Always Series Box Set

by Becs, Lindsay

  “She’s my sidekick. I love that little fireball.” He hugs me tighter, then pulls away a little bit. “You aren’t jealous, are you, Leppy?” he teases me.

  “Shut up,” I tsk, feeling his chest vibrate with laughter behind me. “What are we doing the rest of the day before we go back?”

  “We don’t have plans. Probably more games and just chillin’.”

  “Can we play in the snow again later?” I ask as I turn to look up at him.

  “Anything you want, sweetness.” He kisses my head. “Now, you going to stay in your jammies all day, lazy?”

  “Yep! Or until we play in the snow.”

  Before I have time to register what he’s doing, I’m watching the front door open and close. With me on the outside. “Ollie!” I yell, wrapping my sweater around me tighter.

  “You said you wanted to play in the snow. I’m just helping you get everything you want, Bex.” He’s laughing like a hyena on the other side of the door. Then I look over and see him through the window, the one I was just looking out of when I was warm. He’s pointing and laughing like it’s the funniest thing he’s ever seen. I throw him a look so he knows exactly how I feel about him and toss up my middle finger for good measure. “Payback’s a bitch, Leppy,” he tells me as he takes a picture with his phone. I make sure to give him the finger again to add to his picture.

  I see Travis, Tatum, and Penny join him at the window, all laughing their butts off at my expense. And I realize in that moment that I don’t even care that I’m outside in the cold in my pajamas because I have a family now. A family I know I can count on and that will always be there.

  Once I ran through the snow in my socks to the back door, Tatum greeted me with a blanket and a rare hug. I took a shower to warm up, and when I came back down, they had a game of Clue set up to play. And just like the night before, we played games, laughed, and I had the time of my life with my new family.

  Tatum told us about how life had been at the race circuit. She said they asked her to be part of the team next season and she’d accepted. She’d be off not just to Vegas, but to travel the world in a few months. The race seasons are like a school year, racing the majority of the year, but their big break is during the winter months. She’d be working at Pretty Girl Garage with Travis in the time she had before she had to leave again. She seemed so well-rounded and adjusted to anything life threw at her. She was amazing to watch, and I was excited to see how the story of her life would continue.

  As the sun went down, Ollie and I gathered our things, said our goodbyes, and hit the road for home.

  * * *

  “Nurse Leppy, you’re needed in oncology. Please report to room 621. Nurse Leppy, you’re needed in oncology. Thank you.”

  I stopped mid-step in the hallway to listen to the paging system. I’m going to kill him. Finding Susan at the nurse’s station, I let her know I’m taking my break and make my way to give Dr. Duncan a piece of my mind.

  I knock, then enter room 621. Inside it’s dark, and I can’t see anyone at first. Then I see a shadow sitting in the corner. “You don’t look creepy or anything,” I tell him.

  “Nurse Leppy, please, this is a quiet space.”

  I raise a brow at him. Oh, this is going to be fun.

  “Strip,” he says, the single word causing a flood between my legs.

  “Ollie, I don’t have time for this today.”

  “Bex, you’re ruining my character,” he whines, making me laugh. I walk to him and straddle his lap in the chair he’s sitting in.

  “I’m so sorry, Dr. Duncan, for ruining whatever plan you had, but the second you paged Nurse Leppy, you should have known I’d cause trouble,” I tell him, kissing his pouty mouth.

  “Yeah, I knew I was pushing it. I was curious if you’d actually respond,” he laughs. “And you did.”

  “Do you really think I wouldn’t show if you paged me? Dr. Duncan, I hate to break it to you, but I can’t ever seem to say no to you.”

  “Well, you did say no a second ago. You still have clothes on.”

  “How about I make it up to you at home tonight? I may or may not have a slutty nurse costume I’ve been saving.”

  His eyes light up. “Fuck. Yes.”

  “But then I want you in your lab coat and the underwear you know I like.”

  He lets out another laugh. “I still think it’s funny you like those so much.”

