Doctor Steamy

by Kristen Kelly

  Mattie’s mother turned to me. “Ah her discharge papers. I’m glad to see you, Doctor Russo. Mattie can go home, yes?”

  “Technically, I wasn’t the doctor who admitted Mattie. I may have to get Doctor Carver’s signature as well.”

  I’d forgotten it was Doctor Carver who had ordered Mattie’s test results because I’d not been on the schedule when I brought her in.

  “Oh.”

  “It’s okay. I’ll see if I can find him.”

  “Mattie says you will come to Sunday dinner,” said Mrs. Goldwater. “I can’t tell you how happy that makes all of us.”

  “Oh yes,” spoke a woman gazing out the window. I hadn’t noticed her before, what with the room so packed with people, but I did now because she resembled Mattie. She had the same shade of blonde hair but it was thicker. She was incredibly tall as well.

  A sister perhaps?

  Bingo!

  “Mama makes the best roast chicken.”

  “Brisket,” Mrs. Goldwater corrected.

  “I hate brisket,” said the blonde frowning. “Doctor Russo, don’t you just hate brisket? So stringy.”

  “My brisket is not stringy,” spat Mrs. Goldwater.

  “It is,” said the blonde with a pout.

  “Brisket is fine,” I said, hoping not to get in the middle of a mother-daughter argument. “I do have to check my schedule first, but I’m looking forward to dinner. Thank you for inviting me.”

  There was a warmth inside the room, the likes of nothing I’d ever felt before. And strength. Incredible strength.

  Mrs. Goldwater stood up. “We should talk about the dowry, Doctor Russo.”

  “Excuse me. I don’t...”

  The Butcher took off his glasses, started shining them with his shirt. “Fifteen,” he announced. “No more. No less. It’s the same we offered Isabel last year.” He motioned toward the sister. “This one. Before her beau changed his mind.”

  “I don’t understand,” I said confused.

  “Fifteen isn’t much,” said Mattie’s mother. “I was hoping for twenty?”

  Mattie, who had just come out of the bathroom, shouted, “I heard you out here deciding my future with not so much as a word from me. And Mama you promised!” Rage flared in her beautiful face.

  Note to self. Never get on this woman’s bad side.

  Mrs. Goldwater looked stricken. “It was your uncle who started this. Not me.”

  Mattie crossed her arms. It looked as if she were trying to stamp her foot, then thinking better of it growled out, “You Mama. You mentioned the dowry first. I told you it’s too early to even discuss such a thing.”

  “Am I missing something?” Heat and embarrassment crawled up one side of my neck and down the other.

  “So sorry, Steven. They’re in a bidding war for my dowry,” Mattie explained.

  “Oh, you’re getting married. I see. Then why am I...Wait. Do people actually still do that nowadays?”

  “I don’t know and yes they do.”

  “I still don’t understand. I mean I do but I don’t.”

  Mattie inhaled a breath. “Can we just...” She motioned me toward the door.

  “Sure.” I held up a finger to Mrs. Goldwater. “Be right back.”

  “Ok what’s going on?” I asked when we were safely in the nurse’s station, which thankfully was deserted.

  “Steven, I am so sorry. I swear I had nothing to do with any of that. See, I told you they were crazy.”

  “Why did you invite me to dinner if you were already engaged?”

  “They think I’m going to marry you, Steven.”

  Well that just about knocked me off my feet. “Say what? Mattie, I really like you. In fact, I’m excited about getting to know you better but... Mattie, we just met.”

  “I know, I know. See how ludicrous this is.”

  “So let me get this straight. They want to offer me stocks or something so I will marry you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Fifteen of something,” I said totally amused. “Of what exactly?”

  “Stocks in Goldwater Packaging and a part in the dealership I’m assuming. At least that was what my sister got. I don’t know for sure though. It may be just one stock portfolio. Or it may be several. Then again, it could be a totally different stock I’m not aware of, although I did look at the books last year and I don’t remember any new.... Why are you laughing? It’s a very respectable deal, Steven.”

