Forbidden Prescription 2: MFM Ménage Stepbrother Romance (Medical Romance)

by Brother, Stephanie

  James avoided Isabella in equal measure. He fiddled with the schedule whenever necessary to ensure that he didn’t have to interact with Isabella. He traded shifts with doctors, even if it meant working for two days in a row without going home.

  There were a few rare instances where they were forced to work together. Dr. Jensen presented at a conference, and James couldn’t get out of working with the interns. Instead of quizzing and joking around with the interns, he randomly handed out charts without looking at whom he was giving them to.

  “What’s his deal today?” Jordan asked Isabella. She shrugged in return.

  When it was necessary for the two of them to speak, conversations were short, cordial, and work related. To an outsider, it would appear that they were work acquaintances, nothing more, nothing less.

  Isabella wondered if James was moving on and seeing other women. Rationally, she couldn’t argue if he were. He was a single man looking for a long-term relationship. The thought of him sharing his home—his bed—with another woman made her nauseated, though.

  Isabella and James would be forced to work alongside each other for years. She didn’t know if she could stand by and watch as he found love, married, and had children, while she was still single and lonely.

  Truth be told, she still had feelings for him. She still craved his touch and his companionship, but then she would immediately be filled with a sense of longing, because she knew she could never have it again.

  One day, he tossed her a chart, leaving her to care for one of his patients. He told the interns to page him if they needed any assistance and then disappeared. This was usually standard procedure, but Isabella was handed a particularly challenging case.

  The patient was a young patient with a genetic disorder that Isabella had never even heard of. She went to find a reference on the disease when the patient coded.

  She yelled for the nurses and paged James immediately. She was his patient, so he would know how to treat her. Isabella asked the nurses for help, but they didn’t know enough about the patient’s condition either.

  Usually James was quick and would take off running when an intern paged him. He had a high sense of responsibility for them and didn’t want them to kill any patients on his watch.

  Isabella had to make a decision for the patient, and soon. She was scared, though. Injecting the wrong drug could kill her in an instant. She quickly flipped through the chart, looking for some clues as to what she would do.

  “We need a decision, Dr. Carter,” the nurse said.

  “Just continue with resuscitation until Dr. Johnson arrives.”

  Isabella looked around. There was no sign of James. She took a deep breath. He should have been here by now.

  “Okay, let’s administer 1.5 milligrams of lidocaine.”

  A nurse rushed off to get the drug. Isabella looked through the chart one last time.

  Just as she was about to inject the patient, James finally arrived.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “She coded and I didn’t know what to give her. I’m administering 1.5 milligrams of lidocaine.”

  “And destroy her already failing liver?” he shouted. “Someone get me some epinephrine.”

  He carefully injected the drug into the patient and took hold of the defibrillation paddles. After a few tries, a normal heartbeat was restored.

  “Thanks for almost killing my patient,” he sneered at Isabella.

  “Thanks for ignoring my page,” she fired back.

  He looked around the room. There were too many people around to get into a shouting match.

  “Come with me,” he said gruffly, quickly walking out of the room and through the halls. Eventually, he stopped in an empty stairwell.

  “I leave you alone for one moment, and you’re about to destroy the result of a very important surgery I was in on,” he hissed. “Were you doing it on purpose?”

  She gasped at his accusation. She would never do anything to hurt a patient.

  “Why did you wait so long to get there?” she cried. “There were no notes in the chart, and I did what I thought was best.”

  “Your best almost killed my patient. You show poor judgment.”

  “I suppose you’re right. I did date you, after all.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” he asked.

  “Exactly what it sounds like. Obviously, being with you was a massive mistake.”

  “So much for being professional at work.”

  “I was, until you came in and started accusing me of sabotage. I would never intentionally hurt anyone.”

  “No?” he muttered. “I’m not so sure.”

  He walked back into the hallway, slamming the door behind him.

  Isabella’s throat felt tight. She could hardly breathe. She walked back toward her patient’s room, taking short, shallow breaths.

  “Hey, what’s up?” Jordan asked, spotting her across the hall.

  Isabella walked faster, trying to avoid her friend. She didn’t feel like talking.

  “Are you okay?” Jordan asked as she got closer.

  “Yeah,” Isabella managed to squeak out before tears started pouring from her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” Jordan asked, surprised at her display of emotion.

  “Not now,” Isabella said, quickly wiping tears from her face before anyone else could see.

  “Meet me after work for drinks?” Jordan asked.

  Isabella nodded.

  When they got off work, they walked to the closest bar, just a few blocks away from the hospital. The cold wind stung Isabella’s face like James’s words had earlier in the day.

  Jordan ordered a pitcher of beer, and they sat at a back table, hidden from view of the jolly regulars. Isabella poured herself a glass and drank over half of it before she started talking.

  “Do you want to tell me what’s been going on with you?” Jordan asked. “You have been acting weird the last couple of weeks. You’re not your usual self.”

