Heartthrob (Bennett Brothers Series)

by Ahren Sanders

  “Why is that?”

  “You have to know he has his sights set on Claire. I’d say it’s more than a crush.” He chuckles, sitting back casually.

  “That has not gone unnoticed. It’s also not uncommon. She has that effect on a lot of people.”

  “She’s a good nurse.”

  “She’s exceptional, always has been.”

  “Considering your relationship, I’d expect you to say that.”

  “Has nothing to do with my relationship. She could be in any department in this hospital, you’d hear the same.”

  “Oh, I hear it. Working around a bunch of women, I hear a lot. Apparently, you hooking up with Claire was the topic of conversation. Even a few of your colleagues rumble about missing their chance. A woman like Claire is special, and there’s a line waiting in case you don’t make it. The feistier ones are the best challenge.” The suggestive nature of his tone and the blaze of heat in his eyes turns my blood to ice. His inference is clear.

  Tension settles in the air, the good-natured atmosphere vanishing as I mentally count to five. My own voice is gravelly when I find the words. “You want to talk about cancer and kids, feel free to ask. You want to talk about Claire, think twice. She’s off limits.”

  “Didn’t peg you as the jealous type.”

  “Then you haven’t been paying attention.” I lean forward, crossing my arms on my desk. “You have a great opportunity here at this hospital, Clint. I’ve witnessed your capabilities. Do not fuck that up by pissing me off.”

  He raises his hands, shaking his head. “It was meant to be a compliment.”

  “There are a lot of ways to compliment Claire without mentioning the line of men waiting and wishing she was single, which will never happen.”

  “Noted.” He jerks his chin, dropping his hands to his thighs.

  I blow out a breath, contemplating if I want to say what I’m about to. Then I decide, fuck it. “Piece of advice. I meant it when I said you have a good opportunity here. Wherever you end up after finishing your program, you’ll find the medical community is a small world. Screwing the staff of nurses may come back to bite you in the ass.”

  “Seems a bit hypocritical coming from you. You’re doing fine screwing a nurse.” There’s a bitterness to his tone, and I regret my remarks immediately.

  “My situation with Claire spans back years. It’s not a casual fling. I’m not telling you what to do, but I am suggesting you use discretion and not leave a river of tears in your wake.”

  “Jesus, these women are more trouble than they’re worth. Why the hell are they crying about having sex?”

  “Maybe that should tell you to be careful who you choose to have sex with. I’m not a woman, nor am I a psychiatrist, but the women we work with have a special kind of heart. Choosing their area of work takes a lot of compassion and comes with heartache.”

  “I’m not a bastard; there are no promises made.”

  “Maybe not, but think about expectations.”

  This time, he blows out a breath, standing. “So Claire’s off limits and keep my dick in my pants. Any other words of wisdom?”

  “Claire’s off limits and do what you want with your dick, just be aware.” I grin.

  He grins back, the mood from earlier slightly less static as he leaves.

  I glance between my laptop and the pile of folders on my desk and groan. Instead of diving in, I pick up the phone to call my mom. It’s time to put my plan in motion.

  Chapter 15

  Claire

  “You’re here!” Grace cries, overly enthusiastic, yanking Bizzy and me into her arms. When she’s at our ears, she whispers, “Logan is in a mood. He won’t let me do anything, saying I’m fragile. I’m about to lay him out. Melody is trying to keep the peace, but please help me.”

  Melody is Logan’s longtime girlfriend, and she’s a saint, but she’s no match for the Logan slash Grace showdown.

  “We got this, honey,” Bizzy whispers back.

  “Thank God!” Grace backs away, closing the door and leading us through the massive house to Nick’s new room.

  “OH MY GOD!” Bizzy shrieks emotionally when she sees the custom wallpaper Grace put in yesterday. It’s so lifelike even I have to swallow hard to avoid a sentimental reaction.

  Grace found a company that would take a picture and transpose it to replicate wallpaper. She chose a black and white shot of Nick and her at the Super Bowl with him lifting the trophy in the air. It’s absolutely stunning.