  “Oh I don’t doubt that, I can assure you but...”

  “But what?”

  “I think it’s cute.”

  “It is not cute.”

  “Sorry,” I said, wiping the tears from my eyes while loving the put-out expression on her adorable face.

  “You don’t think I’m worth it?”

  “What? Fifteen hundred stocks in whatever? Oh, I’m sure you’re worth it, darling.”

  “Not fifteen hundred. Fifteen thousand.”

  My mouth just about hit the floor. “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. Now, look who’s not laughing.”

  I dropped down in a chair, stunned. These people didn’t even know me and why were they so eager to get Mattie married off? Was there something wrong with her? I dismissed the notion almost as fast as it popped into my head. The woman was gorgeous and smart. She had values I admired. Not only admired but shared. In the short time we’d been together, I could not think of a single reason I wouldn’t want to spend every spare moment I had with this woman.

  Two nurses stuck their heads out of the narcotics room and grinned. They had their heads together, whispering.

  “Don’t worry, girls,” Mattie said. “He’s still on the market. Far as I can see anyway but hey, what do I know?”

  “Oh thanks,” I said.

  To my chagrin, Mattie plopped her sweet ass down in my lap. “So what should we tell them, Doctor Steamy?”

  I gave her a stern look.

  “Sorry. I couldn’t resist,” she said. She burst into giggles.

  “You’ve been talking to Eileen I see.”

  “Yup.”

  “I got an idea,” I said. “Wanna get out of here without your family following us?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  Chapter 8

  Mattie

  MY FAMILY COULD BE overbearing, bossy, and opinionated. For the first time, I was glad about that because with all their arguing, they didn’t hear us trotting down the hall without saying goodbye.

  Adrenaline pumping, I forgot all about my foot. It felt like we were two secret spies sneaking past the enemy although with all the commotion coming from my room—dowry—seriously? We hadn’t even gone on a date yet—they had a lot to work through.

  I knew it was a cowardly move, but when Steven offered to interrupt Doctor Carver on his break so he could sign my discharge papers, I heartily agreed. He also offered to drive me home. Did that make me a bad daughter? Perhaps but being this bad was so much damn fun. Or I hoped it would be. I was tired of being perfect, which was why I’d moved out in the first place. Frequenting that bar was about as rebellious as I’d ever had the guts to be. There was no going back now.

  And Steven was carrying me because some old man had confiscated my wheelchair for himself. We needed to find another one. Unfortunately, they weren’t close by. I was sure this was against protocol. I mean, on what planet had I ever seen a doctor carrying a patient? Try never. I didn’t want to draw more attention than we already had so I kept my mouth shut, mostly. I couldn’t stop giggling because I felt like we were fugitives from justice. Passing Interns, nurses, and staff, ladies pushing cafeteria carts and more than a few wide-eyed visitors, I simply smiled as Steven carried me through the hospital corridors. “I feel like Bonnie and Clyde,” I said into Steven’s chest.

  He almost dropped me when we’d had to make a quick turn because of a cart rumbling down the hall. Boosting me up further in his arms, we reached a small room with a television and naugahyde couch and vinyl chair
s. There was a sign on the wall that read, Family Room.

  Steven frowned. “Shit. I was sure there’d be an extra wheelchair in here. Oh. I know. This way...”

  Finally, we were able to nab a pair of crutches from a supply room. “That height okay? Or do you want me to adjust them?”

  “No, this is fine.”

  “Okay, good.”

  A few minutes later, we got on the elevator. I leaned against the rail, lost in thought. How the hell had I come this far? With a sprained ankle! Certainly I was never supposed to be admitted with something as simple as a sprain. I smiled to myself, realizing my family had decided right then and there Steven was a keeper. When Steven Russo took care of someone he took care of them. Would it be so bad to be married to a hot doctor who just so happened to be a little over the top when it came to care? Probably not. “Oh, you asked me something?”

  “Your family...are they always like that?”

  “You mean, compete for control of my life?” I said.

