Page 9 of Her Paramedic (Men in Uniforms #3)

“T his is beautiful,” Talia stated as they pulled into the circular driveway of Maximus’ house.

When Slate told her it was a vacation house, she wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but it was larger than she’d imagined. The front had floor-to-ceiling windows with a frosted covering that prevented people from seeing inside. With the snow covering the grass, it looked almost enchanting.

“It used to be a ski lodge. He bought it several years back and did some remodeling. Now we spend New Year’s here and Independence Day when it’s his turn to host,” Slate responded.

He came around and helped her out of the car before grabbing their bags from the trunk. She tried to take hers, but he raised his brow at her, and Talia knew telling him she could carry it would go in one ear and out the other.

Slate keyed in a code on the lock and opened the door, allowing her to enter first. When she stepped inside, she took in the warm decor.

From the entry, she could see the living room through to the kitchen on the left side of the stairs.

The first room on the right side was a game room.

From where she stood, she could see two tables and a dartboard.

“Hey, you two,” Maximus greeted.

“Hey,” Talia responded. “Thanks for the invite.”

“Where is everyone?” Slate asked.

“Killian, Axel, Journee, and Kaydence arrived a few minutes ago and are putting their bags away. Ace and Jax are prepping the fire pit for tonight, and Gram is setting up the fireworks,” Maximus replied.

“I’m waiting for Matteo, so we can go pick up the food trays.

Axel and Ace brought the liquor, and I’ll leave it to you and Killian to make the punch that always sneaks up on Matteo. ”

Slate laughed as the mentioned man came down the stairs.

“It’s not funny. I tell myself every time I won’t let it get me, and it does,” Matteo said. “Hey,” he then greeted.

“You know where everything is,” Maximus told Slate before turning to her. “Talia, make yourself at home, and we’ll be back soon.”

“Come on. I’ll show you the bedroom and then give you a tour.”

Talia followed him up the stairs to the third door on the left.

He placed their bags at the end of the bed.

And she didn’t know why she hadn’t realized or suspected this before, but they were sharing a room.

The house was large, but she doubted it had enough bedrooms to accommodate everyone staying, which she assumed was all the men, herself, and her sisters, but it could have been more.

“I promise to be on my best behavior,” Slate stated, his hands on her waist. “Unless you ask me not to be,” he smirked.

Talia laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Come on.” He led her back downstairs. “I’ll give you that tour.”

“I’m sure Maximus gave you marching orders, too,” Journee said as she, Kaydence, Killian, and Axel came down the hall.

Greetings went around before Slate responded, “He did.”

“Then hop to it, you three,” Kaydence said. “I’m sure we’ll be fine wandering around.”

“I think marriage has made you bossy,” Slate joked.

“She can’t blame it on marriage,” Talia joined the joke.

Her sister rolled her eyes playfully as Journee nodded in teasing agreement but stated, “She has a point, though.”

“I guess we’d better do as we’re told, then,” Killian responded. Axel nodded his agreement, and Talia refrained from smiling at how whipped her little sisters had those men.

Slate wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her temple. “Find me if you need me.”

She could feel the women’s eyes on her as the men retreated toward the kitchen. They both wore knowing smiles when she looked at them, while Journee wiggled her eyebrows.

“Let’s go take in this gorgeous house,” she suggested before either could say anything. She hadn’t told them she and Slate were…hanging out? But she knew them well enough to know they’d bring it up later.

T alia wasn’t sure why she felt like dragging the woman who’d just laid her hand on Slate’s bicep far away from him, but she did.

Granted, she didn’t have the right to feel that way.

It had been her idea for them to take things slow.

They hadn’t put a label on it, hadn’t stated they were exclusive, which meant he could flirt with whoever he wanted to.

“I’m surprised she doesn’t feel the daggers you’re staring at her.”

She jumped slightly, having forgotten that she wasn’t standing alone. “Huh? What?” she questioned, turning her attention to Journee as the words sank in.

“You heard me. Go over there and get your man.”

“He isn’t my man. We’ve hung out like three times. We’re just friends. He can talk to whoever he wants to.”

But she couldn’t deny that she wanted to pull him away from that woman who was flirting far too much for Talia’s liking, who he was allowing to flirt with him despite his pursuing Talia. The snort Journee released drew her from her thoughts.

