"I just think all teenage boys are interested in laying the head cheerleader or any other available girl.” Jennifer tried to keep her voice lighthearted.
She reached in the freezer and took out one of the ice cream bars. Maybe she should eat the rest of the box? Six bars beckoned from the freezer, promising moments of culinary delight and soothing comfort. What could be better than chocolate ice cream?
Brent Moulton in the backseat of a ’67 Mustang!
If she weren't careful, Julia would notice her emotions and ask questions that Jennifer refused to answer.
"I think I'm going to turn in. Goodnight," she called.
“Okay, sleep well,” Julia said.
Jennifer all but ran past her sister, hurrying down the hall and escaping to her bedroom.
What had happened the night of her date with Brent was the one secret she'd never shared with Julia. And like a bad teenage movie, they both were back in town. But worse, he still kissed like the devil in blue jeans, and her hormones still reacted.
#
Leslie Davis, Brent's happily married sister, sat across from him, sipping coffee in the busy hospital cafeteria. Today was one of the few times she could slip away from her two children and escape for lunch with her brother.
"So a stripper actually jumped out of a coffin at your birthday party?” Leslie asked, laughing at Brent.
"No, not a stripper.” Brent's mind immediately pictured the sexy blonde. "A girl I used to know. A high school buddy of mine arranged a singing telegram for me at the birthday party they threw for me."
"Sounds like a frat party for grown-up men who should know better."
"Yeah, but without the sorority sisters.” He sighed. "Sometimes I miss college just because of all the fun I had mingling with the sorority sisters. They wanted to party, not cohabitate."
"Single women your age are more interested in hunting the elusive husband," Leslie said in mock seriousness.
Brent smiled at his sister, amazed that she looked so happy. Married to her college sweetheart, they had two small girls whom Brent absolutely adored and appeared a happy, normal family. At least for her sake, he hoped the dream of happily ever after was real.
"Since you've returned home, we'll have to try to fix you up with one of my unmarried friends. Any of them would be happy to be married to the chief of pediatrics."
Brent smiled and shook his head. "Thanks, but I have no intention of marrying. Bachelorhood is a viable choice."
"Look, Mr. Love-em-and-leave-em, you dated half of Kappa Alpha Theta and never once that I know of had a serious relationship. Don't you think it's about time you settled down? Had a couple of children of your own?"
Brent shrugged. "Yeah, well, with our family history we should be saying, ‘I don't.’" After watching his parents' multiple failed attempts, especially his father's infidelities, he refused to risk marriage. He raised his brows and gave a half-hearted smile, trying to humor his sister. "Besides, what woman in her right mind would want to be tied to a man who has enough student loans that he'll be paying them from the grave? I'm married to my job, and hopefully we'll have many happy years together."
Leslie threw up her hands in defeat. "I've watched you date everything from a scrub nurse to Miss Waxahachie. And the moment they mention the word commitment or ring, you move on to the next episode of The Dating Game."
"Why all the concern regarding my single status? You don't see me worrying about your life as a married mother of two," Brent said.
"Liar. You tried to talk me out of getting married, and thank God I didn't listen. Besides, there's nothing to worry about, because I'm happily married."
"That's good to hear. I'm happily single."
Leslie's forehead drew together in a frown. "Honestly, Brent, you can't let our parents keep you from finding happiness. It's time you considered looking for a Mrs. Moulton."
"Too many Mrs. Moulton's exist in the world already. Our Dad saw to that," he said bitterly, wishing Leslie would drop this painful subject.
"What's one more if she's the right one?” Leslie insisted. She leaned in closer. "You, my dear brother, have developed a pattern that keeps women at a distance."
Brent shook his head, not needing this lecture today. "How much are you charging me for this diagnosis, Doctor? Because I have to tell you, I'm not paying even if you are one semester away from your PhD in psychology."
"It's free of charge only because I'm worried about you."
