Erected (Erector Set, Book One) Read Online Free PDF

that gratitude on her face? Relief?
    Wow! Miss I’m-Very-Independent must be really shaken up.
    He tightened his fingers on her shoulder. “Shouldn’t you be sitting down?”
    She blew out a breath. “I figured if I sat in one of the patrol cars people would think I was being arrested.” She tilted her head toward one of the vehicles. “Like him.”
    Josh glanced at a patrol car parked at an angle some feet away. In the back seat a man sat with his head leaned against the window and his eyes closed. He frowned.
    “Is he asleep or passed out?”
    “Passed out is my guess.” Ness leaned into him a little. “I could smell him the minute he got out of his little penis extender.”
    Josh swallowed a smile. “Excuse me?”
    “That’s what I call all those outrageously expensive sports cars. It makes men with little penises feel a lot bigger.”
    “I’ll have to remember that if I’m ever tempted to buy one. Are you okay? Are you hurt anyplace? Shouldn’t you be getting checked out at the hospital?”
    She shook her head. “I’ll probably have some bruises by tomorrow but I think I’m shaken up more than anything else. Really. All my parts are in working order.”
    I’d like to check out some of those parts.
    Down, boy! She’s just been in an accident.
    “You sure?’ He took in every part of her from head to toe.
    “I’m sure.” Her lips curved in a weak smile. “Thanks for coming. I’m turning out to be quite a burden for you.”
    He chuckled. “I needed more white knight merit points, anyway.”
    He kept his tone light but he was really thinking, Holy shit! If she’s not giving me lip or arguing with me she must really be shaken up.
    Her body stiffened. “I don’t like to lean on people.”
    “No kidding. What a shock. But maybe right now you could make an exception.”
    “I won’t—”
    “Did you talk to the police yet?” he interrupted, not about to let her go off on him when what she really needed was to get the hell out of here.
    “One of them took down all the information.” Ness let out a shuddering breath. “He blew right through the red light and plowed into the side of my car.” She looked up at him. “My brand-new car. My insurance company is probably going to cancel me.”
    “On the strength of this I’d say the asshole’s insurance will wind up paying for it. Can you get out of here now?”
    “I think so. I’ll find out.”
    “Hold on. Much as it pains you, let me see what’s what. You wait right here.”
    Josh checked with one of the cops to make sure Ness was all clear then led her carefully away from the scene. He walked slowly, mindful of Ness’ cast and her increasingly shaky condition. The first pump of adrenaline had receded and now the shock of the situation was obviously setting in.
    In short order he retrieved his truck, lifted her into it and was headed away from the accident. He glanced over at her, saw her hands fisted tightly in her lap and her face unnaturally pale. Oh yeah. Full-out shock would be setting in if he didn’t ward it off. And that wasn’t going to be easy.
    “Since dinner out is obviously off the schedule, how about I pick up some takeout on the way back to your place.”
    “Thank you, but I’ll be fine.”
    Yup. Not easy.
    “I’m sure you will be but I’d feel a lot better if I got some food into you. It helps counteract the aftermath of the accident.”
    “So I should eat my way to relaxation?”
    Josh laughed. “Something like that. At best it counteracts the effects of the sudden ebb of adrenaline.” He wanted to reach over and place his palm reassuringly over her clenched hands but he was afraid she might snarl at him. “Come on, Ness. We were going to have dinner together, anyway.”
    “A thank you for helping me last night,” she reminded him.
    “This will be a different kind of thank you. You like Chinese?”
    “What?” She looked out the window. “Where are we? What are you doing?”
    “I’m getting Chinese