Page 26 of Call it Reckless

“Umm…”Damn. Who the hell looks that good in a boring khaki uniform shirt?

He looked at my car with an admiring glance and gave a low whistle. “Nice classic. Is it a ’66?”

“Sixty-seven,” I answered. I had to admire a man who knew his cars.

“Bet it handles nice and tight.”

I nodded so hard that my sunglasses slid down my nose. “Oh, it does,” I said, taking them off so he could better see me smile and bat my lashes. I tilted my head, going for the sweetest voice I could manage. “I was just making sure there was no shimmy at higher speeds, you know?”

“And did it?”

I frowned. “Of course not. I tuned the engine myself.”

Reid grinned. “Then I’m sure it’s a dream to drive. License and registration, please.”

I probably resembled a fish the way I gaped at him. I’d fallen for his bait, swallowing the lure and the hook in one swallow. “Oh, come on, Reid. You’re kidding, right? I thought we were friends now.”

“Friends don’t let friends drive recklessly.”

I rolled my eyes. “Funny. Don’t you have something better to do like catch a criminal or something? Maybe paperwork or a doughnut to eat?”

Yeah, okay, Bristol. That might have taken it a little too far.

His eyes narrowed. “As a matter of fact, I do have something better to do than argue with spoiled, reckless women who think they can recapture their teen years without regard to anyone else’s safety.”

“Spoiled?” I sputtered. “I’ve worked hard for everything I have, including this car, which youknowcan handle these roads and the speed. There isn’t anyone for miles out here.”

Blue eyes turned stormy as they glared at me. “What Iknowis the law’s the law, no matter who you are. License and registration, please.”

What? No way.“Look. I promise to never drive like that again.” I tried to conjure up some tears. “It’s just, after everything that happened, I needed to let off some steam.”

He peered at me. “Do you have something in your eye?”

“What? Oh, uh, no.” Damn. That never happened to Cameron when she tried to weasel out of a ticket.

“There’s a new gym that opened up not too long ago. They have some great kickboxing classes. It’s a great way to let off some steam. In the meantime…” He held out his hand and arched an eyebrow.

I thrust the papers in his face while giving him my best scowl. It didn’t appear to bother him. He accepted them and walked back to his vehicle.

Long minutes later—whilenoone drove past us, I might add—he returned to the side of my car.

“You’d think you could give a new resident a break,” I said, glaring at him as he held out my documents plus a ticket. I snatched them from his hand. “A hundred and twenty dollars? You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope. You were going thirty miles over the speed limit. I actually reduced it to just twenty, seeing as howyou’re new and all. You’re welcome. You have thirty days to come down to the courthouse and pay.”

The bastard winked at me. Actually winked. Like some sexy actor on a commercial who was trying to sell me insurance.

I stared straight ahead. “Whatever.” I didn’t care that I sounded like a petulant child.

He leaned toward my car again. This time when he spoke, his tone was gentler, and his eyes were warmer. “Take care of yourself, Bristol. I’d hate to see anything happen to you.”

He tapped the roof of the car and headed back to his SUV. His lights turned off, and he pulled around me, offering a friendly wave.

I waited until he was out of sight, then peeled back onto the road, spinning gravel and dust in an act of defiance before I slowed my speed—and my temper—back to normal.

Reckless, my ass.

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