  “I don’t know how to talk about it,” she said, her voice wavering. “I’ve been keeping it a secret for so long.”

  Jordan’s eyes widened. “Spill.”

  “First, I have to give you some context for everything that’s happened recently.”

  Isabella told her all about her relationship with her mother, and how a steady stream of husbands changed her view on monogamy. Jordan listened intently, genuinely interested in what Isabella had to say.

  “Long story short,” she concluded, “I was never really interested in relationships, because I had yet to see one that worked out. Then I met James.”

  Jordan’s eyes bulged. “James? Like, Attending James?”

  “That’s the one,” Isabella said glumly.

  “How did you manage to land him?”

  “It started with an accidental make-out session. I was high off a big procedure, and he was there. Then we started hooking up around the hospital. It was amazing. Eventually, it wasn’t enough for him. He starting buying me gifts and leaving little notes in my locker. Eventually, I gave in and went on a date with him.”

  “This is the cutest thing I’ve ever heard,” Jordan gushed. “How was the date?”

  “It was really good, actually. After that, we continued hanging out on the weekends. I’d go to his place to just hang out and make dinner, stuff like that. We were just like any couple.”

  “Are you not together?”

  Isabella shook her head. “This is where things get really weird. One day, my mom comes out of the woodwork, and she wants me to go to dinner with her so I could meet her new husband. I bring James along because, well, he’s my boyfriend and he wanted to meet my mom. It was a disaster.”

  She dropped her head in her hands, steadying herself.

  “What happened?”

  Isabella looked up at her friend. “As it turns out,” she said slowly, “my mom married his dad.”

  “What?” Jordan yelped, sending scowls from other patrons their
way.

  “Yep. He’s my stepbrother.”

  “Damn, that’s some soap opera type shit right there,” Jordan said.

  “I’m glad you can find it amusing, because the past few weeks have been hell.”

  “It’s not like you’re actually related though. It’s kind of a weird coincidence, but if you two want to be together, it shouldn’t stop you.”

  “It’s not just that,” Isabella said. “He wants marriage and children. I don’t.”

  “Never?”

  “Not right now. I have a career to worry about. I hate the idea of marriage in the first place, and we can’t both have our careers with kids in the picture.”

  “Yeah, I understand. You’ve worked too hard to get where you are to throw it away.”

  “I wish I never got involved with him in the first place.”

  “Really?” Jordan asked skeptically. “You don’t have feelings for him anymore?”

  Isabella shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah, I do,” she admitted. “It just hurts too much to see him around when I know it will never work.”

  “It’s clear that he’s upset too. I know that he’s been pining after you from day one. I bet you anything that he was in love with you. I’m sure he still is, too.”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Have you ever tried to compromise about the future of your relationship?”

  “Not really. It never seemed pertinent.”

  “Do you think that maybe you should sit down and have a long talk about how you left things? Maybe you’d find that you’d rather be together than apart.”

  “I think that chance is gone,” Isabella said. “We’ve gotten into some bad fights since. We’ve said some nasty stuff to each other. I don’t think there’s any coming back from that.”

  Jordan drained the pitcher and stood up. “It might be worth a try.”

  They walked out of the bar and went back to the parking lot at the hospital.

  “You’re a strong girl. You’ll figure something out,” Jordan said as they parted ways.

  “Thanks. I hope so.”

  Isabella knew that moping around wasn’t going to help anything. She vowed to herself that she was going to move on. If she could be with James, there was certainly someone else out there for her. In the meantime, celibacy would only help her on her way to becoming a top surgeon.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Hey,” Jordan said, running to catch up with Isabella on her way to lunch. “Are you going to the holiday party? I need to turn in my RSVP but I wanted to see if you were going first.”

  “I wasn’t planning on it,” she said. “I’m not a big fan of formal functions.”

  “I figured you’d say that. Do you realize that everyone who’s important at the hospital will definitely be there? If nothing else, it’s a good way to network with the hospital bigwigs.”

  “I heard that they only go to take part in the auction so they can flaunt their wealth to one another,” Isabella said, remembering a conversation she once had with James.

  “There’s going to be food and booze. It should be a good time.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Please,” Jordan begged.

  “Fine. I’ll go.”

  On the night of the party, Isabella grabbed a drab grey dress from her closet, usually reserved for funerals. She wanted to look like a professional, someone who could be respected in her line of work.

  Then she remembered James would be there.

  The employees were allowed to bring a date along. Isabella and Jordan decided that since they weren’t seeing anyone, they’d just go together. There was a chance that James would bring someone, and Isabella decided that she wanted to look good to rub it in his face.

  She found a tight, long sleeved dress with a side slit that went up to the middle of her thigh. It was modest enough but still sexy. She completely her sultry look with a blood red lipstick and stilettos. He would notice her, and he would suffer.

  Isabella scanned the room for James. He was nowhere to be found.

  In the meantime, Jordan snagged two glasses of champagne for the two of them, and they sipped while listening to the senior doctors talk about healthcare policy.

