Doctor Steamy

by Kristen Kelly

  Mattie nodded. “Isn’t he sweet?”

  “He sure is,” said the woman. “My husband used to give me flowers just like these on every anniversary.” She crossed herself and tears filled her eyes.

  “You miss him, don’t you Suma?”

  The woman sniffed. “Every day.”

  “It will get better.”

  “I hope so.”

  Mattie took a deep breath looking sad as Suma walked away with her tray. When the woman was out of sight, she whispered, “Suma lost her husband to cancer six months ago. She just recently learned to speak English and she still can’t read it.”

  “Wow,” I said.

  “Yeah.”

  I made a mental note to see if there was anything I could do for Suma and her daughter, but I was coming up empty at the moment. I’d let Mattie guide me in that direction later.

  “Why don’t you give her the flowers?” I finally said.

  “Oh no.”

  “Why not?”

  “That would be insulting to you.”

  “No, it wouldn’t. Go on. Give them to her.”

  She bit her lip and looked over to where Suma sat with her little girl. “I have a better idea.” Taking the vase, she disappeared into the kitchen. A few minutes later she called out, “Steven, do you have any scissors or a sharp knife?”

  “Yup.” I had a pocket knife I kept on me at all times. I handed it to her and then watched as she shook the water off the flower stems and then trimmed each individual rose.

  “How many are here?”

  “Three dozen. So thirty-six.”

  “Okay we need thirty-six vases.”

  I took a stack of plastic cups, placed them beside the flowers. “Will these do?”

  “Perfect.”

  A few minutes later, we were distributing thirty-six vases, each with a single red rose and a sprig of baby’s-breath or gypsophila along the tables. One man made his into a boutonniere, attaching it to his lapel. After we were done, Mattie said, “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Shoot.” I took off my apron and placed it on the counter just as the cleanup crew started putting everything away.

  “You’re a cardiac surgeon. The hospitalist and nurses do most of the one-on-one care, right?

  “How do you mean?”

  “You know, the counseling, holding hands, that sort of stuff. I’m guessing most of your patient contact is kept to a minimum, am I wrong?”

  “No. That’s about right.”

  “But you’re so good with people, Steven. I can see it. I mean, I’m sure you’re awesome at repairing hearts too but...”

  “You want to know why I don’t go into private practice. Or have a different specialty so I get to see patients more regularly. Why?”

  “Just curious. That’s all.”

  “Actually, that’s why I volunteer in the ER. Only drawback is I only get to see those patients once. There’s no follow-up. No way for me to make a real impact on their lives.”

  “It’s not really my business,” she said. “I just wondered is all.”

  “It’s okay, you can ask me anything, Mattie.”

  We took a seat in the back of the kitchen and I savored every last bite. We ate pork, mashed potatoes and green beans washed down with chocolate milk. I hadn’t had chocolate milk since grammar school. The apple crisp was to die for, however.

  “Wow, this is fantastic,” I said. “Did you make any of this? You do cook some, right?”

  She hesitated.

  “Because if you tell me the apple crisp is some sort of secret recipe I may just have to marry you so I can get my hands on it.”

  A giggle escaped Mattie’s lips. “I can’t even boil water, Steven. Trust me, you do not want to eat my cooking. Once I had to bake a cake in seventh grade. I baked the frosting and frosted the cake.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.”

  “Well, then it’s good thing I can cook. In fact, I’m pretty fantastic.” I rubbed my knuckles on my chest. “If I do say so myself.”

  She grinned. “Don’t tell me that because I may have to marry you as well.”

  No objection there.

  Chapter 15

  Steven

  Mattie and I settled into a routine of sorts. Not the sort of routine most couples fall into. We didn’t do fancy restaurants and we didn’t go to the movies often, although we did do breakfast with Nonna on occasion. I called Mattie every evening before I went to bed or she called me. Once I’d even sung to her over the phone. She loved it. Started crying and said my voice was like sweet, sweet air into her lungs. No woman had ever told me anything like that ever. Not even my wife. Come to think of it, I’d never once sang to her. Maybe that was what went wrong in our marriage.

