Hotshot (The Bennett Brothers 1)

“You lean on me, Bizzy. You’ve always leaned on me when you lose a patient. Today’s no different. I’m here. Let it out.”

He’s right. The emotions of the day hit, and I let loose crying for the cute young man who lost his life to a terrible disease, and the parents who lost their teenage son and will never see him grow into the man he was born to be. My heart hurts, but being in Shaw’s arms helps heal the pain. It always has.

“I’m sorry.” I shudder into his shirt.

His hand slides between us and hands me some tissue, then starts to caress my neck gently. “Let it out, baby. I’m here.”

I suck in a few deep breaths until I’m calm enough to talk. “I’m okay.”

“You are not okay. You need to be at home, with me, letting me take care of you.”

“You are taking care of me. This is exactly what I needed. Thank you.”

“Fuck, I should have come sooner.”

“No, you have a lot on your mind.” I step away, wiping my face. “You’re here now.”

“And I’m staying until I’m sure you’re okay.” He leans down and kisses me so gently my heart starts to flutter.

When he pulls back, he places small pecks on my eyelids and forehead then leads us to an empty chair, sitting us down.

I look into his golden hazel eyes swirling with concern.

“I promise I’m okay. He had almost four more months of life with his family and friends. That was a miracle in itself. He was a good kid, but he’s not suffering anymore.”

“You’re right, but it’s still a devastating blow. Especially right now.”

There’s a bitterness to his tone as his body shifts underneath mine. I remember the way he hung up on me earlier.

“Shaw is something else wrong? Is your baby okay?”

He flinches a little, his pupils flaring. “Why didn’t you tell me you ran into Sasha today?”

“It didn’t come up. There was a lot on my mind.”

“What did she say?”

“Nothing really important.” I start to move off his lap, but he circles his arms around my waist, forcing me to stay.

“Tell me. Nick called and told me what he saw and what he said, but I need to know from you.”

“Why? What’s happening here?”

He drops his forehead to mine and breathes deeply. “I’m not sure that I can go through with this. Today was a disaster. When I got to the office to meet her, she was revved up. When I spoke to her last week, and she asked about finding out the gender, I agreed with her decision. It was a civil conversation.”

“I know. I was sitting right there,” I remind him.

“Today, she was pissed. She told me that she ran into you at the hospital and you ridiculed her for not meeting my parents yet, then Nick was beyond rude to her. The doctor came in and took her blood pressure, which was high.”

“That’s not exactly how the situation went.” I tell him word for word my side of the story and watch his face turn red. When I’m finished, he’s gripping my hand almost painfully.

“Sasha insisted I stay while she calmed down. I had to be in the same room alone with her for half an hour while she sipped orange juice and, once again, argued her case it was time

we merge our families. I sat quietly, biting my tongue the whole time. She went as far as to invite herself to the game tomorrow.”

“No!” I shout a little too loudly.

“Don’t worry, I shut her down. But I’m pretty sure our truce is over.”