5. Alexander

5

ALEXANDER

L ewis Havenshaw. Sex god. Amazing mouth skills. Gorgeous green eyes. Sigh. His name was Lewis Havenshaw… I groaned into the palm of my hand. Now he's, my patient. How the fuck did this happen to me?

It's not like I could sit back and worry about the shit I'd somehow gotten myself into. I mean we were together before I officially treated him. If something happened now, and then I treated him I'd be breaking all kinds of rules, but at the moment… I thought about it. I clearly drew a line and made that clear to him, too even though my cock was protesting with each and every word that left my mouth.

It just had to be done.

I'd somehow managed to get through nearly the full first week in the new job without too many issues—plus keeping the amazing Nurse Lovett by my side. I was lucky I had managed to diffuse her by asking for a glass of water that day when Lewis showed up for his appointment, otherwise I have no clue if my career would still exist, and my integrity would have remained intact.

The problem was with having a close-knit family they worried—a lot. Tess, at least, had the courtesy to warn me in our calls that my brothers and her couldn't hold back mom any longer and she needed to check in on me. I thought a phone call may have sufficed, but nope—the whole clan were on their way here to Hope Springs to ensure that what I'd been telling them wasn't far-fetched bullshit and the actual truth. I thought I'd have longer to hold them back to be honest… but then they are the St. James' and if they have set their minds to something nothing will change it.

My original evening plans for my Friday evening meal this week consisted of relaxing with a mindless show on the television trying to keep my mind off a certain hot night that happened nearly a week ago—with the man my cock instantly gets hard for when I imagine him. Instead of that solo evening, it had turned into me cooking a storm up for seven, and that wasn't an easy feat when it had been planned out in advance with lots of warning. This though, was hell. You'd expect I'd be great at working under pressure, but when my mom and siblings were concerned nothing could ease the mounting stress that was about to hit.

I just had to show them that everything was great unless there was something else going on… something the group of them were up to. I shook my head at the absurd thought and quickly got back to prepping the chicken to be cooked before checking how the potatoes were cooking. I was sticking with a family favorite and one I knew would earn me brownie points. I continued prepping the chargrilled chicken with sautéed potatoes, pan-fried vegetables with a rich jué which was never refused by any of them.

I knew the moment my twin sister Tess stepped through the door she would be the one of the group to try and find out what was for dessert before she was even told what the main course was. She'd always been the same since we were little. Always had a sweet tooth and if she had her own way she'd choose a dessert and avoid the main course if she could. I just hoped all my hard work would be appreciated and the favorite chocolate mousse recipe I'd pulled out of both Tess and my mom would be enough to make my family forget whatever had brought them here in the first place.

"Alexander, my darling boy. Tell me everything," Mom burst out the second she pushed her way into my small house and gave me a large embrace smothering with kisses. She pulled back, holding her palms on my shoulders and taking in my features as if trying to stare into my soul and read me as if she could answer all my problems without me even telling her anything. I couldn't help but catch the eye of my twin sister and brothers over her shoulder as they grimaced in the hall with that expression of unease that made your stomach roll with nausea. It was a known fact in our house that the chirpy, high pitched voice of our mom only came out to play with us siblings when either she needed something from us, or she'd agreed something with her beloved charity and wanted us children to fall in line. "You know you can talk to me about anything? How's the new job going and just look…" She peeped her eyes quickly around the room before letting go of my shoulders and reaching for my hand. "Show me the whole place, darling. Can I smell chicken cooking?" She giggled as her eyes sparkled and I turned to look at the entourage standing behind her giving me all too familiar eye rolls as their gazes met mine.

Whatever this was, it wasn't good. Why hadn't Tess told me how bad things were? I mean surely, she knew. Whatever mom wanted couldn't have just happened on the journey here. It couldn't just be for the fact that I'd stood on my feet and flew away from the St. James' lavish lifestyle in the big city. I groaned under my breath before forcing a smile across my face.

"Tess, come and help me plate up, will you?" I asked before smirking at my brothers. "I know the rest of you are desperate to explore the place. I'll call you when it's time to sit down."

I sometimes think Tess forgot how well I could read her as her brow furrowed and her head dropped down low. She linked arms with Hunter in an escape to avoid my inquisitive gaze. I still can't believe she thinks that Hunter will drag her away with him as he stops by my side and winks at me before unlocking his arm from hers.