  Friday nights were different. We met at the Mission every Friday. Jokingly, I called it our date night but honestly we focused so much of our energy on different people, it wasn’t much of a date. Still, it felt right somehow. The people were wonderful, so grateful for our help and twice I convinced drug addicts to commit to a treatment program, telling one particular teenager, I’d be both his ride and sponsor if he needed me. He didn’t. Turned out his father showed up after I called the man on his behalf. They hadn’t spoken in two years. Two long years! The father hadn’t even known where his son was living. To say he was grateful for the call was an understatement.

  I began to realize just how much I’d missed without having someone like Mattie in my life. Not just someone. Her. She wasn’t like any other woman I’d ever met and I was determined to make her mine. Forever, if she’d have me.

  The day of the wedding, Mattie insisted on meeting me at a designated location. I’ve no idea why she wouldn’t let me pick her up at her apartment, which irked me. What the hell was she hiding and why now? Now when we were getting along so well. On the upside, the angelic vision that walked toward my electric blue audi Sport back was dazzling. Dressed in a low-cut, gold lace ball gown that accentuated every curve, I had to laugh at the pale leather cowboy boots gracing her tiny feet. It totally worked though.

  “Hey there, Hot Stuff,” she said teasing. “I like the tux.” She slid a red-nailed fingernail along my lapel. “Now I want every woman in there to be jealous as hell. Especially your ex-wife.”

  I let out a chuckle. “Won’t be the women that will be jealous. I can tell you that. Do you know how absolutely gorgeous you are in that dress? You’re gorgeous all the time, but especially in that scandalous number.” The grin on her face widened.

  “Scandalous,” she said acting coy. “Like what you see, doctor?” She did a little pirouette and I caught her hand before she could turn away. I drew her toward me, making sure she rested against my length while I sniffed her lemony hair. Talk about aphrodisiacs! My nostrils flared at the soft smell of lilac, lemon, and something uniquely Mattie. The woman was like chocolate on steroids. “What do you think?”

  “Mmmm. I think someone is happy to see me and that it’s going to be a short night.”

  “Is that a fact?”

  “Mmmm hmmm.”

  We were standing outside the library. A crisp wind blew a few stray hairs around Mattie’s face. I glanced at the red Nissan Sentra pulling away.

  “Was that who I think it was?”

  “Kyle. Yeah.”

  “I see.” I tried not to sound cold. He was always around. Always.

  “Steven, he’s my best friend and you know I don’t drive.”

  “Yeah,” I said trying to hide the disdain from my voice. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

  “You do have to accept it though. And him.”

  “Why? Because you’re a team or something?”

  Well that sounded childish. Get over it, Russo.

  “We’re not a...team,” she said defensively. “I’ve known him forever. He’s more of a brother to me.”

  “You have brothers.”

  “Not like Kyle.”

  “Fine.”

  “Steven.
..” She ran a finger down my lapel. “Are we going to argue about this again or are we going to have a good time?”

  “Sorry,” I said through gritted teeth. Seemed the harder I fell in love with Mattie, the more it bothered me that there was another man in her life. Why couldn’t she have girlfriends instead? I never thought of myself as the jealous type. I guess that was something new I hadn’t known about myself before.

  Mattie wrapped her arms around my neck, smelling of jasmine and sex appeal. “He’s not a threat, Steven. You have to let this go. You trust me, don’t you?”

  “Of course I trust you.”

  “Then let’s go to the wedding and have a good time.”

  I swallowed my pride. “I just have to tell you one thing first.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It was not my fault when the dress ripped.”

  She burst out laughing. “I’ll remember that.”