  “They’re the perfect mix of tighty-whities, boxer briefs, and a banana hammock. They hold you in all the right places so perfectly. So, yum.”

  “Shit, sweetness, you’re making me all hard now,” he says, wiggling under me.

  “You want to dry-fuck like teenagers real quick?” I ask.

  “Nope, I’m going to make you suffer in your wetness,” he says as he rubs his fingers against me through my scrubs.

  “You’re mean. I even promised a slutty nurse.”

  “Trust me when I say I’m making myself suffer, too.” His tongue licks up my throat. “Until tonight, Nurse Leppy.” He stands, making me stand too, kisses me on the lips and slaps my ass before leaving me there, utterly turned on and confused by what just happened. I came in here mad. Oh, he’s good.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Ollie

  “Marla, I’m happy to tell you that you are officially in remission,” I smile at the mother of my fiancée.

  “Wow, Doc. I don’t know what to say,” she responds, seeming speechless for the first time since I first met her.

  “We’ll check routinely, you keep doing self-examinations, but I have every reason to believe you’ll stay in remission.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Duncan.”

  “You did the hard work, not me. Do you have any questions for me before you go?”

  “I do.” I see her shift nervously, and it makes me feel uneasy. “Is there, uh, a chance that Bexley could get it?” she asks, and it hits me right in the gut. It’s what I studied in school, and yet I didn’t even think about the fact that Bex could possibly have the genetic gene from her mother, upping her chances of having cancer down the road.

  I try to smooth over the emotions playing through me before I answer her. She’s looking at me with pleading eyes that I want to answer with a “Fuck No!” but I can’t actually say that because I don’t actually know. I’ve thought about my own sisters and what the future may hold for them, but I never even considered it for Bexley. The thought of any of the women in my life having to go through what my mom did, having to watch it all over again, would kill me.

  “There’s always a chance for any woman,” I start, fisting my hands to keep them from shaking. “There are tests we can run, if she wanted, to screen for the gene that is linked with breast cancer being passed that way. Even if she did test positive for it, it’s still not 100% that she would get it in the future. It ups the percentage, but it’s not a certainty.”

  “Do you think she’d do that? Could you talk her into it?” she asks me. I take a deep breath, thinking about her questions. Even if I bring it up, knowing Bex, she wouldn’t want to, but it’s worth a shot, I guess.

  “I can ask, but you know as well as I do that Bex doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to do,” I say with a grin.

  “Congratulations, by the way, Doc,” she says with a sly smile. “She told me about you guys getting hitched.”

  Bexley and her mom have started talking more. Not a lot, but they’re both attempting to meet in the middle to try to form a new relationship. I stay out of it and let them do their thing. I’ve already meddled too much, and now I’m being pulled in again.

  “Hitched,” I laugh. “Yeah, something like that.”

  “Thanks again for everything,” she says, shaking my hand before leaving. She stops at the door and calls over her shoulder, “Doc? Please ask her.”

  I give her a nod and sit back in my chair as she shuts the door behind her. I steeple my fingers and think about how I can bring up the subject without upsetting Bex. Maybe I should see if s
he and Tatum would do it together? No. That’s a terrible idea!

  Blowing out a frustrated breath, I get up and make my way to the pediatric floor, where I stop to ask Susan where Bex is. She tells me she’s doing rounds, and if I can stick around for a minute, she should almost be finished. Agreeing, I lean my elbows on the counter of the nurse’s station and talk with Susan about how things are going down here.

  “Dr. Duncan, is there something I can help you with?” I hear from behind me, but it’s not Bex’s sweet voice asking. I turn to see Dr. Parker standing behind me with her arms crossed in front of her, her usual pissed-off look on her face.

  “Dr. Parker,” I greet with a smile, “just waiting to speak with one of your nurses.”

  “Just one, I’m sure,” she says, rolling her eyes at me like she knows me. “Please leave my staff alone, Dr. Duncan. This is the pediatric wing, not Tinder.” The balls on this woman are overwhelming and pissing me the fuck off.

