Page 12 of Bad Medicine

The room was silent for a moment, an awkwardness I was unused to feeling creeping along my spine, before the doctor spoke again.

“Well, I think we’re all good here.” I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jeans as I watched her gather her things back into that big black bag. “I’ll check in with you tomorrow after my shift, but I think rest and fluids will be all you need.”

“Thank you, Mia,” Francesca responded, and my dick twitched again.

Mia.

I liked it. The name suited her. It was bold and straight to the point, like she seemed to be. A no nonsense kind of woman.

I wasn’t used to that.

“I appreciate you coming on short notice,” Francesca continued, and as I stared at Mia, her expression was carefully blank.

“Yeah, well,” Mia replied, trying for casual and only failing a little. “That’s what you’re paying me for, isn’t it?”

I could see her taking in the room, Enzo, Vinnie, and myself, and I wondered what she was thinking. She worked for Francesca, that much was clear, but the new Mrs. Argenti had barely been in town for a few days. At first, I figured any doctor Francesca was associated with would have been a contact of her father’s, but after seeing Mia, after watching the way her hand trembled slightly as she reached for her things, I got the feeling that the criminal underworld was not where the good doctor usually hung out.

And wasn’t that just even more intriguing?

“See you tomorrow,” Mia said, heading for the door.

“Come on, doll,” I offered, darting ahead of her and reaching for the doorknob to open it wide.

I could be chivalrous as fuck when I wanted to be.

“I’ll drive you home.”

Her steps faltered, and for just a moment, I could see it in her eyes: desire.

Dr. Mia Carmichael found me attractive, even if she didn’t want to, and I could sure as fuck work with that.

But once again, she surprised me, getting that blank look back in place quick as I could blink, before she walked right past me.

“Don’t bother. I’ll find my own way.”

I stared at the closed apartment door, wondering what the hell had just happened.

“What is it with you broads and turning me down?” I asked.

“Sorry, Rocco. I think you’re out of luck with that one,” Francesca called from the bedroom, her teasing tone telling me she thought me getting shot down was hilarious.

“Nah,” I answered, squaring my shoulders. I could feel the burn of excitement, the hum of anticipation that tingled just below my skin whenever I faced a challenge. “Luck has nothing to do with it.” Reaching again for the door, I hollered over my shoulder, “Feel better, Francesca,” before darting into the hallway after the wily Dr. Carmichael.

Jogging down the hall, I managed to slide my hand into the elevator just before the doors closed, chuckling when Mia gave a dramatic eye roll. Stepping in beside her, I leaned casually against the wall, smirking at the way her spine seemed to stiffen even as I relaxed.

“So,” I started, my eyes dragging over her face as she wrinkled her nose again. “What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?”

She snorted, but didn’t answer, so I tried again.

“Name’s Rock.” Still nothing. “You wanna grab a drink? Get to know each other a bit better?”

Tipping her head back, Mia let out an exasperated sigh before she turned to face me, one hand on her hip, the other clutching her bag.

“Listen,Rock.” She tossed my name out of her mouth like it tasted bad. “I know you think you’re hot shit, and you might be, to any other woman. But not to me. I don’t have a single available second in my life to spend stroking your,” she paused, her eyes darting to my crotch and back up again, “ego. What I do have, however, is a cab to catch, my rent to pay, and a job I need to be at in less than four hours. So excuse me, if I’m not gonna stick around for that ride.” Whirling away from me, she faced the doors again just as they opened, striding from the elevator like a goddamn queen.

“It probably wouldn’t last very long anyway.”

Chapter four