  “No.”

  I swallowed as his eyes burned into mine with such intensity that at first I was afraid I’d said something wrong.

  “Love you that much,” he finished as the doors slid open.

  “Oh.” Suddenly I felt terrible for sneaking away. “Yeah. I guess they do.”

  When we got outside the building, Steven had me sit down on a bench covered by an enclosure. The bus stop. “You sit right there,” he said. “I’ll bring my truck around.”

  “Okay.”

  He walked away, hesitated for a moment then walked back toward me.

  “Forget something?” I asked.

  “How’s the foot?”

  “Fine,” I said even though it throbbed like the dickens.

  He rubbed the stubble on his chin. “I’m so sorry, Mattie. I just... I wasn’t thinking. I should have snatched that ice bag instead of throwing it in the trash. It was stupid of me.”

  “It’s fine. Really. It doesn’t even hurt. Much.”

  The look on his face was priceless. He really does care. I’ve never had a total stranger care about me this much. Hell, I’d never had a man care about me this much. I could so get used to this kind of treatment.

  Whoa there. You always fall too hard and too fast. He’s a doctor. Just doing his job. That’s all.

  Steven shrugged out of his sweatshirt, folded it neatly and placed it beneath my foot which was stretched out on the bench.

  “I don’t like that there’s still a fair amount of edema,” he said. “We need to reduce that swelling. God, I miss my nurses. I’ll get the truck. Be right back.”

  When we arrived at my Condo, Steven insisted on carrying me up three flights of stairs, even though I’d insisted I could make it on my own. My body felt liquid in his arms, the heat of his skin bouncing off me in waves. He was so incredibly strong. I felt like a child in comparison.

  When he paused to breathe on the one landing between the two floors, we gazed into each other’s eyes, neither of us speaking.

  Eerily quiet.

  The only sound the beating of my heart.

  I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to look into those eyes each and every morning. He licked his lips and my own lips parted. Just when I was certain he was going to kiss me, he hoisted me up against his chest once again and said, “One more flight to go and then we’re golden.”

  It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy the attention because I did, but the feelings he was stirring in me with those dreamy blue eyes and the way his arms felt around me had me liking it way too much. My lady parts had been buzzing the moment we’d locked eyes across that room.

  It was more than that. I was thinking along the lines of white picket fences and happily ever after. Perhaps my family wasn’t actually that crazy after all. We all were when it came to Doctor Steven Russo.

  “There,” he said, placing me on my feet so I could get the key out of my pocket to open the front door. “You got it?”

  “Yeah.” I turned the key in the lock.

  He was completely out of breath but I loved watching the movement from that massive chest of his. I wondered if anything else made him breathe that way. Before he could pick me up again, I hopped inside the door, placed the crutches against the wall and dropped into a comfy chair. “Thank you for all you’ve done, Doctor Russo,” I said shakily.

  His gaze flitted around the room. He nodded taking in the silk flower arrangements, sea shells and framed photos on my glass cabinet. “So this is where you live, huh?”

  “Yep.”

  I didn’t really want him to leave, but I didn’t know how to make him stay either. “I... I guess I’ll see you on Sunday? I mean, unless you’d like a tour that is.”

  He ran a finger along the glass cabinet, along the pale grey overstuffed couch and then stood looking out the window to my backyard.

  “Not much to see out there I’m afraid. I keep meaning to plant some bushes, maybe a few flower beds but who has the time?”

  “I have a gardener,” he muttered. “But mine is still pretty plain.”

  “Oh.” It was the first personal bit of information he’d offered me all day. Did he like it plain? Did he have plans as well but had no time?

  “And behind me is the bedroom,” I added, making him turn. “I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.” I let out a dramatic yawn. After everything I’d been through, my huge featherbed seemed the best place in the world to be right about now.

  I reached for Steven. “Could you...?” He took my hand as I struggled to my feet. I pointed to the crutches and he slid them beneath my arms.

  “You probably should be putting that foot up, Mattie.”

