Paige Tyler: Two Cops, a Girl and a Pair of Handcuffs

“We’re both between relationships,” Reed said.

Was that his way of telling her he was interested in her, too?

Cilla looked from one cop to the other. “Hard to believe some girl hasn't scooped up two attractive guys like you.”

“It's hard finding a woman who can handle us,” Hayes answered.

Us ?

That was an interesting way to phrase it. Hayes hadn't said it was hard finding women who could handle them, or their jobs. But a woman -singular-who could handle them -plural. Had it simply been a Freudian slip, or had he been referring to what she thought he was? The image made heat pool between her thighs, and she squeezed her legs tighter together. She'd never been with two guys at the same time before. Never even considered it. But now that she thought about it, the possibility was intriguing.

“Maybe you haven’t found the right woman.”

Had she just said that out loud? Well, she had to gauge their interest, didn’t she?

Reed chuckled. “Guess not.”

Cilla’s breath hitched. Oh, yeah. They were definitely talking about a threesome. Since they were both gorgeous and unattached, she wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity, that was for damn sure. This might be her only chance to fulfill her fantasies-with not one, but two hot cops.

“It’s almost closing time. I should probably clean up.” Her heart sank as Hayes and Reed pushed back their chairs. “You don’t have to leave.”

“We weren’t,” Hayes said. “We’re just going to give you a hand.”

“Oh.” Relief coursed through Cilla and she smiled. “That’s very nice of you.”

Reed grinned. “We’re nice guys.”

Cleaning out the coffee pots and wiping down the tables took a lot less time with their help. On the down side, it also gave her a lot less time to figure out a way to let them know she was up for that threesome they’d hinted at.

Wishing there was something else to clean up, she picked up her messenger bag. “I know you’re probably not supposed to do this, but do you think you could give me a ride to the subway? I’d really hate to have to walk all that way in the rain.”

Hayes exchanged looks with Reed, then gave her a grin. “We’ll do you one better and give you a ride home. Although I'm afraid you’ll have to sit in the back. That's not a problem, is it?”

She winked. “As long as I'm not under arrest.”

“Definitely not.” Hayes looked her up and down. “It would be a true crime if anyone ever had to lock you away.”

The heat in his eyes made her pussy purr. “And no cuffs, right?”

Reed gave her slow smile. “Only if you don’t behave yourself.”

The smolder in Reed’s eyes conveyed his message loud and clear-if you want to be cuffed, I'm your man. That image made her pulse skip a beat. This night was getting more interesting by the minute.

Cilla’s hand trembled a little as she locked up the shop. Dropping the keys in her purse, she turned to open the umbrella she’d borrowed, but Reed took it from her.

His mouth curved as he held it over her head. “Allow me.”

Gorgeous and well-mannered-a potent combination.

Cilla had never been in a police car before. It felt really strange being behind the metal cage that separated the back seat from the front. Like she was their prisoner for them to do with her whatever they wanted. The idea sent a delicious, little shiver through her.

In the front, Reed was on the radio, telling the station he and Hayes were going off shift. Was it just her imagination, or had Reed made the call so she’d know he and Hayes were free for the rest of the night?

Hayes glanced at her over his shoulder. “Where to?”

Cilla rattled off her address. She was about to give him directions, too, but as he pulled away from the curb and headed in the right direction, she decided he mustn’t have needed them. Then again, he was a cop. He probably knew every street in the city.

She didn’t live far from the coffee shop, so it wouldn’t take long to get to her apartment. Which meant she was going to have to think of something quick if she didn’t want the evening to end on her doorstep.

As Hayes pulled up to the curb a little while later, she leaned forward. “I know it’s late, but would you guys like to come in for coffee?”

As invitations went, it was lame. But what was she supposed to say? Want to come up and have a threesome?

The two cops exchanged a glance before Reed answered.

“We’d like that.”

She’d had guys at her place before, but Reed and Hayes seemed to dominate her small apartment with their presence. She could barely concentrate on making the coffee as they looked around.

“You go to the University of Colorado?” Hayes asked from the living room.

She glanced up to see him thumbing through an accounting book she’d left on the coffee table. “Yeah. I take morning classes there three days a week. That's why I get stuck on the late shift so much.”

Reed crossed the room to look over his partner’s shoulder. “Accounting, huh? How close are you to your degree?”

“Three more classes after this semester.” She switched on the coffee pot, then walked into the living room. “I'm getting close enough to taste it.”

Reed’s gaze caressed her. “I know how that feels, being so close to something you can almost taste it.”

Cilla got the feeling he wasn’t talking about getting his college degree. Her breath came a little faster, and she ran her suddenly damp hands down the front of her jeans. Back at the coffee shop, she thought she’d be able to play it cool, but now the two men were in her apartment, that was harder than she thought.

Thunder boomed and she jumped. She used the distraction to get herself together. Okay, take a deep breath, girl. Just because Reed and Hayes were likely here for more than coffee didn't mean this thing was automatic. Neither man had mentioned having a threesome since they’d dropped the hint. If she wanted this to go anywhere, she had to give them some sort of signal.

But what was she supposed to do-rip off her clothes and throw herself naked across the kitchen table? How could she tell them she was game without coming out and saying it?

Hayes was looking at another one of her books-this time it was advanced calculus. “Have you always been good with numbers, Cilla?”

“I guess so. I mean, I’ve always liked math.”

Now there was a sexy subject. Yeah, not so much. Maybe she should tell him she wanted to multiply with him. Nah, maybe not. That sounded creepy.

Hayes set the book on the table, then sauntered over to stand in front of her. He gave her a devastating smile. “And I bet a math-minded girl like you probably even has a favorite number, don't you?”

The funny thing was, she did. But she didn't think they really wanted to hear why she thought 3.14 was so cool.

“Actually,” she looked up at his from under her lashes, “I've always been partial to the number three.”

“Three, huh?” Hayes’s smile broadened. “And what's so special about the number three?”

Reed had come over to stand behind her. Not close enough that he was touching her, but still sandwiching her between him and his equally armed-and-sexy partner. She took a deep breath. Now or never.

“Well,” she said softly. “There’s just so much more you can do with three than you can do with two, you know?”

Hayes leaned in close. Behind her, she felt Reed's big hand trace across her back.

“Yeah, Cilla.” Hayes’s voice dropped to a husky whisper. “I think we do.”

His lips were just a few inches away from hers when an insistent beeping came from the kitchen.

He jerked his head up, looking in the direction of the sound. “What the…?”