The Paramedic (The Working Men Series Book 9)

by Ramona Gray

  The Paramedic

  Working Men Series

  (Book Nine)

  Ramona Gray

  Copyright © 2019 Ramona Gray

  Published by

  EK Publishing Inc.

  e-ISBN: 978-1-988826-78-3

  This book is the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, scanned or distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Quotes used in reviews are the exception. No alteration of content is allowed.

  Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  Adult Reading Material

  Edited by

  L. Nunn Editing

  Cover Art by

  The Final Wrap

  The Paramedic

  Working Men Series Book Nine

  By Ramona Gray

  Natalia

  My love life is… well, it’s non-existent. When you’re a single mom and barely making ends meet, you don’t have a lot of time to date.

  Which is why local playboy and paramedic, Matt Andrews, daily visit to the diner where I waitress is a distraction. He’s well known for his wicked ways, but a brief, lust-filled fling is the last thing I need.

  It sure would be nice if my girlie bits had gotten the memo.

  His flirting is supposed to annoy me, and it does, but staring at his tall, lean body and those dark brown eyes makes me weirdly short of breath. It wouldn’t be totally inappropriate to ask him for mouth to mouth, would it?

  Matt

  What can I say? I love the ladies and the ladies love me. They want a fun, sex-filled, no commitment required weekend? I’m their guy. I know all the right things to say and do to make their blood pressure rise, but I’ve never been interested in a relationship that meant something.

  Until I met her.

  I’ve fallen hard for waitress and single mom, Natalia Dixon. Me, the guy who has never committed more than a couple of weeks to a woman, is suddenly fantasizing about setting up house with Natalia and her daughter and being the perfect husband and father.

  I save people’s lives for a living, but I have a suspicion that Natalia is the only one who can save me.

  * * *

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  Table of Chapters

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter One

  Matt

  “I know why you always pick this booth, Matt.”

  I ignored my best friend, Jonah, and scanned the diner. I didn’t see her, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t working today. She could be in the back.

  I cracked my knuckles and tapped my foot impatiently against the worn linoleum floor. The Farmhouse Diner had been around for as long as I could remember. I’d sat at the long, curved counter with my feet dangling, and my seven-year-old self slurping up milkshakes while my dad flirted with the waitresses.

  Back then, the walls were more of a cream colour instead of their current spoiled milk colour, the counter was spotless and chip free, and the booths hadn’t yet shown the wear and tear they did now.

  The food was good, but was it good enough to come back here every damn day for lunch? Hell, no. I’d had to increase my gym time by nearly half an hour just to mitigate the damage that eating the greasy food was doing to me. I wasn’t a total gym rat like my friend Elijah, but I liked to keep the six-pack firm for the ladies.

  Ladies? What ladies? You haven’t been laid in over six months.

  “Mattie!”

  I turned to Jonah. “What?”

  “I said, if you’re going to force me to meet you here every damn time we have lunch together, then you’re gonna have to start paying me gas money. The diner isn’t exactly close to my office, ya douche.”

  “Oh please,” I snorted. “It takes ten minutes to get everywhere in this place. It’s one of the benefits of living in a small town.”

  I scanned the diner again. Shit, was she not here? She always worked Tuesday during the day.

  “Maybe she isn’t working today.” Jonah echoed my thoughts.

  “She always works Tuesday,” I said. “Monday to Wednesday, she works the day shift, she’s off Thursday, then Friday and Saturday she works evening shifts and off again on Sunday.”

  There was silence and I stopped scanning the diner long enough to glance at Jonah. The look on his face made dull heat burn in my cheeks. “What?”

  “You’re sounding a little stalkerish, dude,” Jonah said.

  “No, I’m not.” My voice was defensive. “If I was a stalker, I’d know where she lived, how old she was, what her middle name was… shit like that.”

  “Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Jonah studied the menu. “Hmm…do I want the greasy burger or the weirdly greasy chicken sandwich. So many decisions.”

  “The food is good here,” I said. “Don’t be a dick.”

  Jonah grinned at me. “Don’t forget about Claire’s birthday thing on Friday.”

  “Shit,” I replied.

  “You forgot.”

  “Sorry, man. I told Mia and Elijah I’d hang out with them, but I’ll let them know I forgot about Claire’s birthday and do something with them another night.”

  Jonah leaned forward. “Is it seriously not awkward between the three of you?”

  “I told you it wasn’t,” I said. “We’re friends.”

  “Okay, sure. But, let’s not forget that Mia showed up to your place a few months ago wearing very little clothing in an attempt to seduce you. Then, when you turned her down, she started dating your good friend Elijah. And you’re telling me that the three of you hang out like you’re one big happy family without any weirdness at all.”

  I shrugged. “Maybe there was a little at the beginning, but not now. I’m honestly happy for Mia, you know? After you, she’s my best friend. Elijah is a great guy and it’s obvious that they love each other.”

  “You don’t think that Elijah was a rebound for her after you told her you would only ever be friends?”

