Love's Tangled Web (Alex and Ellie) novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1 His Demand

"Dr. Thompson, you've got company," a nurse hollered over the hum of the hospital's morning rush. The place was a zoo, especially the plastic surgery department during the summer madness.

Ellie, known as Dr. Thompson around here, pushed through the break room door, her eyes landing on Alex Warren, her foster brother, who was parked by the window, phone in hand.

Now, Alex was the kind of guy who could make even the most mundane of mornings a little brighter.

He stood out, tall and confident, with a style that was all his own. His dirty blonde hair was always perfectly messy, like he'd just stepped off a magazine cover. And that black diamond earring gave him a touch of bad boy charm that was hard to resist.

As if he could feel her staring, Alex glanced up, his gaze colliding with Ellie's. It had been years since their paths had crossed, and his eyes seemed to have a new depth to them, a kind of intensity that made her look away first.

With a playful smile, Alex closed the distance, leaning in to get a better look at her. "Look who decided to grace us with her presence. The wanderer returns, and not a word to her family."

Ellie's heart did a little dance at the familiar scent of him—a mix of sandalwood and a hint of tobacco.

She'd been the Warren family's foster kid, always toeing the line until she chose a college out of town, breaking the mold. The day she left, he'd totally got angry, tugging at her ear in that brotherly way of his.

Shaken by the memories, Ellie turned to get Alex some coffee.

The sound of Alex's footsteps echoed in the room as he caught up to Ellie. "Hey, Ellie," he said, a playful tone in his voice, "you and Haley still tight?"

Ellie turned, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Always," she shot back, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"Think you could put in a good word for me?" Alex asked, his gaze hopeful.

But as the words left his mouth, Ellie felt like she'd been hit by a truck. Her mind went blank, and she barely registered the hot coffee spilling over her hand, the pain a distant echo.

"Oh, Ellie, you okay?" Alex was by her side in an instant, his hands guiding hers under the cold tap. He grabbed a tube of aloe vera from the first aid kit, his fingers deftly applying the soothing gel.

Then he looked into her eyes and continued, "If you can help me with Haley, I'll give you one thing you want. Anything you name it."

Their eyes locked, and Ellie bit her lip, a storm of emotions brewing behind her calm facade.