  Melody comes over, hugging us, with relief of our arrival all over her face.

  “Now, can we fucking start this shit?” Logan rumbles, not nearly as excited as Grace.

  “Yes!” Grace rushes to the other side of the room and tries to lift a box on top of the new pool table.

  “Fuck, Grace! Stop that shit.” Logan is at her side in an instant, taking the box to the middle of the room. Melody joins him, unloading frames.

  “Fine, here is the diagram. We need exactly two inches between each frame,” Grace instructs and hands me the sheet of paper. “Is it all right with you, Logan, if Bizzy and I decorate the room now?’ She points her question to him sarcastically. “I swear if this is how all the men in my life act, I’m having an only child.”

  “Throw your attitude all you want, Peach Princess, but if you do anything to hurt you or the baby, I’ll never forgive myself,” Logan responds, and there’s a quietness that follows.

  There’s a lot of weight behind his statement that has everything and nothing to do with her pregnancy at the same time. It’s one thing to be cautious, but it’s clear he’s thinking deeper. Logan made a poor decision to interfere in Grace’s career decisions, and instead of discussing it with her, he blamed Nick, which resulted in Nick and Grace breaking up. When she discovered the truth about his meddling, she made the choice to leave, stunning us all. In the end, it all worked out and, obviously, now Nick and Grace are deliriously happy. Grace forgave Logan, but he still carries the burden. His overprotective instincts aren’t solely about the baby; it’s his need to take care of her.

  Then it happens. The sniffles start, and I jump into action. “Not today! No tears,” I declare on a shout, waving my finger in a circle to Grace, Bizzy, and Melody. “Dry them up, and let’s get to work!”

  Melody shoots me a grateful look even with wet eyes. I go to them and try my best to understand what Grace has diagrammed, but it resembles a geometric puzzle, and my eyes cross.

  “I got this part, Claire. You and Melody lay out the pictures and line them up by size on the floor.” Logan takes it from me, squeezing my hand as he does.

  I do as he says, and an hour later, all picture hangers are hung and ready for the photos. Bizzy and Grace have placed lamps, scooted new end tables, laid rugs on the wood floors, and stocked the bar in the back of the room. At this point, Logan goes to install the hardware for the large screen TV on the wall, and Grace takes over hanging the pictures in the right places.

  When it’s time, we help Logan with the television, and he’s done. He stalks to the bar, grabs a beer, and plops into a new recliner before turning on a baseball game.

  “How much time do we have until the big reveal?” I question Melody, knowing Nick will be here soon.

  “Not too long, Shaw and Mathis were given strict instructions.” I nod, knowing this. The movers are set up for tomorrow, and Grace wanted to show Nick his surprise before the chaos. Grace has arranged for dinner to be delivered right after Seth and Maria arrive later.

  My phone vibrates in my back pocket, and I walk to the back of the room to take the call. “Hey, Lora, everything okay?” My shoulders tense, and I brace, knowing she’s on shift today and this call could mean bad news.

  “Claire, you are not going to believe this,” she practically sings.

  “Is everything okay?” I repeat.

  “Yes, sorry, everything is good at work. This is personal.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Clint corne
red me this morning and you won’t believe…” she pauses dramatically, taking a breath, “he apologized!”

  My shoulders loosen, and I smile knowing Mathis’s conversation with him penetrated. “That’s great.”

  “He was really sweet, said that he didn’t regret our night together but did regret his behavior afterward.”

  “How do you feel about that?” I ask warily, hoping she didn’t take his apology for more than it was.

  “I’m relieved. He even cracked a corny joke, which cut the tension. Clearing the air is going to make working together a lot easier while he’s here.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. Dare I ask if he apologized to Tammy?”

  “I think so. She was in a great mood at shift change. It’s going to be your job to knock me upside the head if I ever even think about sleeping with someone I work with again. This has been a nightmare.”

  I don’t respond, hoping to never be in that position.

  “I know you’re busy, but I had to tell you.”

  “Thanks, chick. Hope the rest of the shift goes well. Talk soon.”

