THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER. Fifth. All because of a stupid broken taillight. I know, I know, you're probably thinking, why don't you just fix it? Well, I have no money to fix it. My mom does, and my brother does, but I don't. And I refuse to let them pay for it.

Re-fuse.

But now I'm in a position wondering how many times you can get pulled over before they throw you in jail.

My best friend Amanda Lynn, yeah that's right (a mandolin), sits next to me putting on a heaping amount of red lipstick. She makes that annoying popping sound and I roll my eyes.

"You really think this?" I grab her shiny blue container from her hands and hold it up to her face, "Is going to get me out of a ticket."

I throw it to the ground and she huffs snatching it from the floor. "Excuse me, but I've gotten out of plenty tickets with this method. Besides, if you had just gotten your taillight fixed, we wouldn't be in this situation."

I give her a blank stare. "How did you become a lawyer again?"

She glares at me and we both whip our heads around to watch as the door to the cop car opens. The sound of a shirt ruffling tears my eyes away from the leg stepping out. I turn to Am who's pulling down her shirt to reveal a small amount of cleavage.

I smack my hand on the steering wheel. "Seriously Am?"

She cocks her perfectly slender brow at me. "I'm telling you it will work. Just make sure you lean back so I can give him a good view."

My head is next to smack the steering wheel, making my baseball cap flick up. "And what if it's a woman?"

She says nothing and I snap my head to her, but her bulging eyes stop me from yelling at her.

"Oh. My... It's Owen Samuels."

"What?!" I whisper hotly at her. "There's no way! He lives in Alabama. I would know if he had moved back."

She digs her red nails into my seat's interior with her body now fully turned to look back at the cop car. "Ah, yeah, your brother's gorgeous, sexy best friend, whom you've been in love with for years, is heading this way."

A knock on my window makes me still. Am fluffs her hair as I roll it down to hear those three magic words.

No, not I love you.

"License and registration."

Those.

I don't look at him, fearing that it really is Owen Samuels, but the hypnotically deep gruff voice tells me it is. My stupid heart flutters, but you know, I think it's funny that's how pretty much everyone in society describes the feeling as romantic. When you really think about it, it means you're having palpations.

Love is a disease people.

Am hands me my registration from the glove compartment. I take out my license from my back pocket and hand it to a very calloused masculine hand.

Before I get a good look at him Am pops over me and peeks her head out my window. "Owen it's been forever. What brings you back to the dreaded mitten?"

I hear that all too familiar low chuckle with a hint of rasp to it. "Amanda Lynn, you still causing trouble?"

She shamelessly flicks her blonde hair back. "I'm the passenger, not the driver, so no." That flirty smile of hers stretches across her face. "I'm a lawyer now. I actually help people get out of trouble."

Am has been my best friend since we were in kindergarten. Boys would tease her like crazy because she was cute and adorable, a real-life goldilocks. And obviously, boys teased her for her attention. Our friendship was carved in stone when I jumped to her rescue and pummeled some bratty boy's face in the ground. I even tried to force him to eat worms.

We were inseparable after that and even went to the same college. Am went from adorable to glamorous. She has the type of beauty that seems surreal... like... hey are you from heaven? Her always perfectly styled blonde hair and insanely sharp silver eyes, make every guy stumble after her like an idiot.

I elbow her in the side and she winces. My license gets flipped over then I see those bronze well-defined forearms disappear, only to reappear crossing over my window frame and flexing beautifully at me. I drool a little. His fingers hold gold rimmed sunglasses and I slowly meet those melt worthy hazel eyes.

Owen Samuels...

A man God bestowed unrealistic beauty on, just like Am. So unfair.

Hey God, why didn't I get some of that beauty? Did you run out or something? Do you only have a bowls worth of it to divvy up between your creations?

Owen's whole top body takes over my window and I no longer see the sun. He's gotten bigger, a lot bigger and in every good way possible. My eyes trace al the muscular cords I can find, only to be interrupted by a cocky smile so hypnotizing, my fingers clench around the steering wheel.

"Hey there Firecracker."

Ah. The dreaded nickname he bestowed upon me. Why? Because I'm the typical snarky, hotheaded red head. Owen's always said I'm like a firecracker, but louder and more obnoxious.... Jerk.

I give a forced smile and say through clenched teeth. "Hey Chicken Butt." Owen cocks an amused brow at the old nickname. I immediately purse my lips and rock my head back and forth a little. "Probably not the right thing to say huh?"

Owen's nickname stems back from the beginning of my middle school career. The ripe grade of six, when the love I had for Owen was but a simple crush. I hated how girls would fawn over him at his high school games. So, in a desperate and slightly pathetic attempt to get them uninterested I made fun of his hair style... which honestly did resemble a chicken's butt.