  I COULDN’T TAKE MY eyes off the woman at my side. Mattie was in her element and she moved like a wet dream in that dress. Wherever she went, she made a friend. The walk to the bathroom. When we slipped outside for some air. Even the waitress frequented our table more often. And then there were the men. I grimaced, catching another asshole making eyes at my Mattie. Not just one, but about every guy in the room seemed to be drooling over her at one time or another. Who could blame them? The woman was like sunshine on a cloudy day.

  Now I knew I’d been ridiculous about Kyle. From the short time I’d known her, every person Mattie allowed inside her bubble, fell in love with her as well. Not just Kyle. Hell, if I let every guy in this room dance with Mattie, they’d be hooked too. Not gonna happen though.

  “What are you thinking?” she asked while I held her in my arms. Soft lights flickered all around us. She looked like a magical creature as we moved about the dance floor.

  “Thinking?”

  “Yeah. You’re face goes all...like this.” She screwed up her features mimicking my expression. I burst out laughing.

  “Just thinking how lucky I am.”

  “Lucky?”

  “Yeah. Lucky to be here. With you.” I tugged her closer and she buried her head in my chest. “Awe, I bet you say that to all the girls.”

  “Nope. Not a one.”

  “You know after the way my family attacked you in the hospital, I’m surprised you didn’t run in the other direction.”

  I let out a chuckle. “You mean the whole dowry and death do us part thing? Yeah, that was a bit much but not to worry. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “It was so embarrassing.”

  “Nothing to be embarrassed about. They love you, Mattie.” I twirled her around the room. “I think a lot of the men in this room would love you. If I let them, that is.”

  “Yeah?” She cocked her head and licked her lips and by God, all I could think about was I would die a happy man, if I could kiss those lips every day for the rest of my life. I was just about to say the words when the best man, also the man who stole my wife once upon a time, not that I cared one fig any longer, announced they were cutting the cake. We stopped moving as the music had suddenly halted.

  “Oh Yay,” Mattie exclaimed. “I love this part. Let’s go watch.” I let her drag me to where the cake table was and we wriggled ourselves to the front of the crowd. “Isn’t it beautiful?” Mattie gushed. “not what I would pick out personally, but it is lovely, don’t you think?”

  “Sure. Why not?” I made the mistake of asking what kind of cake she would like one day.

  “Oh my goodness. A huge one,” she said. She’d been thinking about this. A lot. She gave me a whole description of not only the decorations but the recipe which was handed down from her grandmother generation after generation. “Not that I think about this a lot,” she added with a smirk. “No okay I do. That and the flowers and the bridesmaids. All of it. Hey, what girl hasn’t, right?”

  “I wouldn’t know,” I said laughing. “Guys just show up.”

  “I guess that’s true,” she acknowledged.

  Once the feeding of the bride and groom had finished, we strolled back to our seats. I had the feeling Mattie had everything in her someday wedding picked out, minus the groom that is. Or maybe she did have the groom picked out. At least her family did, which was strange. Maybe they were psychic or something because I was actually thinking about popping the question although I’d never tell her that. “You’re having a good time,” I said. “I didn’t know if you would.”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” She took a sip of her wine. “Some people hate weddings.. I happen to love them.” A waitress set down two small plates with wedding cake on them. A bit of frosting caught in the corner of Mattie’s lips as she took her first bite. If we were anywhere else, I would have licked it off her lips. “That so?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Not me, although I may have to form a different opinion from now on. This is the first wedding that I’m having a good time at,” I admitted. “Who would have thought it would be at the wedding of my ex-wife? Weird.”

  “You just have to be happy for her. Let live and let be. That’s my motto.”

  “Easy for you to say. Hard to let go when you’re a doctor.”

  “What does being a doctor have to do with anything?”

  “It’s just that we’re always trying to heal mankind. I tried to heal my own marriage longer than I’d care to admit. Even to myself. She wanted to end it. I wanted to save it. I knew it was over almost the moment we’d said I do. We had nothing in common, but I just couldn’t let her go for some reason.”

  “Did... Did you love her?”

  “I... No. I cared for her but that’s not the same thing, is it?”