  “No,” I said. “I don’t. I’ve worked with Mia for over three years and she might come across as quiet and a little on the shy side, but she knows what she wants. Maybe she thought she was in love with me, but the way she looks at Elijah? Man, she’s never once looked at me like that.”

  “All right.” Jonah closed the menu. “So, are you ever gonna ask Natalia out or what?”

  “I did,” I reminded him. “She turned me down flat.”

  “Yet,” Jonah looked around the diner, “here we are.”

  I ignored him, my heart tripling in beat when the door leading into the kitchen swung open and Natalia walked out. Her blonde hair was in a ponytail, she wasn’t wearing make-up, and that salmon-coloured uniform washed out her pale skin to the point that if I were on duty, I’d ask to check her vitals just to make sure she wasn’t gonna pass out on me.

  She looked a little tired and out of sorts and despite the sturdy, practical, and not at all sexy running shoes she wore, she limped the slightest bit.

  “She looks tire
d today,” Jonah said.

  I glared at him. “Knock it off. She works a lot. It’s hard being a single mother.”

  Jonah gave me a thoughtful look. “Jesus, you really do have it bad for her.”

  I didn’t reply. I pulled at my t-shirt, smoothing it down, and rubbing a hand over my jaw. Fuck, I should have shaved today. Natalia seemed like the type of woman who liked clean-shaven men.

  Her gaze landed on us and my stomach clenched at the look that came over her face. One part annoyance, one part resignation, and one part do-not-fuck-with-me-today. She planted a tense smile on her face and walked toward our booth.

  “Man, she looks pissed,” Jonah said.

  I wanted to argue, but there was no point. She was pissed.

  Natalia Dixon, waitress, single mother, and the woman I’d fallen madly in love with, hated my guts.

  “Hey, what can I get for you today?” Natalia’s let’s-just-get-this-over-with smile was firmly in place.

  “Hi, Natalia, how are you today?” Jonah said.

  Her smile warmed from frosty to warm. “Good, Jonah. You?”

  “Good thanks. I’ll take a water and the chef’s salad, please.”

  “Sure.” Her smile turned to arctic blast again when she faced me. “What can I get you?”

  She never said my name. Not once. Until her, I’d never once thought about a woman saying my name before. I wanted her to say it, and not just when I was between those undoubtedly silky-smooth thighs of hers. Sure, hearing her moan my name would be unfuckingbelievable, but at this point, I just wanted her to say it in her regular voice.

  “Hi, Natalia. You’re looking lovely today.”

  Her smile spread thin and I could have kicked myself. I’d meant it to be an honest compliment, but she knew my reputation just like everyone else in this town did. She wouldn’t take me seriously and I couldn’t blame her for it.

  I knew who Natalia was, both of us had grown up in the town and it was impossible to not at least have an idea of who a person was. But we didn’t run in the same circles in high school. I’d been a bit of a nerd in high school, president of the damn chess club and shit like that, and Natalia was a cheerleader who dated the quarterback, Evan Fealan.

  After graduation, Natalia had moved with Evan to Welling. Nearly four years later, she’d moved back home with a baby in her arms and no sign of Evan.

  I’d changed a lot while she was gone. My former tall and gangly body had filled out and the old Andrews family charm hadn’t skipped a generation. I’d spent my formative years watching my father charm his way into the pants of nearly every woman he met, and I’d found it easy enough to fall into the same pattern.

  I’d heard through the small-town grapevine that Natalia had come home from work one day to find Evan in their bed with another woman and that she’d immediately packed up her things and their baby and moved back home. I knew she’d gotten a job at the diner, but I never ate there. It wasn’t until almost six months ago, after a long shift and too hungry to drive any further, I’d pulled into the diner to grab a bite to eat.

  One look at Natalia, at her dark brown eyes framed with impossibly long lashes and her slender but firm body, and that was it for me. I was a fucking goner.

  I’d returned to the diner almost every day for the next two weeks, being flirtatious and hitting on her repeatedly despite her obvious disinterest. I couldn’t quite accept the concept that my usual charm wouldn’t get me into her bed.

  My arrogance made me believe that she found me as appealing as every other woman did – she just hid it better. So, even after two weeks of lukewarm response at best to my flirting, when I asked her out and she turned me down flat… well, you could have knocked me over with a fucking feather.

  “Thank you. What would you like?” Natalia was giving me an impatient look.

  You. Under me. Moaning my name. Cumming on my cock.

  Sweat broke out on my forehead and my dick pushed against my jeans. I closed my menu and said, “Water to drink, please and I’ll have the meatloaf and side salad. Thank you.”

  “Coming right up.” She took our menus and I watched her firm ass sway in that godawful uniform as she walked to the counter.

  “Well, if she doesn’t spit in your food, count yourself lucky,” Jonah said.

  “Knock it off,” I replied, still watching Natalia’s ass. “She’s not gonna spit in my food. I was nice to her and I didn’t even flirt.”

