NYC Angels:
The Wallflower’s
Secret

Susan Carlisle

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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 over the receptionist as she picked up the phone and spoke into it, and looked around the room.

A young woman, maybe in her late twenties, sat facing the entrance in one of the three utilitarian chairs set against the office wall. She glanced up at him. Her large blue eyes reminded him of a summer afternoon, but held a sadness that contradicted their lovely color. With a single blink, the melancholy was replaced by an unwavering stare before she looked away.

“Dr. O’Doherty is here, Mr. Matherson.” The receptionist listened a moment then glanced at the woman sitting in the chair.

Ryan followed the receptionist’s look. The woman sat with her ankles crossed and her hands laced primly in her lap. There was little outstanding about her apart from those large eyes and a rope of hair that fell over her shoulder. She wore a business suit of light gray with a flimsy peach blouse beneath. A little too school-marmy for his tastes.

He could tell her clothes were of a fine quality. He snorted quietly. Must have been all those long-suffering shopping trips he’d made with his sisters that had given him that knowledge. He quirked a corner of his mouth. Should he be proud of that?

“Ms. Edwards, Mr. Matherson would like to see you and Dr. O’Doherty now.”

Who was this Ms. Edwards and why would she have anything to do with him being here? Ryan’s focus sharpened when she stood. The woman was tall, with a willowy frame that spoke of someone who took care of herself. Her gaze met his. The sadness he’d seen early in her eyes had been replaced by a resolute look. She held his gaze a moment before her attention turned to the HR man.

Mr. Matherson, a round bodied man with a balding head, had come round a corner. “Dr. O’Doherty and Ms. Edwards, please come back to my office.”

Ryan stepped back and allowed her to go ahead of him. Her head reached his shoulder. Her wheat-colored hair was controlled by a braid. What was it called? He’d heard his sisters talk about them enough. Something foreign. A French braid, that was it. Even with the braid her hair went midway down her back. Did it touch her hips when free?

Ms. Edwards’s eyes narrowed. Had she guessed his thoughts?

“Please come in and have a seat,” Mr. Matherson instructed as he stepped around the desk facing the door and remained standing. Ms. Edwards took one of the burgundy vinyl chairs and Ryan sat in the other before Mr. Matherson settled in his seat.

“Dr. O’Doherty, this is Lucy Edwards, and she’s just recently joined the Angel family.”

Ryan offered his hand and a half-smile. “Ryan O’Doherty.”

For a flicker of a second she hesitated before her small fingers slipped into his. Her grasp was firm, her hand soft and the touch brief. He liked the feel of her hand.

He gave Matherson an expectant look. They needed to get a move on with this meeting. His colleague was waiting on that consult. “So what brings us here?”

Matherson regarded Ryan as if he wasn’t comfortable with others taking over his meetings. Clearing his throat, the HR man said, “Ms. Edwards is a family counselor. She comes with the highest credentials and praise from her last position. As I understand, she was the person the families regularly requested.”

The woman beside him shifted uncomfortably. Pink touched her cheeks. She obviously didn’t enjoy being the center of attention. That came as a surprise. In his experience, woman generally enjoyed being the main focus. What made this one different?

Matherson continued as if giving a great oratory to be remembered. “Angel’s is setting up a new program called Coordinated Patient Care, where we’re pairing a counselor with a doctor. Ms. Edwards is your partner. You’ll be working with her on all your cases.”

What was this? Another hospital bureaucratic feel-good project? Ryan leaned forward, piercing the rotund little man with a look. “Didn’t we try something like this a couple of years ago and decide it didn’t work?”

Matherson had the good grace to look contrite. “Similar, but this is a little different. You two are the beta test. If it works then we’ll require other departments to follow suit.”

“Is all this necessary? I’m sure Ms…. uh—”

“Edwards,” the woman supplied.

He sensed more than saw her stiffen. “I’m sure Ms. Edwards and I could both use our time more wisely.”

