Page 13 of Scotch & Shortbread

Alex was quite certain her stubbornness would either get this woman home or to a bloody morgue. It was infuriating watching her. Surely, her feet were frozen.

“Stop,” he commanded.

“What?” she asked, incredulously turning back to face him.

“I’m going to have to have ye come with me.” His voice was deep and deadly serious.

“What? Why?” She was incensed. “Is it illegal now to bump into a cop? Did I hurt you, you…you brick wall!” He shouldn’t be enjoying her fiery insolence, but when this wee woman riled at him, he felt something akin to admiration. The words just tumbled out of her with a force that belied her tipsy state. Remarkably enough, she didn’t seem to have the sense to regret them. Instead, she just scowled at him as if he wasn’t the police officer giving her a direct order.

Alex almost laughed though. He’d been called a lot of things in his career, but no one had ever tried to insult him by calling him a brick wall.

“Let’s go,” he said, putting a strong hand on her upper arm.

“No,” she said, stubbornly trying to pull out of his grip.

“Public drunkenness,” he said, knowing it would piss her off, but also knowing it was his trump card.

She whipped her head to look at him. “That’s ridiculous!” Her deep brown eyes were throwing daggers at him now.

Fuck, she was feisty, but Alex had no intention of letting her walk off in this weather. She’d surely catch her death. Not wanting a sparring match, he chose to be straight with her. “Look lass, I dinnae want to find ye frozen in a snow bank by morn’.”

“So you’re hauling me to the drunk tank?” She bit out furiously.

Alex stopped in his tracks and released his hold on her arm. He sighed as he rubbed his palms against his tired eyes. This lass was going to drive him mad. It was late, and he wanted to get home to bed. The second he’d let go of her, she loped away from him with surprising agility and speed trying to make her escape no doubt.

“Christ, woman,” he growled. “I’ll give ye a ride home, just stop already.”

Pausing mid-stride, she turned back and looked at him. Her gaze assessed him as he stood with his arms crossed over his chest and his legs spread in a wide stance. Alex knew he was a force to be reckoned with, and the lass should be bloody nervous. But it wasn’t fear or nerves he saw in those big brown eyes. It was satisfaction like she’d won an unspoken game.

As if emboldened by the small win, she sauntered back to where he stood, and he couldn’t help watching the sexy sway of her hips. Alex stood stone still as she stopped right in front of him, looking up from under thick long lashes, she bit her full lower lip, and Alex felt blood pump to his cock.

“Better be careful.” Her voice was surprisingly steady. Alex could barely breathe, never mind respond to her. “Sounds like there may be a heart somewhere in there after all." Her gaze dropped to his name tag, and then her brown eyes drew up to his again as she pointedly added, "Sergeant Mackenzie.”

Alex could feel tension gripping his jaw. The comment should have rolled off him—hell, he’d heard far worse. But for some reason, her words pierced something deep beneath the surface. Did she think he was so cold-hearted?

Stepping impossibly close, eyeing him and silently daring him to stop her, she reached up and touched her hand to his chest. Right below his heart thundered, and he was certain she could feel it under his police-issued bomber coat and bulletproof vest. Her slim fingers curled lightly against the fabric of his coat, but he could feel it as if her hand was touching his fiery skin beneath. It was like she was casting a spell on him with the clash of innocence wrapped in desire in the big brown eyes looking up. Those expressive eyes seemed to speak to a part of him he’d long denied. She wanted him to kiss her. He knew it without a shadow of a doubt, and for fuck’s sake, if he didn’t want to oblige her.

The sounds of laughter and music spilled out into the night air as the big wood door to the Purple Deer opened and snapped Alex back to reality. He stepped away from her, glancing towards the door. A couple of guys came out and headed towards the nearby donair shop, thankfully without even glancing their way. Alex let out a breath and straightened his police cap. What in the hell had he been thinking?

What was wrong with him that this lass was getting to him? It made no sense. Where in the hell was his immunity now? She was attractive. Anyone could see that. But she also was so damn obstinate. If he wanted to kiss a lass, it should be one far less troublesome. And one who wore sensible clothing in the cold and didn’t argue with him.

Christ. Perhaps the long hours were taking their toll. It was a good thing his holidays started tomorrow. Well today, he supposed as it was after midnight. Aye, he looked forward to hunkering down in his cottage with Bear and escaping the world for a bit. Getting out of the town, he could ensure he’d not keep running into this damned woman.

“Well, are we going then?” she asked as if she was tired of waiting on him.

Shaking his head unable to believe the gall of the woman, he stepped past her towards his truck. “Come,” he commanded.

This time, thankfully, she didn’t bother to argue.

Opening the back door and gesturing for her to get in, Quinn threw him a look. “I don’t want to go in the back, isn’t that relegated to people you arrest?” She peered in the back seat apprehensively.

“Did ye want me to arrest ye then?”

She shot him a scowl.

“Ms. West, get into the truck,” he said wearily.

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