, her anger and even the slap of her hair in my face was nudging me toward a place I rarely went anymore.
I’d closed a lot of doors when I left the force. Switching careers hadn’t been enough. I’d closed down some of my darker urges as well, wanting to see if time away from what had once given me pleasure would help pull off a total system reboot.
Instead, I only craved it more.
She stared at me, worrying her full lower lip between blindingly white teeth. “Are y-you a cop?”
“That’s one guess,” I taunted in a low voice, moving subtly closer. “The other is that I’m your worst nightmare.”
I wanted to see if she shrank back, if some of the fire in her eyes banked. Words like I’d just uttered on a darkened street would make some women run.
Smartwomen.
But hell, I was probably already halfway to a charge of impersonating an officer, once she calmed down enough to realize that yes, I had been trying to flag her down, and no, I wasn’t one of Taylor’s goons. Whoever that was. And whoevershewas that she needed to run away in such an expensive vehicle.
“Do you know who I am?” Her voice was breathless.
Oh, here we go. There was always someone who tried to posture their way out of a ticket. “No, lady, I don’t have the first fucking clue who you are.”
I braced for her ire. Maybe even more of her tears.
What I didnotexpect was for her to shoot me a blinding grin before she flung herself into my arms and attached her mouth to mine.
TWO
PEYTON
I was kissing a stranger.A possibly dangerous stranger. And oh my God, it was even better than I’d ever imagined.
I slung my arms around his neck and slipped my tongue between his lips, tasting something dark and sweet. Coffee. He tasted like a big ol’ cup of java, and while I never would’ve guessed that flavor would set my engine purring, right now itsodid.
He made some sort of noise in his throat, a rumble—of pleasure or warning, I wasn’t sure—so I doubled down and tightened my hold on him, pressing my nipples into his big, brawny chest.
As far as adventures went, I wasn’t doing so badly after one hell of a false start.
“Enough.” His command sliced through me as he pushed me back, nearly sending me toppling to the pavement thanks to my insane boots. He gripped my arms to steady me and ground his teeth together loudly enough to make me shiver. “What the heck is wrong with you, lady?”
He’d called me lady twice so far. I’d only minded once.
Who was I kidding? I didn’t mind anything that flew out of this sexy, hulking stranger’s mouth. And oh, what a mouth it was.
Sculpted lips surrounded by a hint of stubble, white teeth, and a tongue that had given me ten seconds of glory before he shoved me back.
Next time I’d aim for twenty.
“I have a name.” The haughty tone entered my voice without conscious thought. Hearing it, I cursed under my breath. I didn’t want to be that girl any longer. The perfect, untouched woman everyone wanted to keep under glass because I’d made a fortune that way. I was my family’s cash cow—and Bellavia Records too, for that matter—and no one wanted to jeopardize a good thing.
Except me. If I didn’t jeopardize something fast, I was going to lose my mind.
The guy I’d just mouth-mauled gave me a thin smile. “Really? Me too. We’re both kinda special, aren’t we?” With another glance at my Porsche, he shook his head. “This needs to be reported. You had an accident. And those plates need to be run.” He clamped his teeth together again audibly. “The chips will fall where they may.”
“You do know who I am, don’t you? That bit about not being a bodyguard was all just bullshit.” I dragged out my phone from my tiny hip purse. “I’m calling a tow truck and a cab, in that order. Your threats about the police don’t faze me. I’ll pay the fines. You know I’m good for it.”
“Wait.” He gripped my wrist and I let my cell slide back in my purse. “You own that car?”
This guy must be new. If he was following me, how had he missed my trip to Walters Porsche and BMW? I’d been in there for almost an hour. And no, the car wasn’t technically mine, but I’d borrowed it with an option to buy. Theyexpectedme to buy. I was a star after all, and stars on the verge of a downward spiral bought fancy cars and wrecked them just because they were spoiled brats.
Just like I was acting like right now.