“Please don’t speak for me.” The woman who had been sitting stiffly beside him said, shifting direction. “Doctor, I can assure you that the closer the doctor-counselor relationship is, the better it is for the patient.”

Her words were said in a soft Southern drawl laced with an edge of steel. So the woman had some backbone. Interesting.

He cocked a brow and smiled. “So-o-o.” He dragged out the word to match her drawl. “You believe that working closely with the doctor is important.”

She rewarded him with a blush that added a brighter touch of pink to the ridge of her cheeks.

Matherson cleared his throat, but Ryan chose to ignore the man. He gifted her with a smile. The identical one he used when making an effort not to ruffle the nurses while at the same time trying to get his way.

“I didn’t mean to imply that your job doesn’t have merit, it’s just that I don’t think we need to personally discuss each patient. In fact, I don’t discuss the same type of issues with my patients that you would be concerned with. You can make notes on their charts about any matters you think I should know about and I can read from there.” Ryan stood. To his surprise, Ms. Edwards rose to face him.

“I can assure you, Doctor, our relationship will be strictly professional,” she said through clenched teeth. She took a breath and continued, “Patients, as well as their families, need reassurance and comfort that you can’t provide.”

She couldn’t have been more correct.

“That’s my job and I do it well.” She squared her shoulders, punctuating the statement.

“I’m sure that is true but I’m not going to waste my time in meetings when there is a perfectly good computer system we can use for correspondence. Now, if you’ll both excuse me…”

“Dr. O’Doughty,” Matherson said with a pointed look at Ryan, “I don’t know if you fully understand what’s being asked here. This is a trial program. The board’s supporting it unanimously. Your co-operation would be noticed and to your advantage.”

Ryan compressed his mouth. Matherson was making a veiled reference to the fact that he hadn’t been offered the head of neurosurgery position and that his co-operation would look good on his CV. By rights the department head job should have been his. Instead, they’d hired Alex Rodriguez.

Drawing his lips into a thin line, Ryan looked directly at Matherson for a long moment. The hospital pencil-pusher did have the good grace to lower his eyes. If going along with this ridiculous time-consuming coordinated patient care idea would make him look good on paper to the powers that be, then he’d make some form of an effort. He’d at least give it lip service, but based on his experience it would be a waste of time. Shrugging a shoulder, he said, “Okay.” He looked at Ms. Edwards. “I guess we’re a team, then.”

Ms. Edwards angled her head, mistrust written all over her face. Was she questioning his motives? Would she let him get away with doing as little as possible? Maybe there was more to this unassuming woman than he’d originally supposed. If nothing else, it would be a challenge to see if he could get her to smile. Find out if he could make that sadness in her eyes disappear.

“So it’s settled.” Matherson sounded far more cheerful than Ryan felt. “Then I’ll let you two get started.”

Lucy glanced at the self-absorbed doctor walking half a pace ahead of her up the hall. It had been hard enough to leave her entire life behind to start a new job in an unfamiliar city but being forced to work with a person who resented her being foisted on him made it almost impossible. Left no choice, she had to make this partnership work somehow.

Matherson, with the syrupy smile still on his face, had inquired if the good doctor was going back up to the neuro floor. When he said he was, Matherson had the nerve to ask him to show her the way. She’d been horribly embarrassed that Matherson had relegated this surgeon to a tour guide but didn’t know a graceful way to say she’d find her own way.

As they left the HR department, Dr. O’Doherty held the door for her to go ahead of him. Someone had at least instilled manners in the self-absorbed man. She’d seen little else to impress her. That wasn’t exactly true. She hadn’t failed to notice his wide shoulders, piercing blue eyes and height. Even now his long legs were eating up the well-worn tile floor beneath them. Not often did she find a man that she couldn’t meet almost eye to eye.

