Say No To Joe? Read Online Free Page B

to get defensive.”
    â€œI am not defensive.” She turned her back on him and crossed her arms beneath her breasts, looking very defensive.
    â€œHow about I be a notch on your bedpost? I wouldn’t mind. Course, you might have to notch it twice, not that I’m bragging or anything . . .”
    Another loss of temper seemed imminent. Through her teeth, Luna growled, “Will you go along with me or not?”
    Her black jeans were low slung, snug, hugging that exquisite rear end to perfection. She turned back to him, and when she moved just right, Joe could catch a small glimpse of her belly between her jeans and her colorful halter. For a woman with generous hips and breasts, Luna’s waist was surprisingly narrow, her belly only slightly rounded. More than anything, she reminded him of a pinup girl from days gone by. Lush, curvy. Sexy.
    â€œI’m still considering it,” he muttered, thoroughly distracted with thoughts of getting her naked so he could do a better inspection of her assets.
    â€œI’ll pay you.”
    Well, that shot his pleasant imagery all to hell. “Forget that. I don’t want or need your money.”
    She propped her hands on her hips. “But you just told me that you were broke.”
    Joe waved that away, then had to hold his ribs when pain skittered through him. “I always say that so women won’t get ideas. It’s better than claiming I’m a lousy lover, which I doubt anyone would believe anyway.”
    Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “So you lied?”
    â€œCourse not.” He tried to look offended. “I just exaggerated, that’s all. I mean, I’m not wealthy or anything. But I’ve always lived a moderate lifestyle alone, I’ve always been employed, and I’m always good at what I do. I have enough put away to be comfortable.”
    â€œYou are such a pig.”
    â€œI’m a realist,” he corrected. “Women have been trying to drag me to the damn altar for years. They’re more inclined toward temporary liaisons rather than long-term relationships when they think I’m poor.”
    â€œFine, whatever. I really don’t care what you tell other women. But I insist on paying you for your time.”
    â€œNo.” He’d rather she be indebted to him. Not that he’d use the debt to blackmail her into bed or anything, but if she softened toward him, if she saw him as her hero, maybe she’d quit fighting him so hard.
    â€œBe reasonable, Joe. I have no idea what we’re walking into, so I might need you there for a week or a month. Can you afford that long off work?”
    Knowing his own abilities, Joe figured it’d take a week, ten days tops, to get the lay of the land, uncover any problems, and get it all straightened out. Then he could concentrate fully on Luna—and her gratitude.
    He grinned shamelessly as he said, “Yeah, I can.” When she started to argue again, he held up a hand. “Here’s the thing. I was ready to dump this place anyway. Too many people feel free to drop in unannounced and—”
    â€œYou mean too many women.”
    He answered her pointed glare with a grin.
    â€œMaybe if you quit handing out keys . . .”
    â€œNow, that’s one accusation you can’t lay on me. I do not hand out keys.” Just the opposite. He valued his privacy, his bachelor status, above everything except family.
    â€œSo how did Barbie and her friend get in?”
    â€œBarbie?” All this grinning was making his jaw ache as much as his ribs. “You mean Beth? She got in with Amelia, the other one who was copping feels off my drugged body when you arrived. And before you ask, no, I didn’t give Amelia a key either. We had a date the night I got jumped, and so she’s the one who took me to the hospital and brought me home. I’m assuming she kept a key, and God knows I haven’t been fit enough to see about