Jackson finally closes his mouth and runs his fingers through his hair. His glasses make him look smart and fancy. “It’s nice to meet you, Dee. Well, semi-meet. I don’t know if this counts as actually meeting.”
“I don’t think Nate’ll let her come near either of us in real life, J, so you may as well say meet. This is as close as we’ll ever get to her.”
“Why is that?” I wonder out loud. Nate drops his head to my shoulder and groans into it, muttering about the answer being good.
“Simple,” Xavier says, smirking, “he won’t want you to realize there are two other Alexander men who are better looking, funnier, and better catches than he is. He’d be afraid you’d pick one of us instead.”
“Jesus, Xavier, do you ever know when to shut your mouth?” Jackson asks, shaking his head. While he’s saying it, I can feel Nate tense beneath me, and I know it’s memories over his ex doing exactly what Xavier is saying I will.
“What? We all know it’s true.”
“Sorry, but I like the big, brooding doctor thing more than the rich, arrogant, speak-before-he-thinks hockey player thing. Fame doesn’t impress me.” I shrug my shoulder and reposition myself so I can wrap an arm around Nate’s neck and kiss his cheek. “I’ll stick with Nate.”
“Damn!” Jackson says, chuckling. “You picked one hell of a girl this time.” He winks at the screen and then continues, “Xavier, why don’t you shut up for a while and think through what you just said, maybe you’ll figure it out and apologize before Nate kills you.”
Nate lifts his head and smiles at me, kissing my lips while his brothers go back and forth. We pull apart and then watch the screen, enjoying the banter and bickering happening between the guys.
“If you’re both done being dipshits,” Nate finally interrupts them, “I’d like to get back to my night with Dee, so can we get on to foundation stuff now? We all know you two are only seconds away from whipping them out and measuring—again—and Dee doesn’t need to see that.”
“Nor do I want to,” I agree, sliding my hand over the back of Nate’s neck and into his hairline, scratching gently. “I can go if you two would rather I not hear this.”
“No!” they both say at the same time.
“Stay, please. We’ll behave,” Jackson adds. “We’re sorry for being so rude while you’re on with us too, it’s probably not a great first impression.”
“Speak for yourself, asswipe,” Xavier adds. “I’m too damn charming for anyone to regret me based on first impression.”
All three Alexander boys chuckle, and Nate wraps his hand tight around my waist, keeping me with him for the duration of their call. None of them have a problem with me listening, and I’m glad for that.
I didn’t have siblings growing up, but I would like to think if I did, we would be as close as them. I hope we would be at least.
I’m not sure how long they talk once I go quiet, but the time flies. There’s so much to learn and hear. I never would’ve imagined running a foundation and fundraising would be so involved and detailed, but I guess it makes sense it is.
The three of them are doing so much good, and the vast majority of it all is anonymous for Nate and even Jackson. Xavier is the face of NJX and gets pretty much all of the credit. It’s amazing.
“It was nice meeting you, Dee,” Jackson says after they wrap up their talk. “Take good care of my brother, he could use a good, strong woman in his life.”
“He’s right, Nate needs someone good. Truly good. It was nice meeting you. And, uh, Nate?”
“Yes?” Nate responds.
“Sorry about what I said earlier, I wasn’t thinking. It was pretty shitty of me, given, well, everything.”
I smile at Nate and answer for him, “Jokes or not, I would pick him over you ten times out of ten, Xavier. You’re a blast to talk to, but this one has flipped my life upside down and somehow it only feels right with him in it now.”
Nate gives me a kiss then answers Xavier too, “It’s all right, X-Man. You’re forgiven. Maybe it’s time for me to quit worrying so much about that anyway.”
“X, that look is our cue to leave before we get a show. You two have a good night. I’m out.” Jackson’s face disappears from the screen, and I’m sure Xavier is about to follow suit, but he clears his throat instead.
“I’ll leave you two in a second, I just wanted to say thank you, Dee, for making my brother happy. And for taking care of Micah. Nate and Micah’s mom have told me you’ve been working with him, and I hear it’s making all the difference.”
“My pleasure, Xavier. On both counts.”
He nods his head and grins at us. “You two behave, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do… On second thought there’s not a thing I wouldn’t do. So have fun. Later!”
We both laugh and give Xavier a little wave before he disappears from the screen too.
“Sorry about them. They’re a lot.” Nate slides his hand up and down my back, rubbing it gently.
“They’re fun. And you have nothing to apologize for.”
“What if I say thank you, then?” He presses his lips to mine and lets them linger there for a couple seconds.
“You don’t have to say it, either. But you could take me to your room and show me how much you mean it.”
Thirty
Nate
Is it possible to start falling for a woman after only a few weeks? Is it only lust and the shininess of something new that has me feeling this way? Are things going too well? Or is this deep, knowing feeling real? It can’t be. People only fall this fast in fairy tales and romance novels.
Yet I’m having these thoughts and feelings I can’t explain. These are the thoughts I’ve had for the past few days. First, we came out as a couple at the hospital. That blew over surprisingly fast, and everyone seems to have settled down around us. I can speak to nurses, doctors, basically everyone on the staff now without worry of flirting or being hit on.