Gripping her purse, Lucy found herself tagging along behind him. With each step she became more irritated with his attitude. He walked as if he couldn’t leave the HR or her quickly enough. Regardless, she appreciated him leading the way as they made one turn then another, past another bank of elevators. She had no idea where she was in the vast hospital.

That morning when she’d stood across the street in Central Park, facing the front entrance of Angel’s, and had looked up, she hadn’t begun to count the number of floors. The building spread across an entire block. To say she’d been intimidated would have been an understatement. Still, there had been something about the mixture of old and new architecture that had appealed to her. If nothing else, the bright yellow and red awning leading to the front door had made her think the place had warmth.

Being employed by a large hospital wasn’t new to her. Most children’s hospitals were attached to a larger teaching hospital that was affiliated with a big university. But compared to Angel’s, those she’d worked in were dwarfs in size. She liked the nickname Angel’s. Glancing at the man beside her, she decided he didn’t act very angelic or hospitable.

Dr. O’Doherty finally stopped in front of a set of elevators and pushed the ‘up’ button.

Her job required her to read people. Dr. O’Doherty’s rigid stance and unyielding demeanor said he wasn’t pleased with having to answer to the HR department and now to her in a lesser way. She wasn’t surprised. Typical surgeon. Highly typical neurosurgeon. Confident, in control and with minds closed to anyone’s ideas but their own. Still, she had a job to do, and that meant co-operating with this guy. She had no choice but to make it work.

Clearing her throat, she said, “I understand this arrangement isn’t really your idea of a good plan.”

He moved to face her. “No, it isn’t.”

His displeasure didn’t encourage her. If this was the way he acted over a simple request, she couldn’t imagine his reaction to a serious issue. She was well acquainted with life-altering experiences. She wasn’t going to waste her energy getting upset over anything as mundane as being partnered with the egotistical doctor.

“I’d like to make my end of it as painless as possible for both of us.”

The elevator arrived, putting their conversation on hold. The doors opened and they stepped into an already crowded car. Dr. O’Doherty’s solid frame brushed hers as they turned to face the front of the elevator. A prickle of awareness spread through her body.

On the ride upward, they stood close enough that the heat of his body warmed her down one side. It was the first time in months that the Arctic cold buried deep within her had melted even for a second. The numbness returned the moment the elevator doors opened and he moved away. She stepped out behind him, then paused.

He stopped and looked at her. “Something wrong?”

“No, I’m just always amazed at how completely different patients’ areas are from the business parts of the hospital. These bright yellow walls are like coming into sunshine after being in gloom.”

“I’ve never noticed.”

She wasn’t surprised.

“Can you get to your office from here?”

She glanced around, recognizing a framed picture of a child’s artwork on the wall. “I know where I am now.” He turned to leave and she asked, “So how’re we going to handle this coordinated care plan, Dr. O’Doherty?”

Stopping, he turned back to her. “I’m going about it like I always have. Check the charts, Ms. Edwards.”

“Mr. Matherson made it clear that wouldn’t do. You might not like the idea but I expect you to do your part. Your patients are now mine also. I’m determined to give them the best care possible.”

Dr. O’Doherty stepped a pace closer, leaned forward and pierced her with a penetrating blue stare. “And you don’t think that’s what I do?”

“I’m sure you’re a more than capable surgeon, but there’s always room for improvement where patient care outside the OR is concerned.”

“Ms. Edwards, are you questioning my ability to be professional?”

She met his look squarely. “No, but I’ll not let you dismiss me or my abilities either. I was approached by this hospital to do a job so someone must have thought I had something to offer the hospital and the neuro department in particular. I expect you to at least recognize that.”

His attention remained on her long enough that her knees started to shake. Had she stepped over the line? With a huff, he said, “I do rounds at five. Promptly.” With a curt turn he went down the hall as if he’d spent all the time he deemed necessary on her.

