Finding Stone (The Stone Brothers Series) (Volume 1) (2 page)

I wake up to my alarm blaring. 6:35 a.m. SHIT! I am late. I jump out of bed thanking the heavens I showered and laid my clothes out the night before. The landlord wasn't lying when he told me that this apartment was soundproof. I didn't hear a single ambulance last night.

I dress quickly, brush my teeth, pull my hair into a ponytail, and grab an apple as I rush out the door. If I had known my first impression would be one of an irresponsible idiot, I would have gone to bed sooner. I take off in a jog.

6:58a.m. I walk into the ER and head straight to the nurse’s station. There are several nurses gathered, getting their charts.

"Hello. Where can I find Katherine,” I ask. Katherine, whom I met briefly during my interview, intimidated me. She can't be more than five feet tall. Petite, but she puts off a no-bullshit vibe. I hear Katherine speak up from the nurse's station.

"Well, you're late. Let me know now if you're going to make a habit of being late?" She scolds while looking up from her computer screen.

"No ma'am. I am so sorry. It won't happen again," I say embarrassed.

"Did you not read your employee packet? Blue scrubs, Molly. I won't say it again."

She is scolding me again and people start laughing. Assholes. I notice one nurse. Her badge says Avery and she looks like a bitch, rolling her eyes at me. I was taught manners and I used them or I got grounded. As an adult, I use them because I know that in order to gain respect you have to earn it.

"Hate to break up the party ladies but Mr. Medford in curtain four is in need of an enema." I look up because the voice is so sexy. Holy hell. The man standing in front of me is hot. I mean sexy hot. He has jet-black hair that’s styled in a fauxhawk. His dark brown eyes are so dark they are almost black. He's got a mysterious aura about him. He has a 5 o'clock shadow surrounding a masculine jawline. I would guess he is 30ish. I can't tell what his body looks like under the white coat and scrubs, but he looks delicious.

While scanning his body, I see his badge hanging on his coat. It says Dr. Noah Stone. Shit! He is a doctor. I look away because I have a feeling I am about to become a glorified nursing assistant at any moment.

"Well, Dr. Stone. Molly here was late her first day on the job. Can you believe that?" she asks smirking.

"No I can't. However, I'm sure that after you're through with her she will never be late again." He looks at me as if dismissing me; then walks off.  

Looks like I am going to spend my first day finger deep in assholes, literally. I follow Katherine to curtain four.

Fuck.  

"Hey stay in bed my pager is going off," I say to Sarah.

"What time is it?" Sarah asks, still tired.

"It's 6:30."

"Are you coming back? I could meet you here. I'm sure we can get this morning off to a better start." She tries to sound sexy, but it just annoys me. She must notice my hesitation because she throws off the blanket and starts putting on her panties.  

"You know, Noah, I can't keep doing this. I am not getting any younger and you aren't either. You'll be thirty-five soon."  

"I know how old I am. I told you six months ago that I don't want the ‘American Dream,’ “ I say, annoyed because it's true. I've told her repeatedly.  

"I thought with time this would change for you." I can hear sadness in her voice.  

"Well it won't. Sorry, but I have to go," I say as I close the door.

The one thing I hate about working the E.R. is that people forget it's for emergencies. My current patient, for example, is what we call a frequent flyer. Looking at him, I am certain he has never eaten a vegetable. His diet probably consists of beer, chips, and cigarettes. He needs relief all right, just not in the form he is hoping for. No morphine, oxycodone, or vicodin for this man.

Walking to the nurse’s station, I see the nurses laughing, which is odd. Nurses are either bitchy or overly friendly. I prefer the bitchy ones. The overly friendly girls want me to warm their bodies and beds. Avery, for example, is always trying to find ways to touch me. She is a skinny girl, but every time she needs to squeeze in behind me, she places her hands on my stomach. Once she placed it on my dick and acted like she was embarrassed. She wasn't. I saw the look on her face when I ignored it.

Are her comments about being flexible supposed to be a turn on? I won't be getting into her bed.

Katherine is one of the few nurses I respect. She does her job and makes sure everyone else does too. She informs me that the new nurse was late on her first day. Poor girl doesn't know it yet, but she has just earned herself at least a week of hell.

I look over to the new nurse who seems to be eye fucking me. Irritated, I glance at her. She is average height; her hair is a pretty brown auburn color. She has subtle blonde highlights but her hair is thrown into a messy ponytail. Nothing special. I start to look away when she looks up.

Stunning. Her beautiful aqua blue eyes demand my attention. She smiles nervously revealing perfectly white straight teeth. I can tell she is skinny, but she is wearing ugly butterfly scrubs. Did she think she was working the peds unit?

I dismiss my thoughts from where I know they’re headed and walk off. It’s not going to happen, even if my dick disagrees. I stifle a laugh because I think she just realized she earned herself a hell week.  

I survived my first day. Mean bitch Katherine made sure I spent my day finger-deep in assholes. I am proud of myself because I did it without complaint, but the first thing I am going to do is shower. I need to wash away today.

In the shower, I lather up my hair with my favorite shampoo. It’s strawberry scented and I’ve loved the smell since I was a child. Maybe I should start buying the salon crap, but I just can't spend extra money on something that isn't a necessity. Growing up, money was always tight. I do spend too much occasionally on beer, but only because after a day like today, it’s a necessity.

After I finally feel clean enough, I decide to head down to Hansons, the bar across from the hospital. I need to unwind and eat greasy bar food. I order a beef quesadilla and a Corona.

