“You just did.” I flick the brim of his hat. “It was nice seeing you, stud.”
Asmirk crooks my lips when Doug’s cruiser pulls into my driveway. The young cop is all too eager to make a name for himself in this town. I’m more than happy to oblige. Especially when it comes to rounding up a certain hellion.
As the squad car comes to a stop, Frankie’s glare finds me through the backseat window. She’s spitting nails and it gets me hard. I widen my stance while returning her spite. There’s something very arousing about fighting with this woman. That’s why I’m delving deeper into this disaster. It’s only fair I drag her into the trenches with me.
Doug steps out, tipping his hat in my direction. “Byron.”
“I see you found what I was lookin’ for.”
His grin rivals the sun for spotlight. “Francesca was pulled over for speeding. Thought she’d make me chase her, but must’ve thought better of it. At least until I explained that she was coming with me. Put up quite a fuss after that. Not a fan of handcuffs. We impounded the motorcycle as requested.”
Laughter tickles my chest at the visual he paints. “Appreciate it, Doug. The chief will be hearing about your dedication to the badge.”
“Just doin’ my job.” He struts around the cruiser’s hood, stopping at the rear passenger side. “Ready for this?”
My stomach damn near flips. “Let her at me.”
Doug opens the door and reaches down to haul Frankie out. She’s quick to shrug off his offer, flipping her legs to get both feet on the ground. Her movements are practiced and smooth as she stands in a fluid motion. Even with her arms pinned behind her back, she manages to look capable of destruction.
“Not her first rodeo,” I joke.
“Probably not her last either. Be careful with this one,” Doug mumbles.
“Where’s the fun in that?”
Most likely against his better judgment, the young officer removes Frankie’s cuffs. She doesn’t say anything, but her body language is screaming at me. Her muscles are flexed and prepared for battle. There’s a green blaze in her eyes that roars louder. Black leather hugs her sinful curves like armor. I soak in the glory of her upset as the cop drops a bag at her feet. Doug reads the room and leaves without another word.
Tension expands between us until I can feel it trying to push me to my knees. I cross my arms, refusing to budge. After what feels like an hour in a pressure cooker, Frankie breaks the silence.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” She straightens her posture, trying to stretch herself to my level. What she lacks inheight she makes up for in attitude. “You can’t just have me arrested.”
“Not arrested. Restrained,” I correct.
“Is that what you call getting shoved in the back of a cop car against my will? It’s illegal.”
I shake my head. “That fine officer just had a few questions for you. There’s no law against him asking you to go down to the station.”
“Then why didn’t he drive me there?”
I need to get her under my roof where I can take the reins and regain control. “Slight detour.”
“Awww,” she croons. It almost sounds sweet. But then her teeth gnash like a rabid animal. “Could’ve just called if you missed me.”
She’s mad as a hornet, but I rule this hive. The sooner she realizes that, the easier her life with us will be.
“Had a hunch you wouldn’t respond to that,” I say.
“Bet your shady ass I wouldn’t,” she snarls. “You can’t do this crooked shit to me. I have rights!”
“I think we both know I can, and already did. You’re not the only one with loose morals. I’m my father’s son after all. Don’t test me more than you have.”
Frankie rips her fury off me to glare in the direction of Doug’s retreat. “Was going that far really necessary?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“This”—she holds up her freed wrists—“was payback?”
“Absolutely. You embarrassed me.”