by Tory Baker
“You’re pulling a double?” he asks, surprised.
I look at the clock on the wall.
“Longer. I passed the point of a double about an hour ago,” I mumble to myself.
“Go home,” he orders.
“What?”
“You heard me, go home.”
“That’s crazy. Listen I know I messed up and I’m really sorry about your abs—err stomach, but it could have happened to anyone. I’ll just clean up and everything will be ready when you come back.”
“Go home, Nurse Riley. Get some sleep. You aren’t going to be any use to me if you can’t keep your eyes open. I need staff that I can trust around me. I’ll get someone to fill in.”
“No.”
“This isn’t a choice. You go home. I will not have you in my O.R.”
“You don’t have a choice. The hospital is packed today and the other nurses are either in surgery or home sleeping after pulling long shifts themselves,” I inform him crossing my arms at my chest. I’ve gone past caution. I will not be treated like I’m some threat to my patients.
“Then I’ll pull in an RN from the floor. It’s not like the job is that hard,” he shrugs.
“Pull an RN… It’s not like… I can’t believe you just said that!”
“Whatever. I’m going to go change. You be gone by the time I get back,” he says and that’s it. That’s just it.
“You can go to hell!” I snap and he jerks around. “I’ll be here when you get back. I’ll be the nurse during this surgery and the one making sure you don’t fuck up and then I’ll go home and sleep and if I’m lucky I’ll have happy dreams of bludgeoning you to death with a shovel!”
I expect him to reprimand me. Report me, and I’ll most likely be fired. What I don’t expect him to do is smile. He does. He smiles and he even laughs. I think it should probably be illegal for him to have teeth that perfect. It’s annoying. He’s annoying and moreover it is annoying that I would even notice that about him.
“You don’t need a shovel, Nurse Riley. You’re dangerous enough with a scalpel,” he says with a smirk.
“Get out of the O.R. before you bleed on something,” I mutter, turning back around and dismissing him. I need to rewash, change my gloves—and get ready for this surgery, even if my job isn’t hard!
“Yes Ma’am,” he says with a laugh and then leaves. I don’t turn around. There’s no point. Besides if I did, I’d probably notice that his ass is as perfect as the rest of him…
Well he’s perfect for an asshole with no personality. Whatever possessed me to tell my sister I was dating him? It’s ridiculous. But, I’ll fix it. I’ll just tell her we broke up. After the jerk he was today, it will be easy to tell her why I want nothing to do with the sexy but hateful Dr. Miner.
We broke up. It’s over and she’ll never have to know I lied in desperation to hide my reaction to her marrying my old boyfriend.
Problem solved!
Chapter Three
Brody
People rarely surprise me these days—at least in good ways. Nurse Riley has positively managed that. I don’t know her that well. I’ve noticed her—I am a man and she’s definitely a woman—a sexy as hell woman. Which is the major reason I’ve made it a point to stay away from her.
In my experience, women find out I’m a doctor and they instantly see me as husband material. Nurses can be even worse. The ones that aren’t looking for marriage are still too damn clingy and I make a point to never touch a woman I work with. That’s too much hassle and irritation for one man to handle.
Nurse Riley might be the first woman to tempt me. She’s got a sexy little body with an ass that bubbles out so damn perfectly I want to squeeze it every time I get behind her. Her tits aren’t huge, but they’d fill my hand nicely and she’s got that long, straight, dark hair that makes a man want to wrap his hand in it and pull… while he’s fucking her hard.
And those are all reasons why I need to stay away from Nurse Riley and her smart little mouth.
The fact that I’ve performed a major surgery and she’s been in my head at all is a clear sign that she is trouble with a capital T. Luckily the surgery, though urgent for this patient, is one that I’ve performed a hundred times. Still, I need to stay away from her before I do something stupid…
“I’m scrubbing out. Dr. Collier you close out,” I order and then without a backward glance I walk away, peeling off my surgical gear and gloves. I go to the adjoining wash room and as I’m washing my hands, I almost curse out loud when Nurse Riley shows up. “Shouldn’t you be in there assisting?” I ask, my voice filled with annoyance.