"Have fun," Hunter remarked as he tapped Archie's shoulder. "I know the four of us will be. Let's show mom to the living room." He mocked before turning back to face me with a devious grin on his face. "Before we hit the bedroom. I wonder what he's hiding…"

"Stay out of my room you guys…" I cut off as Tess giggled away next to me. "I mean it.

"Well, you did say…" Tess replied back as I turned to face her and scowled. "Come on grumpy…" She replied as she dragged me into the kitchen. "Let's get to it."

"This doesn't mean you're off the hook, Tess." I uttered. "I need answers about what's going on."

"This chicken is cooked to perfection, darling," Mom announced as she cut another piece before smiling widely at me. "You do know how to spoil me."

"Who knew you'd still keep those fine ass cooking skills even after moving here…" Jayden blurted out as Blake kicked him under the table, causing the two of them to stand up quickly, nearly knocking the drinks over with their fast movements. "Why did you do that?" He hissed.

"Boys," Mom said sternly, dabbing her mouth with a fine silk engraved napkin. "As you are standing you can clear the table and re-lay it for dessert immediately," she told them, "then I want to talk to you all. I miss seeing all my children together."

I took one look at each one of my siblings who remained at the table as Jayden and Blake headed into the kitchen, before focusing on my mom's face and then pushed myself to stand.

"I'll just go and help them in the kitchen and make sure that they aren't killing each other yet." I rushed out in a large breath, and stood up and quickly marched out of the room after the two of them before my mom could utter a word to stop me. "I need to add the garnish and…" I let out a long-drawn out breath as I nearly barreled into Blake's back.

"Please tell me that one of you has a clue what's going on?" I asked them both as I skirted past them and indicated where the cutlery and plates were as I quickly added chocolate curls to the top of each dessert. "Why does this feel like something big? I'm not imagining that this isn't just a visit. Mom's voice and demeanor is all…"

"Over the top," Blake finished my sentence as I handed him two of the finished desserts on his silver serving tray.

"She's been in this mindset for a few days when I saw her at the office." Jayden agreed as I passed him another two of the desserts to put on the tray before I continued finishing the remaining three.

"Let's just rip the band-aid off and see what she's up to." I sighed as I ladened up my silver tray with the appropriate cutlery and remaining desserts. "Be warned though, you guys better not be hiding something from me."

"Never." Blake narrowed his eyes on me before his jaw ticked. "Why would I go through the stress of that?"

"Hmm… I wonder," I announced as I led the way back in towards my remaining family members all patiently waiting for our return.

I fucking knew it.

"Alexander, darling, you know how much supporting charities means to me," she began as she scooped a spoon of her mousse and brought it to her mouth. "This is so delicious… mmm," she uttered as she reached for her napkin and patted her mouth before taking a sip of her red wine. "When you moved here, I had a look into Hope Liberty Hospital and how we, as the St. James,' can support them and did you know they do an annual charity masked auction?" she excitedly announced as I immediately dropped my posture and sulked back in my chair.

She hadn't.

I mean she wouldn't do something like that.

I looked around the room at each of my siblings' dropped heads, except Tess' and I knew who the traitors were in the room.

I'd fucking get the bastards back later.

Mom always loved to get each of us at some point, and when it's their time I'll be the first to support her now and not give them a second's warning in the slightest.

"Well, they were a mystery bachelor short for the event and I thought who better than the new cardiologist? she announced. "It'll get your name known and seen around the place."

"Well, it's not like I can refuse, is it?" I said as calmly as possible through gritted teeth as I clenched my fists together underneath the table. "It would have been nice to be consulted first, mom."

"It was just all so last minute, darling and you know how quickly these events have to be organized," she replied, batting her eyelashes and taking another sip of her red wine as my siblings demolished their desserts in silence, leaving me to be thrown under the bus. I bet they were secretly praying to the gods that Mom had picked me out and not themselves this time. I get that being a member of the St. James' family comes with certain expectations but sometimes I wish I could just be seen as an everyday man who could refuse his mom's demands. You'd think it would be an easy thing to do at twenty-eight years old, but in reality, as each year passes my responsibilities become more involved. "They needed someone for the 9th."

"As in next Saturday?" Tess interrupted in shock.

"Yes, like I said it was all very last minute," she replied as she finished the remains of her wine. "I thought it would be a great thing to settle you into the community."

I mean what could go wrong? It's a charity masked auction and the winner will receive a date with me.