Page 40 of Her Paramedic (Men in Uniforms #3)

He hummed, taking the flat from her. “You think you got enough, baby?”

“I got one for each of us, and I figured I could use the other ones to make something for tomorrow. You have to try them later. They’re good.”

“Did everyone get what they wanted?” Solomon asked. When he received affirmative answers, they left and headed to the grocery store to get the last few things they needed for the next afternoon.

“H ere, baby. Try this.”

Talia held up the freshly washed strawberry for Slate a couple of hours later, after they’d returned to his house. They’d gotten everything they needed, and after putting things away, Corrin pulled Solomon off to find a game for them to play while Talia washed the flat of strawberries.

“It’s good, right?” she asked, biting into the other half.

“It is.” Her boyfriend licked his lips. “I think you should let me use a few of them later tonight.”

“Behave tonight. Your parents are here, and since you like me loud, we will not be doing that.”

“I can make an exception for tonight. It might be fun to see how quiet you can be.” He caged her against the counter.

“Especially since you did such a good job a few weeks ago back at the lounge. But I don’t think it’ll matter if you can’t be quiet.

My dad informed me he brought earplugs for him and Mom.

” Slate dipped his head. “So, yes or no to the strawberries. They’re delicious now, but I bet they’d taste even better after I dip them in this sweet, little—”

Talia placed her hand over his mouth, silencing him. “Would you stop it? Don’t get me worked up,” she chastised playfully.

Slate removed her hand from his mouth. “But it’s so much fun, baby.” He kissed her, pulled her flush against him, away from the counter, and smacked her on the ass. Talia released a soft moan into the kiss, and when he massaged her ass, she pinched him.

“Your parents are in the next room. Behave, babe.”

He chuckled and released her as she glared playfully at him. They put the strawberries into the fridge before entering the living room, where Corrin set up Jenga. Talia sat on the couch, Slate beside her, and he draped his arm over the back of it.

“I thought this would be fun, and I could give you the rundown on the family members that will be in attendance tomorrow,” Corrin informed as she ensured the tower was secure.

“For the most part, everyone is laid back and will give you space, but there are a few who are overly nosy and will try to be as deep into your business as you allow them to be.”

“Are you counting yourself in the latter?” Solomon asked. “Because if not, you might want to consider it.”

Talia giggled while Slate chuckled, and Corrin cut her eyes at her husband. “You remember that.”

Solomon shrugged. “I don’t mind that you’re nosy, honey. It’s one of your endearing qualities.”

“I’m going to endear my foot up your butt in a second,” Corrin countered, and Solomon held his hands up in surrender. “Talia, why don’t you go first?”

They played Jenga while Corrin gave her the rundown on a few family members, and Solomon continuously teased his wife.

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T he following afternoon, Talia nodded along to what Jana, Corrin’s cousin, said as she did her best not to glance at the latter-mentioned woman over Jana’s shoulder.

She’d been talking to her for the past twenty minutes, and Talia was sure Jana had asked her a thousand and one questions.

She’d been prepared for it since Jana was someone Corrin had mentioned the previous evening.

Talia also didn’t mind, because she knew how meeting someone’s family went.

There were always questions abound, and she knew her parents would be the same way when meeting Slate officially as her boyfriend, and not as they had as Axel’s friend.

Corrin had taken it upon herself to make faces and hand gestures behind Jana from a distance.

A few people around Corrin laughed softly, seemingly used to the antics and Jana’s constant talking.

Talia had learned the previous day what a character Corrin was, and she wasn’t even sure the older woman was trying to be.

She seemed like one of those people who were naturally funny.

“What about you?” Jana asked, drawing Talia’s full attention back to her. Talia quickly racked her brain for the last thing Jana said, but she couldn’t recall. Initially, she’d done a good job of not getting distracted by Corrin, but it seemed she hadn’t done such a great job that time.

“We’ll be going in the near future,” Slate stated, coming to the rescue as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

Talia hadn’t even known he’d approached them. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been refilling the drinks in the cooler.

“Any idea where?” Jana asked.

“Not yet,” he responded. “If you’ll excuse us, Jana. I need to borrow Talia for a moment.”

