“If there are no drugs gone, why is the DEA involved?” Nick asks.
“Can’t get into specifics, but it’s preemptive.”
“Are you worried?”
“I’m pissed. In the end, this may turn out to be nothing, but in the meantime, everyone is on high-alert waiting for updates. Each department head is tasked with more responsibility, which trickles down to all levels. I can’t talk to Claire about it, but she knows something is happening.”
“Sucks, but hopefully they’ll get to the bottom of it soon. Glad to know your departments aren’t under suspicion.”
“Me too.”
Our dinner arrives, and the conversation moves to Shaw’s business. When we’re done, I get a series of texts from Claire. One expressing her excitement over Nick’s house purchase and the others with screenshots of social media posts about the Bennett brothers having dinner. As Nick predicted, there is a shot of me walking through the restaurant with the caption “Dr. Delicious, aka Nick Bennett’s hot & SINGLE older brother.”
“Shit.” I pass the phone around the table.
“Dr. Delicious? I thought your stupid nickname was Heartthrob or something obnoxious like that?”
“There’s no telling where she came up with that.”
“Looks like you may need to hustle out the back door with me or the stampede may commence.” Nick laughs, then his eyes grow wide. “Oh shit is right, Claire posted a response. You may want to look at this.”
He hands the phone back, and I brace, ready for anything. It’s a picture of me shirtless, in my swim trunks on Shaw’s boat last summer. This caption reads ‘Vote Dr. Delicious for Man of the Month’ and underneath is the hashtag #bennettbabes.
I groan, blowing out a breath.
“She’s a nut,” Shaw says, leaning over my shoulder.
“You have no idea.”
“Now, you’re really going out the back with me. That man of the month shit is feral.” Nick throws his napkin on his plate.
“Yeah, after you pay the bill, I’ll go with you and you can drop me at my car.”
“Why am I paying the bill? I forked over six mill today. Shaw should cover this one.”
“One of you fuckers is paying. If you’re going to interrogate me, you’re at least buying me dinner.”
Nick reluctantly throws out a credit card, and then his mouth splits into a wide grin. “I’ll pay for your fucking wedding if you give me some news to tell Grace.”
I hold his stare and return the grin. “Tell her she’s in charge of the bachelorette party, and I’ll provide the handcuffs for the strippers.”
His smug expression turns to rage at the same time Shaw barks in laughter.
The flight attendant stops by my seat, takes the empty wine glasses, and taps her watch to let me know we’re descending. I tilt my head to the side, sifting my fingers through Claire’s hair gently.
“Baby, we’re almost here. Time to wake up.”
She burrows her head deeper into my shoulder and lets out a sleepy sigh. I continue to brush through her hair until she wakes, her hand on my stomach, clenching the material of my sweater. “Did you say we’re almost there?” she croaks.
“One glass of wine and you were out. Slept the entire flight.”
“Whoa.” She sits up, looking around, suddenly alert. “Did we miss our chance?”
“Chance for what?’
“To join the mile-high club. How much time until we land?”
“Not enough.”
“That sucks. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Because you needed your rest. You haven’t slept more than ten hours in two days.”
“What did you do for three hours?”
“I read.” I motion to the medical journal on my lap.
Her face scrunches when she picks it up and sees the cover. “No wonder I was out. You’re boring.”
“Research,” I correct her.
“On what?”
“One of the instructors had a few studies in here. I wanted to get an idea of her knowledge and style.”
“Did you learn anything interesting?”
“Do you really care?” I raise an eyebrow.
“No, but I was trying to be a good girlfriend and act interested.”
I bend forward, swiping my lips across hers. “They were impeccably written, the cases were fascinating, the hypotheses were academically challenging, and the results were astounding.”
She smiles against my mouth. “I love it when Dr. Delicious turns into a medical geek.”
“Then you’re going to enjoy this week.”
“Ooh, am I going to be surrounded by other luscious medical nerds?”
A shot of jealousy shoots through me, and I grip the back of her head, lowering my voice to below a whisper. “I need you to behave, Claire. Some of these men think they are God’s gift to womankind. They’re egotistical to the point of obnoxious. Married or not, these events give them an excuse to chase a cheap thrill. You’re a prime target. Gorgeous, smart, funny, sarcastic, sassy—the whole goddamn package. It’s not going to take long for the first one to hone in and make a move. If someone hears you call them a luscious medical nerd with that voice, those lips, and looking like you do—all bets are off. Seriously, the size of their heads makes up for their pencil dicks.”
Her eyes begin to twinkle, and her hand slides up my chest and curls around my neck. Quietly, she whispers, “Lucky for me, Dr. Delicious has a normal head and a huge dick.”
My cock stirs as she scoots closer and wraps her ankle around my calf. The tip of her tongue darts out, tracing my lips, and I thread my fingers in the hair at the base of her scalp. “Jesus, I love you.”
“How long from the airport to the hotel?”
“Too long.”
The plane rocks as we hit the tarmac, and Claire straightens, pulling away but lacing her fingers in mine. I keep her close as we deplane and head toward baggage.
