“Wow,” she whispers in awe.
“I’m sorry morale’s taking a hit, but maybe these women should clue in that he’s a playboy and make better choices. They don’t have to fall into bed with him.”
Something crosses her face, and it’s my turn to tense. My hand moves to her neck and feels her pulse speeding. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Um, I may have been a bit rude to him.”
“When?”
“When he fucked Lora and less than twenty-four hours later he was flirting with the redheaded vixen that floats in our department.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing really, but he told me it was none of my business who he fucks.”
“He’s right. He may have been crass, and I’m not sure I agree with his wording, but he’s right. I had three doctors approach me when we went public. They weren’t keen on my intimate relationship with a nurse. I told them the same, but in a more diplomatic way.”
Shock registers on her face, and she closes her eyes, nodding.
“You’re tight with the crew on our floor, and you’re an incredible nurse. I understand your loyalty and alliance, but this is something you need to stay out of. If it’s in your face, then maybe you can suggest these women know the stakes. He’s not seemingly interested in a relationship. Personally, I hate it’s causing strife, but he’s there to learn, and from what I witnessed today, he’s on the right track.”
“What’s his track?” Her eyes are now filled with curiosity.
“He’s headed toward pediatric work in Infectious Diseases. This is a stop along the way in his education and requirements.”
“Don’t you find it odd he has such favoritism? He also had access to the supply room and God knows where else.”
This is news, but not unusual. “Not if the higher-ups saw in him what I saw today. I’m not involved with the decisions, but he’s fought hard to stay with our team because it’s on his career path.”
“I’ll stay out of it, Mathis, and if the opportunity arises, I’ll pitch my words of advice to stay away from him unless there’s a mutual interest in one-night stands.”
“You do what you have to do, baby, but remember, not all one-night stands are bad. Mine led me to this point. Maybe he’ll hook up with the one woman who kills that streak.”
“Are you condoning his behavior?” She squints her eyes with disapproval.
“I’m not judging it. Maybe he needs to stand across the room from a woman who makes him laugh for the first time in forever, take one look and thinks she’s the most gorgeous thing he’s ever seen, and take her to bed for the most incredible night of his life. Then he’ll know he’s ruined forever. All I’m saying is tread lightly. It takes the right woman.”
Her face instantly softens. “Men are complicated.”
I chuckle because she’s wrong, but it’s not worth starting an argument.
“And, now, I must decide how to proceed. Because you’re right, he’s just an intern making a stop with us for a while. He’s there to learn, observe, and educate. You think he’s got skills and, obviously, you have great taste.” She waves her hand up and down herself, playfully.
“Obviously, I have exquisite taste.” I kiss the corner of her lips.
“Now, I have to learn how to stay a part of the sisterhood while keeping my mouth shut.”
“Is it that hard to keep your mouth shut?” I quiz her.
“Yes! You know me; I’ve got credibility. These women count on me, and now, I’ll be watching them all to see if one of them is ‘the one’.”
“Jesus, now I’ve got to say it’s women who are complicated. Stay out of it.”
“I can’t stay out of it. Didn’t you hear me say I have ward cred?”
“We’re ending this ridiculous conversation. But, before we do, I want to set you straight. This Clint guy may have my current vote of confidence for his skills, but if he even looks at you the wrong way, I want to know. He says anything to make you uncomfortable or uneasy, you come to me. My number one priority is sitting here in my lap, and no matter what kind of clout he has with administration, I’ll fucking shut him down.”
She cuddles into my chest, laying her head on my shoulder. “I’m fine, and you have nothing to worry about.”
“Now, are you ready for bed?”
“Actually, I have plans.”
“What plans?”
“I’m going to see the mansion today, help Grace measure some walls, and then I need to add stopping by the drugstore on my list to buy temporary pink and purple hair dye for tonight.”
“Why are you measuring walls?”
“I can’t tell you.”
Now, my own curiosity piques, and I move quickly, flipping her onto her back and trapping her underneath me. “What are you girls up to?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“It’s not my surprise, so fill me in.”
She chews on her lip, looking at the ceiling and finally answering. “Doni and Grace are doing something special for Nick in one of the rooms. I don’t know all the details yet, but I assume she has something ultra-artistic and equally cheesy planned. Bizzy is keeping Nick occupied so we can get the measurements without him hovering.”
“It’s a Bennett Babe operation,” I conclude.
“Except Doni is involved, and we have two hours to pull it off without Nick wondering where Grace is.”
“I’m in.”
“You’re not invited. Grace wants secrecy.”
“Clue in, do you think any of that crew has secrecy? If anything, I’m the most solid. I haven’t seen the mansion, I want to spend the day with you since I’ve barely seen you with our schedules, and I’m setting ground rules.”
“There are no ground rules! It’s secret operation Grace day!”
“I keep the secrets, I help with measurements, and I endure the girl gab. Then I bring you home by two to get a long nap before I drop you back at the hospital at seven.”