"Leslie, remember it's not in our genes for relationships to work. Our mother's three marriages and father's five have proven you and I have never seen happily ever after, but we are very qualified to talk about Divorce, American Style."
"So our family sucked at interpersonal relationships. For a couple of kids who came from a broken family, we've done all right. I'm a very happily married woman in a committed relationship because I refuse to live like our parents.” Her green eyes darkened and she lifted her chin in a determined gesture. "I'd hate to see you remain single all your life, never marry and have children, just because our parents didn't know how to make a relationship last."
Brent ran a hand through his hair, tousling the lock on his forehead, wishing his persistent sister would drop this subject. "All I know is that our parents missed out on the happily-ever-after, until-death-do-us-part gene. I have those same genes. If I don't have children, then maybe I can keep marital disaster from spreading."
"Please! That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard come out of a doctor's mouth.” Leslie frowned and thought a moment. "Well, okay, maybe not the silliest thing, but it's pretty close. We share the same genes. Look at me."
"Are you sure you're not adopted?" he said teasingly.
She gave him a wry grin. "Seriously, you and I both know that relationships depend on what kind of personality we're attracted to. Maybe to counter your so-called gene, you should look to date some women other than bimbos."
"They remind me of why I don't marry," Brent said as he twirled the empty Styrofoam cup in his hand. "Tell me, Dr. Davis, which personality type is going to hold my interest and keep me from walking out the door like our father?"
"That is a question that only you can answer. But rather than giving up on marriage, I'd be looking to make sure that I know who I am and what I expect in a mate."
"Don't you think one of the Kappa Alpha Theta's could have held my attention?" he said, knowing instinctively that he'd spent too much time studying to have had a serious relationship of any kind.
"Nope! Not at the time. You were focused on graduating and going to medical school," Leslie said. "The time wasn't right, but now…now you might reconsider and start by dating women who don't carry their brains in a size D cup."
Brent couldn't help but smile. His sister was right. He only dated women for whom he knew marriage was not an option, and he intended to keep it that way.
Hoping to steer the conversation in a new direction, he changed the subject. "Do you remember Julia and Jennifer Riley from high school?"
"Vaguely," she replied. "Why?"
"Julia owns a company called Musical Messages and Party Favors. Her sister Jennifer was the one who jumped out of the coffin at my birthday party."
"Oh,” Leslie said. "Do I detect a trace of interest in this girl?"
Brent shook his head, unable to change his sister's one-track mind. "I don't think that's a good place for me to go. Her sister and I shared a teenage sexual liaison the night before we both went away to college."
"Lord, save us from teenage hormones," Leslie said, leaning back in her chair shaking her head. "Did you ever call Julia after that night?"
"No.” Brent frowned, knowing his actions had been less than stellar though the night had been memorable. "I was young and focused on getting out of town."
His mind conjured up the image of Jennifer Riley in her slinky black dress, her blonde hair curling around her shoulders. She'd looked so much like Julia, he'd been certain it was her.
The memory of Julia in the backseat of his car that last night before they'd both gone away to college lingered on the edge of his mind, an awesome experience of two kids learning about sex.
Yet he'd enjoyed kissing Jennifer Riley.
The sharp ring of his cell phone had him glancing at the number. "I've got to run, Sis. That’s my reminder about my next meeting. Thanks for lunch."
"Give some thought to what I said."
"Sure," he responded as he stood, his voice lacking conviction. There was no way he would search for a serious relationship no matter what Leslie said. He still remembered his parents' split as if it had happened only yesterday. And watching the ever-changing spouses in their parents’ lives had long ago convinced him there was no such thing as till death-do-us-part.
He caught the elevator and rode the clambering machine up to the fifth floor where he hurried down the hallway to the chairman's office. Pushing open the door to the boardroom, he felt a moment of shock when he saw Julia Riley standing next to the hospital chairman. Or was it Jennifer?
