Say No To Joe? Read Online Free PDF Page A

changing locks.”
    An arrested, thoughtful expression replaced Luna’s look of annoyance. “She was with you, but she wasn’t hurt during the attack?”
    â€œI was away from her when it happened.” And that had been the only blessing of the night. Joe couldn’t bear the thought of a woman being hurt while under his protection.
    With her head down in thought, Luna took a slow turn around his bedroom. Except for the clothes that he’d dropped on the floor the night he was hurt, the path was clear. Since the attack, he hadn’t gotten dressed, had barely eaten, and rarely even ventured from the bed except that morning to clean his teeth and get a drink. He’d been prepared to scrounge up some food when Beth and Amelia had dropped in.
    Of course, they hadn’t thought to feed him. He figured he’d lost a good eight pounds in the last few days.
    â€œSo you were on a date with Amelia, but away from her side when some goon jumped you?” Luna tapped a foot. “That’s rather convenient, isn’t it?”
    â€œFor who?”
    â€œHer?”
    The blatant insinuation threw him. “I had no idea you had such a suspicious nature.”
    Luna shrugged and waited for him to explain. Her insinuations rubbed him raw. “It was not a conspiracy. In case you failed to notice, Amelia is still fond of me. And that’s even after I turned her down for anything more serious.”
    â€œMore serious?”
    He shrugged. “They all seem to get marriage minded. But she was okay with just keeping it . . .”
    â€œSexual?”
    Joe grinned.
    In her driest Luna-the-goddess tone, she said, “Dumb question.” Then, with remaining suspicion: “So tell me, Joe, how exactly did it happen?”
    Joe gave up. “I’d run out to the parking garage to get my truck because it was raining. I am a gentleman, you know.”
    â€œRight.”
    Did she have to sound so facetious? “I’d just gotten the truck unlocked when I got hit from behind. I went down, got beat on some more, but I’d already blacked out, so I have no idea how much time passed. When I didn’t return to the restaurant, Amelia came after me and found me on the ground. She might have been the person who scared the guy off, you know. He might have killed me otherwise. It sure as hell feels like he was trying.”
    Other than burning concern in her gaze, Luna let all that go by. “Did she call the police?”
    â€œI was just coming around when she got there. She took me to the hospital, and when they finished with me, I spoke with the cops there. Not that I expect them to be much help. I didn’t see who it was, so there wasn’t much to go on.”
    Luna didn’t look at all convinced. “Amelia didn’t see anyone either?”
    â€œNo. She heard some noises in the garage, but I was alone when she got there.”
    â€œHmmm. You must have been out for a quite a while.” Joe glared at her, and she said, “Okay, so Amelia adores you even though you turned her down for marriage. Do you have any idea who might not feel the same?”
    â€œOh, I’ve got my suspicions.” Even as Joe said it, his muscles clenched in anger, causing him additional discomfort. When he caught the son of a bitch again, he’d even the score and then some.
    â€œMeaning?”
    Joe shook himself. Now wasn’t the time for savage thoughts of revenge, not when Luna was within reach. “Meaning it was probably Bruno Caldwell, the same bastard who shot out my knee.”
    Her eyes widened. “That’s why you sometimes limp? You were shot?”
    Joe grunted. “What, you thought I hurt it playing softball?”
    â€œI don’t know.” She looked dumbfounded. “I didn’t . . . I never really thought about it. I mean, I know you’ve had some edgy jobs, but . . .”
    Joe almost laughed. Obviously, she had no idea how