Lucy passed a number of patient rooms, rounded the large corner nurses’ station and dodged a child in a wagon with a parent pulling it. Her heart tugged. Every small child she saw made her think of Emily. With relief, she finally reached the hall her office was on. Maybe going back to work in a children’s hospital hadn’t been one of her best ideas. But it had been the only job available when she’d needed to leave.

As bright, open and modern as the patients’ floor was, in contrast her office was little more than a cubby hole. She shared the area with two other family counselors assigned to the neuro floor. Three desks were lined up side by side against a wall and if all three were working at the same time, they wouldn’t be able to get to their desks without one of them stepping out into the hall. That didn’t concern her. It was a fairly typical arrangement for support staff. She was happy to have her position and she’d work in whatever space provided.

Lucy checked her watch. There were a few hours before she had to meet Dr. O’Doherty for rounds. That gave her time to review his patient load and familiarize herself with each child’s diagnosis. She’d make sure the doctor didn’t have anything to complain about in regard to her work. It was her goal to make this partnership as stress-free as possible despite his opposition of the plan.

When she’d learned about this job she hadn’t thought twice about taking it and had every intention of succeeding in it. She needed this position if she was going to survive and get her life back on track.

One of Lucy’s officemates, a woman with pepper-colored hair and a generous smile, was coming in the door as Lucy was heading out. “Hey, how’s it going?” Nancy asked.

“Fine.”

“I heard you were teamed up with Dr. O’Doherty.”

Lucy gave her a questioning look.

“Learned it from the hospital grapevine. Even from the basement news travels fast.”

“I see.” Lucy picked up her notepad.

“Ryan’s such a cutie. We all love working with him. Kind of keeps to himself but he’s a favorite among the nurses. More than one of them has a crush on him.”

Lucy didn’t know how to respond to that statement so she remained silent. She didn’t see that ever becoming an issue for her.

“You know the kind of patients we see on this floor often break our hearts, but with Ryan around it sure makes it easier. That goes for the patients and us. He’s a brilliant doctor. Not hard to look at either.”

Lucy had to agree with the latter. Even so, he’d not made a great first impression as far as she was concerned. She had a new life to build and being a groupie of a doctor who already had a posse of female admirers didn’t fall into her “need to do” list.

“Well, I’d better review some charts before rounds.” Lucy gave her co-worker a wary smile and left the office.

She’d never been one for hospital gossip and actively stayed away from it when she could, but her office-mate’s chatter had caught her interest. The more she knew about Dr. O’Doherty the better off she’d be.

She slipped into a vacant chair behind the nurses’ station desk. Facing the state-of-the-art computer screen, she typed in her password and queried Dr. O’Doherty’s in-house patients. A list containing five names came up. One by one she reviewed the patients’ charts and made notes. She’d just finished scanning the last chart when a deep-throated laugh followed by the high-pitched giggle of a child came from down the hall.

“Dr. O’Doherty is at it again,” the nurse standing beside her said with a smile.

Seconds later, he slow-galloped into view with a young girl on his back. His white lab coat had been discarded. The light blue knit shirt he wore stretched tautly across his broad chest. The man either had good genes or he worked out regularly. The child had a happy smile on her face and her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck. Her head was bound in white gauze.

He stopped at the nurses’ station where Lucy and the nurse stood watching. “Ms. Edwards, I’d like you to meet Princess Michelle.”

The girl giggled.

“She buttoned her shirt all by herself today and got to make a wish.” He glanced back at the girl. “Princess Michelle,” he said.

The girl giggled again.

“Can you tell Ms. Edwards what your wish was?” Ryan asked.

“I want a horsy ride,” the girl said with a shy grin.

“Well, that sounds like a fine wish.” Lucy smiled up at the child. “So how far are you going on this ride? Over the mountain? Across the river?”

The girl snickered and pointed. “End of hall.”

“I see.”

“This horse can’t go too far away from the barn.” He winked at the young nurse and she blinked and grinned.

