Heartthrob (Bennett Brothers Series)

by Ahren Sanders

  Copyright © 2018 by Ahren Sanders

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

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  Editing: Kendra Gaither at Kendra’s Editing and Book Services

  Proofreading: Rebecca Barney, Fairest Reviews Editing and Proofreading Services

  Cover Photo: Luis Rafael

  Cover Model: Danny Nova

  Cover Design: Shanoff Designs

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  COPYRIGHT PAGE

  A Piece of Advice…

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  Bonus Scene

  Bennett Babe Baby Revolution Cult

  Acknowledgements

  Meet The Author

  Author Links- Keep in touch~

  Own The Bennett Brothers Series

  Other Books by Ahren Sanders

  A Piece of Advice…

  I, Claire Dixon, have an ode to all the strong, independent ladies out there.

  Never, ever, under any circumstances fall head over ass in love with your one-night stand.

  Want to know why?

  Because I did it, and believe me, it’s a whole lot more complicated than you think.

  I didn’t just fall in love with any man; I fell for Mathis Bennett.

  The Mathis Bennett—otherwise known as:

  Heartthrob Hottie

  Dr. Delicious

  Sex on a Stick

  And lastly… emotionally unavailable for relationships

  I should have taken one look at his molten blue eyes, striking bright smile, and body of steel and ran the other way.

  Spoiler Alert—I didn’t run.

  Instead, after one night together, I was ready to tattoo his name across my heart and pick out China patterns.

  This is where things get complicated, because one night turned into a casual fling that left me wanting more than he could promise.

  Not only did Mathis ruin me for any other man, I tortured myself for years pretending he didn’t still make my heart skip a beat every time I saw him.

  Read that again! Yes, I said years…

  The time finally came for me to realize my happily ever after wasn’t coming from the man of my dreams… and this time, I ran.

  What I didn’t know was he had other plans. Suddenly, the easy-going, level-headed, laid-back doctor became the sexiest, dirtiest, and sneakiest Bennett brother of all.

  I won’t bore you with the details, but believe me when I say, falling in love with your one-night stand can be dangerous to your heart, body, and soul.

  On second thought, maybe I shouldn’t tell you not to fall in love with your one-night stand, especially when you find out what happened to me.

  Xoxo,

  Claire

  Prologue

  Claire – The First Night…

  Keep dreaming, I tell my subconscious as prickling sensations coat every inch of my skin. A firm hand slides along my abdomen, leaving tingles in its wake. Rough bristle runs along the back of my neck, pushing through my hair until soft lips touch the skin below my ear.

  It feels so lifelike; I never want to wake up. This is the best dream I’ve had in my life. A stirring begins low in the pit of my stomach, arousing me with the possibility of what’s to come. The tip of a tongue darts out, ever so smoothly licking along the tendon in my neck until my breath hitches. The hand on my abdomen tightens, hauling me back into a hard body right as his warm breath whispers, “Babe, I need to get going.”

  My eyes fly open, and I realize this is not a dream.

  The events of last night come rushing back to me and I tense. What started as innocent flirting ended with us in a naked frenzy, neither of us holding back as we gave in to pent-up lust and desire. The brush of his hand against mine, the suggestive winks, the curl of his lips when he caught me staring at him from across the room, all of it built from inside, and the instant we were alone, I pounced.

  Images of us replay in my mind, and I try to squirm away only to be held tighter. He twists us, pulling his hand away to turn on my lamp, then tucks me against his side. When my eyes adjust to the light, I’m face to face with Mathis Bennett.

  The Mathis Bennett.

  Soon-to-be officially Dr. Bennett.

  A man so brilliant, so kind, and so out of this world gorgeous I fell in love with him instantly. He was the epitome of everything I wanted in a man.

  My mind danced with visions of a future filled with promise and hope.

  I knew I was crazy… insane… and possibly certifiable, but Mathis Bennett had that effect on me.

  Now, he’s staring at me intensely with his striking blue eyes, reaffirming why I was eager to fall into bed with him so easily. My heart beats harder, and an uneasy feeling settles in my chest.

  “What time is it?” My voice comes out croaky, and I clear the sleep from my throat.

  “It’s early, four-thirty a.m.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “I need to get going and didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.”

  “Why do you have to leave this early?”

  “Doesn’t Bizzy get off shift at five? I don’t think it’s appropriate if I’m in bed with you when she gets home. There will be a lot of explaining to do. We don’t want her to get the wrong impression.”

  My heart plummets, and I try to pretend his words don’t slice me into pieces. Those visions of promise and hope disintegrate into a fiery explosion.