  “It’s impossible for you not to flirt,” Jonah said.

  I turned back to him. “I can’t get her out of my head, Jonah.”

  He gave me a sympathetic look. “You should stop coming to the diner, Mattie. She’s never gonna be into you and you’re only torturing yourself.”

  “I can’t,” I said. “The thought of not seeing her…”

  Jonah frowned a little. “Shit, Matt, you really are into her. Listen, don’t take this the wrong way, but maybe what you need is to go to the club and find someone to take your mind off Natalia.”

  By “club”, Jonah meant Sapphire. The Sapphire was a sex club in the city of Welling, about an hour from our small town. Both Jonah and I had gone to Sapphire numerous times in the past, me because I was looking to get laid with no commitment, and Jonah because he had certain tastes in the bedroom. Luckily for my best friend, his girlfriend, Claire, shared those same tastes.

  “I haven’t been to the club in over a year,” I said. “Hell, I haven’t had sex in seven months.”

  Jonah’ jaw almost dropped to the table. “You’re fucking kidding me.”

  “No,” I said as my gaze returned to Natalia. “I’m not.”

  “Mattie, look at me.”

  I tore my gaze from Natalia and stared at Jonah. “What?”

  “Are you in love with Natalia?”

  I didn’t reply and Jonah made a low groan. “Matt, what the hell, man?”

  “What?” I gave him a defensive look. “You can’t help who you love.”

  “Yeah, but… she’s not into you. At all. In fact, she kind of hates you.”

  I winced and Jonah squeezed my shoulder. “Shit, sorry, that was a dick thing to say, but I hate the idea of you mooning after a woman who’s never even gonna give you a chance.”

  “She might,” I said. “If I can show her that I’ve changed.”

  “How are you gonna do that if she won’t even talk to you?” Jonah asked.

  “I’ll figure it out,” I said. “I have to.”

  * * *

  “Mattie, are you okay?” Mia gave me a worried look as I drove down the street.

  “I’m fine,” I said. “Stop worrying, Mia.”

  “You’ve been quiet all afternoon.”

  I shrugged. After I had lunch with Jonah, I’d gone to the gym for a quick workout. When Mia texted me to see if I wanted to have coffee, I’d quickly agreed and met her at Mugs Coffee shop on Main Street.

  “You know you can tell me anything, right?” Mia said.

  “I know. I’m fine, Mia. Maybe a little tired.”

  “Okay.” She didn’t believe me, but I was grateful when she didn’t push any further. “You know, I could have called Elijah for a ride home. When he dropped me off, he said he could pick me up when we were done.”

  “I don’t mind,” I said.

  “Elijah lives on the opposite side of town from you,” she said.

  I glanced at her before turning left down a side street. “You’re happy living with Elijah, huh?”

  A soft smile crossed her face. “Yeah. Really happy. He’s a good man. I know it seems quick to move in with him, but with our work schedules, it was the easiest way for us to see each other. You know?”

  “It’s been almost eight months,” I said. “That doesn’t seem quick to me.”

  Mia laughed. “That’s weird coming from you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I replied.

  “It means, you’re the most commitment-phobic guy in town, Mattie. I know you’ve been totally crushi
ng on Natalia lately, but still… the day you move in with a woman is the day they start handing out ice-skates in hell.”

  I didn’t reply. Normally, Mia’s gentle teasing wouldn’t bother me in the least, hell, I’d be nodding and laughing along with her about it. But something inside me – something seismic in size - had shifted in the last six months, and now her teasing stung like a bitch.

  Intuitive as always, Mia said, “Mattie? I’ve hurt your feelings, haven’t I? I’m sorry.”

  “Nah, it’s fine,” I said as I stared out the windshield. “You don’t have to apologize. I’m being…what the hell?”

  I slammed on my brakes, making both of our seatbelts lock up.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Did you see that?”

  “See what?” Mia scanned the empty street.

  “There was a kid running down the sidewalk.”

  “I don’t see anything,” Mia said as I pulled over and parked. “Matt, the street is empty.”

  “She ran down that alley, I think…” Without waiting for Mia’s reply, I cut the engine and slid out of my truck. I slammed the door shut and zipped up my jacket before jogging toward the alley. My boots crunched in the hard snow and I could see my breath.

  Although the weather had warmed up some in the last day or so, it was still the middle of winter and it looked like the kid wasn’t wearing a jacket. I turned right down the alley, scanning both sides as I slowly walked past the garbage and recycling bins.

  “Hello?” I called. “Hey, kid? You around?”

  A flash of pink caught my eye and I ran forward. A little girl, she couldn’t have been more than two or three years old, was hiding behind the last garbage bin in the alley. She wore a pink t-shirt and a pair of jeans and her blonde hair was in two neat braids. Her cheeks and nose were bright red with cold and I could see her tiny body shaking.

  “Hey, sweetheart.” I squatted down, smiling at her when she took a step back. “What’s your name, baby?”