Heartthrob (The Bennett Brothers 3)

Nick’s face heats up, but luckily, Shaw pipes in, helping me move along.

“What’s happening at the hospital?”

I grab my beer, sit back in my chair, and tell them what I can. “Confidentiality is still in place, but I say things aren’t good. The CEO, CFO, and hospital administrator are in contact with DEA and local arms of law enforcement. What’s alarming and disturbing is, out of all the hospitals and medical facilities in a thirty-mile radius, no one is reporting any occurrences of theft but us. Our materials management team is working overtime to trace back shipments, inventory, and watching all new deliveries closely. At this point, no Class–A drugs are missing from pharmaceuticals, but the inventories are showing more and more over the counter supplies and medications missing. The only silver lining is that Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, Maternity, and Cardiology seem to be in the clear. Nothing has gone missing from our areas.”

“If there are no drugs gone, why is the DEA involved?” Nick asks.

“Can’t get into specifics, but it’s preemptive.”

“Are you worried?”

“I’m pissed. In the end, this may turn out to be nothing, but in the meantime, everyone is on high-alert waiting for updates. Each department head is tasked with more responsibility, which trickles down to all levels. I can’t talk to Claire about it, but she knows something is happening.”

“Sucks, but hopefully they’ll get to the bottom of it soon. Glad to know your departments aren’t under suspicion.”

“Me too.”

Our dinner arrives, and the conversation moves to Shaw’s business. When we’re done, I get a series of texts from Claire. One expressing her excitement over Nick’s house purchase and the others with screenshots of social media posts about the Bennett brothers having dinner. As Nick predicted, there is a shot of me walking through the restaurant with the caption “Dr. Delicious, aka Nick Bennett’s hot & SINGLE older brother.”

“Shit.” I pass the phone around the table.

“Dr. Delicious? I thought your stupid nickname was Heartthrob or something obnoxious like that?”

“There’s no telling where she came up with that.”

“Looks like you may need to hustle out the back door with me or the stampede may commence.” Nick laughs, then his eyes grow wide. “Oh shit is right, Claire posted a response. You may want to look at this.”

He hands the phone back, and I brace, ready for anything. It’s a picture of me shirtless, in my swim trunks on Shaw’s boat last summer. This caption reads ‘Vote Dr. Delicious for Man of the Month’ and underneath is the hashtag #bennettbabes.

I groan, blowing out a breath.

“She’s a nut,” Shaw says, leaning over my shoulder.

“You have no idea.”

“Now, you’re really going out the back with me. That man of the month shit is feral.” Nick throws his napkin on his plate.

“Yeah, after you pay the bill, I’ll go with you and you can drop me at my car.”

“Why am I paying the bill? I forked over six mill today. Shaw should cover this one.”

“One of you fuckers is paying. If you’re going to interrogate me, you’re at least buying me dinner.”

Nick reluctantly throws out a credit card, and then his mouth splits into a wide grin. “I’ll pay for your fucking wedding if you give me some news to tell Grace.”

I hold his stare and return the grin. “Tell her she’s in charge of the bachelorette party, and I’ll provide the handcuffs for the strippers.”

His smug expression turns to rage at the same time Shaw barks in laughter.

The flight attendant stops by my seat, takes the empty wine glasses, and taps her watch to let me know we’re descending. I tilt my head to the side, sifting my fingers through Claire’s hair gently.

“Baby, we’re almost here. Time to wake up.”

She burrows her head deeper into my shoulder and lets out a sleepy sigh. I continue to brush through her hair until she wakes, her hand on my stomach, clenching the material of my sweater. “Did you say we’re almost there?” she croaks.

“One glass of wine and you were out. Slept the entire flight.”

“Whoa.” She sits up, looking around, suddenly alert. “Did we miss our chance?”