“Girl gab is going to include a shitload of gossip about Boston since I haven’t seen Grace.”
“I’ll deal.”
“This isn’t a manly day. I plan on going into detail about Charlene.”
“One of my favorite memories of Boston.”
She studies me for a brief second before saying, “You’re worried about me.”
“No, I know you’re fine, but in the slim chance you need me, I’m going to be close.”
“I love you, Dr. Bennett.” This is a normal statement from her, but every time I hear it, a sense of empowerment comes over me.
“I love you more. How much time do we have until we have to meet Grace and Doni?”
She arches back to the clock on the shelf and groans. “One hour, Grace is bringing lunch.”
I surge up, taking her with me and stalking to the bathroom.
“We’re going to be late if I shower with you,” she protests when I turn on the shower.
“You get ready, I’ll be quick. We’ll save the fun stuff for naptime.”
Her eyes light with hunger, and she nods as I strip and move under the water.
Thirty minutes later, we’re in my car headed to Nick and Grace’s new place. The stress and heartache from this morning are still alive, but it’s easier to handle as Claire babbles on about Grace’s recent ideas for the furnishings of the house. When we pull up to a gate, she gives me a code to punch in, and even I’m stunned at the house that comes into view.
“Fucking shit.” I take it in, thinking that my baby brother, the best quarterback in the NFL and idol to thousands, will soon be living here.
“This is unreal,” Claire mutters.
We pull into the circular driveway, and Grace is at my door immediately. “Mathis, you have to promise me to keep quiet.” She worries.
“He’ll be quiet, or he’ll deal with celibacy for a long, long, time,” Claire speaks up.
“Let’s hope sex trumps brothers,” Grace mumbles.
Doni shoot
s me a glare, threatening me with her sharp eyes, and I jerk my chin to let her know I understand.
Claire rounds the car, embracing them both, and quietly tells them about Kesha. Grace’s hand moves to her rounded stomach, and she looks directly at me with a gleam in her eye. “I’m sorry, Mathis.”
“Thanks, Peach Princess.”
Her sad grin doesn’t fool me, and I step to Claire’s side. “Give us a tour?” I suggest, trying to ease the sadness.
Grace’s eyes slide to all of us, and she smiles brightly. “You know your brother is crazy. Don’t judge me as you walk through.”
She tries to mask her excitement, but I catch exactly what Nick meant that night at the restaurant. She beams at the house, and if Claire ever showed that look, I’d buy it too. No questions asked.
Grace takes us directly to a huge, rectangular room with nothing but white walls and French doors to the patio.
“This is it.” Grace spins around.
“This is what?” Claire asks.
“Nick’s place. His ‘man-cave’.” She goes on to tell us about her plans, sweeping her arms over the walls, twirling around the room, and landing on a spot in the corner where she plans to display his trophies. “What do y’all think?” she asks the room, but her focus is on me.
“He’s going to love it.” I can almost imagine the wall of memories coming to life.
“I got the idea from you. Ever since you assigned me to do that for Claire, I’ve wanted to do it for Nick, but we didn’t have a place. Now, we do.”
“It’ll be great.” I squeeze Claire’s hand in mine, and she peeks up at me with a smile.
Grace’s eyes shine bright, brimming with emotion. Claire is right; she is a bit weepy, and being pregnant has elevated that. But after this morning at the hospital and then coming home to Claire in shambles, I can’t handle any more tears.
“The wall will be sweet, but it’s the gaming area that’s going to be a hit.” I try to change the subject.
She swallows a few times, the wetness disappearing from her eyes. “You sound like my brother. Logan is not excited about hanging custom wallpaper and then dozens of frames, but he’s stoked about the pool table.” She smiles.
“Okay, Prego, let’s get to measuring,” Claire breaks in. “I’m starving, and Mathis has imposed a curfew, so we’re on a timeline.”
“A curfew? But we have a lot to catch up on,” Grace argues.
“Mathis, there is a ladder in the garage. Will you grab it? We’re going to need exact wall dimensions,” Doni requests in her thick Greek accent and quirks an eyebrow at me.
Her message is clear; it’s time for girl talk. Problem is I have no idea where the garage is. “Not a problem, Doni. I’ll wander through the six thousand square feet aimlessly searching for a garage.”
“Through the living room, formal dining, and on the right of the kitchen. When you hit the mudroom, you’re there,” Grace instructs.
I raise my eyebrows, not knowing one area she described. “I’ll find it and navigate my way back. By then, Claire will have had plenty of time to fill you in on our trip.”
“Take your time. There’s a lot to tell.” Claire lifts up to kiss the underside of my jaw.
“Talk fast. Doni and I will measure the wall while you eat, and then we’re going home so I can eat.” I lower my voice.
Her eyes flare, not missing my intention. I go in search of the garage, but before I’m out of earshot, I hear Doni rambling in Greek. Grace must understand what she says because she starts to laugh and replies.
“Yes, it did just get very hot in here.”