  We hang up, and I turn to find the girls admiring the wall, now covered with the black frames.

  “Looks amazing.”

  “I’m pleased with the way it turned out,” Grace responds, not taking her eyes off her work.

  “Who was on the phone?” Bizzy asks.

  “Lora and she had some surprising news.” I tell them her news as well as Mathis’s conversation with Clint the other day.

  “Maybe he’s turning into a nice guy?”

  “Jury’s still out, but I’m thrilled to know the shifts won’t be uncomfortable when he’s around.”

  The front door opens, Nick’s voice booming through the space. “Grace, where are you?”

  She jumps, her face lighting up, and rushes through us. “Nick, stop where you are. Don’t come back here yet.”

  “I’m thinking she needs to surprise him without an audience.” Logan appears beside me.

  “Agreed.”

  We all leave, heading to the kitchen where Mathis and Shaw meet us. I go straight to Mathis, curling to his side and lifting to kiss his cheek.

  “How did it turn out?”

  “Phenomenal.”

  “I’m not fucking wearing a blindfold, Sweet Peach.” Nick and Grace are in a stare off at the front door, and she’s holding a black blindfold in his face.

  She pouts for a brief second then concedes by taking his hand and leading him in the opposite direction. The room falls quiet as we listen for his reaction. I chew on my bottom lip, noticing Bizzy doing the same. Mathis shifts me from his side to his front, lowering his mouth to my ear. “What are the chances tears will be shed?”

  “I’ve already had to shut it down once today. My chances of doing it twice are slim.”

  “Nick knowing she was up to something for the last few weeks has driven him to insanity. Wait until you see what he has in store for her.”

  “He built her an art studio and bought her a mansion. What’s next?”

  “You’ll see soon. Mom and Dad are in charge.”

  “Did he buy her a boat?” Shaw purchased Bizzy a boat the weekend they got together.

  “Not quite. Let’s just say she’s going to be driving in style.”

  Grace’s squeal echoes through the house, followed by a high-pitched giggle, and my own stomach flips with happiness. “I think he may like it.”

  “Good thing they’re moving furniture into this place tomorrow. It’s loud as fuck.”

  “You guys can stop hiding now,” Grace calls.

  Mathis links his hand with mine, and we go to Grace and Nick. One look at Grace, and it’s evident how much Nick liked his surprise. Her eyes are glazed, her lips swollen with lip gloss smeared, and her ponytail completely unruly. Nick’s wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and smiling wide. Mathis doesn’t stop until we are in front of the wall, where he scans each picture.

  “This is one of my favorites.” I point to one of the three brothers at Bizzy and Shaw’s wedding on the beach.

  “Hmmm, that’s a good one, but I’d have to say, this is my favorite.” He gestures to a frame on the outer edge of the collection. It’s a shot Bizzy has framed in her home as well. Nick is standing between Bizzy and me with his arms slung around our shoulders. We’re at a party in college. It’s a great memory, but until now, I didn’t realize the significance.

  I peer up to find Mathis staring intently at me. “Two hours earlier, I walked into my baby brother’s apartment and found the love of my life. Best day ever.”

  A lump forms in my throat, and my nose stings. “Don’t you dare make me cry.” I choke up.

  His lips curl up in a way that tells me he likes my show of emotions. “Love you, Claire.”

  “Stop!” I croak, shoving my face in his shoulder.

  “Oh, shit, Claire’s cracking.” Bizzy sounds horrified.

  “No, I’m not! Mathis smells good.” I make a loud sniffing noise to pretend to inhale his scent. The tears dry up, and the lump in my throat disappears.

  Loud laughter rings out behind me, and Mathis’s chest vibrates against my cheek. I pinch his side and giggle myself when he hisses.

  “Anyone want a drink?” Grace chirps, taking the attention off me.

  “Beer for me,” Mathis answers over my head. “Champagne for Claire.”

  “Best day ever,” I repeat his sentiment lowly but know he heard me when his hand slides around my waist and squeezes.