  Stupid, stupid Claire! I should know by now there are no such things as soul mates. My defense mechanisms jump into place, and I force myself to nod. “Of course, makes sense. You should go. She’ll be home from the hospital within fifteen minutes of getting off shift. The last thing we want is to give her the wrong impression.” I purposely use his words, trying to sound agreeable.

  His face softens, and he cups my jaw, leaning in closer. “That was a dick thing to say. I’m sorry it came out that way. What I should have said was I am a private person, and I respect you too much to let anyone know what we shared. Bizzy can be a
bit overzealous with her curiosity. If you choose to tell her, that’s your business. Last night was amazing, and the last thing I want is to tarnish it with my idiocy.”

  Well, that’s sweet—kinda. He’s looking out for me in a roundabout way and trying to shield me from the Bizzy inquisition that could go very wrong. Overzealous is an understatement.

  “Thanks,” is all I can say.

  “Why are you thanking me? It’s me who should be thanking you.”

  “For having sex with you?” I know I sound confused, but this guy is seriously messing with my head.

  He grins, running his thumb across my lips. “Not for the sex, although that was an added bonus. Thank you for giving me a great night. You are so vibrant, brilliant, and full of life. Being around you the last few days was a breath of fresh air that allowed me to smile for the first time in months. All the stress of my life faded away, and I laughed more than I think I have since I entered medical school. You gave me a gift.”

  Okay, that was really sweet, the kind of sweet that burns my eyes. Thankfully, he keeps talking because my throat is closing.

  “Amazing, Claire. I mean it. You’re amazing, and I’m honored to have spent the night with you.”

  I immediately add ‘sweet-talker’ to my list of traits, which is becoming an increasingly long list.

  “Will I see you again?”

  “If I’m lucky. Once I get back to Miami, I’ll know more about my residency. My plan is to try to visit as much as possible, especially with Nick’s games.”

  A spark of excitement bursts inside. Nick Bennett is Mathis’s younger brother and is the star quarterback. Football season is quickly approaching. There are six scheduled home games, which means six opportunities to see Mathis again soon.

  “I can’t make any promises because there’s no telling what my upcoming expectations are going to be.” He goes on, “There are many subjective factors that are going to carve my career, and I’m interviewing with some tough doctors and administrators for a spot on their teams.”

  Dammit! Leave it to me to fall for a man who is emotionally unavailable. Not because he’s a Class-A dickhead, but because he’s trying to become a world-renowned pediatrician.

  He’s so fucking perfect.

  “I understand. It sucks, but I get it. And for what it’s worth, from what I know about you, any of those doctors would be lucky to have you on their team.”

  His eyes light up, and he flashes me a smile before lowering his lips to mine in a brief kiss. “You’re making it hard to leave this bed.”

  It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him to stay, but a little voice in my head is telling me he’s right on this. Last night was ours, and I’m not ready to answer questions that don’t have answers. Bizzy is a lover by nature. She’s had some rough shots in her life, and she loves the Bennett brothers like they are her blood family. If she sees Mathis and me together, there will be no end to her curiosity, which could become uncomfortable for everyone involved.

  This is between Mathis and me, and I will always cherish the memory of our night together.

  “I respect you, too, and I think we would definitely give Bizzy the wrong impression.” My tone is softer with a lot less bite than earlier.

  “Can I call you next week?”

  “I’d like that.”

  He kisses me again, this time sweeping his tongue across my lips from corner to corner before slipping inside. His tongue claims mine, a reminder of exactly how he treated my body last night—possessive, demanding, greedy. There is no choice but to follow his lead, allowing him to control our rhythm and speed. My lungs burn from lack of oxygen. Silently, I’m begging him to never stop, my hand fisting in his hair to hold him to me. His tongue slows, caressing mine lovingly, then eventually breaks away to leave me breathless.

  “Thank you for giving me a night I’ll never forget.”

  He rolls out of bed, his fully naked body on display, and I grip my sheets to stop myself from pouncing on him again. He grabs his clothes off the floor and disappears into my bathroom, but not before he catches me ogling and winks.

  There’s not a bit of humility as I yank his pillow to my face and inhale deeply, smelling the faint scent of his cologne. I twist to my side, curling my legs up, and feel a delicious soreness all over my lower body.

  A few minutes later, the door opens. I stuff the pillow behind my head and watch him saunter to me, looking every bit the cool, confident Mathis who walked into my apartment and stole my breath.

  “I programmed my number into your phone last night,” he reminds me.

  “I know, I was there.” I crack a smile.

  “Use it. Call me anytime. Let me know how you’re doing.”

  “I thought you said you’d call me next week?”

  “We aren’t going to do that, Claire. Playing games isn’t us. You want to talk, you call me.”

  I nod, smiling wider. “No games.”

