The Paramedic (The Working Men Series Book 9)

by Ramona Gray

  “Oh, so he doesn’t sleep with everything in a skirt?” She sipped at her wine before helping herself to some food.

  “No, he does. But… I think he’s actually a pretty good guy.”

  “Being a manwhore doesn’t make him a bad guy,” Maggie replied.

  I winced, more shame curling into my belly. “I thought it did. God, I’m such a judgmental bitch, Maggie. I looked at Matt and saw some guy who banged as many women as he could and that was it. And in the last twenty-four hours, he saved my kid’s life, let me stay with him free of charge and is being a chauffer and a babysitter. I seriously need an attitude adjustment, don’t I?”

  I had told Maggie everything that happened the second I walked through her door. Well, almost everything. I’d left out the way I’d practically tried to jump Matt’s bones last night.

  Maggie shrugged before giving me a careful look. “Maybe, but - and yeah I’m being judgmental here too - maybe Matt’s doing this for his own selfish reasons.”

  “What do you mean?” I ate another piece of cheese.

  “I mean that Matt is obviously into you. He’s flirted with you for months and hasn’t gotten anywhere. Maybe he sees helping you as his chance to finally get into your bed.”

  “I tried to have sex with him last night and he rejected me.”

  I jumped up, wincing at the pain in my heels, when Maggie inhaled the cracker she was eating and began to cough and choke. I moved behind her and thumped her twice on the back with the heel of my hand. She dragged in a gasping breath.

  “Better, thanks.” She coughed again and then swallowed down some wine.

  I limped back to my seat and took my own sip of wine as Maggie, her eyes watering, stared at me. “You tried to bang Matt?”

  “Yeah. He said no.”

  “You’re kidding me.”

  I looked away and pulled at the front of my uniform.

  “Tell me exactly what happened,” Maggie demanded.

  “Not much to tell. Phoebe was asleep and I was sitting on the couch bawling my eyes out. Matt came downstairs and let me cry on his shoulder. Then I stuck my tongue down his throat until he said no and then I went back to my room more humiliated than I’d ever been in my entire life.”

  “Wait, you were crying and upset and then you started making out with him?”

  I nodded. “He responded at first, but then he said he couldn’t do this, that he would be taking advantage of me if he did.”

  “Oh my God,” Maggie said.

  “What?”

  “That’s about the sweetest damn thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “Yeah, well, it wasn’t. It was humiliating.”

  Maggie poked at the cheese on her plate before taking a small bite of it and swallowing carefully. “Nat, he was super sweet. You have to see that, don’t you?”

  “No, all I see is being rejected by the guy who will sleep with anyone.”

  She threw a cracker at me and it pinged off my forehead. I glared at her and she shrugged. “You’re being dumb.”

  “I’m not. I -”

  “You are,” she said. “I get it. You have had a truly terrifying and horrible twenty-four hours, but if you look past that, you’ll see that what Matt did last night was sweet and kind, and exactly what he should have done.”

  I rubbed the cracker crumbs off my forehead. “Yeah, I am being dumb. I mean, I was kind of attracted to him even before all of this happened. I hated that I was, but I was. Only, now he’s being super nice and kind and even though you’re right in that he’s only doing it to get into my pants… I really want to let him into my pants.”

  “So let him,” Maggie said.

  I gaped at her. “I can’t. Maggie, he’s not looking for a relationship and, besides, I’m not looking for one either. My priority right now is Phoebe and trying to figure out how I’m gonna keep her safe and warm and fed. I’m doing a terrible job at all three as it is.”

  “One – you’re not. You’re an amazing mother and you’re doing the best you can do, and Phoebe knows how much you love her. Two – maybe a couple nights of amazing sex with Matt is exactly what you need.”

  “It isn’t,” I said.

  “Don’t be so hasty to decide that,” Maggie said. “When was the last time you got laid?”

  I chewed on my bottom lip. “When I was with Evan, so, I dunno… over two years.”

  “Okay, yeah, you definitely need to get laid.”

  “I’m not the type of girl to just sleep with a guy,” I said.

  “Neither was I. Then along came Wyatt,” Maggie said.

