Samantha Jenkins had never thought of herself as the kind of girl who was impressed by big muscles and gorgeous blue eyes. Now, looking at the man holding her driver's license, she changed her mind.
"Did you realize that you were going more than fifteen miles over the posted speed limit?" His firm tone only emphasized his deep, rusty voice.
Samantha kept her hands on the steering wheel even as she twisted her body to give the officer a better look at her most repentant expression. She was already late for her ten o'clock appointment; maybe he'd feel sorry for her and let her go with a quick warning.
The sooner the better. Her day was filled to the bursting point with appointments, and that didn't even take into consideration all the walk-ins she'd have to deal with at the clinic today.
Her repentant expression must not have been sincere enough. His eyes narrowed and his mouth tightened. Uh, oh.
"Wait here," he said curtly, before spinning around and stalking back to his cruiser.
Through her rearview mirror, she watched him. Her sigh whistled through her teeth. Would he be offended if she asked him out after this was over? She hadn't had a real date in months.
Samantha waited for what felt like an eternity before the officer returned. This time his expression was even more grim than before.
He leaned through her window, crowding her back against the seat. Well, Samantha thought indignantly. No way she was asking him out now. Not if this was the kind of manners he had. But he smelled heavenly, so masculine, and this was the closest she'd been to an attractive man in ages. At least one that she wasn't treating for an illness.
Unintentionally, she leaned forward, just slightly, until her lips were only inches from his. His eyes locked with hers. She could feel his breath on her face. Then his eyes widened fractionally, and he jerked up and back, hitting the back of his head on the top of her door.
The first words out of his mouth were an accusation. "Woman, you've got seventeen unpaid parking tickets!"
Samantha gaped at him. He had to be joking. "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have any parking tickets."