Mr. Right Now: Vol. 3: Drinks On Us Tonight

by Bellus, HJ

  Cole drives in a daze to the hospital, not even remembering any of the turns or stoplights he was so lost in thought. He rides the elevator, exhausted. It’s not even nine p.m. and he knows it’s mainly because of last night’s adventures.

  When he steps off the elevator, the scene in front of Chloe’s room is normal without the group of doctors surrounding her and alarms going off. He peeks around the corner to see Eli slumped in a chair.

  “Hey, man.”

  Eli looks up through bloodshot eyes, and the look on his face scares Cole.

  “Hey, man,” he replies.

  “Where’s Chloe?” He nods to where her bed usually is.

  “They took her for some tests. Have a seat.”

  “You look like shit. You didn’t sleep last night, did you?”

  Eli just shakes his head. “I was afraid to. I didn’t want her to slip away again.”

  “How is she?”

  “The doctors can’t offer any explanation. She’s doing amazing. Feeding tube is out, and she’s able to drink liquids and eat a little bit of Jell-O.”

  “The baby?”

  “Same. Haven’t discussed it much.”

  “I’m taking you back to the hotel for the night. You need a good hot meal and sleep in a real bed.”

  “Not a fucking chance.”

  “I’ll drag your ass out of here, Eli.”

  A crash distracts the brothers from their pissing match. They look up to see Chloe’s bed being rolled in by two nurses. They get her adjusted and both of her IVs hooked backed up. Cole has no idea what to say to her. The first thing that comes to mind is ‘How are you doing?’ but that seems a bit off.

  She offers Eli a feeble smile, and he’s on his feet and by her side. He clutches her hand like he has done so many times when she was unconscious, and then places a soft kiss on her forehead.

  “Buttercup, it’s a good thing you came back.” He smiles, remembering their childhood days when he’d always tease Eli about her and nicknamed her Buttercup.

  “I had to.”

  “Fucking-A, you had to. There’s no way I could deal with this jumbo sized puss without you.” He nods over to Eli, who is standing on her other side and holding her other hand.

  She lets out a light laugh. “How’s the job going?”

  “Chloe, I’ll whip your ass myself if you worry about that. I’ve got it under control.”

  “Okay,” she whispers.

  “But I think Eli needs to go to the hotel for a night and sleep.”

  Chloe nods and shoots him a look saying ‘I told you so.’

  “I’m not leaving.”

  “He’s such a stubborn ass. I’ll give you two some time and be right back.” Cole exits the room, needing to make a business call that he spaced.

  “Brother.”

  He looks up from his phone and sees Jax.

  “Doctor,” he replies coolly.

  Cole’s been around his share of women—and men for, that matter—and there’s something different about Jax. She’s gorgeous in a simple way. No make-up, jewelry, or perfume, but she’d demand your attention in a room full of Playboy bunnies.

  “You’ve got a very stubborn brother.”

  Cole looks back in the room, confused about her remark.

  “I was on my way in to share some test results, but didn’t want to ruin your conversation.”

  “Ah, gotcha, Doc.”

  “Doc?”

  “Yeah, Doc.” Cole leans back on the doorframe and crosses his arms.

  “Don’t you think it’s a little early in our relationship to jump to nicknames?”

  He slides his hands in his pockets to fight the urge to brush her long bangs from her eyes.

  “Did you not get the memo?”

  “Haven’t checked my memo basket yet, Brother.”

  “Sterlings don’t play by the rules. The only rule is we don’t have fucking rules.”

  He notices Jax stiffen a bit at his harsh language, but he also doesn’t miss her fingers delicately brushing her bangs to the side and her chest raising a little heavier than normal. Oh yes, he’s affected her.

  Her eyes focus back on her paperwork. “I can only imagine.”

  “Since we are at the nickname part of our blooming relationship, I need a favor from you, Doc.” He reaches out to her forearm. “Help me make my brother go home.”

  He’s surprised when she doesn’t pull her arm back or yell at him.

  “Well, that was a bit thick, but you’re lucky. I agree that your brother needs a break.”