  Bexley wanted to wait as long as we could before being the latest hospital gossip. I could care less, but for her, I’d do whatever she wanted. Truth is, I don’t think she’s scared of anyone finding out except Dr. Parker. Right now, I don’t give a shit. I’m about to tell her to lay off my woman, and I’ll deal with Bexley’s wrath later.

  “Yes, one,” I say, standing to my full height and taking a step toward her. “I’m here to speak to my fiancée.” I don’t miss the way she flinches at my words.

  “Fiancée? Nurse—”

  “Bexley Morgan,” I cut her off. “Soon to be Nurse Duncan. Get used to seeing me on your floor speaking to my wife, Dr. Parker.” Now, Bex and I haven’t exactly set a date yet or even talked about whether she wants to take my name or not, but in this moment, I don’t give a shit.

  I see Dr. Parker grit her teeth for a second before she speaks again. “Fine. But keep it PG on my floor. Understood?”

  “I understand that you’ll treat me and my wife with the respect we both deserve from here on out. That includes keeping your snotty nose out of our personal business.” I take another step toward her so only she can hear the next part of what I have to say. “But know that I will fuck my wife wherever I want, and you can’t do a damn thing to stop me.” I turn and walk back to the nurse’s station to a wide-eyed Susan, who’s trying to pretend she didn’t just get a front-row seat to what’s soon to be known as the most epic confrontation between doctors at Highrise Hospital.

  “Dr. Duncan,” Susan says, smacking her lips and trying to hide her shock and smile, “Nurse Morgan is just around the corner. I think she’s hiding from embarrassment.”

  “Shit,” I swear and take off in the direction she said I’d find Bexley.

  I look through the window of the door to see Bex pacing back and forth. I open the door and step in cautiously. “Bex? Sweetness, I’m sorry, but it had to be done.”

  “Don’t you dare sweetness me right now, Oliver!” she hisses, coming to a stop and glaring up at me. If looks could kill, I’d definitely be dead.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry for that. But I’m not sorry for standing up to Dr. Parker. She was saying things that were disrespectful to both of us, and I’m not putting up with that shit. Not from her or anyone else at this hospital.”

  “Ollie, you don’t get it. You’re a doctor here. But me? I’m just a nurse. Patients may love us more than you, but in the hierarchy system, I’m at the bottom of the pecking order. You can’t do shit like that and it not affect me.”

  “That’s not true,” I say, but the look she throws me tells me that it is. “Let me fight for you. Let me be in your corner. I’ll kick anyone’s ass who tries to say otherwise.”

  “You can’t kick people’s asses. You’ll get your license suspended.”

  “Shut up and come here.” I laugh at her and pull her into me, wrapping my arms around her middle. “I really wasn’t trying to start anything. That wasn’t why I came down here. I was just looking for you to tell you good news.”

  “What news?” she asks, looking up at me.

  I kiss her head, because she’s cute when she’s mad, and she’s mine. “Your mom just left my office. She’s in remission.”

  “Are you sure?” she asks, looking relieved and surprised.

  “Yes, sweetness, I’m sure. It’s kind of what I do,” I chuckle and kiss her head again.

  “Thank you, Ollie,” she whispers.

  “So, I’m back to being Ollie now?” I tease.

  “You’re so annoying,” she laughs. “I’m still mad you told Dr. Parker. The whole hospital is going to know we’re engaged by the time we leave this room.”

  “Is that really such a bad thing?” I ask, searching her face.

  “No, I guess it’s not. Plus, it’s about time all those bitches know you’re mine,” she says as she rises to her tiptoes and smacks a kiss on my lips.

  “I love you,” I laugh as I kiss her back.

  “I love you, too, Dr. Duncan.”

  I let her get back to work and decide that was enough excitement for the day. Asking about genetic testing can wait until another time. I’d like to keep my balls intact for now.

  She wasn’t wrong in guessing how fast news of us being engaged would spread. Within an hour, I’m sure everyone knew. I got nods of respect, handshakes of congratulations, and the expected side-eyes from a few, but overall nobody seemed to really care. I was glad. We could now move forward, she could wear her ring, and we could kiss openly. That was going to be my favorite part.

