Read The Badge Bunnies series: Ride-Along for Free Online Page B

“What if you can’t find his owner?”
    The woman smiled down at the stray. “We’ll hold him for three days to see if someone comes to claim him. If not, we’ll have no problem getting this guy adopted.”
    That didn’t really answer her question.
    Jase must have seen the concern on her face because he smiled. “This is a no-kill shelter, Laci. If no one adopts him, they’ll keep him.”
    That made her feel better.
    Grant pulled out his wallet and handed the woman two twenty-dollar bills. “To help cover the cost of food and a check-up.”
    Laci couldn’t help but smile as Jase added another forty dollars. Attractive, charming, sexy and nice to animals? Could these guys get any better?
    Digging in her purse for her wallet, she took out twenty-five dollars and handed it over to the woman, too, then gave the dog one more affectionate pat before they left.
    Back in the car, the mood was a more subdued than it had been earlier. It reminded Laci of that awkward silence you get at the end of a date when both people are trying to figure out if they should kiss at the end of the night. Not that she was planning on kissing anyone, of course.
    The topic of sex and badge bunnies didn't come back up the rest of the day, which was probably for the best. Their stories had been fun, but she needed to get the conversation back on police work and the real reason she was on this ride-along.
    “Do you want us to just drop you back at the station?” Jase asked when she finally closed her notebook a few hours later.
    Laci tried not to look bummed as she put her pen and pad back in her purse. She really hated that the day had to end.
    “Sure,” she said. “I was just going to grab a ride on BART. The station is only a few minutes from the subway.”
    Jase exchanged looks with Grant. “We thought you drove to the station. If you're just going to take the subway, it’d be easier if we just drop you off at home. If you’re okay with that?”
    “I don’t want to make you go out of your way,” she said.
    “You’re not,” Grant assured her.
    She sat back with a smile. “Okay, then. Thanks.”
    When they got to her place, Laci didn’t get out of the car right away. She didn't know what she wanted, but she knew she didn't want this day to end yet.
    She took a big gulp of air and summoned her courage. “Do you want to come in for coffee?”
    The two cops glanced at each other, but didn’t answer. Talk about awkward.
    Her face colored. “I don’t know what I was thinking. You probably have to get back to work.” She fumbled for the door handle. “Thank you for all the information you gave me. The article will probably be in this Sunday’s paper, if you want to read it.”
    “Laci, wait,” Grant said.
    She froze.
    “Our shift is over.” Jase smiled. “Coffee sounds great.”
    Laci’s hand trembled as she unlocked the door to her apartment, but if either man noticed, they didn’t mention it. Jase and Grant had a presence about them that made her small apartment feel even smaller. It didn’t help that the sexual tension was so thick it made it hard to breathe. Between that, and their badge bunny stories, it was hard not to say the hell with the coffee and drag them off to the bedroom.
    Cool it, girl . The two cops were just there for coffee.
    She poured the steaming brew into mugs, then handed one to each man before adding creamer and sweetener to her own. “I had a wonderful time today.”
    She almost laughed. The way she’d said it made it sound like they were on a date instead of a ride-along. Sad part was, it hadn’t been a date, and yet it still rated a lot higher than most of the ones she’d been on.
    Jase flashed her a sexy grin over the rim of his coffee mug. “Me, too. It was fun.”
    “You were both so helpful and informative,” she continued. “I only wish I could repay you.”
    And how exactly would she do that? It’s not like she could ask one out on a date without offending the other. Even if she