Their eyes met and held as he glanced at her enticing ruby lips, remembering the feel of Jennifer's mouth on his. His pulse did a stutter step then leaped at the memory of her in a chiffon dress dipped and curved in all the right places.
But what was one of the Riley twins doing here now?
Chapter Two
Brent stopped cold inside the door and stared. His heart accelerated at the sight of one of the Riley twins standing beside the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Henry Weaver. Dressed in a pale blue suit that accentuated her indigo eyes, making them shimmer like crystals, she looked better than a million dollars.
Still he couldn't tell if this was the singing telegram woman of several nights ago or the teenage girl he'd taken in the backseat of his car. Whichever twin, she was hot.
"Dr. Moulton, I began to think you weren't going to attend today's meeting.” The chairman motioned for him to come in.
"Sorry, sir, I was running a little late," he lied, his eyes still fixated on Julia. Or was she Jennifer? It must be Jennifer. What would Julia be doing here if she owned her own business?
"I'd like you to meet our new development director, Jennifer Riley," he said, introducing Brent to the very woman he'd kissed two nights before.
She now worked at County General? They would see each other every day? He stared as his mind tried to wrap around the fact that she was here working for the hospital. What about the job she did for her sister? Didn't she have a coffin somewhere that needed jumping out of? Anything to get this piece of temptation off his turf.
Not that he minded looking at her, certainly. She was gorgeous, but the memory of holding her on his lap, her black dress clinging to her luscious curves, made him thankful he wore his long scrub coat. He didn’t need this luscious carrot dangled in front of him every day.
"We're acquainted," he said.
The arousal he felt at the sight of Jennifer Riley today didn't have anything to do with the fact that she looked like Julia. No, he admired her proud stance, the way her eyes met his boldly, not backing down. He glanced at her lips. Did she remember their kiss?
She held out her hand, and a whiff of something soft and flowery caught his attention, a tempting and erotic scent that brought to mind images of silk sheets and warm nights filled with passion. "Good to see you again, Brent. I didn't know you worked at County General.” His large hand engulfed her smaller one as he shook it, her soft skin smooth as a petal in his rough palm.
“I’m the chief of pediatrics,” he murmured unable to keep from staring at her.
Today she appeared beautiful, reserved, and businesslike, nothing like the seductive temptress from his birthday party. He wanted to experience again the woman he'd kissed two nights ago. He wanted to ruffle her neatly styled hair while she sang to him in that sultry, throaty voice of hers. “Happy Birthday” had never affected him like this before. The need to shake up the cool, professional Miss Riley overcame him.
"Congratulations on the job," he said with sincerity. But before he could earn a Boy Scout badge for good behavior, temptation got the better of him. "You're dressed quite differently from the last time I saw you."
Jennifer stiffened. Her blue eyes darkened as her brows rose, accepting his verbal challenge. She pulled her soft hand from his, her long manicured nails running along the inside of his palm and shooting a tingle of awareness straight to his groin.
"Yes, you're no longer wearing a football jersey and I’m no longer a member of the drill team," she said with a smile and a look that wanted to plunge daggers in him.
He couldn't contain his grin at her quick comeback. "Yeah, well, time has certainly flown by, and soon we'll all be over the hill."
Brent heard a trace of sarcasm in her voice as she laughed. "Speak for yourself. Failing eyesight and memory loss hasn't affected me yet. My eyesight has always been good enough to distinguish people, and I can still recall people's names, even from high school."
Ouch! She'd just delivered a resounding put-down, though most of the people in the room would never know her comments were directed at him.
"Since I'm a doctor, I'm sure I'd recognize the signs of vision and memory loss."
"Oops!" She gave an insincere little laugh. "I forgot you are a doctor now. I keep thinking of you as the captain of the football team."
The chairman in the room cleared his throat and Brent laughed to keep from scowling. The sexy blonde thought quickly on her feet, and she hadn't let his provoking comment go by unchallenged.
