Say No To Joe? by Lori Foster Read Free Book Online Page A

though I’d told her up front that I wasn’t into any type of permanence. Unlike Amelia, she didn’t accept that I wanted to remain a bachelor. She kept pushing and pushing. So I bailed.”
    â€œMeaning you stopped seeing her at all?”
    â€œYeah. A month or so later we ended up at the same party. She was being nice, which should have been my first clue that she was up to something, because whenever things didn’t go her way, Louise was a real bitch. Halfway through the night she slipped something into my beer and I woke up in a damned tattoo parlor. I was stretched out on a table, my jeans around my ankles, and some wiry little weasel was writing I Love Louise on my ass. I came to before he could finish.”
    A faint snicker was heard from behind him, then Luna stood. She wore a wicked grin, but she didn’t laugh. This attitude she had of treating him like an asexual being grated big time, especially since he couldn’t return the favor. She was a sexy woman, and he knew it in every pore of his being. His awareness of her defied all reason.
    â€œAll done, except for a few places that I refuse to touch.”
    Joe gave her a heated look. “Chicken.”
    â€œJust cautious.”
    Joe held out his hand, and Luna tossed the towel to him, then turned her back. Hastily, feeling a little self-conscious, Joe finished drying. He let one towel drop to the floor and shielded himself with the other. On top of acute sexual frustration, his every muscle pulled and ached. The hot shower had eased him, but not enough.
    He winced a little as he moved, and Luna said, “Let me help you get your boxers on.”
    â€œForget it. Just keep your back turned.” He’d tortured himself enough for one day. If she bent down in front of him—a position sure to put lecherous thoughts in any male mind—he wasn’t sure he’d be able to take it.
    With a modicum of swearing and a few stifled groans, Joe donned his underwear. Luna hovered at his side, not watching but still there , burning him, making him edgier. He hated to admit to his own weakness, but it was a good thing she didn’t want him fully dressed. Wearing jeans and a shirt would have been more than a little uncomfortable.
    As they headed for the kitchen and sustenance, Luna held his arm. He noticed that she walked slowly to make it easier on him. Though it was necessary, that nettled him too. Damn weakness. When he’d started this, Joe had planned to let her assist just to have her close. He hadn’t planned on actually needing her help.
    When the opportunity arose, he’d kick two asses just to prove to her that he could.
    â€œSo what did you do when you came to and realized what was going on?”
    They’d reached the hall and were almost to the kitchen. “I was out of it enough that I tore the place up first.”
    â€œFirst?”
    He slanted her a look. “Want all the gory details, huh?”
    â€œThat depends on how gory they get. I can’t imagine you hitting a woman or beating down an innocent man.”
    â€œYour idea of innocent probably varies from mine, but no, I didn’t hurt the tattoo artist.” Much. “Let’s just say he now understands that he should never touch someone who isn’t coherent enough to agree to a tattoo.”
    â€œAnd the woman?”
    Joe grunted. Far as he was concerned, Louise had gotten off easy. “She’s from a rich family, with an influential daddy and society mamma. Big into appearances. They think their little girl is so sweet and innocent. I think they have big plans of her hooking up with a senator’s son or something.” He shook his head, grinned. “It’s for sure they never pictured her slumming with me.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with you?”
    She actually sounded affronted on his behalf. Joe laughed. “I’m not a mamma’s dream son-in-law, that’s for sure. I explained to