  * * *

  “Ollie?” I hear Bex call as she walks through the door.

  “Back here, sweetness,” I answer from my desk in the back of the loft. I got home a couple hours before her and have been looking over studies regarding the genetic testing.

  “Hey, I want Chinese. You alright with that?” she asks, bending to hug my neck from behind and kissing my cheek.

  “Sounds good. Green pepper steak, shrimp fried rice, and egg rolls for me, please.”

  “What are you reading? You’re so focused, you haven’t even looked at me.”

  Shit. She was right. I turn my chair to look at her and pull her into my lap, kissing her lips. I pull back and look at her then. “I’m looking now.” She softens into me with a smile. “I’m sorry about that. I was reading about genetic testing,” I tell her honestly.

  “Testing for what?”

  “Breast cancer being passed from mother to daughter.”

  “For your sisters?”

  “And you,” I add, searching her in an attempt to read her thoughts.

  “Oh. I never thought about that.”

  “It’s alright. To be honest, Marla asked me to talk to you about it. I’d thought about my sisters before, but I haven’t talk to Tatum about it, either.”

  “Does it scare you what the results might be?” she asks, running her hands through my hair.

  “It scares the shit out of me, Bex,” I admit.

  “I’ll do it. If you want me to. I don’t really care either way. It’s not something I can change regardless, but if you want me to know, I’ll do it.”

  “You don’t want to know for yourself?” I ask, confused.

  “Like I said, it wouldn’t change anything except to worry me if I do, in fact, have greater chances. I don’t know. I guess I’d rather live my life to the fullest. If and when it happens, I’ll tackle it then.”

  “We’ll tackle it together,” I tell her and kiss her neck. “If and when. I don’t want you to do it for me. I want you to do it for you, and if you don’t want to know, then I’m fine with that. I’ll love you no matter what.”

  “Does it still scare you?”

  “Of course, it does. I don’t want anything to ever happen to you. I want you healthy and mine forever, but it’s also what I do. I’ll be checking those boobies every day.” I bite her neck and grab her tit.

  “Oh, I’m sure you will,” she laughs. “And don’t forget about my love glove.”

  “Never,�
� I say, nipping her ear.

  “And I’ll have you bend over and check your balls, too.”

  I sit back abruptly then. “No.” I point to her face, all joking leaving my face. “You can ball play for fun, but you will NOT be doing that. None of that can ever be sexy. None, Bex. None.”

  She’s laughing as she bites my finger still pointing at her. “But if you change your mind and don’t want Dr. Zelner, I’m here,” she says with an exaggerated wink. She’s talking about the seventy-year-old urologist we have at the hospital.

  “You’re definitely sexier than Dr. Zelner.”

  “Damn straight, I am!” she says, climbing off my lap. I smack her ass and get a yelp from her. “I’m ordering food. I’m starving.”

  I chuckle to myself as I watch her walk toward the kitchen. Even in dinosaur scrubs, smelling like a mixture of kid germs and disinfectant, she’s still the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

  Chapter Twenty

  Bexley

  Sitting across from Ollie while he shoves forkfuls of Chinese food in his mouth, I can’t hide my smile. This man. Holy hell, this man. Standing up to Dr. Parker the way he did was such a fucking turn-on but, it also pissed me off. We had an agreement, and I didn’t want to be at the top of the gossip mill at the hospital. That place is worse than high school sometimes. After Ollie left and Susan gave me all the details I missed out on, I finished my shift at work with my head held high because my man is savage and caveman and I love it.

  I’m sure the next week or so is going to be all kinds of awkward at work as the troves of women who thought they had their hooks in him come out with claws drawn, but I expected that no matter what. I really just didn’t want people thinking I was trying to climb up the ladder by sleeping my way there. I’m still on that bottom rung with Ollie at the top, and I never want to be looked at like the girl who slept her way up. Never.