  After a while, Isabella loosened up and was having a good time talking to doctors she never got the chance to work with. She was surprised to learn that many of them had heard of her, and some surgeons even suggested she switch specialties to join their team. It was flattering, but she loved general surgery and didn’t want to leave.

  When it was time for the charity auction to begin, Isabella found a seat next to Jordan. They watched as doctors outbid one another to win extravagant prizes. They auctioned off everything from tickets to the opera, to a gift basket with luxury bath items, to a night with a private chef. There was a massive bidding war for five nights at a five-star resort in Mexico. Isabella turned to see who had spent way too much money on a short vacation.

  It was James.

  He looked fantastic. His Armani suit coat fit perfectly, and his pants fit tight in all the right places. Isabella involuntarily licked her lips.

  “He’s alone,” Jordan pointed out. “Damn, he looks fine.”

  Date or not, Isabella wanted him to see what he was missing. She got up and strutted to the bar to get another glass of champagne. She posed by the bar, sipping from the flute like a socialite waiting for the paparazzi to take photos.

  Jordan joined her a minute later. If James had noticed her, he was doing his best not to pay her any attention. She observed as he talked to their colleagues.

  When Jordan left to speak with Dr. Jensen, Isabella was left alone at the bar. This time, she ordered a vodka tonic. She sulked as she gulped the drink.

  “Have you ever been to Cabo?” a voice behind her asked.

  She whipped around. It was James, waving the tickets in the air. “As a matter of fact, I have.”

  “Do you want to go again?”

  “Have you been drinking?” she asked suspiciously.

  “Maybe,” he slurred. “I see you have been too.”

  “I’m not great at social events. You know this.”

  “Only the ones where you find out that your boyfriend is your brother.”

  “Why are you even talking to me? I thought we were done with that.”

  “The truth is, Isabella, I can’t get you out of my head. I see you at work and I want you. I want you in my home with me, curled up on the couch. I want you to come on trips with me. I want you in my bed.”

  “Shh,” she hissed. “I don’t care who hears. I’ve been craving your body. I lie awake at night, dreaming of your smooth skin, your tight ass, your perfect, perky—”

  “Quiet,” she warned.

  “I need you, Isabella. So bad.”

  She gave a sharp exhale. Oh, the things he did to her.

  “I want you too,” she said, looking him straight in the eye.

  Without another word, James grabbed Isabella by the wrist and pulled her out of the room. They hurried along the corridor until he found what he was looking for. He peeked in the empty coat closet. There was hardly enough room for the both of them.

  He slid his hand up her thigh and yanked at her panties before loosening his belt and letting his pants fall past his knees. She slid her hand past the waistband of his underwear. He was ready to go.

  He ran his lips along her neck, and she savored the sensation of his skin on hers. She gently nibbled on his ear. The hot breath in his ear always drove him wild. He forcefully hiked her skirt up, and she guided him inside her.

  Isabella wrapped one leg around his waist, holding him closer to her. He grasped her ass for leverage, going deeper inside her. He touched her with his free hand, making her moan with pleasure. The sounds of her gratification sent him over the edge, and he stroked her, harder, faster. Weeks of tension between them released as they stood in the cramped closet, holding on tight to each other.

  “What now?” James asked once he was
dressed again. He leaned into Isabella and rested his forehead on hers.

  “I don’t know.”

  “I’ve been miserable without you, Isabella. I can’t stop thinking about you. I hate fighting with you.”

  “Me too, but what can we do? We know that it’s going to be too difficult to stay together. You even said it yourself.”

  “Is it worth working this out? I’m willing to put in the effort if you agree to put in some work, too.”

  “I’m in.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, picking her up so their lips met. They kissed, both not wanting to break away first.

  “Come home with me tonight,” he said. “We can open a bottle of wine and talk.”

  “I came here with Jordan. I can’t just ditch her.”

  “I think she’ll understand.”

  “Okay, let me find her. I’ll meet you at coat check.”

  Isabella quickly fixed her smudged makeup and raked her fingers through her hair. She rushed back to the ballroom.

  “Jordan,” she said, out of breath. “I’m going home with James. It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you all about it later. Is that okay?”

  “Yes, go!” Jordan shouted with a broad smile on her face.

  With her friend’s approval, she nearly ran to the entrance, where James was waiting with her coat. They got in his car and sped off. The whole ride there, her hand rested gently on the inseam of his pants.

  At his house, James unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirt, removed his tie, and rolled up his sleeves. He found a long sleeved t-shirt for Isabella.

  James poured two glasses of wine and lit the fireplace. Isabella curled up next to him on the couch so that they faced each other.

  “I think we need to be honest in what we want from a relationship,” James said. “I’ve said it before, but I don’t want to be dating well into my forties. I want some stability, a life partner.”

  “I just don’t know how I feel about marriage. You know that.”

  “What don’t you like about it?” he asked.