“You’re just friends, but he brought you to a party where his closest friends are. Sure.”

She had her there, and Talia knew she was only fooling herself.

She’d asked him if they could go slow because she didn’t want their physical attraction to be the foundation.

She could admit to herself that pushing him down onto the nearest surface and having her way with him, or letting him have his with her, crossed her mind whenever she saw him.

Any of her past relationships that started that way never lasted. Talia didn’t want that with Slate.

After their first date, she felt a connection with him that went beyond physical, and she wanted to explore that.

However, Journee was right. He had invited her, and while he’d respected her decision, he hadn’t shied away from showing that what he wanted was her.

If she were being honest, he wasn’t flirting with the other woman, but Talia was sure he could tell she was flirting with him. She was about to lay claim to her man.

“I’m going to get another drink,” Talia said, and Journee nodded.

She entered the kitchen and filled her cup halfway with the punch they’d mixed because she had no intention of letting it sneak up on her the way it seemed to on Matteo. She also grabbed a beer bottle and made a beeline for Slate and the woman. Talia passed him the beer and sat on his lap.

“Hey. I’m Talia. Nice to meet you.”

“Molly. You too.”

She could tell that Molly was unhappy about meeting her, which tickled Talia a bit. She turned her attention to Slate.

“I have something for you after the fireworks.”

“That’s a coincidence. I have something for you too, gorgeous.” He kissed her, and Molly immediately cleared her throat. Hater.

“How’d you meet?”

“His friend and cousin are dating my sisters,” Talia supplied. Though Journee wasn’t related to her by blood, she’d adopted her and the twins as little sisters years ago.

“I see. The two of you got thrown together as the extras.”

Talia’s eyebrow twitched. This chick thought she was funny.

“Far from it,” Slate responded. “She had plenty of choices. I was lucky enough that she chose me.”

Talia smiled at Molly, who seemed to be trying to figure out something to say. She didn’t give Molly a chance as she slid off Slate’s lap.

“It’s warm in here. Come outside with me,” she requested, taking his hand and pulling him away.

? ─ · ─ · ─ · ─ · ─ · ─ · ─ ?

“S o, I waited for you to call,” Molly stated, after Slate removed her hand from his arm for the third time. He wondered how he got himself trapped in a conversation with her. He could walk away and leave her standing there, but he wasn’t that rude.

“I told you I wouldn’t,” he responded.

Honesty was always the best policy, and he’d told her at last year’s party, when she’d slid her card to him, that he wasn’t interested.

He wasn’t sure why she expected a call after that.

Maybe she thought he was playing hard to get, but he’d meant what he said. He had no intention of leading her on.

Slate didn’t know her outside of these parties. She was a friend or relative of someone Maximus invited, who came as their plus one each year. Last year was the third time she’d given him her number. Maybe she thought the third time would be the charm.

“Oh...um.”

Talia pulled his attention from Molly’s attempt at a coherent sentence, handing him a beer before sitting on his lap. The last time he’d seen her, she’d been mingling with some of the others, and they’d sparked a conversation about hair care products.

“Hey. I’m Talia. Nice to meet you,” she introduced herself.

“Molly. You too.”

That couldn’t have sounded less genuine if Molly tried, and Slate figured she was salty. He didn’t understand why, because he’d never given her the impression he was buying what she was selling. Talia drew his attention to her.

“I have something for you after the fireworks.”

“That’s a coincidence. I have something for you too, gorgeous.” Slate kissed her, and as if she thought they’d start a make-out session in front of her, which he wasn’t opposed to doing, Molly cleared her throat.

“How’d you meet?”

Talia spoke first. “His friend and cousin are dating my sisters.”

“I see. The two of you got thrown together as the extras.”

“Far from it,” Slate stated, in no way going to let Molly’s little insult slide. “She had plenty of choices. I was lucky enough that she chose me.”

Whether or not she would respond became irrelevant as Talia stood. “It’s warm in here. Come outside with me,” she requested, taking his hand and pulling him away.

The winter weather nipped at them as soon as they exited the house. There were other people outside, closer to the fire pit. Slate pulled her off to the side.

“Were you jealous, gorgeous?”

Talia raised a brow at him. “Did I need to be?”

“Not at all.” He pulled her to him. “We both know I’m yours.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “All you have to do is say it.”

She kissed him. “You just did.”