Page 93 of Fall to Me
“What are you doing, Kitten?”
She plucks her lip gloss out of her purse along with her license and insurance card.
“What does it look like? I’m getting out of this ticket,” she snarls, running the gloss along her lips.
Chuckling, I reach over and pull the bottom of her dress down so she doesn’t flash the officer, then sit back in my seat to watch the show. The officer, who looks to be about my age, steps out of his car and approaches our vehicle.
“Ma’am, do you know why I pulled you over?”
“Get on your knees and open this pretty fucking mouth . . .”
And this. This is where it gets interesting . . .
She turns the brightest shade of red and hides her face behind her hands.
The officer bends down and looks at me through the open window.
“That wasn’t me officer,” I say, holding up one hand and pointing to the radio with the other. “My wife . . . she likes to listen to these . . . these . . . what’s this called again, baby?”
“Audiobook. It’s called an audiobook,” she grinds out through gritted teeth as the moaning persists.
“Oh yeah. An ‘audiobook’.” I use air quotes. “I call it audio-porn. Anyway, we were arguing over if this book had plot or not, and she justhaaadto prove to me that it did. I couldn’t get her to turn the damn thing down . . . as if a higher volume would help me to better hear the plot.” I give a dramatic roll of my eyes.
River’s jaw drops, and she whips her head my way, cutting me the most scathing look.
“My wife listens to those too.” The officer laughs. “But they get mad at us for watching the equivalent to what they’re listening to.”
“Right?” I retort, throwing my hands up as Rivers head swivels back and forth between us. “Completely unfair.”
“Wait. I know who you are. You’re Carter Graham. Man, that game last night sure made me proud to be a New Yorker.” He laughs again. “You’re out here almost breaking records and here she is . . . breaking the law.”
“Sorry,” she clips.
“Mind if I get your autograph?”
River passes me his notepad. I grab a pen out of her console and write a little message for him, sign it, then lean over, stretching my arm out to hand the notepad back.
“Thanks. I’ll go ahead and let you off with a warning, Mrs. Graham, but slow it down.”
“Yes sir.”
When the officer returns to his car, I mute the audiobook, and she smacks me in the chest. “I swear to all that’s holy, Carter . . . I’m going to rain down hellfire on your fucking ass.”
I wink and smile from ear to ear. “Can’t wait, baby.”
Twenty-Nine
River
Passing by the bouncers at the door, I tug on Carter’s hand, leading the way as we walk into the Sapphire Lounge. I planned this little shindig to celebrate the best game of his career. Security follows behind us, and I have to admit, I do feel safer with them here. There’s no urge to hide. I’m not scoping out the place. And it doesn’t feel like there’s a panic attack on the horizon. I can focus my attention on Carter.
His face lights up when he sees all of our friends in the VIP section, and he tugs on my hand, spinning me to him. My chest bumps against his, and he leans down so I can hear him over the music.
“You did this?”
“I’m proud of you. You deserve to be celebrated.”
Carter presses his fist to his mouth and turns his head to look away for a few seconds. Then, as he tries to collect himself, tilts his head back and releases a deep breath. Seeing him this overwhelmed with emotion brings tears to my eyes.