Jana smiled at them. “Of course. I’ll catch up with you later.”

“I thought you could use rescuing,” Slate said once they’d walked away from Jana.

Talia laughed. “She wasn’t that bad. At least she could keep the conversation going. What was she talking about at the end? Your mom distracted me.”

Slate chuckled. “She asked how often you vacationed because she found it hard to take time off.”

“And you want to go soon?” she inquired.

“I do because it means I get to be selfish and not share you with the world if I don’t want to,” he responded. “Come on. I want to introduce you to Carie.”

When they stopped in front of a woman and Slate introduced the two, Talia could admit that Carie was not what she’d imagined. Talia thought she would be at least her height or taller, mainly because of the profession that she was in. However, if she had to guess, Carie stood maybe five foot one.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Talia said with a smile, holding her hand out.

“You too. I told Slate I wasn’t missing this gathering for anything,” Carie responded.

“I said the same,” Jonah added, joining them. She’d met him earlier when everything began. “I needed to set my eyes on the woman that Slate doesn’t shut up about and has him putting on his bedroom voice when we’re in the van together.”

“Whoever said you were funny lied to you, kid,” Slate responded, and Talia and Carie laughed.

“I’m hilarious, old man.”

“Remind me not to invite you to anything else,” Slate countered.

The four stood and conversed for several minutes before Talia excused herself and headed inside.

She wanted to make sure her mini strawberry cheesecakes had set.

Her sponge cakes were already finished. Everything else was just about ready and set up, and they would eat soon.

There had been little for the four of them to do since everyone who was coming was bringing something.

She checked her little desserts to find they were setting nicely and should be finished by the time everyone ate.

T wo hours later, Talia was at the beverage table, choosing between the different options. Someone stepped up beside her, placing two large jugs on the table, and she glanced over. She hadn’t seen them earlier and assumed they’d just arrived.

“You must be Talia.”

She turned her attention to them. “I am.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” He held out his hand. “I’m Brent. Slate’s cousin.”

“Nice to meet you too,” she responded, shaking his hand.

“Having difficulty?” he asked, gesturing to the drinks.

“A little.”

“Why don’t you try this?” he suggested, taking the top off one jug.

“What’s in it?”

“Pineapple, mango, and peach juice with pieces of the fruit that were soaked overnight in vodka.”

It sounded good; mangos and peaches were two of her favorite fruits. Talia held her cup out, and he filled it halfway before pouring himself a glass.

“So, how long have you and my cousin been together?”

“Five months,” Talia responded. Even though they’d been dating longer than that, and he’d made it very clear what he wanted, Talia had not staked her claim until New Year.

“As soon as Aunt Corrin heard he was in a relationship, she was gossiping with my mom on the phone.”

Talia smiled as she took a drink. It seemed Solomon was correct when he said Corrin should count herself in the latter group.

However, she thought it was cute that she was so excited her son was dating.

She would take parents smothering her with questions and excitement rather than not liking her. That would make a relationship tough.

“From what I’ve been able to tell, she’s such a character. I’ve enjoyed getting to know her,” Talia responded. She took another drink from the cup.

“She definitely is. There’s never a dull moment with her.”

Talia nodded, only half-focusing on what he said as she tried to swallow.

Her throat felt thick, and she immediately knew she was having an allergic reaction as it became harder to breathe.

The cup hit the ground, and she vaguely heard Brent ask if she was okay as she pulled at the collar of her shirt.

She took two steps towards the back door before her knees gave out, and she hit the floor.

“Talia!”

Slate calling her name sounded like it was far away, but she knew that wasn’t the case. A second later, Carie came into view on one side of her and Brent on the other, as she tried to take shallow breaths. If she had to guess, not ten seconds had passed before she heard her boyfriend again.

“Move. Move!” Slate demanded, pushing Brent out of the way, and a second later, she felt the familiar injection in her thigh.

It felt like air rushed into her lungs, but Talia knew better than to take large, gulping breaths and kept them even.

Slate helped her sit up after passing the vial and syringe to Carie.

He took her face in his hands and surveyed her.

Then, without saying a word, he picked her up and carried her inside.

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