  “Yeah, but Wyatt loves you and wants you and that was obvious. Matt is only looking for a good time.”

  “So are you,” she said. “You just told me that you don’t want a relationship right now. But you’re attracted to Matt and he’s attracted to you, right?”

  I cleared my throat. “We did, uh, kiss again this morning in his truck. And he made it clear that he wanted me despite what happened last night.”

  Maggie gave me a look of outrage. “You are seriously holding out on me, girl. Are there any other make out sessions I need to know about?”

  “No,” I said.

  She gave me a suspicious look and despite my worry and my exhaustion, I laughed. “I promise. I’ve only kissed Matt twice now.”

  “All right, I’ll believe you. Anyway, my point is – you’re under nothing but stress and worry right now and you could use a fun distraction by the name of Matt Andrews.”

  “It’s not a very nice thing to do to him,” I said. “To use him like that makes me feel… icky.”

  “Because you’re a nice girl. But even nice girls deserve fun with a bad boy, right? From what I’ve heard Matt Andrews is a pretty naughty guy. You can’t tell me you don’t want to find out how naughty.”

  “Maybe I’m curious,” I admitted. “But I would just be using him.”

  “Like he’s using you,” Maggie said.

  I sat back in my chair and sipped at my wine. Maggie had a point. I knew what Matt wanted from me and why shouldn’t I take the same thing from him? No one would get hurt and it would be a nice stress reliever.

  “Phoebe is what matters,” I said. “Not me.”

  “No, you matter too,” Maggie said. “Listen, I’m not a mom, but I know that you need to take care of yourself in order to take care of your kid. Maybe taking care of yourself means dusting off the old vagina for a night or two and getting yourself some of Matt’s D.”

  She made a circle with her forefinger and thumb and poked her other finger in and out of the circle. “If you know what I’m saying.”

  “I know what you’re saying,” I said dryly. “I don’t need the hand gestures.”

  Maggie laughed. “Honey, I think you need this. You said you were at Matt’s house until Friday when you pay your heat bill, right? So that gives you tonight and tomorrow night to have a little fun. Once Pheebs is in bed, forget about your worries for a few hours and bang Matt until neither of you can see straight.”

  My growing lust for Matt circled down the drain at the reminder of my heat bill and just how much trouble I was in.

  “I don’t need to bang Matt, I already am fucked,” I said morosely.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Jack called me. My car is gonna cost six hundred bucks to repair. I can’t afford that and turn my heat back on too. If I pay the car bill, I won’t be able to get my heat turned on for like another two weeks.”

  “Actually,” Maggie grinned at me and reached into the bottom drawer of the desk. She pulled out a file, my name was written neatly on the tab, and set it in front of her. “I think I can relieve some of your stress.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She opened my file and handed me a cheque. “I got this in the mail this morning.”

  I stared blankly at the cheque and at Evan’s signature. “I – he paid child support?”

  “Yep,” Maggie said triumphantly. “He still owes you back payments
for the last two years, but he’s gonna pay them. His lawyer is dragging his heels on it, trying to pretend that Evan doesn’t have that kind of cash lying around, but he’ll have to pay it sooner or later. He’ll probably do it in monthly instalments, rather than a lump sum, but if he doesn’t start doing monthly payments for the payments he owes by next month, I’ll have his wages garnished. But, for this month at least, you’re getting what he should be paying monthly, and you’ll receive this amount every month for certain.”

  “Oh my God,” I whispered. “Maggie, I – I can’t believe it. You’re amazing.”

  She grinned at me. “Nope, just really good at going after deadbeat dads. Now, technically this payment is for next month, which is why the cheque is dated for Monday, but I’m sure Matt will be okay with you staying with him until then. On Monday, you deposit that bad boy and pay your car bill and turn your heat back on.”

  Tears were slipping down my cheeks and I stared at Maggie. “I can’t thank you enough, Maggie.”

  “Just doing my job, honey.” Maggie reached across the desk and squeezed my hand.

  “If he keeps paying child support, I can actually put Phoebe in a better daycare,” I said. “I could maybe even rent an apartment instead of that gross trailer. You’ve changed my life, Maggie. Do you know that?”

