Loving the Billionaire Army Doc

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Jasmine Banks’ heart ached with the knowledge of her recent discovery as she rolled her carry-on luggage behind her and exited the arrival gate at Dexington International Airport. The area teemed with people of all ages and all races moving in different directions. But she felt alone, trapped in her new reality.

She’d taken a week’s vacation after she finished her latest ObGyn rotation to attend the New York Bridal Fashion Week at her mother’s insistence. Jasmine’s parents, Edward and Leah Banks, owned IntimiRose, a high-end boutique lingerie company that produced some of the most highly sought-after lingerie designs on the east coast. IntimiRose had been in her mother’s family for many generations and was known for its innovative and stylish yet comfortable whimsical floral designs. Jasmine’s mom usually attended the fashion shows but had pleaded with Jasmine to go on her behalf this time around.

It had, for the most part, been a wonderful trip. Jasmine couldn’t remember when last she’d been in New York for a fashion show, and it had been fun to see the latest trends in bridal wear. She’d taken copious notes and snapped pictures which were sure to make her mother happy. Even the brunette wig and brown contacts she’d worn to fulfill a dare she had with her roommate, Dana Adams, hadn’t bothered her. Thank goodness that dare would be over in a week’s time, and then she’d be back to her comfy redhead and beautiful green eyes.

She’d even met Gabriella Landi, a high school friend she’d lost touch with over the years, and they had caught up, though they’d avoided talking about the elephant in the room that was her brother, Tony Landi. Jasmine and Tony had dated in high school before the relationship had imploded and he’d left town for college. But it had been good to see Gabriella again. They’d agreed to reconnect back in Dexington where she still lived. Jasmine had thought the week one of the best times in her life.

But what she had discovered last night had soured the trip and driven sleep from her eyes. In the past few months, Jasmine had watched her roommates and best friends, Alicia Montgomery and Dana Adams, fall in love and get their happily-ever-afters. For a moment, she’d hoped it meant she had a chance for one too—despite her desire to keep her heart locked up—because blessings came in triples, right? But that dream had been crushed by the lump she’d discovered in her right breast while taking a shower last night.

For some women, it would have been nothing more than a benign lump given her young age of twenty-eight. But it was a possible death knell for Jasmine. She had found out at her maternal grandmother’s death bed a few years ago that they had some East European Jewish heritage. Which wouldn’t have meant anything, except that Jasmine had already read about how the BRCA gene mutation, a precursor for hereditary breast and ovarian cancers, was common among this specific Jewish ancestry.

Given that her grandmother’s sister had died from breast cancer, Jasmine had convinced her family to undergo genetic testing. The results had shown that Jasmine and her mom had inherited the BRCA2 gene mutation, though her aunt—her mom’s only sister and sibling—hadn’t. But since her mom had been screened regularly since then and no cancer cells had been found so far, Jasmine had assumed the same might happen for her and had even entertained the hope for love after seeing Alicia and Dana blossom in it.

Since the testing, Jasmine had done everything humanly possible to minimize her risk, short of changing her genetic makeup. She’d had bi-yearly checkups, had been religious about what she ate or drank, had avoided any bad habits, and had always kept her body in top shape. And even though there had been no evidence that any of these helped to reduce her risk of cancer, she’d hoped her regimen and lifestyle might make a difference. But all that might have been in vain.

Of course, the next logical step was to inform her gynecologist and book an appointment at the breast clinic—she of all people should know what to do given her medical training. A classic ‘physician, heal thyself’ scenario, right? But that didn’t stop Jasmine from being afraid of what the results might reveal, the reality of what she might have to face, and the possibility that she might never achieve any of her dreams.

She’d been looking forward to finishing her obstetrics and gynecology residency which should happen in a little over a year’s time. She also had plans to begin a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology once the residency ended, if she was accepted for the spot. It had been a big dream of hers—helping women who might be afflicted with hereditary breast or ovarian cancer. Now, there was a good chance she might not even make it to the end of the year, depending on the results of the lump biopsy. And there was no guarantee the lump wouldn’t reoccur.

