The Mafia's Babies by Kaycee Romano (howl and other poems txt) 📗

"Dr. Johnson." He smiled, or smirked. She really didn't know what to call it. It was like he had complete makeover, though it was mostly on his character. He had a complete glow-up.

"I think I am questioning my sexuality." Eric leaned in and whispered in her ear, not taking his eyes off of him.

River elbowed him in the side and smiled at Mateo, clearing her throat. "Mr. Adesso."

"I hope I am not disturbing you." He smiled seductively. River's eyes widened and Eric too was showing similar reactions. How was this even possible? Can an Italian wearing a suit and hair gel make such a drastic difference?

"No, we are done with the OP for the day." Eric said. "Um, excuse me. I will be off to get some lunch." He bailed out as he quickly grabbed his phone and wallet from the side table. Son of a traitor!

As soon as Eric closed the door behind him, Mr. Adesso's smile turned into a full-blown smirk.

Okay. River narrowed her eyes at him. What the fuck was he playing at? And whatever it was, she knew she could play it better!

"I haven't seen you much in the past month, doc." He said, emphasizing 'doc'.

Why the fuck did my heart just flutter? River scolded herself. This was not one of those times to go completely heart-eyed on the good-looking dude. He was playing at something and she was supposed to resist whatever his advances were.

Damn it, neurons! This is not the time to release all those chemicals!

River decided this was all due to her pent-up sexual frustration. She hadn't been sexually active over two months because how hectic her work had been, not to forget the kids were having the summer holidays so whenever she had the energy for anything, she was making it up top her little babies.

"Well, my job with you was finished and I handed the case over to the Physiotherapist." She said, keeping her voice low and even and unbothered.

He nodded, leaning back on the seat.

"I see. So you are not my doctor anymore." He nodded, as if lost in his thoughts.

"Not anymore Mr. Adesso." She said. She was almost getting annoyed by this new behavior.

"Call me Mateo." He said huskily.

Jeez, that sound so sexy!

Knock it off River, what's with the behavior? She mentally scolded herself as soon as the thought came into her mind.

Ugh.

"Mateo." She gave him her politest smile. "You have been discharged?"

"Yes, I leave in the evening." He said, his voice serious for a second. He took an envelope from his coat pocket and placed it on the table, pushing it towards her.

River smiled at it and then at him. "You know I am not going to take it."

"I know." He said lowly. "I was told by one of my men that you had sent the money back."

She nodded, letting out a deep breath.

"I don't need it." She smiled professionally.

"How about I buy you dinner then?" He asked, leaning forward.

Ohoho, you aren't that unpredictable after all, Mr. Adesso. River rolled her eyes as she chuckled.

"I don't think I have the time." She sassed.

"You are single and done for the day, aren't you?" He asked in the same sing-song tone she used on him.

"Yes, I am single but I don't think a surgeon have that kind of luxury to assume that I am done for the day. They can call me back anytime." She laughed. It really was the truth

"You know, we could-"

"Mr. Adesso, stop." She said firmly, letting out a sigh. He looked at her quizzically but attraction, sexual frustration and jokes aside, she really did not have the time for any of this. "I don't have time for any of this. You have seen how hectic my work can be, right?"

He nodded, pursing his lips.

"So when I get the rest of my day off, I am not thinking I should go have dinner with my patient or colleague or some random guy. I am thinking, let's give my children a surprise!"

He looked at me confused. "Children?"

She nodded.

"You have children?"

Mateo felt his whole world stop. But didn't she say she was single? Maybe she had children from a previous marriage? Out of wedlock and the father just abandoned her and their children?

"Yeah I do. They are twins, actually." She smiled at the mere thought of them and the look on his face told her that whatever idea he had brewed up in his mind has gone down the drain with that single statement. And she didn't blame him for it. This Italian masterpiece really had a life ahead of him and it was only normal for him to not even try to be in a relationship with a single mother.

"That's nice." He said, looking unfocused. "And the father?"

"Not in the picture." Dr. River Johnson said the same line she had been saying for the past four years. It was enough to convey that she didn't want to talk about it. Because, she honestly had nothing to talk about. River didn't know who their father was.

"Must be difficult. Being a single mother." His smile was back.

River mentally face-palmed. The man had something else brewing in his mind. And she knew exactly what it was.

Men being men.

"Let's have dinner." She rolled her eyes. Now, River wasn't a prude nor did she think of herself as some kind of an unworthy being. It was just that she knew for sure that Mateo did not want a relationship, especially now that he had been told about the two darlings her life revolved around. So she knew that he only wanted to sleep with her, a release for all the sexual tension between them. And she was up for it. Because why not? It was not like she was a virgin saving herself for the love of her life. She had slept with plenty of men and he was just going to be another one night stand, like she was going to be for him.

He rose an eyebrow and smirked at her.

"Whoa, that was easy." Why does this man think that I, Dr. River Johnson out of all people, am easy?