Judging Joey by Elizabeth John Page A

He needed a moment to clear his head. At the door, he whispered in her ear, “Nature calls.”
    She nodded. He took a moment to admire her from the back as she waltzed toward their table.
    He wanted to kiss her like no other woman he’d ever known. She was sweet yet passionate, intimate and genuine. There was no pretense with Maddie. He’d be the first to admit most of the women he dated were the opposite. They had an agenda. It had never bothered him a bit, since he could always figure out what it was they wanted from him. Usually, just a good time. No strings. No problems. If he sensed they wanted to change the terms, wanted more, he would break it off. The deal was off.
    Those relationships were safe.
    At this moment, he recognized Maddie was unlike them. She would expect something different. Maybe it was best that she snuffed out any possibility of having a relationship, other than friendship. Besides, his sister Caitlin would have a cow if she found out he almost kissed Christopher’s teacher, especially after the lecture she had given him. Criminals, he could handle. His sister’s wrath was a completely different animal.
    Joey was about to head for the restroom when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
    “Joey, buddy, how’ve you been?”
    The hairs on the back of his neck actually stood up. He didn’t know what irritated him more—a passed-out sloppy drunk that vomited in his patrol car or the pompous arrogance in Alex’s ex-boyfriend’s voice. It took a mere second to decide he’d take his chances with the inebriated criminal.
    Joey turned about and glared at the man who had crushed his partner’s heart. “George. Crawled out from under your rock tonight?”
    George grinned and put his hand to his heart in mock injury. “And I thought you and I were friends.”
    Joey balled fists at his sides, fighting the urge to knock the smug, bleached-white smile off George’s too-tanned face. “Friends? Not after the way you treated Alex, counselor .”
    “Sounds like you don’t have your facts straight. I always treated her fine. Speaking of my ex, where is the pretty lady tonight? I didn’t see her with the crew over there. I hope she’s well.”
    Joey moved forward. “Stay away from Alex. She wants nothing to do with you. Stop harassing her.”
    George narrowed his light eyes. “Whoa, where did that come from? Going out to dinner and bumping into old friends is hardly considered harassment.”
    “You know full well we come here most Saturday nights. Alex was afraid you might show up so she decided to go elsewhere. Can’t take no for an answer, huh?”
    George frowned, and threw a ten on the bar. That caught the bartender’s attention.
    The bartender handed him a mixed drink and George left the change on the bar and refocused on Joey. “That’s where you’re wrong, my friend. I don’t know what Alex has told you, but it’s she who’s still hung up on me .”
    Joey flew to within inches of George’s face. His body temperature rose to the danger zone in a flash. “If you so much as look at her, she’ll slap you with a restraining order. And I’ll make sure it’s enforced!”
    “Take it easy. You’re way off base. But if you must know, Alex and I should have ended it years ago.” George slugged his drink and shifted an ice cube around in his mouth. “I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
    Joey got instant satisfaction when he noticed a bead of sweat break out on the guy’s forehead. So he’d hit a nerve. He practically smelled the stench of smoke burning from George’s unusually gigantic skull as he contemplated his options. Joey could only wonder what women saw in the guy. “Stay away from Alex, George.”
    Madeline reached the table and Sabrina hauled her into her seat.
    “Where’ve you been?” Sabrina demanded, but managed to keep her voice down. “I thought maybe you left me stranded here. I met the best-looking guy tonight during your disappearing act. He offered me a ride home