  “Oh I know and I will. Thanks. I don’t think I’ve fully recovered from last night.” I yawned again for effect. “I expect you’re tired too?” I asked, tilting my head toward the empty bedroom. “Wanna play doctor?” I laughed giving him no choice but to follow me into the kitchen.

  Subtle, Mattie. Very subtle.

  The twinkle in his eyes was fleeting but I’ll be damned if I didn’t notice the lusty glance before quickly masking his enthusiasm. I’d come to the conclusion that Doctor Steven Russo was a tad shy. According to the nurses, a lot shy, which is why Eileen was so surprised when she caught us making our escape.

  He took a step back against the wall. “I should apologize.”

  “Why?”

  “Probably wasn’t the best decision on my part.”

  “You mean taking me home because I’m a patient?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be lucky if the ethics committee doesn’t give me a tongue lashing. Not that I’m that worried. I’m the best heart guy they’ve got. They paid a pretty penny to steal me away from Boston General last year.”

  “That so?” I was truly impressed. Then again, everything impressed me about this guy. His shoulders. His magnificent biceps. The adorable cowlick over his left eye. The scent of male sweat when he’d held me close. Close enough to see the tiny chest hairs poking up from his scrub shirt. And holy Toledo! When he’d given me that piggy back ride—even though it had lasted only five minutes before one of his colleagues nearly caught us—all I could think about was how erotic it felt to have him between my legs. I came out of my reverie. “Where are my manners?”

  Oh God. Now I’m my mother.

  “Would you like a tour of the place?” I repeated.

  “That would be nice.”

  “Okay.” I hopped one-legged in the direction of my bedroom because if any room deserved to be showed off, it was that one. “Now don’t take this the wrong way,” I said. “I’m not trying to seduce you or anything. I recently finished back here and I’m anxious to get your reaction, is all.”

  “And Kyle?” he asked.

  “What?” I turned.

  “Have you shown your new bedroom to Kyle?”

  “Huh? Why would I...? No. I don’t think so.”

  Was he jealous? Oh, how cute!

  “You don’t think so?” he sa
id staring me down.

  “You do know Kyle and I are just friends, don’t you? We’ve known each other since childhood.”

  “Now how would I know that?” he said, sounding a bit put off.

  “You could have asked.”

  He lifted a shoulder.“Really not my business.”

  Instead of explaining my weird relationship with Kyle, I changed the subject. “What kind of doctor are you anyway?”

  “Cardiac surgeon.”

  “Ah, I see. Explains why you’re so sweet. You deal in broken hearts.”

  He didn’t make eye contact, tried to hide the embarrassment on his face but I caught the shade of red crawling up his collar as he followed close behind.

  “You have a skeleton,” he said, sounding surprised. “In your bedroom.”

  “That’s Harry,” I said.

  “You named him too.”

  “I did,” I said proudly.

  When he spotted my medical degree on the wall, his eyes widened. “I thought you said you were a nurse.”

  “A doctor actually. Took my boards. Aced medical school. The whole shebang. I could practice medicine. I just chose not to.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I have my reasons.”

  “Oh.”

  “Okay, if you really want to know. A patient tried to sue me once. Well, not really, but he threatened to because I wouldn’t prescribe medication. I was pretty sure he was an addict and the thing was, instead of helping him, all I could do was defend myself.”

  “You didn’t fight it?”

  “Nope,” I said, letting myself fall back onto the mattress. “Not that I couldn’t have beat him in a hot minute, but who needs that crap, right? It would have been in all the papers. Tarnished my reputation as a doctor. Didn’t matter that it was false.”

  “But you knew you were right.”

  “I did but...I think it was more that I wasn’t ready at the time to practice medicine. I was only twenty-seven when I finished my residency. It was just too much back then. I am so tired.”

  Steven shifted from foot to foot. He looked down at his feet biting his lip. “Oh. Oh, I should go,” he said. “Let you get some rest.”

  “No! I mean...Aren’t you tired too? You carried me up all those stairs and we both didn’t get to sleep until early this morning.”