Page 11 of Cuffed (Everyday Heroes 1)
Betsy Malone has spoken.
The only woman who can put the Malone boys in line.
What am I doing here?
I glance up at the sign that reads: Doggy Style, and I know this is a mistake right off the bat. I knew she seemed quirky, but this already sounds like a bad episode of COPS. Police officer stumbles unknowingly into a prostitute parlor.
Walk away.
I take another step up the stairs.
This is a mistake.
I knock on the door and am greeted with the baying of dogs and nothing else. No sound of a normally functioning business. No phones ringing. No customers talking. Just a yellow clapboard house I’ve probably driven past a hundred times and never noticed before.
Good. She’s not here. Curiosity satisfied. Time to go.
And just as I begin to walk away, I hear the pad of footsteps on the raised floorboards followed by the sound of a woman’s voice shushing the dogs.
“Officer Sexy,” Desi says, giving me a wide smile when she opens the door.
“Ms. Whitman.” I nod.
“To what do I owe this pleasure? Let me guess. You came here to convince me that beards and tattoos are out and clean cut and uniforms are in and that we’re running away and eloping. Screw our parents and friends, because all we need is each other and the clothes on our backs because love is the currency of life. Is that right?”
I stare dumfounded, trying to process all she just said before laughing and shaking my head. “I was going to say hello, but I think your story is much more entertaining.”
“So, you’re telling me I can still like tattoos and beards?”
“You can like whatever you want.” I turn down my patrol radio as dispatch talks. “Hello, Desi Whitman.”
“Hello, Grant Malone. What can I do for you? I know I’m a law-abiding citizen, so I’m not in any trouble, unless you like to use those handcuffs for other purposes.” She waggles her eyebrows.
The woman is hilarious. “A real man never kisses and tells,” I say with a wink.
“But he does spank and flog,” she comes right back without batting an eyelash, making me choke on air.
“Jesus.”
“Would you like to come in? I promise all of my clients are locked up tight.”
“Should I be worried about that statement?”
“Didn’t you know I’m a Dominatrix? Wanna come check out my dungeon?” I just stare at her until she cracks a smile and laughs. “Dogs. They’re all dogs. I’m a groomer and pet sitter.”
“Ahh, and now the company name makes sense.”
“I love a little tongue-in-cheek mixed with innuendo.” She shrugs. “It gets clients to call, and why be serious? Life’s too short not to laugh.”
“Ain’t that the truth?”
“In all seriousness, what’s up? Although, I seem to think I already know.” She motions for me to come in, and I shake my head.
“I can’t. Thank you, though, I’m about to start my shift.” We fall silent as she stares and waits for me to say whatever I’ve come to say. “It’s about Emerson.”
“I assumed.” She crosses her arms over her chest and leans her shoulder against the doorjamb.
“Is there any way I can get her number or you can contact her and give her mine? I’d really like to see her again.”
