Just One Thing (The Alexanders 6)

Oblivious to his distress, Grant set the chart he was holding down and washed his hands in the small sink against the wall.

“So I saw your girl here earlier. I was surprised you weren’t with her then.”

Bennett had already rolled up hi

s sleeve so Grant could access the wound that he’d been keeping clean and dry. His cousin carefully pried off the three large bandages covering the cut.

“Yeah, I would have been here earlier but … Well, that doesn’t matter anymore. Things are fine now.”

Grant was quick but thorough as he checked the tender skin around the cut. He shook his head in dismay. “Disgraceful. I can’t believe you waited so long. If I’d been able to close this right away there wouldn’t even be a scar,” he muttered.

Bennett rolled his eyes. Grant was one of the East Coast’s top plastic surgeons so he was sure it was torture to his professional pride to see a wound leave a scar unnecessarily.

“Anyway, I hope you aren’t having girl troubles already with the fiery Katherine. I liked her. She’s the type that doesn’t let you get away with any shit.”

Bennett glared at his troublemaking and all-together too handsome cousin. It hadn’t escaped his notice that Grant had really seemed to like Katie. It probably wasn’t often that he met a woman willing to tell him off.

“Whatever. Is my arm going to fall off or what?”

“It’s fine. It’s not perfect, which is what it would have been if you weren’t so stubborn but there’s no sign of infection and it’s healing well.”

Grant smeared something that Bennett hoped was antibiotic ointment over the scar, then added fresh bandages and covered the wound lightly.

“Anyway, I hope things work out with Katie. Because if you let a woman like that get away, you deserve to lose her. Maybe even to your younger and better-looking cousin.” Grant grinned, flashing perfect white teeth. “Women like that don’t come around all that often.”

Bennett was still more than a little annoyed at how much attention his cousin was paying to Katie. “I’m surprised to hear you say that. I figured you’d be the more the merrier type.”

Grant stiffened. “Can I tell you something?”

“It’s never stopped you before.”

“You’re the smartest dumbass I know. I’m not trying to steal your girl. I’m hoping you won’t be as dumb as I was.”

Bennett shifted, suddenly feeling guilty. His cousin was for once being sincere and he’d reacted out of jealously. “Grant, I’m sorry–“

“Whatever’s going on with the two of you, fix it. Whatever she needs, be that. It’s really that simple,” Grant interrupted. “Or you might find yourself with a little competition.”

Bennett sighed. Just when he was getting used to seeing the softer side of Grant, the arrogant side he was used to reemerged. “I’m starting to wonder why I talk to you.”

Grant washed his hands again. “Because it gets lonely being the only brilliant one. I get it.” After drying his hands on a paper towel, he reclaimed his clipboard from the bed and left.

His cousin might be arrogant but he was also pretty damn smart. Katie had said they’d talk and she just needed some time but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be useful in the meantime.

She’d arrived with Ridley in the ambulance so she didn’t have her car. It was likely that she’d be here for quite some time, possibly even overnight. But maybe she’d need a ride home in the morning. If so, Bennett planned to be the one taking her home.

Whatever she needed, he would be there.

?

Early the next morning, Katie walked out of Ridley’s hospital room starving and in desperate need of sleep. She had told Ri that she could stay longer but it seemed she wasn’t needed.

As soon as she heard her twin was in labor, Raina had flown straight home. With her twin sister and Jackson there, Ridley was back in her comfort zone. Katie was both relieved and sad that she was no longer needed. Because helping out her friend had been the perfect distraction from thinking about Bennett.

Bennett who had kissed another woman at the first opportunity.

As if she’d conjured him by her thoughts, Bennett pushed off of the wall across from Ridley’s room. Katie stopped, startled. Had he really been waiting out here the whole time? Then she noticed that he was wearing different clothes and carrying a paper bag.

“What are you doing here?” Her question came out crankier than she’d intended, mainly because she’d been awake for what felt like three days and was in desperate need of food and a shower.