Page 2 of Tripp in Love

He knocked on her window while she searched the glove compartment again. She peered at him, but his gaze was lowered to her skirt, which had hiked half-way up to her snatch. She’d intended to wear tights with the piece, but inside the car, she always got overheated. Now her legs were exposed. Did she dare use the sexy woman card to get out of being hauled off to jail for driving without a license? She better try something that was for sure.

Straightening, she lowered the window. “Hello, officer,” she said in an almost unintentional breathy tone.

“Ma’am, you mind cutting your engine?” The question was more of a command. She did as he asked and sat back. She didn’t have to look to know that her silk blouse was undone by a few buttons, showing off her cleavage. The officer might not be into black women, but he might not mind the view just for the sake of it. He cleared his throat. “Do you know how fast you were going?”

“I’m sorry.” She looked directly into his face for the first time and had to catch her breath. Okay, now she was at a loss. The man was gorgeous. His eyes were light blue, framed by thick, dark lashes that matched his full head of wild curls. Although his cheeks were red, no doubt from slipping in and out of his car into the cold February weather, the color only enhanced his strong jawline, straight nose, and thick, kissable lips.

He wore full policeman regalia, including the CB hanging from his shoulder on his coat. The big chest and gun at his hip added to the sense of power she felt from him. Her breath came in quick spurts, and she couldn’t think of what to say to charm him. Come on, Toya, get it together, girl. You have men eating out of your palm all the time at work.

“License and registration,” he intoned, seemingly unmoved by her appearance. She didn’t think she was drop-dead gorgeous, but she was no joke either. She kept herself in reasonable shape, with a few extra pounds. But getting hit on all the time told her men found her attractive—black and white. Was this man dead or what?

She offered him her best pout, which resulted in a frown from him. “I kind of…forgot it,” she said.

He took one step back. “You want to step out of the car, ma’am.”

She grunted. “Really? You have to keep calling me ma’am?”

His eyebrows went up, and she muttered an apology as she stepped out of the car. Never in her life had she been arrested, and now she was about to. To her embarrassment, tears started in her eyes and a slight tremor shook her body. That was just great, she was going to cry, and she hadn’t meant to. Besides, they wouldn’t work on him anyway. He was immune. Or gay.

“I didn’t mean to come without it, trust me. I can’t believe I forgot. I’m from New York, and I’m down here for my brother’s funeral. I have to stay in a hotel, so I didn’t intend to come without my ID or credit cards.”

With that little speech, the corner of his mouth turned up, and his disbelief was obvious. “You expect me to accept that you were speeding to a funeral?”

Keeping control of her temper was an effort. “No, I admit I was speeding, and I am on my way to my brother’s funeral. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”

His gaze swept her from head to foot now that she stood beside her car. Toya tried not to fidget under his glare. She’d righted her skirt, but it hardly covered more of her thighs than when sitting, and her boots were “fuck me” high. She liked them like that in the winter, especially stretching over her knees and a small way up her thighs.

“You’re not too good at using what you have to get out of trouble, are you?”

Toya’s jaw dropped. The first time he unbends from the hard cop routine, and he insults her. She tossed her hands on her hips. “Excuse me?”

He pointed his chin at her. “The attitude. One minute you’re all soft and delicate, the next you look like you want to scratch my eyes out. Which is the real you?”

“For your information, I’m always real. Now if you’re going to arrest me, do it. Otherwise, let me go.”

The step he took closer to her made her stumble back. That’s when she saw for the first time how much taller he was. He towered above her even in her highest heels. But then she noticed the front of his pants. Okay, yeah, he was interested all right. No man could hide that.

“Whose funeral?” he demanded. She had the feeling he knew she’d seen the hard-on. “What’s the name?”

“Lorn Foster.”

The recognition of her brother’s name flashed in his eyes to be replaced by doubt. He frowned. “Let’s not play games, ma’am—”

“Again with the ma’am stuff? My name is Toya Foster, and Lorn is my brother. I can tell by your attitude that you don’t believe me. We have different mothers. Both my parents are black, and his mother is white. Lorn took after his mother. It’s not impossible. It happened. Whatever.”

“Since you don’t have ID, I’m going to have to take you in. Your car will be impounded.”

All sense of pride left to be replaced with self-preservation. She grabbed hold of his coat and pressed closer without thinking. “Please, please, you can’t arrest me. I’ve never gone to jail in my life. I’ve never even had a ticket. I have to go to my brother’s funeral. Can’t you just let me off with a warning? I promise to be out of your hair by the end of the weekend.”

He covered her hands, but he made no move to pull them off of his coat or push her away. “Even if I did that, one of my fellow officers could pick you up later. I have a feeling you like power and speed.” He didn’t even blink at what he insinuated. “It’s better for me to take you in now, and maybe we can make arrangements down at the precinct.”

She blinked back tears and let him go. “Fine, but I’m talking to your superior about sexual harassment.”

“Really?” His gaze swept her and then her car

. The vehicle had been a congratulatory gift to herself for landing a promotion with a fat raise. The way she dressed and carried herself, along with her car, no one would go for the story that he tried taking advantage of her. And the fact was she was still driving without a license. Damn.

“Okay, fine.” She closed her eyes and held out her wrists waiting for him to cuff them.

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