I only had a few seconds to compose myself before the doctor would make his way to where I was standing. It made sense that he would be in a place like this. It was the type of elegant and obnoxiously rich club that several of his patients spent their time at. Why was I so self-conscious of him though? His eyes never left mine as he maneuvered through the hordes of woman vying for his attention. I swallowed hard as he stopped in front of me. What was it about him that drove my body so wild ?

“Well, what a treat,” he said with a sly grin. “Twice in one day? I must be having a lucky streak of some sort .”

“I don’t know about all that,” I said quickly. “Let’s just call it a coincidence .”

The tequila was starting to go to work. I felt far more relaxed than I knew I should. I took in the doctor again. He had lost the white coat, his black shirt unbuttoned at the top and teasing a tuft of blond curls on his chest. I wondered what it would feel like to drag my nails down his chest and feel his nipples under my fingertips. The thought made my abdomen flip with pleasure, my womb begging to be filled with his seed. It was an overpowering sensation of desire .

“Are you always so pessimistic?” he asked over the noise .

I shrugged. “Sorry, but I don’t really have a lot going on in my life right now. This isn’t really a time of celebration .”

“Then why are you here ?”

His harsh tone made me stiffen as I glared at him. “My sister wanted me to come if you must know. She is doing great in school and aced a final. Just because I don’t want to celebrate doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have that chance .”

“Oh,” he said quickly. “Sorry this just doesn’t seem like your kind of place .”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I shot back. “Is it too upscale for me ?”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he stammered, trying to save himself .

“Right,” I snorted, suddenly wanting to be as far away from him as possible. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go dance with my sister now .”

“Wait,” he said as he quickly grabbed ahold of my arm .

I didn’t feel threatened by him, though I really wanted too. “What? Got another insult to hurtle my way ?”

“That isn’t fair,” he shot out. “I was trying to give you an honest compliment. You aren’t like the woman in here. There is more to you than just nightclubs and dinner parties .”

My heart started to race as our eyes locked onto each other again. I could have stayed there for hours just gazing at him. He really was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. It wasn’t just the depth of his blue eyes that drew me to him. His muscular frame could be seen now without the doctor’s coat and the most intoxicating scent surrounded him. My core was getting wet just looking at him .

I was never one for one-night stands, but Earl was hard to resist. If I hadn’t seen Selina walking over from the corner of my eye, I never would have stopped gazing at him. To my shock, when she saw Earl she jogged over to him and embraced him warmly, the same way that she did to me earlier that afternoon. My mouth fell open. How in the hell did Selina know a plastic surgeon? She would never alter herself that way. It only left one other possibility. The thought of them together made me far more jealous then I liked .

“Oh my gosh! I can’t believe two of my favorite people are finally meeting! Do you guys know how awesome this is?” she blurted out .

“I’m going to go,” I said quickly turning to make an exit .

“What?” she yelled, grabbing my arm. “No way! You missed the wedding so you never got to meet Earl. Do you know how awesome this guy is ?”

“I’ve heard he’s pretty great, mostly from him talking about himself,” I said sarcastically .

Selina laughed, “You are such a riot! No silly, Earl is Gary’s son!” She turned her attention back to the doctor. “I had no idea you were going to be here tonight! We could have met for dinner beforehand !”

“It was a spontaneous decision, but now I’m glad I did it. Are you going to introduce me to your friend or should we just guess what’s going on ?”

Selina smacked her own forehead. “Of course, I’m such a ditz sometimes !”

“Earl,” she said, “This is my older sister, Tabitha Morgan .”

Earl’s eyes grew wide and he took a small, but noticeable step away from me. For some reason being Selina’s sister wasn’t a good thing. I could tell by the look on his face. Of course, that would make sense considering the day that I had already had. Things were just going to keep getting worse for me. I lifted up my hand and flagged down the bartender, indicating I would need another shot of liquid courage to survive the night .

“And Tabby, this is our new step-brother, Earl! Isn’t it wonderful? We have a brother !”

My face instantly paled, my stomach churning from the alcohol. “Are you kidding me? This is the son of that guy Mom married? Holy crap .”

“Well,” Selina said, the fake smile waning. “That wasn’t quite the reaction I was hoping for, but I guess it will work.” She paused. “Is everything okay, Tabby ?”

“Yep,” I said. The alcohol was taking control of my brain. “Me and Dr. Perfect here have already met .”

Selina gasped, “You have ?”

“This afternoon, when he told me I couldn’t afford new tits!” I blurted out. It was hilarious now that I thought about it. “Isn’t that something? My step brother made it to second base with me !”

