Stop in the Name of Love

STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE

BOOK 1 OF THE SUGAR SERIES

NALEIGHNA KAI

U. M. HIRAM

MACRO PUBLISHING GROUP

Macro Publishing Group

The Macro Group, LLC

Stop in the Name of Love © 2023 by Naleighna Kai and U. M. Hiram

This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living, dead or somewhere in between, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical or photocopying or stored in a retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages to be included in a review.

Cover designed by: Woodson Creative Studio

Interior design by: Woodson Creative Studio

Find Naleighna Kai on the web at www.naleighnakai.com

And U. M. Hiram at https://authorumhiram.com/

EBOOK ISBN: 9781952871511

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Sugar Ain’t So Sweet

Loving All of Me

Queen of Wilmette

King of Durabia

Loving Me for Me

Persistence

About Naleighna Kai

About U. M. Hiram

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks goes out to: The Creator from whom all Blessings and opportunities flow, Sandy (my true mother), my son, J. L. Woodson (for the awesome cover designs for this Merry Hearts series), Sesvalah, Bettye Odom, Janice M. Allen, Debra J. Mitchell, Royce Slade Morton, Bunny Ervin, J. L. Campbell, Kelly Peterson, Janine A. Ingram, Ehryck F. Gilmore, Betty Clawson, Jamyi Joy, Stephanie M. Freeman, Unique Hiram, Marie L. McKenzie, Shawn Williams, Dr. Vanessa Howard, the Kings of the Castle Ambassadors, Members of Naleighna Kai’s Literary Cafe, the members of NK’s Tribe Called Success, the members of Namakir Tribe, and to you, my dear readers . . . thank you all for your support.

U. M. HIRAM

First and foremost, I would like to thank God for the gift and talents that he has given me as well as continuing to answer my prayers. He has been opening doors and placing some amazing people in my life.  

Naleighna Kai, thank you for the vision that you have and giving me the opportunity to share this literary space with you. Your coaching and mentorship mean so much to me and I feel blessed to be on this journey with you.

Jenise, Malcolm, and Brandon – what can I say? Thank you for the continued support, understanding, and cheering me on through this writing life. You are an amazing sister, son, and nephew. Love you all with everything in me.

Tribe Called Success, I appreciate each and every one of you for embracing and encouraging me through this surreal journey. I am excited for all that is in store for us. It’s about to be lit ya’ll!

Readers, Book Reviewers, Beta Readers - know that none of this would not be possible without the support you give authors through your feedback, purchases, and spreading the word about our books. Putting pen to paper is not always easy, but each of you help to make this literary life worth it.

CHAPTER 1

"W hen did policemen start looking like that ?" Elise Payne gasped, putting a tighter grip on the steering wheel.

She had been pulled over for speeding, but she couldn’t believe that someone as breathtaking as Officer Friendly had stepped out of the cruiser. The man had expressive, dark brown eyes and smooth golden features—a proud nose and sensuously curved lips—carved into a ruggedly handsome face that was damn pleasant to look at along with a muscular body that was nothing but pleasure to watch. Elise normally enjoyed milk chocolate, but maybe it was time to give vanilla bean some consideration.

The fact that this delay would probably make her miss the train slipped her mind as she became totally smitten by the most handsome male since Jesus turned water into wine. She could picture those gorgeous lips doing wicked, forbidden things to her—the kind of things that made a woman start speaking in tongues, the kind of things that made a woman leave religion at the altar and dive headfirst into temptation, skinny dip in an overdose of sin, and—

License, insurance, and registration, ma’am.

Her fantasy circled the bowl and flushed right down the drain with those words. She let out a long, slow breath and said, May I take my hands off the steering wheel?

He nodded, grimacing as he did so.

Elise inched her hand into her satchel and produced a license, then leaned toward the glove compartment and froze at the thoughts whipping through her mind. Registration, no problem. Insurance, huuuuge problem. Expired. Five hundred dollars.

She tried to keep the despair from showing on her face as she slid the documents to him. Elise watched his every move as he walked back to his cruiser at a snail’s pace.

Seriously? Can’t you go any faster?!

Several minutes ticked by before he returned. She quickly put her hands on the wheel before he made it all the way to the driver side window.

This time, he sighed with impatience. It’s safe to take your hands off the wheel, Ms. Payne. I’m a Burnham officer. It’s the Chicago police who are trigger-happy.

Elise remained completely silent. Maybe if she zipped her lips, he would give her the ticket and let her be on her damn way.

Do you realize you were going 77 in a 45? he asked.

Actually, I thought it was just 65, but 77 it is, she shot back.

He paused for a moment, his right eyebrow lifting. Elise saw a sudden slight uplift at the corners of his lips. There was a fullness that made them the most kissable pair she’d seen in a long time. What was it about this man’s lips that invited her to give him a second and third look? What was it about those dark brown eyes that held a sparkle of mischief, but a smidgen of pain behind them? And how was that so easy for her to recognize?

"Why were you going so fast?" he asked.

"Because I was trying to catch that train riiiiight there,"