Bliss Series Boxed Set: The Whole Damn Harem (92 page)

I jerk my head toward him and stare, my eyes bugging out at his blatant lack of professional boundaries. “Dr. Taylor,” I say in my most direct take-no-shit voice, “although we know each other out of work and share the same social circles—”

“Yes . . . ?” he replies, his eyes twinkling with amusement, backed up by the knowing smirk on his face.
God it’s a beautiful face . . .

“I think it would be better if we stay professional within the hospital setting.”

“I agree, Ms. Roberts.” He nods, but his eyes are saying the complete opposite. I don’t miss the quick glance down and up my body. This doctor has trouble written all over him. Unfortunately, it’s the kind of trouble that I’m usually attracted to.

He smiles at me, a wry smile that screams instant orgasm if you’re not prepared for it. But I can’t resist smiling back at him. There’s something about this seemingly formal exchange that is all kinds of hot. The air between us is thick with tension—the really great kind—and it’s hard to remember that he’s the man that ‘forgets’ he kisses strangers at weddings.

“Good. That’s good. So we’ll just forget whatever has happened in the past.” My words strengthen my resolve to forget that night and move on.

He frowns, obviously confused by my words, but nodding again anyway.

Thankfully the elevator dings and the doors slide open to lead out to the lobby.

“Until next time, Zoe.”

I walk away, choosing to ignore the flutter of butterflies in my stomach at the promise in his farewell. A feeling that turns into unease as I make my way to the train station. I’m thankful for the platform being busy with people heading home but I can’t ignore the prickling sensation creeping up my spine that I’m being watched by someone.

I look around the platform, scanning the crowd for a familiar face – wanted or otherwise – but my search is fruitless.

I must be getting paranoid in my old age. My sister Mia would have a field day if she was here right now.

Thankfully, my train arrives and I step inside and take a seat. My heart rate slows and I breathe a sigh of relief.

I came to Chicago to get away from the drama. I just have to hope it stays away.

“Drunk”

Noah

It’s my first Saturday afternoon off work in a few weeks and instead of getting some much needed uninterrupted down time—something I’ve been looking forward to all week—I’ve been joined by my younger brother Matt.

He’s twenty-seven going on eighteen. Maybe he was dropped on his head as a baby, but all he seems to think about is living life to its fullest and living it fast. He’s easygoing with a penchant for easy women. Or maybe he’s the one that’s easy and the women just line up for his dick because they’ve heard about how blessed the Taylor boys are in that department.

Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t be the man I am if I didn’t appreciate the size of my cock, but the older and hopefully wiser I get, the more I’ve come to appreciate the fact that it’s not the be all and end all. Unfortunately there are some people in this world who believe that the size of the cock maketh the man.

“What was up with you and that hot piece of ass you mauled at Dan’s wedding?” he asks as he takes a seat in the recliner next to me.

I turn my head to look at him. “Nikki?”

“Not Nikki, you douche. Nikki might have a nice ass, but she’s not a
hot
piece of ass. Her personality totally cancels out any hotness she might have.”

“Touché.”

“So did you tap that?”

This time I sit up and stare at him, totally lost as to what the hell he’s going on about. “What the fuck are you talking about, Matt?”

“You plus a hot brunette with a killer rack and curves for fucking days locking lips at the wedding, ending with Zander pulling you apart and punching you in the face. What. Was. Up. With. That?” he says his question slowly, yet even as I scan the deepest recesses of my mind, I can’t comprehend what he’s talking about.

Thinking back to the wedding, I try and remember what happened.

Getting ready for the wedding? Check.

Watching my best friend turn to mush as Mac walked up the aisle toward him? Check.

Giving a kickass speech at the wedding reception while downing copious amounts of alcohol to cope with the realization that my
date
had used my dick to get an invite to her ex-boyfriend’s wedding? Getting hazy but I still remember that much.

Kissing a gorgeous brown-haired woman and getting punched in the face for doing it? Negative. A big fat ‘kinda wish I remembered that’ no.

And before I can even think about who it was, or kick myself for not remembering the how, the when or even the why—although if she was as hot as my brother says then that kind of speaks for itself—Matt continues.

