I’m annoyed by her attitude. Yeah, this is a traffic stop, so I’m sure she isn’t happy with me, but is it too much to ask for some civility?
I sink down into the worn leather seat and take my first real look at her license, reading her name.
Magnolia Kasper.
I let out a string of curse words. I pulled over Poppy’s sister. Poppy. The woman who is getting engaged to my best friend, Mack, as we speak.
Peachy.
I know the Kasper siblings are close. I also know from Poppy that Magnolia—or Noli, as they call her—is moving to the area, and I’ll be seeing quite a bit of her.
I weigh my options.
She committed a minor infraction. Yes, she was speeding, but it was only to pass. Yes, she passed in a no-passing zone, but like she said, she’s not familiar with the roads around here. It could have been an honest mistake. I could let her off with a warning.
But if I give in now, I’ll lose all respect. I’d like to have Magnolia’s respect.
I run her license through my system and enter her information into my computer. I waver for a brief moment, but then decide to ticket her. She’ll be able to go to the courthouse in town, and if she pays the fine, she won’t get any points docked, and her insurance premium won’t go up. It’s really a win-win.
Mercifully, the rain lets up, and I glance out my windshield while I wait for the ticket to print. Magnolia has her head resting against the headrest in the car in front of me.
I sigh.
This is not how I hoped to meet Poppy’s sister.
The ticket finishes printing, and I collect her paperwork and her license. I give her picture one last look. No one looks good in their driver’s license picture. I’ve seen some real doozies over the years. But Magnolia is an exception. Her blue eyes stare back at me, and she has a small smile on her lips. She’s beautiful.
I open the door to my cruiser and stride back to her driver’s side window.
I can practically see steam billowing from Magnolia’s ears as I hand over her license and other documents, along with the citation. Her cheeks flush as she snatches everything from my hand. Her fingers graze mine, and a lightning bolt of warmth flashes up my arm.
“You’ll need to pay this online or in person at the Cashmere Cove Police Department. You can—”
“Fine. Yeah. Whatever.”
She cuts me off before I can explain that she can talk down the penalty for the ticket at thecourthouse.
I open my mouth to clarify, but she faces the windshield and speaks to the road in front of her. “Are we done here?”
Okay, then.She’s ticked. I feel bad. Truly, I do. But I’m doing my job.
When I don’t answer her right away, she looks up at me. The coolness in her gaze is like being hit with two lethal, blue icicles.
I shrug. “I’ve sworn an oath to keep the community safe, Ms. Kasper. That means enforcing the rules of the road.”
She rolls her eyes and looks like she has more to say, but all that comes out is,“Right. Of course. Can I go?”
I hold out my hand toward the road ahead, as if to say,By all means.
She starts to roll up her window, and I try one last time. “Again, I’m just doing my job. Welcome to Cashmere Cove.”
It’s a weak olive branch, I’ll admit it. More like a drop of olive oil.
She shoots me an ax-like look, cutting me down, before she takes off, probably hoping she never has to see me again.
I watch her disappear, knowing full well thatthatwish won’t be granted.
I turn and stride back to my car, running a hand through my saturated hair and spraying water droplets onto my shoulders.
