Page 5 of Cross Point

She’d called it right.

Of course, he was a cop.

She cocked her head to the side, intrigued by the easy command in his deep voice. Never one to pass up an opportunity to poke at authority, she flashed him a grin. “Badge me.”

He froze. “What?”

“Badge me, baby, because I’m not putting this down until I see your brass.”

Chapter Three

What the hell?

Jackson Stone stared at the woman pointing a gun at him, amazed by her audacity. As a former officer in the Army and current lieutenant with the Crescent Island Police Department, he knew a trained shooter when he saw one. It was in the way she held her body at a slight angle to present a smaller target, and the steady grip with which she held her weapon. But most of all, it was the hard gleam in her hazel eyes even though she was smiling.

It didn’t matter that the woman looked like a damned pin-up model.

She was dangerous.

Still, her provocative statement had its desired effect on him. Jackson felt a wave of lust shoot through him as he took her in at a glance. She had long brown hair that he wanted to wrap around his fist as he plundered those perfect pouty lips. Her full breasts strained against her shirt, and he imaged what it would feel like to have those long legs wrapped around his waist.

He wanted to curse as his traitorous dick twitched at her low, throaty demand. A hard, skilled operator himself, he’d never reacted to a woman under such strange circumstances.

But he guessed there was a first time for everything.

Scanning the scene with a trained eye, he saw the skid marks on the pavement and the damage to the back of her vehicle. Although it seemed like she was the victim in this scenario, he couldn’t be too careful. There was something about her that told him she was far from innocent and that put his guard up.

This was his island and it was his duty to protect it.

He kept his weapon trained on her as he reached into his back pocket and slowly pulled out his badge. He watched those captivating hazel eyes drift down to scan his badge, but the willful little witch kept her gun pointed at him. This was definitely not the reaction he was used to when he was trying to help someone.

“There, you saw it. Now, put your weapon down. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Hmm. Not just yet. See, I have this little problem. Someone just tried to run me off the road, and you just show up at the same time? Call me a cynic, but that seems like some timing you’ve got seeing as this road seems pretty empty and all.”

Not used to being questioned, his jaw clenched against the insult.

“I live up the road and was heading home. I saw your car had hit the rail and pulled over to see if you needed help. I’m a police officer. It’s my job to help you if you’re in trouble.”

“Did you pass a black jeep?”

“Yes. Was that the car that hit you?”

“Yep. Damn near pushed me over the edge. Would have, too, if he’d gotten a chance.”

Jackson blew out a breath. “Can we continue this conversation without the guns now?”

“You first, Lieutenant Stone.”

Taking a chance, Jackson lowered his gun, keeping it at his side. “You can call me Jackson.”

Mirroring his gesture, Trinity kept her gun in her hand, knowing that she could still take him out if he made a wrong move. He really was a good-looking man. During her perusal of him, she noticed he didn’t have a wedding ring on his finger. Hell, she was on vacation…or was supposed to be.

Why not mix a little pleasure with business?

She smiled. “I’m hungry. Want to get something to eat?”

“What?”