Forbidden Prescription: A Stepbrother Romance by Stephanie Brother Page A

asked eagerly.
    “I was surprised, that’s for sure. What are you playing at?”
    He blinked. “I’m sorry. I thought you said you needed a new laptop.”
    “I do, but I don’t need you to get it for me. We aren’t together. Don’t you have a girlfriend you should be spending your money on instead?”
    He was stunned by her reaction. It was not what he expected.
     “I don’t have a girlfriend. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be fooling around with you, would I?”
    “How would I know that?”
    “If you don’t want the computer, I’ll return it. It’s not a big deal,” he said calmly. “If there’s something else bothering you, we can talk about it.”
    “Nothing,” she said.
    He raised his eyebrows at her.
    “Are you seeing someone? Someone else, I mean.”
    He laughed. It annoyed her that he took her accusation so lightly.
    “What makes you think that?”
    “I heard a rumor you had a girlfriend. I’m not one to be a home wrecker.”
    He leaned in closer. “You’re new here, so you haven’t learned this yet, but people come up with ridiculous rumors all the time. You can’t believe half of what you hear.”
    She felt a little relieved.
    “Better?” he asked.
    She nodded. “But that doesn’t mean that I want your expensive gifts.”
    “Noted.”
    “Anyway, don’t you have some student loans to pay off?”
    “Nope,” he said, looking for a change of subject. “You know,” he said, looking at his watch, “I’ve got a few more minutes until rounds start. Do you want to find a nice deserted closet?”
    She turned and went to the lab without saying another word to him. She’d make him suffer for just a little while longer.
    The lab was a safe place for Isabella to hide from James. He rarely went in there, and when he did, it was for a quick word with Dr. Jensen. They only needed her extra help for a few more days, and then she’d be back on the floor with the other interns.
    Away from James, she could actually focus on her work. She was enjoying her afternoon, interviewing patients and analyzing data sets, when she got a page to immediately report to OR 2. She ran to the operating room, curious as to what she would find.
    Much to her dismay, when she arrived, it was just James, standing by a body covered with a sheet.
    “That was quick,” he said, looking at his watch. “Wish the other interns moved as quickly as you.”
    She eyed the dead body. “Don’t tell me you called me here to look at a cadaver with you. I’ve seen plenty of them.”
    “Oh, this guy?” he asked as if he didn’t see it before she mentioned it. “Don’t worry about him. He won’t start any rumors about us. Besides, it was the only empty room I could find.”
    “Find for what?” she asked with a good idea of what he was after.
    “I haven’t touched you in four days,” he cooed. “I want you, Isabella.”
    Her heart rate increased. She hated how her body betrayed her when she wanted to carry on with her work.
    “Not in here,” she said. “There’s one too many dead bodies around for my comfort.”
    “Fine,” he countered. “Let’s meet up outside of work.”
    “Like in a cheap hotel?”
    “No. Dinner or a movie, then back to my place.”
    “Are you asking me on a date?”
    “What would you say if I were?”
    She gave a short laugh. “I’d say that wasn’t what we agreed to. If you’ll excuse me, I have some work I need to do.”
    She left the room as he massaged his temple with one hand. She may have won that round, but James was not one to give up when he wanted something.

Chapter Eight
    I t took a few hours , but eventually, Isabella’s annoyance with James dissipated. She was a little surprised that he wanted to take their relationship outside the hospital. Also, did he actually mean to ask her out on a date?
    She tried to imaging going on an actual date with James. Would she let him pay, or would they split the bill? Would they go somewhere casual, like a pizza joint, or an expensive