The sting of pain Lucy experienced when she’d not been included in the flirtatious action surprised her. It was a visual reminder he didn’t consider her part of his circle. She was once again an outsider.

An easy lilt in his Brooklyn accent became more prominent as he continued to speak. “I’d better finish this princess’s ride and get her home. It’s almost supper time.” He turned his head toward the girl, “What do you say to get the horse to go?”

“Giddy up,” Michelle said with another round of giggles and off they went.

A smile covered her lips.

“Why, Ms. Edwards, is that a smile I see?” Dr. O’Doherty asked with a brow raised. “I wondered if it was possible.”

To her amazement, she was smiling. Something that had happened rarely in the last few months. How had that exasperating man managed to make her smile? Maybe there was more to him than she had originally given him credit for. His bedside manner might not extend to her but apparently he cared about his patients.

The horse and rider set off down the passage then returned, and she waved. Her chest constricted. It wouldn’t be long until Emily would be the same age as Michelle. Sadly, Lucy would never hear the sounds of Emily’s childhood delight.

Half an hour later, Lucy asked one of the nurses which end of the hall Dr. O’Doherty usually started his rounds on. The nurse pointed to the right and Lucy headed in that direction. A group of six led by Dr. O’Doherty exited a patient’s room as she approached. The crowd circled around him. Lucy stopped just outside the ring.

He looked over the head of a female intern wearing a lab coat, with her head elevated in a worshipful manner, to glower at Lucy. “Everyone, this is Ms. Edwards.”

The assemblage turned to inspect her. She shifted uneasily under the scrutiny.

“She’s our newest family counselor. Please introduce yourself later. We have patients to see.” His mouth tightened briefly but his words didn’t falter. “Please see that she stays in the loop on all cases.” His intense blue gaze pinned her again. “I’ll have to get you up to speed later on the patient you missed.”

She looked away.

Dr. O’Doherty made a few more comments as they moved down the hallway to the next patient, then the next, stopping in front of another door. He paused. His attention focused on her again. “This is Brian Banasiak. I removed a blood clot three days ago. This is one case I believe that it might be beneficial to have you involved in.”

Might? Lucy wasn’t sure she needed his seal of approval but she didn’t say so. Neither was she certain how she felt about the left-handed compliment. In her last position she’d been considered the “go to” person when a family was having a difficult time coping with their child’s illness or injury. Her role was seen as important in overall patient care.

Apparently Dr. O’Doherty viewed her work as a sideline to his godly power. She’d do her job effectively then maybe she could change the narrow-minded man’s opinion.

“I understand his head trauma occurred during an auto accident,” she said quietly. “I’m going to discuss the benefits of therapy at home with the parents. Also assistance with home schooling. These parents have a long road ahead of them. The adjustment of having gone from a perfectly normal child to one who needs help eating and dressing will be difficult at best to accept.”

Dr. O’Doherty’s look of surprise along with similar ones from the others made her want to pump her fist in elation. She’d managed to wow the man. Why it should matter she didn’t know, but it felt good.

He pursed his lips and nodded as if he might be impressed. “Thank you, Ms. Edwards. You’ve obviously done your homework.”

“The family clearly cares about their child and I gather are willing to do what it takes for Brian to recover. I’ll be speaking with them first thing in the morning to determine any additional needs.”

Dr. O’Doherty gave her a quick nod and with a rap of his knuckles on the door entered the room. Along with the rest of their group, Lucy moved to stand next to the boy’s bed.

The parents of the boy came to stand across the bed from the group. Dr. O’Doherty paid them no attention.

“Brian, how’re you feeling today?” Dr. O’Doherty asked.

The eight-year-old boy offered a weak smile. His entire head was swathed in white gauze. His eyes had dark circles under them and there was puffiness about his face that lingered from having surgery.

“Okay, I guess,” the boy said with little enthusiasm.