Claire bursts out laughing, and it follows me all the way to the garage.
“Mathis, do you have a minute?”
I glance up from my computer to find Dr. Andrews already walking in my office.
“Sure.” I shut the laptop and sit back casually. “What’s going on?”
“Sorry for the interruption, but I received a call today and thought we should talk in person.”
“What kind of call?”
“The kind that got my attention and made me march my ass down here to see if you seriously turned down a chance to work with Charlene Sams on her upcoming research study.”
“I declined her offer.”
“Wanna tell me why? This is a dream and could catapult your career to new levels. You’re a young doctor, your reputation already renowned. After a chance like this, you won’t be asked to attend seminars; you’ll be asked to be the fucking keynote speaker.”
“Maybe, but from the little she told me, the timing is wrong. She wants me in Cleveland, and a project like this could take a year or more. I’m not prepared to do that.”
“If you think your position here is in jeopardy, I’ll approve a sabbatical for as long as it takes.”
“I appreciate the offer, but do you think Claire Dixon is going to uproot and moved to Cleveland?”
“You turned this down for Claire?”
“She’s a huge part of my decision, but as I told Charlene, my commitments are heavy here right now.”
“I’m not following.”
I make a snap decision to tell him what happened in Boston. Dr. Andrews is a man I highly respect in our profession, but he’s also more. He’s a mentor. He was a lifetime bachelor until three years ago when he fell hard, married a woman ten years younger, and immediately started a family with twin boys. So, I explain the story of Charlene’s offer, adding her dismissal of Claire.
“No shit, that isn’t exactly the way she explained things.”
“Do you think I can work day and night on a research study with a woman who openly insulted Claire? Claire would never hold me back, but the fact Charlene disrespected her was a shot at me.”
“Understood. But I had to see where you were coming from.”
“Now you know.”
“Let’s throw around a different scenario. Say someone was putting together a study regarding advanced therapy on Leukemia patients ages six to twelve, and it was right here in Miami. Would you be interested in taking a lead role?”
I sit up, lock eyes with him, and reply sincerely, “In a fucking heartbeat.”
“Heavy obligations be damned?”
“My family is here, my current niece and nephew are here. Nick is about to have a baby, and he plays professional football here. My girlfriend, who goes where I go, is rooted here. Not to mention, this hospital, which had a hand in saving my brother and Bizzy’s life is here. I think you can see the connection.”
He holds my gaze, and I can’t miss the light that sparks and the smile that spreads wide across his face. “Damn, if I didn’t know it before, I have my answer now. I know exactly who’s going to be my replacement when I retire.” He stands, still smiling. “Didn’t think I had it in me to do it with everything else happening and at my age, but with you, it doesn’t seem like work.”
“I’d be honored,” I say, rising with him.
“Be in touch.” He flicks his fingers and strolls out.
I stare after him, my mind spinning with the turn of our conversation. Charlene Sams may have thought she was going to get her way by sending my boss to convince me to join her, but she’s going to be pissed if, instead, he creates his own research study, and I lead.
My ass doesn’t hit the seat before Clint appears, walking right in. “Dr. Mathis, you got a minute?”
“Seems like the theme of the day.”
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing,” I motion to a chair, “have a seat.”
He sits, and I notice immediately something is off. His body language is tense, his eyes glazed, and his vibe nervous and unfocused.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“I need to tap into your medical expertise.”
“On what?”
“Statistical analysis on the various mortality and survival rates concerning treatments on Lymphoma, stage three.”
I jerk back, not expecting that. “That’s very involved. It
could take a while for me to give you my opinions, but I would never advise without seeing a specific case. Treatments are all individualized, for children especially.”
“Can you tell me about Josh?”
“What about Josh?”
“His case, his treatment plan, all of it.”
“Why are you interested? This is extremely advanced for physician assistant curriculum.”
“Something about him gets to me. I know it’s not wise to get emotionally involved with patients, especially considering my status here as an intern, but after what happened with Kesha, Josh has been weighing heavily on my mind.”
I’ve been doing this long enough to see it clearly. It’s not what he said but how he said it. Somewhere along the line, he’s been personally affected by cancer.
“I don’t mind discussing it with you, but as I mentioned, all treatment plans are individualized and cases are different.”
“Got it.”
Like most patients, I remember the specifics about Josh’s diagnosis. Symptomatically, he was originally diagnosed with meningitis until the illness didn’t go away. I launch into the story with Clint, explaining how his plan was devised, his response to the chemotherapy, and remission rates among other patients in similar cases. When I’m finished, my early thought is confirmed. He’s staring intensely at me, and it’s obvious his mind is on someone.
I stay quiet, watching him process the information, and see the moment it sinks in. Josh’s chances of hitting remission are high, which seems to encourage Clint.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m impressed you’ve taken an interest in him.”
“I hope the little guy pulls through.”
“We all do.”
“When he does, you may be in trouble.” His demeanor changes.
Heartthrob (Bennett Brothers Series) Page 15