“I had a few sips of a pink lemonade. Oh no, I never asked if it had alcohol in it. What if it had alcohol in it? No, I don’t think it did. I would have been able to tell, right?”
There was a beat of silence and she went back over what she’d just said. Right. He wouldn’t know if it had alcohol in it, because he wasn’t there. He didn’t have a pink lemonade.
“Jesus, Marisol. Get a grip,” she muttered.
“Pardon?” he asked as he shone his flashlight down onto her credentials.
“Nothing, sorry. I’m rambling. I talk a lot when I’m nervous.”
“I make you nervous?”
“Yes. But don’t take offense,” she said hastily. “All cops make me nervous.”
“Yeah? There a reason for that?”
“An over-active imagination,” she said meekly. No way was she telling him the truth. Cops stuck together. Even when they lived in different states.
“Okay. You need to stick to the speed limit while driving, young lady.”
Young lady?
“I’m sorry, sir.” He just had that kind of voice that commanded respect, even though he wasn’t being harsh. His tone was a mix of firm and kind.
Weird as that sounded.
She wondered again what he looked like. He had a nice voice. But he was likely old. Wrinkled. Maybe with a hairy nose and ears.
“Where have you been tonight?”
“At Sanctuary Ranch, I work for the spa in town. I was hired to do nails and facials for a bridal shower.”
“Ahh, Charlie’s bridal shower? Heard she’s been ill.”
“Um, yeah. That’s why I came out here. Because they couldn’t come in earlier. Charlie has really pretty nails now.”
“I’m sure she does,” he said warmly. “Right, Marisol. Here’s what’s going to happen—”
“I’m going to jail.”
“Okay, you need to stop thinking that I’m going to put you in jail. You’re giving me a complex.”
“But you’re a police officer. Isn’t that what you do?” she asked nervously.
“Funnily enough, there is more to my job than taking people to jail. It would be rather full if I did that to everyone I met.”
Right. Of course. Stop being a twit.
“So, what’s going to happen is that you, young lady, are going to drive home at the speed limit or less the entire way. From now on, there is to be no more speeding or the next time you’re caught I’m not going to be so lenient. Understand?” His voice was very stern now.
But strangely, it didn’t do things to her like Linc’s voice had. Maybe it was because she’d felt more at ease with Linc. He wasn’t a dirty cop, after all.
Jeez, Marisol, this guy likely isn’t a dirty cop either. He hasn’t done anything but be nice to you.
“Yes, sir, I understand. Sorry. It really won’t happen again.”
At least, she hoped if it did, that she didn’t get caught.
He handed the papers back through the window to her.