  “Thank you. He needs a night back at the hotel, distraction free, and a good night’s rest.”

  “I may be the brain of the bunch here.” She gestures between them. “But I don’t do free favors.”

  He arches an eyebrow at her. “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yeah. What are you going to give me?”

  “Dinner.”

  “Not the cafeteria.”

  “Not the cafeteria,” Cole says.

  “Not doctor clothes.”

  “Naughty nurse clothes?”

  Jax slaps his shoulder and lets out a little giggle. “You’re a pig.”

  “I’ll take you to dinner.”

  “Cole, I mean like steak and lobster, and even dessert.”

  “Mmm.” He brushes his hands through the back of his hair. “If you want dessert, then Naughty Nurse Nancy needs to come out to play.”

  Her eyes widen to the size of golf balls, and he grins, knowing he’s flustered her.

  “I didn’t think this was social hour. I mean, we do save lives here.”

  Cole looks up to see Doctor Fuckface from the night in the waiting room. The one who was completely rude to her and downgraded her every chance he got. He watches the take-charge and funny Jax transform to the intimidated Jax as soon as he enters the picture.

  “I was just going in to share the test results,” she says with a shaky voice.

  He snatches the folder from her hand, places it back in the door, and then takes her iPad from her other hand. “I’ll do the honors since you clearly got distracted.”

  The man takes two more steps toward Cole and still doesn’t realize he’s just made the biggest mistake of his life. Cole doesn’t move an inch when Dr. Fuckface stands before him; he only plucks the iPad from his hand and hands it back to Jax.

  “One, you don’t talk to women that way, and two, we don’t want you working this case anymore.”

  “You don’t have the right to decide that.”

  “Test me.”

  It takes every single bit of restraint to not add ‘motherfucker.’ Cole’s not sure if it’s from embarrassment or if the man is just a pussy, but he turns on his heel and walks off.

  Jax doesn’t make eye contact, and he can tell she’s upset by her trembling hand, but doesn’t try to console her. He knows how it feels to be knocked down, saved, and then consoled. It’s like salt in a wound. It takes her several moments before she looks up at him and offers a fake smile and walks toward the door. He moves to the side for her.

  “Thanks.” She grasps his forearm. “I guess I want dessert tomorrow.”

  He smiles at her words and has to bite his bottom lip because he wants to reach out and kiss her forehead.

  “Chloe,” she greets as she walks in. Jax sets her iPad on the edge of the bed and then washes her hands at the sink. She takes Chloe’s vitals and then sits by her side, sharing test results which all show promising signs. It’s nothing but positive news. No wonder Dr. Fuckface wanted to deliver the results.

  When she finishes sharing the good news, Jax turns to Eli. Cole knows she’s about to go in for the kill, and he wonders how demanding she will be or if she’ll leave it as a mere suggestion.

  “And you need to go home for the evening, Eli.”

  He begins to protest.

  “You have two choices. You can walk out with your bro over there, or you can be escorted out by security. It’s your choice.”

  Holy fuck,
Cole just fell in love with Jax. There’s no way he thought he’d be able to drag his brother from the room, let alone the hospital. She’s backed Eli up against a wall that he never would have been able to. Eli begins to argue with her.

  “I guess it’s security then. I have other patients to deal with.”

  “Eli.” Chloe grabs his bicep. “Please go and rest. Call the nurses before you go to bed to check on me. You need a good night’s rest.”

  Eli runs both hands through his hair and lets out a defeated sound. “Fine.”

  Cole knows he needs to act, and act now.

  “Let’s go, Junior.”

  Eli hates the nickname, but Cole always finds himself using it. Their dad called him Junior.

  He kisses and hugs Chloe as Cole walks over to Jax near the door. She has a huge smile plastered across her face.

  “Salad, steak, and by steak, I mean a big-ass ol’ steak, potatoes, wine…” She gestures to emphasize the size of the steak.

  “Don’t forget dessert,” Cole adds with his hands in his pockets and bottom lip safely tucked under his teeth.