Then Dee met my brothers a couple of nights ago, and they both texted me the next day about how much they liked her and how good for me they both think she is. I never thought I’d admit this about anyone, but I think she’s been good for me too.
She held her own against them, and to be able to hold your own in the middle of an Alexander verbal slugfest, you have to be a strong, special person. It was fun to watch. Xavier is not used to women not giving a shit he’s a famous athlete. It did him some good, being put in his place.
Finally, she’s incredible. She challenges me constantly, but supports and encourages me just as much. She’s beautiful, strong, smart, and has a feistiness to her I don’t think I could ever get enough of. She’s great at her job, she doesn’t cross boundaries; she’s literally everything I’ve always wanted, but was too afraid to have.
I’m nowhere near ready to consider it can be anything more than a growing bond, with more trust and openness, and having an incredible girlfriend who is quickly becoming my best friend too. I won’t allow myself to go there. Because there is still a lot to learn, experience, and figure out about each other.
I am liking this feeling though.
For the first time in forever, I feel like I have a real best friend, who I can talk to about the mundane shit, the serious, the hard, and long days. It’s the first time in forever I have someone, other than my brothers, who I believe I can talk to without it being used against me.
Dee has proven herself time and time again, and I want it to be true, badly.
“What’s on your mind?” the gorgeous woman asks me when she walks out onto my balcony with a drink in hand. She’s made herself comfortable here when she’s over. I like it.
“You.” I wink at her and hold my hand out. “Come stand with me, watch the sun start disappearing over the city.”
She takes my hand and lets me guide her in front of me where I can cage her in between me and the railing of my balcony. “What about me?” She leans back against my chest and her head rests just beneath my chin.
“How much I like having you in my life. I think you might be the best friend—and girlfriend—I’ve ever had. I like knowing there’s someone other than my brothers I can talk to.”
She tilts her head back a bit and directs her gaze at me. “I like you trust me enough to consider me someone you can talk to and see as a best friend, and girlfriend.”
“Hmmm,” I dip my head to kiss her lips, “I like it too.”
She straightens her head and looks out off my balcony again, allowing me to kiss the crown of her head. “How was work today?”
“It was good. I kept busy, didn’t see any of your patients today though. Well, that’s a lie, I saw Emily.”
I rest my chin on her head and curl my hand over her hip, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment, responding, “I saw your notes. She’ll be discharged tomorrow.”
Dee sighs deeply. “I know. She’s not ready though. At this point, I don’t think there’s any way she’ll have the recovery we want her to. She’s just not putting in the work or maintaining a positive attitude. She’s so defeated.”
“I can’t guarantee a perfect recovery, but all scans and every other indication I have from a procedural and medical standpoint indicates she will make a near full recovery. She has to do the work though, otherwise her softball playing, hope of full motion and use will diminish slowly over time.”
“I just don’t see it happening. And I hate it. She’s so capable. Her parents won’t come home, her coach and their staff can’t focus just on her, and she’s so new here she doesn’t have a great support system in place with friends. She doesn’t feel like anyone cares enough for her to work through this.”
I can tell it really bothers Dee. Which is why she sounds so frustrated and annoyed with Emily. Her words have a bite of irritation with them, and her body is tense. “You can’t force her into it, Gorgeous. She has to want to work for herself.”
“I know. I just wish I could. I wonder if hard love would do the trick?”
I kiss her temple and chuckle. “I’m sure if her family were here to give her some, it might work. It might make her angry enough to get fed up and work just to prove them wrong, at the very least. Anger is better than complacency and hopelessness any day, if you ask me.”
She lifts her glass to her mouth and takes a drink, the ice clinking inside and smell of lemonade making me smile. “In this case, I agree. She needs that. She’s an athlete. Athletes need a kick in the ass sometimes. It’s what eventually worked with my friend, Tate. She has responded well to a swift kick in the ass a couple times, actually.”
I kiss her neck and nuzzle my nose into her warm, soft, lotion-scented skin. “And were you the one giving her the kick?”
She moans out quietly, “Mmmhmmm. Her mom and I.”
“Emily needs a you in her life, then.” I keep kissing her neck and down her shoulder, nudging her shirt out of the way so I can reach more skin.
“Don’t give me any ideas, Dr. Desirable. I may just have to aaaa—” I silence the thought the moment I turn her around and slide my tongue over her lips.
“Put your lemonade down.” I nip at her lips and catch her arm, moving the drink to the small table in my periphery.
With both her hands free, she forgets all about Emily, the frustration working with her has brought, and focuses entirely on me, and the naughty fun we’re about to have while the sun sets over the city beneath us.
****
Dee
Nate has this uncanny ability to completely obliterate any train of thought I have by kissing and fucking away my worries. It’s incredibly hot, yet also frustrating because I’m truly weak to his body and antics, and he knows it. I’m not complaining though.
Not entirely at least.
He uses his powers for good most of the time, and I’m grateful he knows when to take me away and when to let me get everything off my chest.
He distracted me tonight, talking about Emily, and it was for the best. I know I can’t force her to work hard or believe in herself. And I know it isn’t my place, or my job, to convince her otherwise.