Dr. Weaver and the rest of the board watched them with interest, clearly not understanding their wordplay. Rather, they looked like spectators at a tennis match with their heads swinging back and forth with the banter.
"Maybe we should get started," Dr. Weaver interjected in the drawn-out silence.
They took their seats around the conference room table and the chairman of the board began the meeting.
“For those of you who haven’t met our new development director, I’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Riley. She is going to be in charge of raising both charitable donations and government funds for the hospital. While raising this money, it will be critical that she does it in such a manner that the hospital’s image with the public is protected. We are here to serve the people of Smith County and must at all costs be seen as an outstanding institution.”
Everyone clapped and smiled at Jennifer. All Brent could do was stare as he tried to remember the differences between her and Julia, her sister. His memory of Julia seemed vague, yet he did recall her smile and the sound of her laughter. Considering what they'd shared that night, it seemed sad that he remembered so little.
That hot, sensual, summer night, had culminated with them having sex in the back of his car.
Now here he sat, less than five feet away from Julia's sister, and all he could think about was how pleasing to the eye Jennifer Riley was, in or out of a coffin. He liked what he saw and would not mind the opportunity to seek out her lips again. Attitude, beauty, and a sexy mouth were qualities he admired in a woman regardless of what his sister said.
Jennifer jerked her head toward the chairman.
"Dr. Moulton?" the chairman’s voice snapped him out of his recollections.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" he asked, sitting up straighter in his chair.
"On call last night?" Dr. Weaver asked. "I asked you if you had completed the feasibility study on the equipment needed for the new wing of the pediatrics department."
Brent couldn't believe he'd let his mind wander so far from the meeting at hand. This project could make his pediatrics department one of the most prestigious in the country and help more children than he'd ever dreamed possible.
"My team is creating a detailed list of equipment that we think is absolutely necessary for the new wing. We're working with the staff at Arkansas Children's Hospital, one of the top facilities in the country, and should have the list completed by our next meeting.” Hopefully he'
d bluffed his way through being caught daydreaming.
"Well then, if no one else has anything to report, we're adjourned," Dr. Weaver said, scooting his chair away from the table.
Dr. Weaver turned to Jennifer, his dark eyes observing her. "Once again, welcome Miss Riley. I hope you'll enjoy working here at County General."
"Thank you. I'm certain I will."
Brent stood back as she turned and walked toward the door. Her pale blue skirt ended above her knees and the strappy cream sandals she wore showed off her trim legs that stretched into his dreams and wrapped around his waist while he plunged deep inside her.
He turned, refusing to watch her walk away any longer. His reaction to the way the material clung to her perfect derriere was less than professional.
Dr. Weaver watched him. "Is something wrong, Dr. Moulton? You seem distracted this morning."
He laughed and started walking toward the door, trying to escape the observant Dr. Weaver. "I'm fine. I just have a lot of things on my mind. You know patients, reports, and the usual."
Mainly a tall, leggy blonde who had popped into his life and immediately thrown him off balance. But he'd quickly recover from this instant attraction; he always did. That's how he'd remained single this long.
#
In the hallway, Jennifer hung back from everyone as they departed the boardroom and headed off for their various job duties. She needed to speak with Brent and ask him to keep her birthday greeting private. The last thing she wanted was everyone to know she jumped out of coffins half dressed, playing a vamp as she delivered singing telegrams for her sister.
It was bad enough the way she and Brent had sparred in the staff meeting. She'd let her quick temper get away from her when he'd dropped none-too-subtle hints regarding their last meeting.
People from the meeting loaded up the elevators. The doors closed and the lights indicated its descent to the lower floors. She stepped over to a water fountain. Bending over, she twisted the knob and put her lips to the cool water as it splashed from the faucet. When she finished, she looked up straight into the gaze of Dr. Brent Moulton.
My Sister's Boyfriend (The Trouble With Twins 1) Page 2