Page 4 of A Sudden Response

Eric leaned back as he kept an eye on the store’s entrance. This wasn’t the best neighborhood, but Joe would kick his ass if he said anything. As far as Joe was concerned, she was one of the guys. He knew she could handle herself and would tear his head off if she even suspected for a second that he doubted her, which was why he’d kept his mouth shut and didn’t offer to go get that drink for her. He liked his balls right where they were.

“Hey, um, Eric?”

“Yeah?” he said, wondering if the guy was about to try to convince him to let him drive.

“Is Joe seeing anyone?” Greg asked as he ran his fingers through his greenish-brown hair.

“Nope,” Eric said, making the word pop.

“So, you and Joe aren’t...” Greg said, letting his words trail off.

“No.”

“Do you mind if I go for it?” Greg asked, already moving to climb out of the truck to do just that.

“Not at all,” Eric said, knowing the guy would be shot down before he managed to get the last word out. She didn’t date doctors, asshole, or whackers.

This should be good, Eric thought with a grin as he reached for his door.

“So many choices,”Joe mumbled as she looked from the Snickers bar to the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

“You should get them both,” a low voice drawled.

Joe looked over her shoulder to find Greg standing behind her, giving her what he probably thought was a sexy grin. Frowning, she looked past Greg to find Eric leaning against the door frame, grinning hugely. The bastard had set her up. She was going to have to kick his ass later, Joe thought, biting back a sigh.

It was only the knowledge that she’d done worse to him that kept her from chucking one of the candy bars at his head. He’d better hope that they weren’t sent to the Sunflower nursing home since Judy was working tonight. She was at least sixty years old, barely five feet tall, weighed three hundred pounds, and had absolutely no shame when it came to Eric.

“Shouldn’t you guys be in the rig in case we get a call?” Joe asked casually as she shifted her attention to the Mounds bars.

Eric held up the portable radio and said, “Got it covered. Already told dispatch we were stepping out.”

“So, Joe,” Greg said as he picked up a candy bar to study it. “How long have you been an EMT?”

“About twelve years now,” she said, shooting a glare at Eric, who had the balls to wink at her.

“Wow, twelve years. You must have some pretty amazing stories to tell. Maybe we should get a drink sometime and talk about them?”

Before she could answer, Eric said, “That sounds like fun. She really likes that bar over on Madison. They have karaoke there every Thursday and Saturday night.”

Greg’s smile widened. The poor bastard probably thought Eric was helping him. “You like karaoke?”

“She loves it,” Eric said, wagging his eyebrows. “You should hear her rendition of ‘Material Girl.’ It’s life-altering.”

Joe sucked in a breath. That rat bastard! The one time she’d made the mistake of getting drunk at a frat party and danced on a table while belting out a few songs and he was going to throw it in her face? Unbelievable, especially since he was the one that requested that song!

“So, what do you say?” Greg asked, giving her a cocky grin that he probably thought was irresistible.

“About what?” Joe asked, returning her attention to the candy bars. If she was going to survive this night, she was going to need chocolate.

She heard Eric chuckle and discreetly flipped him off.

“Tomorrow night? You, me, dinner, dancing, and maybe a little karaoke?” Greg asked smoothly.

“Not gonna happen, spanky. She has plans with me,” Eric said.

Joe wasn’t stupid enough to believe that he was coming to her rescue. Oh, no, not Eric. He just didn’t want to get stuck with whatever bimbo his mother was throwing his way and had no problem with using her as a shield. If she didn’t love Alice so much or really love her cooking, she’d ditch his ass in a heartbeat.

“Well, what about this weekend?” Greg asked, sounding really hopeful.

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