“You walked into her, looked at her then tried to eat her face. It was hilarious and kinda hot, like the start of a real-life porn show. Then Zander crossed the room and slammed his fist into your face,” he says with a laugh. “You should’ve seen his face. That dude is a scary motherfucker when he’s angry. I almost thought he was going to turn into The Hulk.” He continues talking but I block him out.

Putting my beer down on the floor beside me, I rake my hands through my hair, trying to remember something,
anything
, about kissing a stranger at the wedding. I was drunk. Toasted. Off my tree. I remember Nikki coming to the head table to talk to me. Me contemplating what Mac and Daniel had and thinking that was something I might like. Me downing the rest of my drink and leaving to meet Nikki outside. That’s it. There aren’t even any of those drunken flashes you might get a few days after the fact. It’s been a few weeks now so any chance of remembering who I kissed, how good it might’ve been, let alone why Zander would want to . . .

Oh fuck.

Oh fuck! Damn! Shit! I’m a motherfucking idiot.

Zoe.

It was Zoe. Hot and busty, with an ass you could bounce pennies off, and cherry red lips that any red-blooded male would want to kiss.

And it was me that kissed her. If I were Zander, I would’ve punched me too.

“Fuck, I’m an idiot.”

“Well you are if you didn’t nail her. So much hotter than Nikki. Nicer too.”

I jerk my head and glare at him. “Dude, shut up. You’re not helping.”

“What did I do?”

“It was Zander’s sister, dickhead.”

“Duuuuude. High five.” He holds his hand up in the air but I leave him hanging. This isn’t anything to celebrate. In fact, I’m now glad Mac and Daniel left the next day otherwise I can guarantee Daniel would’ve reamed my ass. Jesus, I’m surprised Mac didn’t whack me around the head before cutting my dick off.

I pick up my forgotten about beer bottle and finish the drink in a few gulps before standing up to get another one—or ten.

“You don’t remember doing it?”

“Nope,” I yell out from the kitchen.

“At least you know who she is now. You can go back for more.”

“Over Zander’s dead body.”

“Well there’s that, but like that’s ever stopped you before. There was that time you tried it on with Daniel’s sister, remember?”

“You better take that to your grave, Matt,” I call out. “There is no way in hell that can ever come out.”

I walk back into the living area to see a huge smirk on his face. “Look, it happens sometimes. Not to me, of course. The older ladies
love
me. But it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” He struggles to hold back his laughter, which in turn makes me chuckle, and as it has been our whole lives, we both lose it.

Handing him his beer, I shove him in the arm before sitting back down on the sofa with a six-pack next to me. He quirks a brow and looks at the beer. “Settling in for a big night?”

“More like drowning my sorrows and hoping my memory is reignited by the substance that stole it away.”

“Must be bad if you’ve slipped back into doctor-speak.”

I try to concentrate on watching the baseball game on the sixty-five-inch screen in front of me, but all I can see in my head is the look on Zoe’s face yesterday when I was talking to her. She must think I’m just another asshole doctor who goes around nailing anything that moves, both in and out of the hospital. Truth be told, after Mac and before Nikki, I
was
that guy. But not anymore.

Even still, that look on her face that I couldn’t work out at the time makes a hell of a lot more sense now.

My mouth hurt the next morning, but cutting it off with Nikki was at the forefront of my mind, not wondering why my jaw ached like a bitch. I’m surprised I didn’t bruise.

The best decision I’ve ever made was ending our ‘arrangement.’

I’ve never been opposed to relationships, just very rarely met a woman who made me consider it. And recently, my residency and the hours that it requires—especially with my boards coming up—pretty much eliminates the opportunity to meet someone new.

Before Nikki, I would date women if they interested me, and I had Mac for no-strings sex, so I had it made.

Then my mind wanders back to Zoe.

She’s gorgeous as all hell with a body to devour. The two times I’ve seen her there’s been something in her eyes that’s hinted at a backbone—something that’s always been extremely attractive to me in a woman.

She’s sassy and sexy, with a sense of humor to boot, and an ass that is the perfect size for my hands to hold while burying my face between her legs. So far she’s ticking all my boxes.