I left to get away from her.
“What? Oh… I thought you said anyone could do my job?” she asks and I can’t tell if she’s still pissed or not because she's wearing the mask over her face. I tighten my hand into a fist to keep from taking it off of her. How she can still look sexy in a mask, with one of those damn caps over her head hiding her hair is beyond me.
“That was an asinine thing to say. I’m sorry,” I tell her, because it was.
Her pupils dilate and her face—what little I can see—betrays her shock. I rarely ever apologize, but I said that because I was pissed and I shouldn’t have taken it out on her. The truth is, I need a fucking vacation. I’ve been working so much lately I don’t know if I’m coming or going.
When it becomes clear she’s not going to respond I leave the operating room. I’m through that room and through the door that leads to the main hallway in the hospital before I hear Nurse Riley behind me.
“Dr. Miner, can I talk to you for a minute?”
I hold my head down, rake my hand across the top of it, roughing my hair up and wonder just how I’m going to get away from this woman before I break my own rules.
I turn to see her walking to me and that’s a mistake too. Without the surgery garb, I’m reminded up close and personal just how beautiful she is. My cock is too because I’m rock hard right now. As she walks toward me her hair catches a current of air from the AC unit and fans behind her gently. She smiles at me nervously, but looks me straight in the eye and that’s probably the moment I know I’m toast. I’m going to give in to my body’s demands with this woman. I’m going to break my own personal rules… for her.
I can’t stop myself.
“What’s up?” I ask, my voice hoarse because fuck I want her and I’m not used to that instant need. I’m a man not a teenage kid. I control my body—it doesn’t control me… At least it didn’t until I started fantasizing about Nurse Riley.
“I just wanted to apologize. I shouldn’t have been short with you back there. It’s just that I didn’t want—”
“Let me interrupt you, Nurse Riley. There’s no need for an apology—”
“Tabitha, please and still I feel bad. I shouldn’t have said what I did,” she murmurs, her face coloring with a tinge of embarrassment. Before I can respond Tabitha is tackled by another woman.
“Tabby! I found you!” the girl exclaims. I look over the other woman and she’s pretty. She reminds me of Nurse Riley a little. She’s kind of a pale comparison however. She’s got the same eyes, though I think Nurse Riley’s shine a little brighter. They have similar shaped faces, but this woman’s hair color is a dark blonde—probably salon ordered—and it’s cut in a short sleek cut that falls above her shoulders. It doesn’t make me want to wrap my hands in it… It bores me. The other woman is also about four or five inches shorter. Normally I like shorter women, but Nurse Riley is the exception, probably because of how her legs go on for miles.
“Hil,” Nurse Riley mumbles, clearly shocked and if the way her face goes instantly ashen is any indication, she’s not happy the other girl has made an appearance.
“Surprise!” the woman proclaims, and her voice is starting to annoy me—or maybe I’m already annoyed. I need to excuse myself and get out of here. “I told you I’d come see you!”
“Uh… you did. I just didn’t think you would. I mean you
have your wedding to get ready and things,” Nurse Riley murmurs.
“Well, I thought I’d come down here and let my big sister help me!”
Sister… that explains the resemblance. If that wasn’t enough reason to flee, the fact that they’re discussing weddings is enough to make my dick deflate instantly. I just hope he manages to snap out of it and it’s not permanent.
“Well, I’ll leave you two alone. We can talk later—”
“Oh! I’m so sorry! Where are my manners? Actually where are yours Tabby? Aren’t you going to introduce me?” the girl demands.
I look over at Nurse Riley and if anything she looks even more pale. Maybe she’s coming down with something. Working long hours is hell on the immune system. She looks like she’s about to make a run for the restroom. What she doesn’t look like, is someone getting ready to answer her sister’s question. So I decide to. The quicker I disengage from this situation the better.