  Jax sits in her closet staring at the mounds of scrubs facing her. What in the hell was she thinking agreeing to dinner with Cole? In the moment, it felt good having a healthy banter with him, but now she scolds herself for being a fucking idiot. She hasn’t been on a date or gone to dinner with a man since high school. Once she entered college, she never had the option of fucking around or having a social life.

  Shakily, her fingers poke out his number on her iPhone. Her nerves are on high while it rings, and she almost hangs up when she hears him.

  “Hello, Doc.”

  He’s such a flirt. She rolls her eyes at his greeting.

  “Um…” He threw her off her game. She was ready to say, ‘Hi, this is Jax.’ But he ruined that. “Hey.”

  “Hey,” he responds.

  “Cole, I… uh, I…”

  “Are you dumping me?”

  She smiles at his smartass comment. She likes the way he talks to her. It’s the complete opposite of the way he deals with his brothers. She’s noticed this from a distance, observing them in the hospital month after month.

  “No, it’s just I don’t have anything to wear besides scrubs or yoga pants and a hoodie. Nothing fit for a steak dinner with you.”

  “No naughty nurse outfit?”

  Her eyes flash to the bag sitting next to her with the damn nurse outfit in it and she shakes her head at the fact she stopped at an adult store on the way home. Hell, it was on the corner a block down from her apartment, so she couldn’t really pass it up.

  “I didn’t say that, Cole. I just don’t have fancy shit. I’m a poor working doctor.”

  He laughs at her joke. “I’ll send something over. And it’s not because you’re poor, it’s because you’re an amazing doctor.”

  “Thank you. I’ll pay you back.”

  “Your nurse outfit will be enough.”

  “But I want to order dessert too,” she pokes.

  “Oh, you’re going to get dessert.”

  “Bye, Cole.”

  “See you in a few, Doc.”

  She feels like a jackass for calling him, but it’s been a little over a week, and she’s looking forward to this. There’s something about him that makes her feel light and carefree, and he seems like he’d be really fun to hang out with. His looks don’t hurt her case.

  And if she is being honest, he melted one of her ovaries when he stood up for her in the hospital that day. Nobody has done that since she chose the healthcare profession. Her parents disowned her, as they didn’t approve of her career choice and would have preferred she stay home and marry Tom, lie down, and have babies. That’s the thing about Jax; she’s never followed what her parents lined up for her.

  She left home and never went back. In fact, she relocated to the opposite side of the country. Jax lifts herself from the floor and snags the bag, pulling out the naughty nurse outfit. She has no intention of ever wearing it, but thought she’d call his bluff at dinner by whipping it from her purse. Yes, it’s so tiny it could fit in her oversized purse, and then she’d score free dessert.

  If her friends at the hospital ever caught wind of her even having this thing in her possession they’d never let her live it down. She purchased a medium, knowing damn well she’d never squeeze into a small, but then thought a medium might be too tight. But since she convinced herself she’d never be wearing it, she bought the medium.

  Now, waiting on her outfit for tonight, her curiosity gets the best of her. Tearing into the plastic, she removes the outfit and gasps at how short the dress is, and then nearly gags at the thought of fishnet stockings. She bought a hooker outfit. She moves to the full length mirror in front of her closet and holds up the dainty white uniform in front of her.

  She decides to try it on and is pleasantly surprised when it fits her every curve. Her ass looks ginormous in it, but from the hip-hop songs she listens to, it’s a good thing. Jax has to tuck and roll her breasts down into the top of the dress. She’s busting from every seam, but she can’t deny she looks damn good in it.

  Her phone chirps, distracting her from admiring her body in the mirror.

  The Player: Your outfit should be there in ten minutes. Pick you up at 7 if everything at work goes smoothly

  She laughs at the nickname she put in for Cole. He gave her his number last night at the hospital while visiting Chloe, and it was pretty cute. She’s sure he thought she was going to bag on the date.