  He chuckles, his eyes staying locked on mine.

  “I’ll walk you out.” I swing my legs to the edge of the bed, and he’s at my side in a second.

  “No, stay. I want to remember this. You, naked in bed, looking unbelievably beautiful.”

  God! If he keeps this up, I’ll be tempted to just tattoo his name across my heart.

  He kisses me quickly once more and leaves without another word. I listen to the front door open and close. A few seconds later, I hear the sound of his car starting, and I run to my window in time to see him driving away. When I know he’s really gone and not coming back, I flop face down on my bed and finally let out a sob.

  A few tears fall, but they aren’t tears of devastation. They’re tears of wonder. Since I discovered boys at the age of twelve, I never imagined a man like him existed.

  Up until two days ago, I’d only heard about him from my friend Bizzy. She frequently talks about all of the Bennetts to the point that I could recite her stories.

  I’ve known about the legendary Bennett brothers for years. Nick is Bizzy’s best friend in the world, and through her, the three of us are tight. The oldest Bennett brother, Shaw, is a lawyer currently living in New York. He’s incredibly sexy with eyes that stunned me speechless. Within seconds of being in the room with him, it was obvious Bizzy was in love. She tried to hide her feelings, but it was pointless. Nicky seemed oblivious, but a girl knows when her best friend is in deep.

  I was excited to finally meet the elusive Mathis. Even pictures couldn’t prepare me for the man who waltzed into our apartment, lifted her into his arms, and swung her around as she squealed. My mouth hung open at the sight of him—at least six-foot-three, muscular build, dark hair, and striking blue eyes. Simply put, he’s gorgeous.

  I don’t know how long I lie in my bed, face down, alternating between smiles and sadness as I daydream about him. But when I hear the front door open again, I bolt up and run to the bathroom, snatching my nightgown. As quietly as possible, I sneak back to bed, careful not to let Bizzy know I’m awake.

  Maybe, one day, I’ll tell Bizzy about last night, but for now, it’s all mine.

  Mathis

  What was I thinking? I ask myself for the hundredth time as I pack my bag. A soft pink splotch catches my eye, and I inspect the shirt closer. Claire’s lip gloss is smudged on the collar of my shirt, and the memories come flooding back.

  Her lips, her taste, the feel of sliding inside as she whispered my name.

  I know what I was thinking. For the first time in forever, I let myself enjoy the fuck out of life. It was impossible not to in her presence. Claire is opposite of me in every way, but everything about being around her felt right.

  Free-spirited, wild, hilarious, witty—not to mention drop dead gorgeous. She laughed until it was contagious, reminding me how fun it can be to let loose. No rules, no inhibitions, no ingenuity. What you see is what you get, and I liked what I saw a hell of a lot.

  Leave it to me to find a woman I’m finally interested in at the worst possible time.


  I’m headed into years of residency followed by a possible fellowship. Who knows where I’ll end up? She has another year of school and clinicals before she’s done. The path I’ve chosen will take a while before I’m truly established. We’re in two entirely different stages of our lives, and the difference is too much to overcome. I’m not in a position to ask her to give a long distance relationship a chance.

  Shit, did I just think that? Am I interested in a long distance relationship with a woman I met two days ago? Selfish bastard, the answer is yes. But it’s not fair to her.

  I’m known as the level-headed, subdued Bennett brother, always have been. And, right now, my subconscious is telling me that Claire is too wild to be tamed. She needs liveliness, excitement, and freedom to be herself. I know in my head and in my heart, I can’t do what I need to do and give her what she deserves.

  She’s not going away; she’s tight with Bizzy and Nick. No doubt, she’ll be a fixture in all our lives forever. For the time being, that has to be enough.

  The scent of her perfume fills my nose, and I carefully fold the shirt in my hands and lay it on top of the other clothes tossed carelessly in the bag.

  “You want to tell me about last night?” Nick appears in the doorway to his room, eyeing me suspiciously. I knew this conversation was unavoidable, but I’d been dodging it for the last few hours.

  “What do you want to know?”

  “You didn’t come back here until after five this morning.”

  “You keeping tabs on me?”

  “No, but I am fiercely protective of Bizzy and now Claire. Please tell me you didn’t fuck her and leave her.”

  His words stab right through my gut, but I keep a straight face, trying to calm the irritation stirring inside.

  “Better watch your mouth, Nick. You’re jumping to the wrong conclusion.”

  Wrong conclusion? Jesus, this has become my repetitive phrase today.

  “What conclusion should I jump to?”

  “Nothing. After you left the bar, she had one more drink. I took her home and hung out. When I left, she was in her bed, and I locked up before coming back here.”

  “You hung out? Isn’t that code word for fucking?”