She adjusted the sunglasses over her face so no one would see her swollen eyes. She’d cried on and off last night and had done her best to hide the evidence this morning, but she wasn’t sure how good of a job her makeup was doing. So the sunglasses were staying on till she got home.

Jasmine sighed. This was now her new reality, one she couldn’t run away from. Thinking about it would not get rid of the lump. It sat there as a constant reminder of the horrible future that awaited her. She needed hope, anything, a glimpse of an alternate future. God, I need You.

Something bumped into her and Jasmine found herself landing on her butt on the floor. Pain shot through her ankle as her feet hit something solid. Ouch!

“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” Jasmine looked up to see startling brown eyes with gold flecks in them staring at her with concern. The man that extended a hand to her cut a handsome figure with his chiseled features and well-toned build encased in a black T-shirt, blue jeans, and a grey military style jacket. He sported a modified crew cut with longer hair at the top, which paired with the aviator glasses he wore, gave him a dashing look that Jasmine found alluring.

She accepted his hand and he pulled her to her feet. Jasmine felt a jolt in her heart as sparks of electricity shot through her arm as their hands touched. What just happened? It had been a long time since any man had this kind of effect on her. And he looked familiar, like someone she’d known a long time ago, though she couldn’t recollect who. But that wasn’t possible—she would have remembered someone this attractive.

“Thank you,” she said as she tested her ankle to make sure it was alright. It seemed to be okay. “I didn’t see you there for a moment. Sorry about that.”

He chuckled. “No worries. I wasn’t looking either.” A dimple appeared on his left cheek as he smiled at her. His citrusy sandalwood scent wove such a number around her that she felt the urge to stay and breathe it in.

Jasmine’s heart rate picked up its pace. She never liked to use the word, but this guy fit the term “hot” to a tee. Her eyes darted to his fingers. No ring or ring marks, so possibly single. Now, here was a great catch for any girl, if his character was anything to match.

Hold on. Was he the answer to her quick prayer? Jasmine shook her head. No way. That was impossible. This was just her mind running ahead of itself. And she knew nothing about him. He could be a r****t for all she knew, though something told her that was not the case.

Besides, she had no business being interested in a guy with the horrible prognosis that faced her. Time to forget him, like she’d done for all the other guys that had approached her over the years. Jasmine had been too afraid of the possibility of cancer to allow any guy get close to her. And she’d been right to do so, considering what she’d just found out.

Her phone rang. Just in the nick of time. “Excuse me,” she said as she pulled her phone from her jacket pocket. She pressed the answer button. “Hello, Mom.”

“Where are you?” her mom asked from the other end of the line.

“We just deplaned. Could you hold on for one second?” Jasmine turned back to the guy who by now had righted her luggage, which had collapsed in a heap with his. “Thank you for your help,” she said to him. She grabbed her luggage. “Have a good day.”

“Same to you,” he responded. “It was my pleasure.”

She gave him a small wave and headed towards the security exit. “I’m back, Mom.”

“What was that all about?”

“Nothing. I just collided into someone on my way out. But everything is fine.”

“Okay, thank goodness. I’m outside by the pickup area.”

Jasmine halted her steps. Her mother had never come to pick her up from the airport. “You didn’t have to come. You should have sent Jerry.” Jerry was her parents’ chauffeur.

“I had something I wanted to discuss with you on the way home.”

Jasmine started walking again. Interesting. What was it that her mom wanted to talk about that couldn’t wait till she got home? Jasmine took the escalator that led to the baggage claim area. This wasn’t good. Her mom was a total ninja at knowing when something was wrong. And that was the last thing Jasmine needed.

She couldn’t let her find out about the lump. It would devastate her family and poison any last good memories she could make with them if the cancer had already advanced to a late stage. And Jasmine deserved those memories. So she had to be careful. “Okay, I’ll be right there in a few minutes.” She ended the call.

But first, a quick detour to the ladies was in order. Jasmine had to make sure her makeup was still in place, hiding the glaring proof of last night’s meltdown.

Then it was time to see if her concealer application skills were as good as she believed.