Secret Weapon

It wasn’t just about her sex life. It was about her being a free spirit who liked to push the limits. She couldn’t live in a safe little box like Sloan would have her do. To live within other people’s constraining views of the world.

“That’s true. You do have to be who you are. I’m not denying that.”

She gazed at Derek in frustration. “Why does the world expect a woman to commit to just one man to find happiness?” She sipped her wine, then frowned. “And why can’t I be satisfied with one person when the rest of the world is perfectly happy that way? Why can’t I be satisfied with normal, everyday sex? It would sure make life a lot easier.”

He shrugged. “That’s traditional thinking, but you’re not traditional. You don’t have to follow other people’s rules. You just need to stay true to yourself and make sure you’re with a man who’s compatible.”

She rested her cheek on her hand. “I just want to find a way that Sloan and I can both be happy. Unfortunately, I don’t think we can do that together.”

Fifteen

Janine glanced in her rearview mirror. A squad car followed her with its lights flashing. She pulled onto the shoulder to let him pass.

Damn! He pulled in behind her.

She grabbed her purse from the passenger seat and pulled out her wallet, then fumbled for her license. She could see the officer walking along the shoulder toward her car. She pressed the button to lower her window as he approached her door, then handed him her license.

“Good evening, Officer”—she glanced at his badge to see his name—“O’Neill. Did I do something wrong?”

“Janine?”

She glanced up to see Liam staring down at her with a grin. She hadn’t even thought about the fact she didn’t know his last name.

“Officer Liam.” Oh, God, she was an idiot. She sucked in a breath. “I mean … Liam. Is it okay if I call you Liam, with you in uniform and all?” Oh, God. A real idiot.

He chuckled. “Relax. I only pulled you over because your license plate sticker is out of date.”

“Oh, but … I bought it last month.”

“It’s not on your plate.”

She stared at him blankly. She’d definitely gone into the DMV and picked it up, then brought it out to the car and put it in the glove compartment, then … Oh, damn, forgotten all about it.

“It’s in my glove compartment.”

“It’s not doing you much good in there now, is it?”

Her gaze lurched to his. He was grinning at her. She relaxed a little, her shoulders lowering and her jaw unclenching.

“Do you have to give me a ticket?”

“No, just a reminder to actually stick it on your plate.” He leaned a little closer, as if looking into her car. “Janine, really, relax. It’s just me.”

“You in uniform.”

He gazed at her with a gleam in his eyes. “Does the uniform intimidate you?”

“Um…” She stared at his twinkling eyes and laughed. “Yeah, I guess. A little bit.”

His smile broadened. “Does it turn you on?”

Excitement flashed through her as she thought of him snapping handcuffs onto her wrists, and she sucked in air.

“Um … actually”—she smiled up at him, hunger growing inside her—“it does.”

&nbs

p; Heat filled his eyes. “I’ve just finished my shift. Would you like to grab a coffee somewhere? I could meet you in about a half hour.”