My thoughts shift to what happened today. Dr. Hotty Asshole comes to my mind. I don’t know why he looked so dismissively at me. I am not unattractive. I have great oral hygiene, so I know it’s not bad breath, or anything. Come to think of it, no one really talked to me today unless it was to order me around. I am already starting to miss my family and friends, the people who get me.

Every time I walk into Hansons, I feel overdressed, even in jeans and a button up. I meet my brothers here for a beer on a regular basis. It's just easier because I am usually on call.

Looking around, I see my brother Maddox sitting in our usual corner booth. I scoot in and ask where Evan is.

"At the bar trying to pick up some new pussy," he says, and I roll my eyes not surprised.

"We are going to have to find a new place to eat if you all keep fucking everyone I work with," I say, annoyed because I’m the one who has to hear the rumors about the Stone brothers.

"What's wrong with us fucking people you work with? Besides, aren't you fucking Sarah?" he shoots back.

"Christ, Maddox! Can you keep your voice down? I work with these people, and I think Sarah is done with me."

"Does that mean she's available?" He asks with a cocky grin.

"Sure. If you want my sloppy seconds and a needy B- in bed," I say seriously.

"What happened with the girl at the bar?" Maddox asks Evan as he slides into the booth.

"She shot me down. Said if I touched her again, she would kick me in the nuts so hard my kids would come out limping." We all start laughing.

"My kind of a girl. Looks like I'm up." Maddox challenges.

"What? No," I growl. I love my brothers but they think with their dicks. No control. We are all so different. It shows in our professions and even more in our choice of women.

Sitting at the bar having a Corona is just what I needed. A good-looking guy approached me the moment I walked in. It bothered me because he didn't even give me a chance to sit before invading my personal space. Overbearing is the word that comes to mind.

I am not into alpha males. Maybe in the books that I read, but in reality, I know I want to be treasured and find passion. Which is why at twenty-four, I'm still a virgin. Those who know think it's because of my dad and that I am waiting until marriage. Truth is, though I believe in God, I don't follow the preacher’s daughter mold.

Where I grew up, my high-school graduating class had fifty-two people. That meant my options were limited. You have to take into account fifty percent were girls. Out of the fifty percent of boys, twenty percent were ugly. The other thirty percent were sleeping with everyone else but me.

Small town gossip is always abuzz. My father would have heard about anything that his dear daughter tried. Even though I don't follow the mold, I would never embarrass him like that.

During the two years of my missionary trip, there wasn't much time, or opportunity. Most men were either married or just too old for me, and we went days without a shower. Eww.

During college, there were a couple of close calls. I was interested is this guy, Jeremy. He is now known as Jeremy the Jackass. He kept hitting on me in Biology class. He was funny, smart, and handsome. He took me to dinner a few times and a couple of movie dates. We made out a few times. The one, and it ended up being the only time, I invited him back to my dorm room; I gave him a blowjob. I was ready to give it up. To my disappointment, once he found out that I was a virgin, he hightailed it out of there. He wanted quick and easy. He got off; he got out.

It hurt that I put myself out there. Looking back, he did us both a favor. Now I know if doesn't feel right and you don't feel passion, don't waste your time. Don’t do it. I confided in my best friend, Kelly, who was not a virgin. She agreed. Her words to me were, "It hurts, you bleed, and then they leave."

After that whole fiasco, nursing school made me her bitch. It kept me busy and away from guys. So, here I am twenty-four and a virgin, waiting for passion.

"Hey beautiful, you shot down my brother. That earns you another Corona," my thoughts are interrupted.

"No thanks. I'm good," I say to yet another good-looking guy. Does Chicago only breed hot guys? He looks so familiar. Maybe he just looks like his brother.

"You can’t say no to one of Chicago's finest." I look up at him. Fine does not describe him. Panty-dropping hot would, though. I need him to leave. NOW.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm good. I had a shit day and just want to wallow," I smile.

"Shit day?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah. Literally, a shit day," I laugh.

"Well, let me buy you a drink then I will leave you to wallow," he smiles back.

"Thanks. My name is Molly." Shit! Why did I tell him my name? I hope he doesn't think I'm interested. As if sensing my discomfort, he hands me my beer.

"Relax. It's a free beer. By the way, I'm Maddox." He extends his hand and I shake it. He does what he says and leaves me to wallow. Why did I send him away? I want to make friends, but I'm sure making friends is the last thing on his mind.

"Wow, a girl who doesn't drop to her knees and blow the hottest guys this side of Chicago."

I turn to look at the bartender who is smiling a genuine smile. For whatever reason I sit a little taller. I lift my glass.

"You new here?" She asks.

"Yeah. I’ve been here two weeks. I just started working at the hospital. In fact, today was actually my first day," I explain.

"Cool. Name’s Kerrigan," she extends her hand.

"I'm Molly. Nice meeting you, any suggestions on gyms or sights to see?" I ask.

"Gyms, no. I don't go." I look at her with hate in my eyes. She is a perfect ten. I have to work out or I am Fatty McButterpants.

"Sights? Again, no. If you live here long enough, you'll see it all," she says.

"Well, you've got to give me something," I demand with a grin.

"You busy tomorrow?"

"I work, but I'm free after seven," I reply.

"Want to have dinner with me and some friends? Nothing big, just a pizza and beer,” she says.

"Will I sound desperate if I say yes and then do a little song and dance?" I ask jokingly.

"Yes, but now you have to sing and dance on the bar," she says in all seriousness.

"I was just kidding." I blush.

She walks to the music control. "Country or pop?" Kerrigan asks.

I laugh and think, well you wanted to unwind. I scan the bar and only see a handful of people. Most are in their own world.

"You pick." I know I sound giddy. She winks and gets onto the bar extending her hand. Then I hear the music start.