Double Dare (Neighbor from Hell #6)(39)

Chapter 18

Life was good, she decided, unable to stop smiling as she waited for the cashier to finish bagging her breakfast. She normally settled for cereal or pop tarts in the morning before work, but today she felt like treating herself to a few slices of apple crumb coffee cake and an apple fitter from the best bakery in town, which also just happened to be the one that Darrin was banned from.

There really was no better way to celebrate, she mused as she gestured for the cashier to add another apple fritter to her order. Actually, that wasn’t true, she realized with a sad shake of her head as she pulled her phone out and snapped a quick picture of all the yummy looking Danishes and muffins laid out for the morning rush. She placed her money on the counter, grabbed her bags filled with baked goods and headed for the door as she hit, “Send.”

She wasn’t exactly surprised when he didn’t respond to her text. He was avoiding her after all, had been since last week when she’d commandeered his television. Since then she’d had him on the run. Anytime he saw her, he’d curse and abruptly head in the opposite direction. If she called him, he’d answer, ask if she was okay before she could say anything and as soon as he knew that everything was fine, he’d hang up on her. If she sent him a text, he read it, but never responded. She should probably back off and give him some space, but that would only give him a chance to regroup and come after her from a different angle and she knew damn well that he was trying to figure out another way to break her.

Sooner or later he’d figure out that he didn’t have a chance in hell of winning and by the time he did, it would be too late. She’d turn the tables on him and make him beg before she let him have his dirty little way with her and put an end to this dare once and for all. Then she’d be free to enjoy the remainder of their time together without having to deal with another heartbreaking conversation about the future.

Sighing with relief, she opened her truck door and climbed in, gently tossing the bags full of goodies that she was going to have to eat before she made it to the worksite down on the bench seat next to her. Five minutes later she was driving down one of the backcountry roads, humming along to one her favorite songs and reaching into one of the white bakery bags when she heard the chirp of a siren.

“Crap,” she muttered with a groan as she looked up into her rearview mirror and spotted the flashing lights coming up behind her.

Resigning herself to a speeding ticket, she pulled over to the side of the road and put the truck in park. Very familiar with the drill, she reached over and began the long tedious search through her backpack for her license and-

“Please step out of the vehicle, ma’am,” the painfully familiar voice said, making her shake her in disgust, because this was sad even by Bradford standards.

Giving up her search for her license, she turned her attention to the large bastard standing outside her door, looking smug as he waited for her to comply. Curious to see what he had planned and admittedly eager to torment him some more, she opened her door and-

“Please place your hands on the hood of your vehicle, ma’am,” Darrin said firmly, sounding a tad bored as he waited for her to do as he’d asked.

Amused, she didn’t bother to hide her smile as she moved to the side, turned around and placed her hands on the hood of her truck. “Is there a problem, officer?” she somehow managed to get out without laughing….much.

“Do you know how fast you were going?”

“No clue,” she said, waiting for him to put his hands on her and make some half-assed attempt to try and tempt her into losing control.

“You were doing fifty in a thirty-five mile zone, ma’am.”

“Uh huh,” she said, sighing heavily as she stood there, squinting against the early morning sun as she waited for him to get on with it.

“Also, your taillight is out,” he pointed out firmly.

“That might have something to do with the fact that you didn’t change it when you promised,” she pointed out helpfully as she shifted and waited.

“Ma’am, are you aware that there are ten outstanding parking tickets on this vehicle?” he asked, ignoring her as he continued with what was turning out to be a really pathetic attempt to win, making her wonder why he even bothered.

“Yes, yes I am. I believe a certain police officer borrowed my truck to get to work and forgot to get a parking permit to park at the station and kept racking up parking tickets that he was supposed to get excused,” she reminded him.

“I’m afraid that I’m going to have to place you under arrest,” he said, finally getting to the point and making her roll her eyes, because yes, they had played this game a time or two. Only today it probably wouldn’t end with him taking her from behind. Well, it probably would, she thought, smiling smugly, but she’d also get exactly what she wanted when he finally gave in and-

“Officer McCain, would you please take this woman into custody?” he asked, drawing her attention to the fact that a second cruiser had pulled up behind Darrin’s while she’d been waiting for him to get to the point.

She turned her head as the first tendrils of apprehension crawled up her spine and she felt her jaw drop as a very stern, and very angry looking, female officer walked towards them. Swallowing nervously, she said, “Darrin?”

Chuckling softly, he moved closer until he was standing behind her. “Say the word, Marybeth, and I can make this all go away,” he whispered, his warm breath teased her nape as she stood there, licking her lips nervously as she watched the other woman draw closer, looking seriously pissed for a woman carrying a gun.