Page 2 of Hello Tease

“Ma’am, do you know how fast you were going?” he asked, all stern voice, aviator glasses giving nothing away.

“I’m so sorry,” I said quickly. “I’m running late to pick up my kids from their babysitter’s. I really can’t be late. Is there any chance you’d let me go if I promise to drive the speed limit from here on out?” I may not have been as cute as I once was, but I batted my eyes in what I hoped would be an effective display of outright begging.

He lifted his aviators, revealing a set of deep blue eyes and long dark lashes that would have taken my breath away if it weren’t for the outright skepticism in his pursed lips and arched eyebrows.

Looking pointedly at my back seat, he said, “If you have kids at daycare, where are their booster seats?”

Did he think I waslying? Why would I drive this vehicle if I didn’t have children? “I had to leave them for the sitter, in case she wanted to take them somewhere.”

“Uh huh,” he deadpanned.

“Do you not believe me?” I asked, incredulously.

There was a spark of amusement to his voice. “How about this? If you really are late to get your kids, I’ll personally offer you a police escort so you can make it on time.”

My jaw dropped, just the expectation of embarrassment coloring my cheeks. I could only imagine what Seth’s sharp-tongued mother would say if she saw me pulling up with a police officer flashing his lights. “No, I—”

“Or you could take a ticket.” He shrugged, reaching for a pocket notebook. “Up to you, darlin’.”

Something about the way he said darlin’ made my shoulders snap straight with defiance. “Fine,” I huffed. “After you.”

“What’s the address?” he asked.

I rattled off the street name and number, and he nodded. “Follow me. With that lead foot, you should have no problem keeping up.”

My jaw dropped open in indignation, but he didn’t notice, already turning back to his car.

2

LARKIN

I muttered morethan a few choice words as I followed the annoying officer in his police car with its flashing lights driving far faster than the speed limit. At least I wouldn’t be late. Even if it felt like every single person was staring at us and memorizing my car so I would be even more of an outcast in this tiny, one-stoplight town.

We reached my former in-laws’ house, and I parked behind him in the driveway. I got out of the car, indignant. “Happy?” I asked him as he stepped out, coming my way. When he got closer, I realized he was a good eight inches taller than me. I hated that I had to lift my chin to meet his eyes. Or how hard I had to work to pull my gaze away from his tatted biceps.

“Thank you for the escort,” I said. “You’re free to go now.”

He chuckled silently. “How am I supposed to know you’re not just going to a friend’s house to get me off your case?”

I narrowed my gaze. “Fine, wait here.”

But he didn’t need to wait because the front door opened, and Emily came running out, followed by her grandma, Nancy, holding Jackson in her arms.

“Mommy!” Emily said, jogging a few steps forward. But she stopped a couple feet short of me, still on her grandparents’ wraparound porch, eyeing Knox.

“This is—” I began.

He stepped forward and got on his knee in front of her and stuck out his hand. “I’m Knox Madigan, and I wanted to welcome you all to town! What’s your name?”

Emily answered softly, “Emily Cappes.”

“Nice to meet you. Would you like a badge, Emily Cappes?”

She gave a tentative smile and shook his hand, nodding.

He let go of her small hand and then reached into his pocket, still kneeling on the ground in front of the porch so he could be at eye level with her. I could feel Nancy giving me a quizzical look, but I couldn’t take my eyes away from the interaction.

Knox reached his large hand into his pocket and pulled out a shiny golden badge. “It’s got a little poke on the end. You might want to have your mama help you put it on, okay?”

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