Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“If you spread some of that frosting under your eyes, you would look like a zombie cop,” Wyatt pointed out.
Avery chuckled. “I already thought of that.” And then she groaned again when the car in front of her came to a stop and she noticed the rear left taillight was out.
“Back on the clock.” She flipped on her lights and followed the car through the stop sign and safely to the side of the road. She was pleased that for once she didn’t have to also deal with a nervous driver who pulled over in the middle of an intersection or didn’t go through the stop sign and blocked traffic.
“Want me to get it?” Wyatt asked as he flipped open his computer to run the plate.
“I’ve got it. I’ll just issue a warning of course. Out-of-state plates though. You’d better check them.” Avery put the car in park and opened her door, paying close attention to her surroundings.
She’d been a police officer for long enough that her awareness was second nature. She had two priorities at the same time: making sure her environment was safe and making sure the driver of the vehicle didn’t appear to be a threat.
Luckily, both looked safe this time, and she licked the last of the frosting off her lips as she approached. Maybe the driver wouldn’t notice her unprofessional black lips and tongue.
She smiled as she approached. The driver had rolled his window down, but he had his hands on the steering wheel. She appreciated when a citizen knew the proper etiquette for traffic stops, but at the same time, she worried if the reason they knew to keep their hands on the wheel was because they’d been pulled over more than their fair share of times.
“Good afternoon, Sir.”
The man shot her a smile that took her breath away. He was hot. Smoking hot. Avery wasn’t the sort of woman who regularly noticed sexy men, but this one was fine. She figured him to be about fifty. He had dark hair with a hint of gray at the edges. “Good afternoon,” he responded politely. He didn’t have the usual flustered look people generally had when she pulled them over.
His deep blue eyes sucked her in and held her hostage for a moment before she managed to lick her lips and clear her throat. Pull it together, Avery. “I just wanted to let you know you have a taillight out. Were you aware of it?”
He looked surprised. “No. Thank you. I’ll stop and get a new bulb and get that changed this afternoon. Would you like to see my license?”
“Please,” she responded, unnerved that he was doing her job.
He pointed at his back pocket as he rocked forward a few inches.
She nodded that she understood and waited for him to retrieve it.
The man slid it out of his wallet and held it out, but he didn’t let go when she set her fingers on the corner. “I should tell you,” he began, “I’m your new boss.”
When he released the ID, she blinked. It was a wonder she didn’t drop it. “Oh.” She glanced down at the man’s name. Trace Barnes. He would be starting as captain next week. Shit. Of all the people to pull over.
She handed the license back to him. “Nice to meet you, Sir. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
“No worries. I’m glad to know my officers are kind enough to let the citizens know when they have a taillight out.” He grinned. “I have a question though.”
“Yes?” She lifted her brows, wondering what he might say next. Had she done something wrong?
“Are the black lips part of the department uniform?” His eyes were dancing with mirth.
Her face heated two hundred degrees as she stared at him. “No, Sir. Sorry about that. I just ate a Halloween cupcake covered in purple and black frosting. I shouldn’t have. I must look ridiculous.” She felt equally absurd. Great. He could write her up for being unprofessional.
He laughed. “I think it makes you look real. Human. Or maybe more like a zombie.”
She almost rolled her eyes since he was the third person to mention that. She had no idea how to respond and forced herself not to. Anything else that came out of her mouth would be an embarrassment.
His entire chest shook as he continued to chuckle. “I guess the cupcake was a good one.”
“Yes.” She swallowed. “The best. It was from Little Cakes in the strip mall in town. Ellie makes the best cupcakes I’ve ever eaten.”
“I’ll have to try it, though perhaps not the one with black frosting.”
She bit her bottom lip. “The flavor was amazing. I do suggest you get one since she’ll only have them a few more days. Just don’t eat it on your break. Maybe wait until evening.” She was rambling. Shut up.