Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

" H ow's your stomach?"

"It's fine. It was just something I ate," Greg said, not quite able to meet Joe's gaze as he lied his ass off.

"I'm sure that's what it was," Eric said, trying not to laugh. The guy puked at all six calls they were sent on. Five hours on the job and the kid still hadn't said one word to a patient. He'd ended up vomiting every single time they arrived on scene and sat up front for the drive to the hospital, sipping ginger ale while they took the patient inside.

It would suck for Greg, but there was no way in hell that they could sign off on this ride-along. The kid wouldn't be getting any credit for this. No doubt Greg would bitch, but Eric wasn't budging. It sucked to have to do more ride-alongs, but it couldn't be helped. Eric wasn't about to put a patient's life on the line for anyone.

"Alright, gentlemen," Joe said as she looked at Eric, "and I use that term loosely. I'm going to try to get some sleep."

"I think I should lie down, too," Greg said, and Eric didn't miss the look the guy was sending Joe's ass.

It also hadn't escaped his notice that Greg had sworn up and down that he wasn't tired and was going to hang out with the guys until he found out that the three of them were sharing a bunkroom. Once he knew that he'd be sleeping in the same room with Joe, he'd started yawning every fucking time she looked his way.

Joe might think of herself as one of the guys, but she wasn't. She was an incredibly beautiful woman with killer eyes and a sexy little smile that drove men nuts. It didn't hurt that she had a killer body, not that she thought she did. It really killed him that she didn't know just how beautiful she was. If you tried to tell her, she'd laugh her ass off. She was the most down-to-earth woman he'd ever met.

She was also his best friend and it was his job to kick the living shit out of any asshole that tried to hurt her. With that in mind, he followed the asshole drooling after Joe to the back rooms.

"I'm afraid there are only two beds, Greg. You'll either have to throw some blankets on the floor between the beds or go see if there's a spot on the couch," Joe explained with an apologetic smile as she unlaced her black boots.

Greg eyed the small space between the two beds before shifting his gaze to the bunk that Joe was sleeping on and struggled to bite back a smile. It wasn't fucking happening, Eric decided as he looked from his unmade bed with his old sleeping bag thrown on top of it to Joe's bed and couldn't help but smile. Ah, god love her, Joe always put comfort first. There was no sleeping bag for Joe. Not for his Joe. She always made her bed with soft cotton sheets, a down comforter, and an extra firm pillow.

He watched Joe pull off her light blue uniform shirt, leaving her in a very tight white tank top that made it really fucking easy to see the baby pink sports bra she wore underneath. Out of the corner of his eye, Eric caught Greg licking his lips hungrily as he stared at her chest and as usual, Joe was completely fucking oblivious.

Why did she have to make his job so fucking difficult?

"Greg, you can have my bunk," Eric said.

"Really?" Greg asked, looking even more excited. No doubt, the man thought that it was his lucky night.

"It's all yours," Eric said, shrugging it off.

"Cool. Thanks," Greg mumbled absently as he quickly took off his boots and tore off his shirt, making sure to flex to show off his slight build.

"Goodnight," Joe mumbled around a yawn as she climbed into bed while Greg climbed onto the other bed, all while keeping his gaze firmly locked on Joe.

"What happens if we get a call?" Greg asked as he shifted onto his side.

"A really fucking annoying alarm will go off and that phone will ring," Eric said, gesturing to the white phone on the wall above Joe's bed.

"If we don't hear it, will you come wake us up?" Greg asked, still fucking staring at Joe.

"Oh, that won't be necessary," Eric said, shaking his head as he pulled off his boots.

"What are you doing?" Greg asked, frowning in confusion as he watched him.

"Getting ready for bed. What does it look like?" Eric asked, blinking innocently.

"But...but..." Greg mumbled helplessly as Eric pulled his shirt off, making sure to flex his muscles in the process to put the scrawny little bastard in his place.

"Where are you going to sleep?" Greg asked nervously.

"We're double-bunking, of course," Eric said, grinning as he reached over and turned off the light, leaving them in total darkness.

"Ah," Greg said, swallowing loudly, "that's really not necessary. I don't mind taking the floor."

"Oh, I don't mind," Eric drawled, and then, just for shits and giggles, he pressed his foot down on Greg's mattress and pushed down, letting him think that he was about to have company. Greg actually squealed and in ten seconds flat, he was off the bed and out the door, leaving Eric laughing his ass off.

"That wasn't very nice," Joe said, chuckling.

"Yeah, but it put a smile on my face," Eric said, releasing a heartfelt sigh as he closed the door before he joined her.

"And just what do you think you're doing?" Joe asked, even as she scooted forward to make room for him.

"Going to bed. What does it look like?" Eric asked, throwing an arm over her waist.

"There's a freshly vacated bed right over there," she mumbled sleepily.

"I like this one better. It's comfy," Eric said, using his hold around her to pull her closer.

"Eric, we're not kids anymore. Go sleep in your own bed," Joe mumbled, even as she snuggled back against him.

"Ah, too late, I'm already drifting off," Eric said, chuckling when she poked his arm.

"Jerk."

"Yup."

"If you snore in my ear, I'm going to kill you."

"Duly noted," Eric said, closing his eyes and snuggling closer to her, knowing that she would be pissed if he left. Ever since they were kids, they'd been close. They snuggled, they cuddled, she sat on his lap, and he normally threw his arm over her shoulders whenever they were just sitting around or walking, hell they'd even skinny-dipped a few times.

Every woman that he'd ever dated hated it, but he didn't care. Joe was his best friend. They were close and he didn't give a damn if anyone had a problem with it. Joe kept him happy, kept him grounded, and had been there for him for everything in his life without question. Her shoulder was the one he'd cried on when his father died. She was the person who'd cheered him on at his football games. She was the one that he went to when anything big or small happened in his life and she would most likely be there when he took his last breath.

"That better not be what I think it is," Joe said, making him wince.

It was.

"It's my pocket light," Eric said, lying his ass off. He was only human, after all. It wasn't the first time she made him hard and it probably wouldn't be the last time. The physical discomfort was a small price to pay to have her in his arms.

"Well, then your flashlight is growing. Jeez, Eric, put a leash on that thing before it stabs me!" Joe teased as she gave her ass a playful wiggle that had him biting back a groan.

"But it likes you," Eric said, chuckling as he used his hold on her to stop her from tormenting him.

"I seem to remember a certain tenth-grade math class where it liked standing up in front of the entire class," Joe said dryly.

"That left me traumatized, woman!"

"Uh-huh," Joe said around another yawn. "I bet it did."

"It did," Eric readily agreed, leaning in and inhaled her vanilla scent as he pressed a kiss against the back of her neck, earning a soft sigh.

"Night, Joe."

"Goodnight, John-boy," she said, making his lips twitch.

"Smart-ass."