Brother Doctor

“Jake,” Anna said, popping her head around the door. “Your sister’s in the waiting room.”

Jake looked up in surprise from where he was just finishing off writing notes on a patient’s file. It was five thirty, and he was just about to knock off for the day.

“Beth?” he thought out aloud, before telling his young nurse “Sure, send her through.”

“Will you be alright to lock up?” At Jake’s nod, she gave him a mischievous smile. “I’ll see you in the morning, then.”

Jake returned her smile easily, realising Anna must be speaking for Beth’s benefit. He had every intention of seeing her in the morning. First thing.

He waited for his sister to appear, wondering why she was here. It wasn’t unusual that she met up with him at work, but only when they had arranged something beforehand. Had he forgotten something?

He heard Beth saying goodnight to Anna before she strode into Jake’s office and plopped her bottom on the edge of his desk.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” he queried, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his broad chest. His dark green eyes roved over the pretty picture she presented, with her long blonde hair caught back in a loose ponytail, wide green eyes that sparkled with humour, the smooth sun-kissed skin. She was beautiful and could have any guy she wanted. The fact that she hadn’t realised this only added to her appeal. She wore a white cotton off-the shoulder top that left a tantalising glimpse of tanned skin across her belly above the band of her short faded denim skirt, and told him she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her crossed legs, long and slender, seemed to stretch for eons.

Beth dimpled a smile. “Can’t a sister visit her brother without wanting something?”

“Not in my experience,” he replied dryly, and she laughed.

“Okay, you got me there. You promise not to tell mum or dad?”

He nodded, but he knew he didn’t have to, because one of the reasons they got on so well despite the ten year age difference was that she knew she could go to him for advice and he wouldn’t share her confidences with their parents.

She drew a deep breath, and Jake hid his surprise at realising she was nervous. Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to promise if it was something serious, not like staying out late at parties and drinking.

“I want to go on the pill,” she said quickly, and Jack’s eyebrows raised. “Don’t give me that look. I’m old enough. More than old enough. Most of the girls I know have slept with their boyfriends.”

“Just because they are, doesn’t mean you should be,” he replied stiffly, feeling strange at the thought of his baby sister having sex with some boy he had never met.

“I know, I know. But I think I’m ready, and if I do decide to do anything, which I’m not saying I will, I want to know I’m protected against pregnancy and stuff.”

Jake was partly amused to see a blush staining his sister’s cheeks as she gave that obviously rehearsed speech. But only partly as he realised how he still thought of her as a baby sister, and not the eighteen-year-old young woman she clearly was. But still, she should be at least twenty before she started making serious decisions about whether to sleep with her boys her own age. His thoughts came to an abrupt halt. When did this protective older brother act kick in with a vengeance? Or being a hypocrite for that matter.

“Okay,” he replied, thinking fast as he gazed at his sister’s sweet face consideringly. Perhaps he could find a way to make her put off thinking about sleeping with boys for a while…

“But before I give you a prescription I need to examine you.”

“Oh, but I thought-”

“I know what you thought, but I’m a doctor as well as your brother. If I didn’t examine you and you later had some adverse reaction to the drugs, I would be the one responsible for you getting pregnant.”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, Dr. Brother.”

“Good. Put this on while I get the examining room ready.”

Beth took the hospital like gown he offered, gazing at it with wide eyes as she realised he was fully serious about examining her.