“Oh, look at that. Dr. Bennett is getting the red carpet treatment.” She spots our driver at the escalator holding a sign with my name.
“Why don’t you go greet him and I’ll get our bags.”
She releases my hand and waves as she walks to him. I maneuver through a large crowd at the carousel and wait. Our bags are close to last, and when I return to her, I realize my mistake immediately.
Our driver is clearly in a Claire daze by the expression on his face. He’s a giant man. She’s bouncing with excitement and rambling on about the sights. He towers over her, and with each word, his lips twitch. I step closer, and his eyes fly to mine, darkening to black in a protective glare. She leans in and lays a hand on my chest, still bouncing.
“Mathis, this is Tony, and he’s lived here all his life. He’s offered to be our tour guide!”
“Dr. Bennett?” His brows draw together, and his eyes only slightly soften.
“Call me Mathis.”
“Since our days are packed starting tomorrow, he’s agreed to show us around today,” Claire informs me.
“Baby, twenty minutes ago, you were sleeping like the dead. Are you sure you don’t want to go back to the hotel and rest?” My hand curls around her lower back, and I slide my fingers under the hem of her sweater to skim along her bare skin. Goosebumps pop under my touch, and she sucks her lower lip through her teeth, her eyes widening in response.
“How about a little bit of sightseeing and then I’ll need hours of resting.”
“Whatever you want.” I give in, deciding that when we get to the hotel, she’s not leaving the bed until we have to report to the hospital tomorrow morning. “Tony, you know a good place to get lunch?” My attention goes back to him.
“Absolutely.” His accent is in full effect.
“Let’s go then.”
Chapter 13
Claire
Stupid fucking egotistical, smartass, bottle blonde, petty-ass, cunt bitch! I say to myself. You’re in a room full of people, Claire, remember you’re here for a reason.
“Nurse Dixon,” she spits my name with venom and disgust, “I’d appreciate you showing a little more competence.”
Bitch!
I clench my teeth and give a small nod, sidestepping the nurse to my left to stand in the back of the group. The poor child in the hospital bed looks uncomfortably at me. I shoot her a small grin, trying to calm her anxiety, and a bit of my anger disappears when her thin lips tip to one side.
The last four days have been incredible. Training has been exciting, group exercises have been intense, and patient visits have been educational. Our rounds with the doctors have gone smoothly, until today.
Since the moment I walked into the training room this morning, I’ve had a huge target on my back, but not the kind of target Mathis warned me about. This was the kind of target of the worst kind—the green-eyed monster of jealousy.
I spied it on the first day. Mathis and I walked into the welcome breakfast, and this woman was at his side in an instant. She stepped in between us, dismissing me without a glance, and immediately set in on purring her greeting to him. Her voice was grating, dripping with intent, and she embraced him much too affectionately for my liking. My mouth dropped, and before I could say anything, Mathis shot me a look that said “keep your cool” as he disengaged from her. I snapped my mouth and waited for him to introduce me. Before he could, the head of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology with Dana Farber’s Children’s Cancer Center stepped up to the microphone to start our day.
This woman reached for his elbow, explaining the doctors were on the other side of the room, and tried to guide him that way. He ignored her, came to me, and gently ran his hand down my cheek to cup my chin before telling me to have a good day. It was an intimate gesture, and when he turned away, I couldn’t miss her revulsion.
I found out later when the doctors were introduced her name is Dr. Sams, and she’s a specialist in therapeutic radiology.
I’d lasted all week without being in her presence again until this morning. All day, she’s made me the object of her ridicule. Every question I answer is wrong, every explanation of theory is poorly hypothesized, and now she’s informed me my methods of prepping a patient for radiation are sloppy.
Just a bit longer and I will be free of her forever. I make a mental note to check the physician roster if ever invited to attend another seminar.
A male nurse I’ve partnered with most of the week, Pat, reaches over and taps my arm in encouragement, telling me he hasn’t missed the treatment she’s been throwing my way. I fidget with my braid to have something to do, so I don’t shoot fire lasers at her.
I sigh in relief when the patient’s doctor comes in, and Mathis is close behind. We meet eyes briefly, and his mouth forms a tight line. I dart my eyes to Dr. Sams, and he jerks his chin in understanding.
Finally, my day has a bright side as I get to watch Mathis in action. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Dr. Sams is ogling him, her eyes glued to him as she hangs on every word he says. It may be my imagination, but I swear there’s a dribble of drool leaking out of the side of her mouth. My stomach coils. It’s not unusual for people to gawk at Mathis; hell, I find it comical that most of my own department has a crush on him. But with her, it’s nauseating. Thoughts of unleashing my inner bitch on Dr. Sams evaporate when I catch the young girl’s face light up after Mathis calls her a beauty.
It takes all I can do not to clap when we’re released for the day. I shuffle out with the rest of my team and feel the slightest brush across my butt. Mathis catches my eye and winks. With just this small gesture, the irritation vanishes. I veer in the direction of the training room to get my things and strut away.