He vanishes walking back to his car still flashing its lights. Am smacks my arm. "Good going idiot. Now he's definitely going to give you a ticket. And let's not mention never be interested in you, way to ruin your chance."

I snap at her. "At least I didn't flirt and push my chest out like a hooker. Let me guess, um next, you're going to ask what his zodiac sign is?"

She's about to retort, but my phone vibrating in the cupholder stops her. I see my mother's face flash up and I give a low growl. "Great, I'm late for this stupid lunch date."

Am is quick to grab my phone. "Who's the unfortunate soul this time?"

"Don't know, don't care." I say nonchalantly. Yeah, so my mom sets me up on blind dates all the time. No lie. At least twice a week. Am scrolls through my text messages and huffs when she can't figure out who it is. She tosses the phone back and glances over at the man of my dreams.

Owen Samuels and I have known each other since I was a baby. He held me right after I was born... seriously. There's a picture of it. He was only three at the time and my mom was next to him holding a bottle of hand sanitizer with my brother trying to get it out of her hands to eat it.

That's probably why Owen has only ever seen me as a little sister. He has no siblings and lived next door, so he was over at our house all the time. He and my brother terrorized me for a good portion of my childhood. Pulling on my pigtails, not letting me hang out with them in their treehouse because I had cooties or throwing mashed potatoes in my face during dinner. Despite all that though, Owen would hold my chubby sticky hand and walk me to our treehouse once I started crying, and if anyone picked on me they both were there, fists flying.

We went to the same schools until Owen had to move freshmen year. He ended up going to our rival school, which only fueled him and my brother's rivalry, especially since both of them were ace players on the baseball teams.

So, when did I fall in love with him?

It was eighth-grade year. My dad had left us and I was out on the baseball field he always took me too, crying and smacking softballs with my bat in pure rage. The tears I had felt that time were hot and angry, not understanding why he abandoned us. The only peace I could gain was from the stinging vibrations of my bat hitting fly balls to the outfield. My hands had been calloused and blistered from hours of hitting. I couldn't go home and face my mother and brother's sadness, when I had to deal with my own.

Owen had found me and was out of breath like he had been on a run. He climbed the fence and immediately came to my side as I swiped away the searing tears. He started making silly faces and telling jokes while throwing me balls to hit.

He did everything in his power to make me laugh. I finally caved, but the tears came right back. He stood there with me and pulled me into him telling me it was my dad's loss, that he would miss out on having a really awesome daughter.

After that, my unrequited love remained a secret that only Am knew.

I give an irritated sigh, "What's taking so long?" I glance back and still see him sitting in his car. And for a second, I swear I see him take a bite out of a burger.

Is he eating lunch?

My hand yanks my baseball cap down. "Why's he even here anyway? Last time I saw him was at Matt's wedding and that was... what? Three years ago?" Am shrugs and picks at her nails. "I mean really?! Why would he be back here in Michigan, when he was living it up in an awesome city in Alabama. Mister cop of the year with his super-hot model girlfriend."

Am gives an exasperated sigh. "Don't act like you're not happy. But we should check for a wedding ring when he gets back. Besides, isn't this, in a strange way, him doing you a favor so you can miss that lunch date?"

I give her an incredulous look. "Oh, yeah, and tell my mom that the reason I missed it was because I got another ticket!"

Am nods. "Good point, good point."

My mother is a control freak to the extreme. We fight all the time. I love her, but she drives me insane. She hates that I'm a guidance counselor for my old elementary school and the volunteer Safety Officer for the local little league. She doesn't say anything about me coaching a kids' team though, she won't fight me on that one. But she is that mother that is constantly involved in my life, no matter what I do.

My temper begins to rise and my hand hovers over the horn. Am's eyes widen. "Don't. You. Dare."

I don't.

Instead I look over and see him pick up a soda, sipping the straw as he puts his feet on the dash. That's it!

I throw open the door and stomp right over to the vehicle. He won't shoot me... right?! I did once go a little too far with a prank consisting of itchy powder and underpants... this could be his moment to exact revenge.

His driver's door is open, and he continues to lean back with his feet on the dash. My heart hammers at the sight of him and how fiercely attractive he is in a uniform, especially against his olive complexion.

Yes officer, frisk away....

His short thick brown hair is at an angle, neatly styled and his smug smile causes my heart to race. His jaw flexes as he looks at me through those gold rimmed sunglasses that make me unable to read his expression. He scratches his five o' clock shadow and then his perfect masculine lips go from smug smile to lopsided grin.

"What can I do for you Harp?"

God, why did you have to create such a beautiful specimen? Was it to torment me?

My ogling stops as I throw my hands up in the air. "I've been sitting there waiting for you to come back. You have my license and registration and I have somewhere to be. I can't just sit here and wait all day while you eat your lunch."

He plants his feet on the ground and goes back to sipping his drink. Browsing through a notebook. He stops and puts his cup down. "Looks like this is your... fifth time getting pulled over for a broken taillight?"

