Page 1 of Doctor Daddies

PROLOGUE

MILLIE

I liftthe red solo cup of beer to my lips, glancing around the room. The atmosphere in a place like this is a million times more intoxicating than whatever’s in my cup right now, and as I lock eyes with one of the men looking right at me, I feel a fizz at the bottom of my stomach.

Something tells me that this night is only just getting started.

Even though it’s just another casual college party to some, for me, it feels like the most exciting place in the world. My brother’s house, the one that he shares with his three roommates, is alight with conversation and laughter, a handful of people dancing in the front room as they pair off.

Matt, for his part, is chatting up some girl in the kitchen, his eyes entirely off the ball when it comes to me. I’ve only just turned nineteen and I know I shouldn’t be drinking, but it’s only a couple of beers, and besides, it’s far from my first time.

And I don’t want to stand out in this place as the one just-out-of-high-schooler when everyone at this party seems so…refined. They haven’t spent their lives in my tiny small town, where Igrew up with my brother. They haven’t whiled away the hours trying to figure out the best course of action for getting out of there, only to wind up with a stone-cold nothing.

I’m currently trying to get into college to train as a nurse, but I slacked off in high school and that’s left me a little behind everyone else who’s putting in their applications at the same time.

But here? Here, I’m not some dropout struggling to make it. No, I’m an adult, just like everyone else in this room, a grown woman who knows just what she wants. And right now, what I want is beer, buzz, and the way my brother’s roommates are looking at me.

Matt introduced me to all of them when I first got here, of course. There’s Ross, the oldest, with his short brown hair and blue eyes, that smattering of designer stubble that looks oh-so-refined on his strong jawline. James, with his overgrown dark hair and a few tattoos peeking out from under the confines of his white tee. And Cole, who looks every bit the American dreamboat—curly blond hair and blue eyes and broad shoulders that look like they would be a better fit on a beach somewhere in California than studying medicine in New York City.

Mustering all of my courage, I peel myself away from the wall and make my way over to them, sauntering with all the nonchalance I can muster.

James grins as I draw closer, his eyebrow cocking. “You bored already?”

“Why do you say that?” I laugh, tipping my head to the side in confusion.

“Spending time with the roommates. Safety net.”

“Or maybe I just want to get to know the guys my brother is living with,” I protest playfully.

“Why, need to make sure we’re a good influence on him?” Cole cuts in.

“Oh, trust me, I know he’s the bad influence if he’s anything.” I giggle, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

I don’t know what I’m doing right now, don’t know exactly where I plan to take this, but the way it feels to have them looking at me like that…yeah, that’s the kind of thing I can’t just brush off like it’s nothing. It’s not as though I’m entirely useless when it comes to guys, but I’ve never had to choose between three perfect options, and I almost want to be greedy and just have all three to myself, as crazy as that sounds.

“And what about you?” Ross asks, lifting his chin slightly, surveying me with interest.

“What about me?”

“Are you a bad influence?”

I part my lips in surprise, not entirely sure how to respond.

Of course, I want to deny it, but right now, my parents think I’m exploring the city in the hopes of finding a place of my own. Instead, I’m drinking at a college party, and I doubt they would be entirely impressed if they found out.

“Maybe,” I reply, feeling a little fizz in my chest at the thought. “Why? Are you easily influenced?”

They exchange a glance, and I can see some silent communication passing between the three of them. I’m pretty sure I can make sense of some of it, but I don’t know exactlywhere it leaves me. I flick my gaze between them, trying to drink in the nuances, but there’s so much I don’t know.

And so much I want to find out.

“Depends what you’re trying to influence us into,” James replies, lifting the beer bottle to his lips. His mouth skims over the top of it, and I’m drawn to the way his lips look against the glass.Fuck.I can already imagine what it might feel like to have that mouth on me instead, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, how I’m supposed to advance this to the next level.

“Hmm, well, you’re the college boys,” I remind them, furrowing my brow as though I genuinely don’t know. “What kind of thing do you get up to here?”

“When we’re trying to avoid studying?” Ross chuckles, shaking his head. “Uh…”

“Making bad decisions,” James says. “Preferably at parties like this one.”