The room is buzzing when I arrive, the chatter of excitement about tonight’s dinner event. It’s a large soiree as a celebration to end the week.
“Hotel bar at six, woman. We’re doing a little pre-partying before being stuck with the lab coats,” Pat informs me.
“I’m there; although, some of the lab coats aren’t that bad.”
“Oh, that woman had it out for you today. I hope to fuck she’s nowhere near my table tonight.” He doesn’t lower his voice, and a few people murmur their agreement.
“Let’s get an Uber and get out of here,” I suggest.
A few of us pile into a van, and on the way, my phone vibrates with a message.
Dr. Delicious— I’m going to be delayed at least an hour, maybe more. Meet you in the room after while. There’s a surprise waiting at the concierge desk. Get it, enjoy it, and know how proud I am of you.
Mathis has no idea I changed his contact name to Dr. Delicious, and I inwardly giggle every time it pops up.
At the hotel, I break away from the group, promising to meet at six, and head to concierge. The woman greets me warmly and hands me an envelope explaining I’ve been booked at the spa.
When I get to the room, my phone rings, and Brinley’s face fills the screen. “Hey, Biz.” I plop down on the sofa.
“You done?”
“Yes, thank goodness. Today was grueling. Mathis has an admirer that was my lead today. She wasn’t too friendly.”
“Bitch?”
“Beyond bitch, she sky-rocked to uber-cunt territory in the first hour.”
“Oh, that’s the worst of the worst.”
“Yep, and the funny thing is I was completely prepared to deal with attitudes and competitiveness from my peers, but I lucked out with a great group. It was the doctor who made me want to bitch slap her smug face.”
She bursts into laughter. “All in all, this week was a good experience?”
“Outside of Dr. Sams, the absolute best. Mathis and I haven’t spent much time together; our obligations have taken us in different directions. One night, he did evening rounds and didn’t get into bed until three a.m. It’s been wild but awesome. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.”
“I have some time now.”
“I don’t, Mathis surprised me with an afternoon at the spa. I need to get ready.”
“I’m jealous. I’d love an afternoon at a spa with you.”
“Well, it’s really for him, too. His night will get very lucky if I’m relaxed and in a happy mood.”
“Gotcha there.”
“How are the kids?” I change the subject.
“Brinley’s first tooth broke through. Shaw thinks she’s growing too fast and is convinced it’s time to try for another baby. Brayden has a new obsession with dogs, so Shaw thinks we need a puppy. Basically, I’m trying to reel in my insane husband.”
“Tell him, if he gets a puppy, that’s one more distraction from sex and your newfound fascination with deep-throating.”
She cackles through the line, and I picture her blue-grey eyes sparkling. “Perfect! I’ll do that tonight.”
“Anything else happening at home?”
She pauses for a beat too long. “Actually, there is something.”
“What?” I tense at her tone.
“Brinley and I had an outing today. I met Nick and Grace at the hospital after her OB appointment, which by the way, she’s still holding out on finding the sex. But anyway, we did an impromptu visit upstairs.”
“I bet that thrilled the kids.”
“It did, but I couldn’t shake the vibe on the floor. Evie wouldn’t say anything, but her face was masked with worry and exhaustion. She took Brinley and bolted back to her office and left me to hang around. I saw a few kids and then went to the break room while Grace and Nick did their thing. That’s where it gets funny.”
“Funny like ha-ha funny, or funny like weird funny?”
“Eerie, sad, depressing funny. Tammy and Linda were in a deep conversation and didn’t notice me come in. I heard bits and pieces. Tammy slept with some new guy who totally ditched her the next day. She was pissed and hurt. Then Lora came in, and
they stopped talking, but when Tammy saw Lora, her eyes welled up with tears. I felt odd and tried to back away, but it was like a train wreck. Lora must have clued in immediately, knowing what was going on, because she gave Tammy a hug and there was a lot of rambling about being stupid and falling for this guy’s charm. I was piecing it all together when the phrase ‘stupid assholes with one-night stands’ came out, and they all froze and turned to me. Everyone knows about Shaw and Sasha, but it’s never mentioned. I’ve never felt so awkward before in my life. I retreated quickly, practically running to Evie’s office to get Brinley.”
“Fucking Clint,” I assume, my blood pressure rising. “I haven’t told you about him, but he’s the newest dick to hit our department.”
“You don’t have to tell me much. I had the displeasure of meeting him. When Brinley and I returned to the rec room, Grace was talking to a guy I didn’t recognize. He was nice, extremely good-looking, and suave. But when Grace reached for Brinley, his eyes did a sweep over me. Actually, that’s not true, they slithered over me like a snake. Who is this guy?”
“You nailed it, he’s a snake. Some sort of intern who is obviously fucking his way through the department. I can’t figure it out. He’s got some kind of pull with administration and is getting huge privileges I’ve never seen before. From what I gather, he’s now slept with both Lora and Tammy, dismissing them without regard. If you think Evie looked worried, my guess is she knows he’s banging her staff one by one.”
Heartthrob (Bennett Brothers Series) Page 13