  Maggie swallowed hard and I could see the gleam of tears in her eyes. “I’m glad I could help. Now, finish up your wine and your cheese and crackers and I’ll give you a ride to Matt’s place.”

  Chapter Five

  Matt

  For such a tiny little kid, Phoebe snored louder than a tractor. I squinted at my alarm clock, knowing exactly what or rather who, the tiny ball of warmth plastered against my back was. It was a little after one in the morning and I laid perfectly still, wondering what I should do.

  After texting me that Maggie would give her a ride home, Natalia had returned to the house around seven. She’d immediately taken Phoebe upstairs to have a bath and I was a little weirded out by how happy it made me when Phoebe demanded I come upstairs and read her a bedtime story.

  I’d read the story and then left them to finish their bedtime ritual alone. When after a half hour, Natalia still hadn’t returned, I’d peeked into their room to find her fast asleep in the bed next to Phoebe. I’d shut the light off and returned downstairs, more than a little disappointed that I couldn’t spend time with Natalia.

  Phoebe made a loud snort behind me and I winced when she jabbed her elbow into my kidneys and then kicked me in the upper thigh. Christ, how did Natalia sleep with Phoebe in the bed with her?

  She probably doesn’t. She looked exhausted when she came home.

  Yeah, she did, and while I knew that what she needed most was sleep, I was still disappointed that I’d spent the evening watching ESPN alone.

  No, you’re disappointed that you didn’t get to fuck her. Admit it, dude. If she’d made any sort of move on you last night, you would have stopped pushing her away and fucked her.

  I wanted to deny it but couldn’t. I’d spent all day thinking about Natalia and that kiss in the truck. The way she tasted, her reaction to my kisses… if I didn’t get her in my damn bed, I’d go crazy.

  “Phoebe?” Natalia’s soft voice made me tense in surprise. “Sweetpea, where are you?”

  Before I could call out to her, I heard her walk into my bedroom. It was a clear night and I’d forgotten to pull the blinds before I went to bed. Moonlight was streaming in through the window and I heard Natalia make a little groan.

  “Shit. Oh, sweetpea, what are you doing in here?”

  She crept toward the bed and the mattress dipped when she sat down. Fuck me, Natalia was in my bed.

  Keep it in your pants, dude. It’s not like anything is going to happen.

  Cool air drifted over my naked chest as Natalia carefully eased the quilt and sheet down.

  Her hand slipped between my back and Phoebe and I tried not to shiver from her touch. The silence was suddenly broken by a loud ‘braaap’ that cut through the air.

  “Um… that was not me,” I said.

  Natalia made a soft squeak of surprise and I turned over. “You know your kid looks sweet and innocent, but she farts like a damn sailor. That was… oh, oh my God.”

  I covered my nose as the smell hit me and waved the air in front of me. “Christ, that stinks.”

  I sat up, hoping the air would be a bit fresher at a higher elevation. Phoebe rolled to her back and her eyelids blinked open. She stared blearily at me before lifting her leg and farting again.

  My eyes watered at the stench and I plugged my nose. “Oh my God, Phoebe, what did you eat?”

  “Psghetti,” she mumbled before patting the bed beside her. “Lie down, Mattie.”

  “Sweetpea, sit up,” Natalia said.

  Phoebe shook her head. “No. I farted, Mama.”

  “Yes, I know,” Natalia said. “Do you need to use the bathroom?”

  “Nope. I just fart.” Phoebe lifted her leg a second time and let another one rip before giggling. “Smelly.”

  “I am so sorry,” Natalia said as Phoebe rolled to her side and rested her head on my thigh. I was wearing sleep pants and her little hand stroked the material as she yawned. “Lie down, Mattie.”

  “Time to go back to our bed,” Natalia said.

  She reached for Phoebe and we both jerked in surprise when Phoebe made an ear-splitting scream and began to cry. “No, Mama! No! No! No!”

  “Phoebe, stop,” Natalia said.

  “I stay with Mattie!” Phoebe screamed. Her little hands clenched around my pants when Natalia tried to pick her up and she kicked her feet and screamed again.

  “Phoebe, enough,” Natalia repeated.

  “I wanna sleep with Mattie!” Phoebe shrieked.