I chew on the inside of my cheek. "Maybe."

He circles his finger around his face. "You still do that?"

I immediately stop chewing and glare at him. "Are you giving me a ticket or not? Or are you going to arrest me?"

He chuckles and it's warm, slow, mesmerizing etc. etc. "As interesting as it would be to cuff you and watch you call your mom to bail you out." He turns and the sound of paper tearing makes my blood boil. "It's only the ticket today." He grins and hands me the feared yellow paper.

I shake my head. "I don't get a warning for being an outstanding sister to you for pretty much all my life?"

Owen gets out of the car and stands in front of me. Then I really take in his frame. V-shaped torso, massive arms with matching broad shoulders... sigh. His voice interrupts the hypnotic pull he has on me. "Sorry it's morally wrong if I let you go."

I gawk at him. "Oh, but it's not wrong to make me sit here and wait while you eat your lunch?"

He lowers down to my eye level. I'm a tall woman, but he's still a good head taller. "You called me Chicken Butt."

I purse my lips to the side trying to fight the smile coming but fail miserably. "It's good to see you Owen." I begin taking backward steps to my car. "And as much as I've... loved? This weird reunion and am curious as to why you're back, I have somewhere to be."

He points to my taillight. "Fix it."

I give him a salute with my ticket and run to my car. Once I'm in Am pounces. "What happened? You two were standing so close together. Is he wearing a ring?"

I flick my ticket at her. "He sat for most of the time, I got a ticket and I didn't check."

"How could you not check?" She screams.

I roll my eyes. "Because he's a gorgeous twenty-eight-year-old cop. There's no way he's not married."

She taps her red fingernail on my arm as I start the car. "He would've invited you guys if that was the case."

True.

Owen passes us and I drive toward Am's work. She strums her fingers on her pencil skirt. "We have to get him to notice you."

"Come on Am, he probably has a girlfriend if he doesn't have a wife. He only sees me as a sister."

Her eyes roll as I pull into her work parking lot. "Thanks for driving me, even though I'm late now."

I give her an apologetic look. "Do you want me to go in and explain it to your boss?"

She laughs, "No mom, I can handle it."

I back out once she's inside. I look down when my phone lights up with another text from my mom. I hit my head on the back of my seat and drive straight to the restaurant she texted me. I glance at my clock and see that it's already one.

A half an hour late.

Am's car needed to go into the shop so I drove her... even though it's Saturday. I will never understand a lawyer's schedule. Who goes into work at 12 on the weekend? And sadly, I made her late! I pull in to a fancy looking place and groan.

I am the complete opposite of Am, an earthly type of woman, so having these types of dates almost every week drives me nuts. I was a softball player for most of my life until after college, so this is my mother's way of trying to get me to become more feminine and hopefully get married. This was not where I was supposed to go with my life. My dream was to be a professional softball player, but I didn't have the talent to go pro... unlike Matt and Owen. But, I'm still active in slow pitch leagues and I do a lot outdoors, so I hate doing anything fancy.

Each of these blind dates have me meet them in a nice restaurant or café. We eat or sip coffee, chat then I never hear from them again. My mother is resilient though and won't give up, thinking that it's a crime for her twenty-five-year-old daughter to be single.

I give a low whine and get out of the car. I rip off my hat, but as always, my long bright red hair remains in a tight ponytail. Why? Because I'm the type of woman that's always ready for adventure. I try smoothing down the loose and frizzy strands of hair.

I'm dirty from a morning game and I can clearly see dirt under my fingernails. I was supposed to be in a dress and all cute, but with Am's car breaking down and my run-in with Officer Samuels there was no time. I see my mother pacing back and forth in front of the door. She sometimes comes to do a check over of me for approval.

Definitely won't get the thumbs up today, but hey it's okay, you've never gotten one anyways.

She sees me and dread fills her face. "No, no absolutely not. "

I come up to her and glance around her and see my date sitting inside at a cutesy table, nicely dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt.

Just once, I wish these guys would surprise me with rock climbing or canoeing... or at least wear shorts and a t-shirt like me.

"Yeah mom," I say as I push her aside handing her my baseball cap. "This is happening."

I walk inside and the slick dressed man looks up. He does a once over of me, then glances down in disapproval. He lifts his head back up with a fake smile. "You must be Harper. I've heard so much about you."

Yeah, like how I'm an over-achieving guidance counselor that would rather rock climb than eat lunch in this elaborate crap hole.

"Yep. Interested what you've heard." I say bluntly.

I plop down and the guy sits straighter and shrugs his shoulders in disapproval. He smooths his shirt and leans back pointing both his hands at the menu. "Order whatever you'd like."

I smile at that.

Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Please feel free to comment and let me know what you think! I love getting feedback whether it's encouraging or constructive :)