Page 37 of Dashing for Love

I let the phone drop to my chest. Killer decides now is a great time to get the zoomies on my bed, and proceeds to dart around the mattress like a dog possessed. A little maniac, but a cute little maniac.

He stops, looks at me, then does this adorable little bark-and-backward-scoot thing that definitely means he needs to go out.

I pull up the Blinding Love app and stare at the text chain with Dawn. Killer barks again. Finally, I type.

JAMES

Good morning

I’m an ass. Good morning? Is that all I have?

I don’t get an answer immediately, but I’m not surprised. I’m not sureI’drespond to me if all I saw was “good morning.” Groaning, I throw the covers off and get out of bed, withKiller zooming off the stairs leading down from the bed and scampering to the door to be let out.

I’m even less surprised when Reid shows up hours later, well after our normal yoga and pier walk would have happened. He bangs on the door like the cop that he is, causing way more of a ruckus than anyone needs to. “Open up! Police!”

I shush the dogs, then yank the door open and scowl at him. “Really?”

He smirks. “Works every time.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“You’re lucky I didn’t bring Ox. Let me in.”

I peek around him and see the squad car on the street. “You really want to get my neighbors’ imaginations going with the car, don’t you?”

“Do I need to radio Ox?”

“Does the chief of police work on Sundays?”

He shrugs. “Maybe, maybe not.”

I sigh and step aside. “Come on in. Want some coffee?”

He smiles broadly. “Why thank you. Yes I would. Can I let Midnight down?” He gestures at the sling across his bulletproof vest.

“If I said no, you’d do it anyway.”

He shoulder-checks me as he walks in. “That’s true.”

“If my pets lose their shit, I’m not taking responsibility,” I warn, then lead the way to my kitchen.

Once he has his cup of coffee, he leans against the counter and studies me. “So?”

“So…what?”

He snorts. “Don’t be obtuse. How did it go?”

“That’s an awfully big word for a cop,” I tease, hoping to keep him at bay and knowing perfectly well that it isn’t going to work.

It doesn’t.

“It was…incredible.”

Reid smiles. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I confirm, my own smile growing. “It really was. She’s amazing. Funny, and gorgeous?—”

“You saw her face?”

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