  I patted her back as she pointed her tear-stained face toward mine. “Please, Mattie. I stay with you, otay?”

  “Okay,” I said. “It’s okay, sweetie. You can stay here.”

  She continued to cry, and I gave Natalia a helpless look. “Why is she so upset?”

  Natalia looked like she was going to cry as well. “I don’t know, she-she’s never done this before or acted this way. Do you mind if I, um…”?

  She pointed at my bed and I shook my head. She laid down beside Phoebe and rubbed her tiny back as she continued to cry. “It’s okay, Pheebs. Tell Mama what’s wrong.”

  “I wanna stay in Mattie’s bed,” Phoebe sobbed. “Please, Mama.”

  I laid down beside her and stroked her hair. “Shh, Phoebe, don’t cry.”

  She wiggled up until she could rest her head on my ribcage. “Stay with you, otay?”

  “Your mama will be lonely,” I said. “You don’t want her to be lonely in her bed, do you?”

  Phoebe sat up and shook her head. “No. Mama can stay too.”

  Hell, yes.

  Natalia rubbed her back. “No, sweetpea. Both of us are going back to our own bed. It’s late and -”

  “We not leaving,” Phoebe said before grabbing the covers and pulling them up. She laid on her side and clung to my arm. “Go to sleep, Mama. Night, Mattie.”

  “Uh… good night, Phoebe.”

  I studied Nat in the moonlight. Despite how early she’d gone to bed, she looked tired and worn out.

  “It’s fine,” I said. “It’s a big bed. Just lie down and get some sleep, okay?”

  “Letting her have her own way isn’t good parenting,” Natalia replied.

  “Just for tonight. We’re all tired, right? So, let’s get some sleep and we’ll figure out in the morning why she’s being so…”

  “Clingy to you?” Natalia said.

  I nodded and Natalia covered her mouth as she yawned. “Yeah, okay. If you’re sure you don’t mind?”

  “I don’t.” I reached down and patted Phoebe’s back. “No more farting, kiddo.”

  Phoebe giggled. “I stinky.”

  “You sure are,” I said.

  “You positive you don’t need to us
e the bathroom, honey?” Natalia said.

  “I sure. Night, Mama.”

  “Night, sweetpea.” Natalia laid down and gave me a tentative smile before closing her eyes.

  I stared up at the ceiling, listening to both Natalia and Phoebe’s breathing slow and deepen. Fifteen minutes later when Phoebe farted in her sleep before kicking me hard in the ribs, I covered my nose against the smell and realized that I’d never been happier.

  * * *

  “Wake up, Mattie.”

  I opened my eyes and squinted at Phoebe. She was standing next to the bed and she grinned at me. “I went pee in the toilet.”

  “Good job,” I said before glancing at the clock. It was after eight and I had a moment of panic before I remembered Natalia was off today.

  “Are you hungry?” I asked.

  She nodded and checked behind me. Natalia was a quilt-covered lump on the far edge of the bed, and I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed. “C’mon, sweetheart, your mama can sleep in while I make you breakfast. Okay?”

  “Otay,” she said.

  She took my hand and we walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs. I boosted her onto a kitchen chair and gave her a glass of juice. “Stay there for a second while I brush my teeth, okay?”

  She nodded and pointed to my iPad. “Play Peppa Pig.”

  “Um, hold on.” I didn’t have a clue what or who Peppa Pig was, but I found a video quickly enough on YouTube. I left her sitting at the table watching the video and drinking her juice and headed back upstairs to my room.

  I ignored my urge to climb back in beside the still sleeping Natalia – fuck, did it feel good to see her in my bed – and used the washroom and brushed my teeth before returning downstairs.

  “What do you want to eat for breakfast, Pheebs?” I asked.

  “Waffles.”

  “Um, how about pancakes?” I said.

  “Otay.” She didn’t look up from the video as I grabbed the pancake mix from the cupboard. An hour later, pancakes had been eaten with enthusiasm and Phoebe was a sticky mess.

  “How did you get syrup in your hair?” I asked as I cleaned her hands and face with the washcloth. I had brought her to the guest bathroom and set her on the vanity, and she giggled and kicked her feet.