The shift supervisor’s flashing gray eyes switched to him and grew a little less irate. “Hi, Beau. How’s the head?”
“Still attached.”
“Try to keep it that way. The fewer calls I have to ride out on with the deadweight you call a partner, the better off the greater Atlanta area will be.”
“Pardon me for taking an extra minute, whip-cracker. My partner just told me he got engaged.”
“Oh, wow. Congratulations.” She crossed the room and gave him a hug. “I’m really happy for you.”
Over her shoulder he sent Hunter a glare he hoped conveyed his utterWhat the fuck?But his so-called partner refused to lookhim in the face. Ashley drew away, and Beau dredged up a smile for her. “Thanks.”
“I’ll want all the details later.” She took a step back. “And you have to bring her to the holiday party and introduce her.” Her attention clicked to Hunter, and her smile disappeared. “If you’re not out helping me clean the truck in three minutes, I’m going to back it over you.” With the threat hanging in the air, she turned on her heel and walked out.
As soon as she left, Beau punched his partner hard in the chest. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“Ow.” Hunter punched him back. “Nothing. I wanted her to know why I got distracted. You’re the one pretending to be engaged. I’m just making it look real.”
“I’m pretending to be engaged to my parents, and Savannah’s family. Not my coworkers. Not every ER doctor, nurse, and orderly in Atlanta.”
“So what if they think you’re engaged? Where’s the harm? It’s not like you’re dating anyone else, or almost dating anyone, or contemplating dating anyone.”
“But now I have to ask Savannah to come to the holiday party or everyone here will assume I think she’s too good for them. And when webreak up, I’ll be the poor sap who couldn’t close the deal. No offense, but I’ve had enough sympathy for a lifetime.”
“Okay, fine. Sorry I didn’t think it through that far.”
“No, you were too busy trying to talk your way off Ashley’s shit list. It’s a lost cause.”
“I don’t know why.” Hunter picked up a stray napkin from the counter, crumpled it, and hurled it into the trash. “She treats everyone else around here like a professional, but with me, she’s all, ‘Get your lazy ass out to the garage and don’t hand me any excuses.’ I’m a nice guy. People like me—especially female people.”
“Could be you’re trying too hard. She smells the desperation on you.”
“What desperation? Normal women find me charming, dammit. I’ve got plenty offriendswho can testify to my charm.”
“That looks a whole lot more desperate than you realize, Hunt.”
“Says the engaged virgin.”
“I’m no virgin.”
“You might as well be, for all you’ve used it lately.”
A memory of half-naked Savannah in his bed spun through his mind, taunting him more than anything his partner said. He held up a hand to reject all of it—the flashback, the powerful longing, the entire conversation. “I’ve used it.” One-night stands counted, and while he didn’t hook up often, he hadn’t taken a vow of chastity.
“Not in a meaningful way,” Hunter argued.
True. He avoided meaningful, unless one considered a few sweaty hours of strictly physical release with a like-minded partner meaningful. Even as the thought formed in his head, the image of Savannah stubbornly resurfaced. Time to shift the focus of this discussion away from him. “Your definition of meaningful involves having ‘plenty of friends.’ I think it’s safe to assume Ash doesn’t find the whole man-whore thing endearing.”
“Why should she care? She’s engaged to some jarhead—God help him—and I have a few morals about that kind of thing, anyway. All I’m asking is for a little respect.”
“I think you’re SOL, Aretha. Maybe you remind her of an ex, or something.”
“So I get my ass kicked just for showing up? How is that fair?”
“Why am I still waiting, Knox?” The question sailed into the break room from down the hall. Ashley’s patience had expired.
“Life’s not fair, Hunt.”
Hunter finished the last swallow of his coffee and banged the mug down on the counter. He tossed Beau a cocky smile. “I lovea challenge.”