Page 125 of Oddly Fine

“Still, we’re sorry we caused trouble for you,” Hayes said while keeping an eye on the laptop screen, but his facial expression indicated that nothing was happening.

Beckett had removed his earpiece to converse with Lavigne.

“Don’t be,” Lavigne replied hastily. “I was just glad to help,” he said with a level of youthful enthusiasm to match his age. His eyes travelled from Hayes’ face to the laptop placed on the middle console and his brow furrowed. Then he reconsidered the dog in Beckett’s lap, which was standing up on his back legs, his front paws on the car door, desperately trying to get Lavigne to pet him.

“Can I ask what you’re doing?”

“You could, but then I’d have to kill you,” Beckett answered with mock seriousness.

Hayes groaned loudly, while Officer Lavigne’s eyebrows shot straight up.

“Just kidding,” Beckett said with a quick laugh. He nodded towards the back seat. “This guy’s having trouble with thieves in his apartment building. Hired us to sniff them out—” he lied quickly. “We planted bait—just watching the video feed and waiting for something to come of it.”

“Like a—stakeout?”

“Exactly,” Beckett said with a charming smile.

“Oh—” Officer Lavigne said. “And the dog?” he asked, as he allowed Nickel to sniff his hand and then began stroking his head.

“Emotional support—I get a little claustrophobic since getting buried alive,” he declared like it made perfect sense.

Officer Lavigne looked back over at Hayes, who nodded and smiled flirtatiously.

The deputy grew flustered looking at Hayes and Beckett fought not to laugh at this flirty exchange. It was like high school all over again.

“Well—eh—” the hunky deputy paused, looking sheepish again. “Alright, well, if you could just—move the car somewhere else—”

“Of course!” Beckett assured him with a nod, smiling at their success in getting out of a ticket.

“And—maybe secure the dog? Pets should be in a carrier at all times while inside a moving vehicle,” he cautioned them with a direct quote from his police academy textbook. “If that is even a dog,” he added with a disbelieving chuckle, while he was still petting him.

“Absolutely, officer,” Beckett agreed quickly. He grabbed Nickel and shot Lavigne a big, innocent smile.

“Say hi,” he told Nickel. Of course, the friendliest dog ever decided to embody a demon just then, and began growling at the nice hunky officer. Beckett hastily scooped him up and handed him over to Hayes.

“Right—well—” Officer Lavigne stuttered, clearly uncomfortable. “I’ll, eh—leave you to it, then.”

Beckett gave him a quick wave goodbye.

But Officer Lavigne hesitated and said, “And if you ever need a badge to—make an arrest or—” He pointed towards the laptop screen.

“We still have that handwritten note,” Beckett said suggestively and winked. He really was enjoying the view.

The officer blushed a bright red.

Beckett wondered how far that blush extended down that perfect body, and if he’d ever get the chance to find out.

“Not to interrupt this lovely courting dance,” Matthew interjected impatiently, glaring at Beckett, “but I think we’re missing the best part.”

“Right—duty calls!” he said, smiling broadly as he made a slight shooing motion for the officer to step away from the car.

Officer Lavigne stepped back, but his reluctance to see them go was almost tangible.

“Daisy, say goodbye to Officer Hunky,” Beckett ordered with a smirk.

Hayes smiled and gave the officer a sexy wink. He was still cradling Nickel and looked anything but comfortable, but it didn’t lessen his sex appeal any.

“Thank you again, Officer Lavigne.”