  “No.”

  “Sorry, I’m being a downer.”

  “You’re being honest. I admire that. And, for the record, doctors need to let go of the past just as much as anyone I guess.”

  “Easier for other people,” I said.

  “Is it? I’m a doctor and I let go. I know it’s not the same as a practicing physician and I do see your point, Steven, but maybe you need to let go more than anyone.”

  “You may be right.”

  “I know I am. I didn’t always love weddings though.”

  “You didn’t?”

  “Not at first. Not after I went to Prom.”

  “You had the time of your life though, right?”

  “No.” Her beautiful features grew dark.

  “What happened?”

  “To begin with, I was super nervous. I didn’t know how to dance so I did what I always do when I don’t know enough about a subject. I took dance lessons.”

  “That was smart.”

  “Not really. I took ballroom dancing lessons.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Oh Steven, Steven. The cool kids don’t do ballroom lessons. So when my date didn’t know how to follow me, I resorted to what I already knew, which was pretty pathetic.”

  “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “Believe me, it wasn’t. To make matters worse, someone spiked the punch I was drinking. That gave me the courage I needed to really make a fool of myself.”

  “Oh man.”

  “Once it was all over, they nicknamed me Crazy Mattie for the next two years of high school.”

  “Wow. I’m sorry.”

  She placed a hand on my chest. “Being here. With you. Wipes that all away for me, Steven.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “Oh and I had braces at the time too.” She burst out laughing. “Just imagine a girl with braces in a shocking pink dress dancing like an octopus with rabies in the middle of a gymnasium with a disco ball flashing overhead. Yeah, it was that bad.”

  I couldn’t help the guffaw that erupted from my lips.

  “It’s okay. I can laugh about it now too, because I know that girl is gone. Long gone.”

  Twisting my wrist, I covered her tiny hand with my big one. “I think that girl is still here. Only today she is ab
solutely breath-taking,” I said.

  “Thank you for inviting me.”

  “You’re welcome. Wanna get out of here?”

  “Absolutely.”

  I’D BOOKED ONE OF THE most upscale rooms in the hotel where the wedding was being held so that Mattie would have the full experience of being on a first-class date. With all the work she did at the Mission and the fact, I’d never taken her on a normal date, I wanted her to be pampered. Even though she had money, I wasn’t sure she spent much of it on herself. She didn’t even own a car. I still didn’t totally understand.

  “Five-sixteen,” I announced looking at my watch. I took the keycard out of my trousers. “Do you remember what I said?”

  The grin on her face widened. “Oh yes. It wasn’t your fault my dress ripped.” She looked down. “Too bad I beat you to it when I caught my heel in the lace.” She smoothed a hand over the dress. “It’s okay. Not like I’ll wear this ever again. I’m not sure I want to wear it at all.” Her eyes darkened with desire as she rubbed up against me.

  “I think my grandmother can fix it,” I said. “She can fix just about anything.”

  “And my soaked panties, Steven?”

  A growl rumbled in my throat. I couldn’t get the key in the slot fast enough.

  Before I could place it in the door, she’d pushed me into the wall with a hard thump, yanked my shirt out of my pants and slid her hands over my abdominal wall. “So hard. I wonder what else is hard.” She pushed her body against my length. “I can feel your heart beating, Steven. It feels as if it’s about to jump out of your chest. Do you have a medical condition, Doctor?”

  “Yeah, I’m addicted to pretty blondes.” I captured her hand as it roamed toward my waistband, the nails tickling the top of my dick. I glanced left and then right, peered down the hall. She unbuttoned my pants and I hitched in a breath. “Mattie... Hold on, sweetheart.” I needed to get her inside before she undressed me completely.

  She giggled and then hiccupped. How many champagnes had she had?

  Idiot. You should have kept track.

  “I think you need a doctor,” Mattie cooed. “And a nurse and maybe a volunteer to take up the slack.” She giggled at her own joke.