  Jax: Thank you and I’ll pay you back in money

  The Player: Oh yes, you’ll be paying me back

  Jax: You’re too much

  The Player: You’d think I was a nerd if you knew how excited I am to eat with the Doc tonight

  Jax: Oh really

  The Player: See you soon x

  She leaves the conversation at that, but her fingers are hungry to type out ‘not soon enough.’ The four brothers have piqued her curiosity since Chloe was admitted into the hospital. A couple nights ago she Googled them and their empire, and her jaw dropped at the information she found. She wants to believe Cole’s sweet words, but when the brothers have been tagged with the reputation of playboys of the year, she knows it’s just his personality.

  Her doorbell rings before she can dissect any more of the situation, which she does in her very limited personal life and every day at work. She opens the door to a gorgeous woman holding a clothes bag and a shoebox. “These were sent over by Cole Sterling.”

  The lady hands over the items and then walks down the hallway, leaving Jax staring at her back. Her nerves take over, and she finds herself too scared to look in the bag. Hell, did she even tell Cole her size? As soon as she closes the door, there’s another knock, startling her. When she opens it there’s a tiny delivery man holding an enormous bouquet of flowers.

  “Is there a Doc here?” he asks.

  She giggles then sets down the clothes and shoes and takes the flowers from him. Cole now officially has Jax trembling as she slides open the small envelope.

  Love, your lover boy, Cole Sterling

  And now she’s flushing with embarrassment in her own kitchen reading and rereading his words, and by damn if the man’s handwriting isn’t fucking hot as hell. She can’t resist the urge to text him.

  Jax: Smooth move. Lover boy?

  The Player: That nurse outfit better take naughty to a whole new level

  Jax: You should ask the delivery guy. Pretty sure he popped some wood when I answered the door.

  The Player: Can’t wait, Nurse Nancy

  Jax carries the clothes and shoes to her room and unzips the bag with both eyes shut, having the feeling Cole picked out something daring for her. When she opens her eyes, she’s exactly right. A little black dress lays there, and when she pops the lid from the shoebox, a pair of red high heels. She plucks the tag on the dress and smiles when she sees size 5 staring back at her. How did he know?

  Jax is sure it’s
probably because he’s been around the block a time or two. She checks the time and then decides she’d better shower and get her ass moving. Jax has forty-five minutes to get ready for her steak dinner.

  After shaving, showering, and dressing about twenty times in the same dress, she analyzes her appearance and decides to plop down on the couch with a bag of microwavable popcorn. It’s her typical dinner, and tonight she’ll be munching on it in a fancy-ass dress. Cole’s over an hour late, and Jax has lost all hope of him ever showing up.

  She nearly wore out the button on her phone checking for new messages. She finally kicks off her heels, which were already giving her blisters from pacing the living room floor. She’s cussed him up one side and down the other, but more foolishly scolds herself for believing in him.

  After polishing off the bag of popcorn, Jax’s eyes grow heavy and her fingers are twitchy to type out a ‘fuck you’ to Cole. Soon sleep wins.

  If Kam doesn’t get his head on straight, Cole might physically choke his ass out with his bare fucking hands. Kam never showed at the club to receive a huge delivery of furniture and appliances. Cole had already gone back to the hotel to shower and get ready for his date with Jax. He had really been looking forward to tonight.

  His little escapade last weekend held him over for quite some time. Cole even met up with Dalton again, but this time they only fucked women, and it was really quick. Dalton showed no interest in Cole. Deep down, Cole was thankful, not ready to be lost in someone again. And even more, Dalton almost gave him the creeps this time. It’s clear he’s a manwhore, so a light date with Jax is something he needs badly, and if the naughty nurse outfit comes out to play, he won’t argue.

  Cole rushed out of his room when he’d received the call from the delivery guy. He’d forgotten his phone, which is the norm for him. He didn’t realize it until halfway to the club and figured it was too late to turn back. Hell, it was just supposed to be a quick delivery, but what he hadn’t expected was all the paperwork to be out of fucking whack. Between Eli not on the job, and Kam’s head wherever the fuck it is, the paperwork and inventory was fucked up.