I saw Earl wince and my sister’s jaw clenched. For some reason, they didn’t see the humor in it that I did. Who cared though ?

“You two are a couple of sticks in the mud,” I said. “I thought this was a club! Let’s get out there and go dancing! Just cause I can’t spend some time with Earl, doesn’t mean I’m closed for business .”

Earl and Selina turned away from me, but I could still hear what they were saying .

“Good job on your final, why don’t you go celebrate. I’ll make sure she gets home okay,” he said to her .

“Are you sure?” she asked, looking back at me. “I don’t know that she would be comfortable with you taking care of her. She’s a pretty independent person .”

I laughed, “I can take care of myself, Selina. Don’t worry, Earl here has already seen my tits, what more can I do to screw things up ?”

“Don’t worry,” he whispered to her. “She will be fine .”

Selina nodded before turning back to me. “Alright, I’m gonna go dance a little bit more. Just let me know if you need anything okay ?”

“Sure thing, kiddo! I know that you are always there to take care of me, right? Even if it’s with Mom’s silver credit card. You know, I wonder—” I said .

“Alright Selina,” Earl interjected. “Go enjoy yourself, you’ve earned it. I think we are going to go get a cup of coffee or maybe I’ll just take her right home .”

“Thanks, Earl,” Selina said softly .

“Yeah,” I said as she walked away. “Thanks, Earl. You sure are a fantastic guy. So, tell me something,” I said to him. “Since we are related, does that mean I can get my new boobs half off ?”

He rolled his eyes as he took my hand and started to lead me out of the club. “I don’t think that’s something we should talk about tonight. Maybe tomorrow you can stop by the office and we can talk about it then .”

“Boy,” I huffed. “I never expected you to be this much of a stick in the mud .”

He laughed as we stepped outside. The warm night air hit me like a brick wall. I wasn’t ready to face reality. In my current state though, there wasn’t much I could make sense of. I didn’t even know how to get back to my own apartment which was a good thing. It was probably a mess. I never wanted to go back to that hellhole again. Too bad I wasn’t outgoing like Selina, then I could meet someone and maybe my life would get a little better. The depression was starting to take over again and I quickly brushed it off .

“I don’t want to go home yet,” I said with a pout as Earl helped me into the car .

“Well, I think that you should get some sleep. I’m not going anywhere though. I would feel terrible if I left you like this .”

“Yeah,” I said sarcastically. “You are such a good brother .”

He glared down at me. “I am not your brother and you know it. Our parents are married, yes, but that is where the connection ends. What my father does with his life is up to him, not me .”

“Ahh,” I said. “So, you know that my mother is no good too .”

“What are you talking about?” he asked me .

I shook my head and my stomach churned. Moving at all no longer seemed like a good idea. When Earl closed the car door I didn’t fight him. What was the point? I was so drunk that I couldn’t see straight. As he climbed into the car next to me I realized he didn’t know where I lived .

“Where are we going?” I asked, barely able to keep my eyes open .

“I’m taking you home. Then you are going to get some water and Tylenol before I leave,” he said pointedly .

“You could always stay, you know, to make sure that I am safe. Maybe I have alcohol poisoning,” I joked .

“I think you are just a little bit drunk, Tabitha,” he said .

I wiggled my way closer to the driver’s side and moved my hand across the center divider until it rested on his leg. Carefully, I slid my hand up a little further until he reached down and stopped me. The rejection hurt, but I liked a challenge like him .

“Tabitha,” he said in a rough voice. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea .”

“Because I’m drunk?” I asked, squeezing his thigh gently and watching his eyes roll back in his head briefly. “I don’t think I’m so drunk that I can’t show you a good time. You know there is an attraction between us. Why not see where it goes ?”

“It’s not that,” he said, pushing my hand away .

I groaned in anger, but took my hand away from him and ran it up my own leg. The short skirt I was wearing already rode up dangerously close to my crotch. Through hooded eyes I watched Earl as his eyes traveled away from the road to where my hands were moving now between my thighs. He wanted me, I could smell the desire in the air between us. It was like a fog that wouldn’t break until we explored each other’s bodies. I arched my back and bit my lip for him .

Suddenly, he swerved in the road and the spell was broken. The jolting sensation sent my head and stomach into a tailspin. I couldn’t think about being sexy anymore. It was taking all of my self-control just to keep from vomiting in his expensive sports car. I closed my eyes and cradled my head in my hands, fighting to stay awake and not vomit .

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice sounding far away .

I nodded, but before I could reply, the alcohol packed its final punch and the world around me started to go dark. There wasn’t time to answer. In a brief second of clarity my mind played back everything that had just happened. I winced, I was going to regret my decisions in the morning .