  All is right in my world. I’m not sure I’ve ever been happier. Morale at work has returned to cheerful, which means Evie isn’t going to worry herself into a stroke. And, at eight a.m. this morning, Dr. Delicious was officially named Man of the Month on an Instagram poll.

  When I called him at the hospital to share this news, he was not impressed, muttering he was never going to live this down. At that moment, I decided to go for another round, uploading a different picture of him to the new month’s poll. I even added a new hashtag #heartthrob. He has no clue, but it’s only a matter of time before one of the nurses lets it slip.

  The outdoor patio of the restaurant is crowded, but I easily spot my mom and go through the gate to meet her. She gives me an overly affectionate hug, which should be my first clue.

  “Why such a large table?” I eye the three other place settings.

  This should have been my second clue.

  “That’s a gorgeous dress, honey. It looks good with your skin tone.” She ignores me.

  “Thanks. You look nice as well.”

  “Mom, are we at the wrong table? This place is bustling today. They probably need to move us.”

  “I’m expecting guests.” She places her napkin in her lap, and I catch the gleam in her eye.

  Third clue.

  “Who?”

  “You’ll see.” There’s a ringing in her voice that I ignore.

  “What’s going on?”

  She glances over my shoulder, and her face lights up, her smile bright. “Here they are.”

  I twist in my seat to find Bizzy, her mom, Rory, and Maria Bennett prancing our way.

  “What’s going on?” I ask again.

  “Surprise!” Bizzy scoots in the seat across from me, and Maria settles to my right.

  All of them are beaming, which finally arouses my curiosity. The waitress appears, taking our drink order, and when she walks away, the conversation begins.

  “Bizzy, your dress is gorgeous. Amethyst is your color.”

  “Thank you, Kelly, I love that sapphire blouse. It brings out the color of your and Claire’s eyes.”

  “Rory and Maria, those sundresses are also beautiful. Emerald and Aqua are such lovely spring and summer shades.”

  “And isn’t this place wonderful? They have private parties that make headlines,” Maria chimes in.

  “Oh, that’s true. I’ve been to an event here before, and it was done in incredible taste,” Rory adds.

  “Not to
mention the location is central to all of us.” Mom takes a sip of water.

  “Oh, guess what I got in the mail?” Maria digs a square envelope out of her bag. “An old friend of ours had their first grandchild. This is the birth announcement. Isn’t it beautiful? I saved it for Grace in case she’d like to use this same printing company.” She passes it to me first, and I half-heartedly skim it before handing off to my mom.

  This is bizarre.

  The speed and direction of their conversations are giving me whiplash. The theme music from the Twilight Zone jingles in my head.

  The waitress brings our drinks and tells us the specials, seemingly speaking only to me. After I order, which are the only words I’ve spoken since everyone sat down, I glance around in confusion. They continue to chatter about nothing in particular—upcoming summer plans, newest fashions, and more socialite gossip.

  Bizzy’s eyes dart from side to side, not meeting mine.

  “Bizzy, dear, you have to show me the most recent picture of the kids. It’s been ages since I’ve seen them,” Mom says a little too eagerly when the waitress leaves.

  “Oh, here. I have a new one from yesterday.” Bizzy hands over her phone, and my mom shrieks in delight. People around us swing their heads in our direction, and I scoot a little lower in my seat.

  “Claire, have you seen this? Aren’t these babies just divine?” Mom coos and gushes, shoving the screen in my face.

  As soon as I see the picture of Brayden in a little suit and Brinley in the poufy white dress, it hits me like a truck.

  The display of outfits in jewel tones, the centrally located establishment that is ‘divine’, the posh baby announcement and printing company, the over the top enthusiasm, the seating arrangement with me between Mom and Maria, and this picture of the kids in formal attire.

  This is a fucking ambush!

  “You have got to be freaking kidding me!” I fall back in my chair and glare at Bizzy.

  “Thank God you finally picked up, I was beginning to sweat. You’re losing your touch.”

  “It wasn’t enough to interrogate Mathis, so you plan to waylay me?”

  “Actually, sweetheart, this was all me.” Maria lays a hand on mine and squeezes. “Don’t get cross with her.”