Those blue eyes of hers drew me in when I first talked to her at work. Thankfully the ‘Menace of MRI’ Greta was there or else I would’ve probably said some jerky line to get Zoe to go out with me.

I can just imagine what Zander would think of that. He'd hunt me down and shoot me with his gun,
after
beating me to a bloody pulp with his baton.
Bad idea Taylor
.

If I were a better man, a smarter man, I’d find a woman who ticked all those boxes somewhere else. You shouldn’t shit where you eat, or in this case, shouldn’t fuck one of your mate’s sisters.

“So what are you going to do about her then?” Matt asks curiously, breaking me from my train of thought.

“I’m going to apologize.” Now I’m definitely looking forward to seeing Ms. Roberts again.

∞
∞
∞

I’m woken up Sunday morning with a throbbing head and a ringing cell phone. I pick it up and see Daniel’s name lighting up the screen.

“Hello,” I answer groggily.

“Morning, sunshine,” Daniel replies cheerfully. Way too fucking happy for nine a.m. on a Sunday morning.
Lucky fucker.

“Hi, Noah. Caught you at a bad time?” Mac asks on the speaker.

“Anytime I’m woken up early on my day off is a bad time, Mac. I don’t have two built-in minimes to wake me up like you guys do.” I may be grumpy but I can’t hide the amusement in my voice. “Where are you guys anyway?”

“On our way to pick up the twins. Landed a few hours ago,” Mac explains.

“And for what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call?”

“’Cause you’re an ass,” Daniel states matter-of-factly.

“I love you too. How was the honeymoon?”

“I can barely walk so it must’ve been good. I’m coming home to have a rest from Superman’s weapon.”

“Thor’s hammer would do more damage,” I add.

“Fuck that. I’d rather have Superman than Thor any day.”

“What about Captain America?” I ask with a laugh. “Nope,” she says, with extra emphasis on the
P
before Daniel butts in.

“Maybe I’m the one who needs a break from my wife.”

Chuckling down the phone, I realize how strange that sounds. Husband and wife. My two best friends are now married. “God that sounds weird.”

“You’re telling me!” Mac retorts.

“Now stop trying to avoid the inevitable, Taylor. What was that shit you pulled with Zoe at the wedding?” That’s Daniel. Straight to the point. He has to be to deal with Mac though, so it’s kind of a prerequisite.

I roll over onto my back, taking the phone with me. “Sorry guys. I don’t remember anything. Matt told me all about it yesterday.”

Mac gasps. “You stuck your tongue down her throat right in front of everyone, Noah. You walked into her, stopped to look at her then just rammed it on in there. How can you not remember that?” Put like that, I’m almost impressed with my drunken self.

“Way to put it out there, Mac,” I muse. “I obviously drank more than I should have.”

“Hope your jaw was sore the next day,” Daniel says with a laugh.

“So you’re not mad at me then?”

“Noah, I’ve known you for almost twenty years. I know what you’re like and I also know what you’re like when you’re drunk. But at our wedding reception? Didn’t think you’d do that to us.” I can hear the disappointment in his voice. He must’ve been so angry with me after the wedding. Now that anger has given way to disappointment, something I never wanted to do to him.

“Look, I’m really sorry, guys. I don’t know where my head was at. I don’t even remember kissing her.”

“You don’t remember anything at all?” Mac sounds surprised.

“Nothing after the speeches.”

“Have you apologized to her?” she asks.

“I saw her at the hospital on Friday, but I didn’t have a fucking clue so I’ll find her on Tuesday when I’m at work again.”

“You better fucking grovel, dude. You mauled that poor girl and she’s been through enough.” The stern warning in Mac’s voice would make the strongest man cower.

“What do you mean?”

“Not my story to tell, but please just make it right,” she urges.

Daniel speaks up. “Might pay to steer clear of Zander for a while too.”

“Okay, guys. I get it. I fucked up and I have to make it right. And I will. All right? I truly am sorry.”

“Okay,” Mac replies softly.

I wait for Daniel to say something. “We’re good, Noah. Let’s catch up for a beer next week.”

“Sounds good, man. You guys go pick up the little monsters.”

“Bye, Noah,” they say in unison

I end the call and throw my phone down on the bed, knowing that I need to fix this.