“I’m Dr. Miner. I’m the Chief of Surgery here at South East Memorial…”
Before I can say anything more the girl lets out this huge screech that actually makes me wince.
“Oh my God! You’re Brody! Sis, when you told me you were dating a doctor you forgot to mention he was such a hunk! No wonder you never want to come home. I wouldn’t either if my boyfriend looked like this.”
“I’m afraid…” that’s all I manage, because I have no idea what the woman is talking about. She looks completely serious. Maybe she’s supposed to be on medication? Or perhaps she has escaped from the psychiatric ward and that’s why Nurse Riley looks so panicked. “… I don’t understand,” I finally add, looking to Nurse Riley for help.
When I see her, her head is down and when she looks back up, she looks more than just sick. She’s also wringing her hands together. Something is going on here and I’m a little slow because I’m not quite realizing what it is.
“Sis,” she begins. “I’m afraid… I mean well I… Dr. Miner is…”
“Your boyfriend! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me what a stone cold fox he is! I’m Hilary, Tabby’s younger sister,” the other woman says wrapping her arm in mine as if we are long lost friends.
She rattles on and I don’t reply. I couldn’t for the life of me. My brain is still hung up on the fact that she obviously thinks I’m Nurse Riley’s boyfriend… and that from the look on Nurse Riley’s face… she has reason to be convinced it’s true.
Chapter Four
Tabitha
Every nightmare I’ve ever had is happening right before my eyes. The only thing that could possibly make this worse is if I was naked in front of all my co-workers. Hilary isn’t even bothering to be quiet either—not that she usually is. That means, everyone in our vicinity hears what we’re talking about. If I wasn’t about to be physically sick right now, I could almost laugh. I never lie. It takes too much to remember what someone said. The one time I lie it’s going to bite me in the ass.
“Hil, stop it. Dr. Miner is—”
“Not used to anyone approaching us at work,” he interrupts.
My mouth falls open and I’m not sure what I just heard. I probably had an aneurysm brought on by severe embarrassment and panic. When Brody puts his arm around me and pulls me into his body, I’m more convinced. I’m obviously hallucinating. I was probably in a horrible car crash on the way to work this morning and I’m in a coma. Nothing is real.
That’s the only explanation.
I fall stiffly into Brody’s arms. If I’m going to dream about him on my death bed, I might as well drop formality. He gives me a squeeze and I might need to rethink the whole coma idea because it’s almost painful. I look up at him and his dark eyes are intense and they’re looking at me and I feel completely flushed. I’m pretty sure he’s mad, but that’s not what I see on his face.
“Are we sweetheart?” he asks me and at this point if I’m awake I’m self-diagnosing a brain tumor.
“Sweetheart?” I squeak.
“Oh! Is it against the hospital policy for you two to date?” Hilary asks and I jerk my face back to her.
“We’re not—”
“We’re just not ready for the whole world to know. We want to keep our relationship private,” Brody responds, interrupting me and leaving me scrambling to understand.
“I…” I start, but I really don’t know what to say at this point.
“Oh. I understand. Tabby has always been deeply private. She rarely gives anyone the time of day. All that’s ever on her mind is her job. That’s why I was so surprised you were her plus one.”
“Her plus one?” Brody asks and I’m still standing here like an idiot with my mouth open not knowing what I’m supposed to say. It should be said, that by this point I’m literally praying that I am unconscious, dreaming or dying. I’ll never live this down and there’s too many listening around us to ever hope that it would remain between Brody and myself.
“For my wedding of course! Didn’t she tell you? Oh my God, Tabby! Why didn’t you tell him?”
“Yeah, Tabby, why didn’t you tell me?” Brody asks, and he’s smiling, but again there’s something else in his eyes and I’m afraid to find out what.
“I… I haven’t had time. Actually, Brody was just about to go back to work, but I’m off the rest of the day. How about we go to lunch and discuss what you want me to do, Hil?” I ask, desperate to get away.
