>
NYC Angels:
The Wallflower’s
Secret
Susan Carlisle
This one is for you, Drew. I love you.
Dear Reader
I’ve spent many hours over numerous years in a children’s hospital. What I’ve learned is that it takes very special people to work with sick kids. The doctors, nurses and support staff are true angels when it comes to the care of children and their families. Lives of the young are saved and enhanced by their dedication. Still, these professionals have issues and problems of their own. My characters Ryan and Lucy are no different.
Change is often hard. Most people fight it. Sometimes they discover later that they’re grateful they were forced to make a change. It pushes them into finding a happiness they might have otherwise missed. Ryan and Lucy are two people who must change, but do so kicking and screaming. I encourage you to be open to change. You never know what’s just around that next bend.
The evening bus tour to Brooklyn that I describe in the story is a real one. It is breathtaking.
I can’t fail to mention how honoured I am to be included among the wonderful authors that are involved in the NYC Angels series. I’m in superoutstanding company.
I hope you enjoy Lucy and Ryan’s story. I love to hear from my readers. You can contact me at www.SusanCarlisle.com
Susan
NYC Angels
Children’s doctors who work hard and love even harder… in the city that never sleeps!
Step into the world of NYC Angels and enjoy two new stories a month
Last month New York’s most notoriously sinful bachelor Jack Carter found a woman he wanted to spend more than just one night with in:
NYC ANGELS: REDEEMING THE PLAYBOY by Carol Marinelli
And reluctant socialite Eleanor Aston made the gossip headlines
when the paparazzi discovered her baby bombshell:
NYC ANGELS: HEIRESS’S BABY SCANDAL by Janice Lynn
This month cheery physiotherapist Molly Shriver melts the icy barricades around hotshot surgeon Dan Morris’s damaged heart in:
NYC ANGELS: UNMASKING DR SERIOUS by Laura Iding
And Lucy Edwards is finally tempted to let neurosurgeon
Ryan O’Doherty in. But their fragile relationship will need
to survive her most difficult revelation yet…
NYC ANGELS: THE WALLFLOWER’S SECRET by Susan Carlisle
Then, in May, newly single (and strictly off-limits!)
Chloe Jenkins makes it very difficult for drop-dead-gorgeous
Brad Davis to resist temptation…!
NYC ANGELS: FLIRTING WITH DANGER by Tina Beckett
And after meeting single dad Lewis Jackson, tough-cookie Head Nurse
Scarlet Miller wonders if she’s finally met her match…
NYC ANGELS: TEMPTING NURSE SCARLET by Wendy S. Marcus
Finally join us in June, when bubbly new nurse Polly Seymour
is the ray of sunshine brooding doc Johnny Griffin needs in:
NYC ANGELS: MAKING THE SURGEON SMILE by Lynne Marshall
And Alex Rodriguez and Layla Woods come back into each other’s
orbit, trying to fool the buzzing hospital grapevine that the spark
between them has died. But can they convince each other?
NYC ANGELS: AN EXPLOSIVE REUNION by Alison Roberts
Be captivated by NYC Angels in this new eight-book continuity from Mills & Boon® Medical Romance™
These books are also available in eBook format from www.millsandboon.co.uk
CHAPTER ONE
PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGEON DR. Ryan O’Doherty’s attention remained on the child lying in the ICU bed of Angel Mendez Children’s Hospital in New York City as he spoke to the father. “I removed as much of the tumor as possible. I didn’t get it all because I couldn’t risk additional impairment.”
This father wasn’t the first person to hear those words and he wouldn’t be the last. Ryan made a point not to gloss over the truth when speaking to parents. Despite the fact that Ryan knew he possessed more than competent skills, he’d done all he could for the child. He couldn’t fix them all. Parents had to accept that.
“I understand. His mother and I will take him home and love him for as long as we can,” the father said in a voice filled with tears.
The father had courage. He’d have to cling to it down the road.
The sharp, shrill sound of Ryan’s phone filled the air. He tapped the screen, stopping the offending noise, and looked at the message. Human Resources. He’d forgotten all about being expected down there. What could possibly be so important in the paper-pusher department that he was needed so urgently?
He glanced at the father again. “The neurologist will re-evaluate your son’s case. I’ll be here if needed,” he said curtly. “Now, if you will excuse me…”
“Thanks for all you’ve done.”
Ryan nodded. It was his job.
Ten minutes later, Ryan walked through the network of gray hallways on his way to the human resources department. Hospital leadership was notorious for putting HR departments in the basement of the oldest section of the hospital and in the furthest corner, if they could accomplish it. Angel’s was no different. Ryan hadn’t seen this particular region of the building since he’d become an official employee five years earlier.
He wasn’t sure why he’d been summoned, but he’d received an email the day before, requesting his presence. When he’d called to say he was too busy to make the meeting, Matherson, the HR director, had stated it was mandatory that he attend. Ryan was sure the trip down would be a complete waste of his time. Whatever he was needed for, surely could be handled by email.
Despite technically being an employee, he still wasn’t used to being called into someone’s office. If there was something to be said he was typically the one doing the calling. Expected for a surgery consultation in just a few minutes, he needed to get this over with. He made the final turn in the hallway and pushed the faux woodgrain door open, entering the functional waiting area that would have been drab if not for the colorful framed pictures of children hanging on the wall.
Ryan headed straight to the middle-aged woman sitting behind the L-shaped reception desk. “Dr. O’Doherty here to see Mr. Matherson,” he said with a smile he didn’t feel. He’d learned long ago that it paid to mask your emotions.
“He’s expecting you,” the woman at the desk chirped, as if she’d said it hundreds of times.
Not bothering to sit, he stood