It doesn’t mean I don’t wish I could though, because I most certainly do.
Before he fell asleep, he brought it back up again and reminded me my job is to focus on physical therapy only, because Emily isn’t my friend—not like Tate—and I need to maintain a professional distance and boundary.
I hate he’s right, but he is. If only I could get it all back off my mind right now. I’d love to curl up into his warm, naked body and fall into a deep sleep before my alarm goes off and I have to get ready for work in the morning.
Thirty-One
Dee
“Thank you so much again, Dee. I really appreciate it,” Micah’s mom says when we finish our session for the day. He’s been working so hard, and he’s done so well.
“It’s honestly my pleasure.” I ruffle Micah’s hair. “You did great today, buddy. How do you feel?”
He looks up at me with his honey brown eyes and smiles. “Good, but a little sore and tired. Tomorrow is a surgery day. Did you know that?”
I nod my head. “I did. Your mom told me you would be here bright and early for your procedure and blood work. Are you all ready for them?”
His little nose scrunches up momentarily then he shrugs his shoulder and looks at his mom. “I guess so. I don’t want to go though.”
Her face contorts into a frown. “I know you don’t, baby, but what do we always say?”
“We’re fighting the bad guy blood so the good guy blood wins. And the doctors are helping us.”
“That’s right. We have so many people on our team helping us, right?”
“Yep. Even Miss Dee!”
I grin wide and squat down to his height. “You’re right, buddy, I’m definitely on your team. We all are. You’re going to handle tomorrow like a champ. Right?”
“Right!” He holds out his little hand for knuckles and I bump mine to his before we blow it up. “You guys get out of here and do something fun for a while. Celebrate working so hard with therapy today.”
His eyes light up and he looks at his mom. “Can we get ice cream? Pleeeease?”
“Only if you tell Miss Dee bye so she can get back to work.”
“Okay!” He waves at me and shouts, “Bye, Miss Dee,” as he heads straight for the door.
“Well, that was the quickest you’ve gotten him out of here yet.” I wave back at him. “Enjoy your afternoon, I’ll make those calls for you this week.”
“Thank you so much again.”
“It’s my pleasure, I needed to call anyway, so I’ll kill two birds with one stone.”
She gives me a slight wave then chases after Micah, calling after him to slow down and wait for her to get on the elevator.
“That seems to be going well,” Miranda says, walking up to me.
“It really is. He’s a great kid, he’s doing incredible with this protocol, and his mom sits back and lets us work without micromanaging or anything.”
“Good. I’m glad. I just want to caution you not to get too attached. I’ve seen where you can with the younger ones, and while things are going well right now, they can always change, or they will eventually need to move on and get help elsewhere, as he finishes his treatments and needs here at the hospital.”
She’s right, just like Nate was last night. It’s something I know I need to get a handle on, but I’ll finish my work with Micah and Emily before I change how I operate with younger patients. “You aren’t the first to tell me that, I know it’s something I need to work on, and I will. I promise.”
“I’m only saying it for your benefit. You are doing a great job with all the patients you see, so I have no complaints. But it is important to maintain a professional distance—for yourself—and for the patients. Attachment is not good for anyone here in the hospital.”
“I know.” I grab my water and take a drink, letting the cold liquid slide smoothly down my throat. “I’m trying to get a handle on it, I do
n’t want to make things any harder on me or them when our time working together is over.”
“Good girl. That same thing applies to Miss McCarthy, too. I’ve heard you have taken a very personal, vested interest in her care. Be careful there.”
“I will. Speaking of; today is our last session together before she is discharged. I hope I can get her to work today, see the benefit of taking this seriously so she is back out on the diamond as soon as possible.”
“Okay,” she says, “just remember to be professional. It’s hard to do when you’re so personally invested, I know, but with her leaving today, you need to really be aware.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She gives me that reassuring look of approval I’ve come to love about her, then she returns to her own work and charts.
I head up to Emily’s room and knock on the door. “Hey, Emily, it’s me again.”
I step inside and find her sitting cross-legged in her bed, staring off into space. She isn’t hearing me at all, and I don’t think she really wants to.
“Earth to Miss McCarthy.” I complete my walk in and stop in front of her bed, smiling. “Are you ready to do some work today?”
“What’s the point?” She barely spares me a glance, and when she does, the look in her eyes is brutal. She is full of despair, loathing, hopelessness, and irritation.
“The point is to get you back to where you were so you can be ready for the season.”
“But why? Nobody else gives a shit, you don’t give a shit, and it’s useless.”
I know I shouldn’t do it; I should just ask if she wants to work, and if not, I should walk away. But she needs to know she can do this; she just needs to quit stopping herself. “You know something, you’re giving up on you. Nobody else is. If you would just give this a chance, we could help you. It is hopeless if you don’t help yourself though. I promise you. I’ve talked to Dr. Alexander, last night in fact, and he said there’s no reason you can’t make a full recovery. But you have to quit feeling sorry for yourself and put the work in. You have to, Emily.”
Doctor Desirable: A Hero Club Novel Page 23