“Oh poo! I was hoping to talk with Brody. Will you be around tonight? I’m just dying to hear all the details about you and Tabby!”
“You can’t hear them from your sister?” Brody asks. I’m not looking at him this time. I’m busy staring at the ground hoping it will swallow me up.
It doesn’t.
“Tabby is notoriously tight-lipped. She never talks about any of her relationships. Of course I didn’t know she had any other than Robbie.”
“Robbie?” Brody asks and I squeeze my eyes shut tight, really needing out of this nightmare now.
“Robbie, my fiancé. She did tell you about Robbie?”
“Hil, I keep trying to—”
“Oh… of course she did. I’m just not thinking. I’m actually a little worried about your sister. She’s pulled two straight shifts. She really needs to rest. Maybe you could drive and see to it that she eats and then rests?” Brody responds and that snaps my head up. He’s insane… or maybe it’s still all me…
I pinch myself to make sure none of the scenarios I’ve dreamed up are actually happening and that I’m really here.
“Ow!” I cry out. That definitely hurt.
“Tabby! What are you doing?”
“Pinching myself,” I mutter, rubbing the red spot on my arm.
“She’s always doing that. My Tabby always says she can’t believe she’s lucky enough to have snagged me,” Brody says with an outrageous wink. “Isn’t that right, Love Muffin?” he asks, squeezing me tight.
“Love Muffin?” Hilary murmurs.
“Just a pet name. Tabby loves it when I call her that. She calls me Daddy.”
“Daddy?” Hilary gasps.
“Your sister likes it kinky,” Brody shrugs and if I survive this I might kill him.
“Oh see? You definitely have to come over tonight for dinner. Tabby would never tell me this stuff!”
“I’ll be there, but not until around seven. I need to follow up with some patients and do some errands. That should give you girls time enough to visit and let Tabby rest.”
“I can talk you know,” I mutter, feeling like I’ve been left out of the whole conversation. Of course, I’m not sure I can talk. I’m feeling really out of my depth right now.
“I’ll give you that chance later,” he murmurs in my ear and suddenly I’m afraid to actually talk.
“I… You don’t have to come for dinner,” I tell him, trying to pull away. He tightens his hold, not letting me escape.
“I wouldn’t miss it, Love Muffin. Now give Daddy a big kiss.”
“I… a what?” I ask, my voice coming o
ut breathless and full of one emotion.
Panic.
“A kiss. Now hurry, don’t make Daddy angry. I know how much you like being punished, but Daddy is running out of time,” he says pulling my body so close to his that I can’t move and all I can breathe is the scent of his aftershave.
“But… people are watching,” I remind him.
I can’t kiss him. I can’t!
If I kiss Brody Miner, I will forever be lost down this rabbit hole. It just can’t happen. It can’t…
The next thing I know Brody’s lips are on mine. They’re softer than I imagined, they’re full and they taste like hot, sweaty, sex. Our tongues clash and I relax against his body now. I feel his hand in my hair and one on my ass. I groan as he plunders my mouth the sound lost, but still vibrating through both of us.
He pulls away first and he holds me while I try and steady my weak legs.
“I knew you were going to be trouble,” he says, his face so intent I feel like my breath is frozen in my chest. Then, he leans down and kisses my forehead and leaves, making me wonder what he’s thinking as he walks away.
Chapter Five
Brody
“Give Daddy a kiss,” I say with a grin. I’m leaning against the doorframe when Tabitha opens the door.
I don’t know what I expected as her response, but it wasn’t her pushing me away from the door and stepping outside with me. She pulls the door closed and then puts her hands on her hips.
“This has been embarrassing enough, I don’t need you here making fun of me.”
“Whoa, who said that’s what I was doing?” I ask, going on the defensive.
“Gee, I don’t know daddy. Why are you here? How did you even know where I lived?”
“It was in your file at work.”
“You had H.R. pull my file?”