“Well, from all I hear from your nurse, you’re my star patient,” Dr. O’Doherty stated. “So give me a high five.”

That managed to get a slight smile out of the boy. He raised his small hand and met the doctor’s larger one with a smack.

Dr. O’Doherty pulled his hand back. “Ow! See, you’re already getting stronger.”

Brian’s smile broadened.

The doctor did have a way with kids.

“I’m going to take a look at your head. Maybe we can give you a smaller bandage.”

“It’s itchy.” The boy wrinkled his nose.

“Yes. That means you’re getting better. I’ll see if we can’t help with that problem.”

As he removed the gauze, Lucy watched the parents’ faces to gage their reactions. Death wasn’t the only time people experienced grief. A major life trauma could bring on the emotion. Lucy knew that all too well. She’d run to get away from hers.

“Will he be able to ride a bike?” the boy’s mother asked. “Do we have to worry about him falling?”

Dr. O’Doherty didn’t look at the mother as he said, “Ms. Walters, my clinical nurse, can answer those questions for you.” He continued to unwrap the bandage.

The mother looked like she’d been struck. She stepped back from the bed.

He continued to examine the surgical site then spoke to the floor nurse standing next to him. “I believe we can place a four-by-four bandage over this.” He looked at the boy. “You’ll look less like a pirate but it won’t be so itchy.”

That statement brought a real smile to the boy’s face.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Dr. O’Doherty said, before turning to leave. He shook the big toe of the boy’s foot as he moved toward the door

The mother followed him out into the hall. “Dr. O’Doherty, we were wondering what to expect next,” the mother said, tears filling her eyes.

“My nurse will answer all your questions.”

Lucy compressed her lips. Where had all the charm that had oozed from him seconds before gone?

“Will he ever be like he was?” The mother’s eyes pleaded to know.

“I don’t make those kinds of promises,” Dr. O’Doherty clipped.

The mother looked stricken again.

This man had a sterling bedside manner where his patients were concerned but he sure lacked finesse with the parents. Why was he suddenly so cold?

Lucy stepped forward, not looking at Dr. O’Doherty for permission. She placed an arm around the woman’s shoulders. “Mrs. Banasiak, I’m Lucy Edwards, the family counselor. I think I can help answer some of your questions.”

The mother sagged in relief. She shot a look at Dr. O’Doherty and then said to Lucy, “Thank you, so much.”

Dr. O’Doherty progressed on down the hall with his group in tow without a backward glance. Lucy hung back to speak to the parents further. The watery eyes and fragile smile of the mother touched Lucy’s heart. These were the type of people who needed her. It felt good to be using her skills again.

Ryan paused in front of the last patient-to-be-seen door. Turning, he waited for the group to join him. Ms. Edwards was missing. Should he really be surprised? He discussed the patient, while his frustration grew. She could speak to the parents on her own time.

“We’re glad you could join us,” he said when she finally walked up.

Her eyes didn’t meet his. The woman didn’t like having the spotlight on her. By the way she dressed and spoke so softly, he guessed she spent most of her time in the shadows. “I needed to reassure the parents,” she said quietly.

Pushing the door of the patient room open, he stepped in. “Hi, Lauren,” he said to the ten-year-old sitting up in bed, watching TV. “I believe you’ll be ready to go home tomorrow. How does that sound?”

The grandmother, who was the girl’s caretaker, stepped to the bed. “That’s wonderful. What do we need to do about getting her back in school when the time comes?”

A soft but strong voice beside him said, “I’ll help with that.”

“This is Lucy Edwards,” he said to the grandmother. “She’s my family counselor.”

The only indication that Ms. Edwards didn’t appreciate the word “my” was the slight tightening around her lips. That had been entirely the wrong thing to say. He didn’t know how to repair the faux pas gracefully in front of a patient’s family so he continued speaking to the grandmother. He’d apologize to Ms. Edwards later.

This quiet, gentle-voiced woman wasn’t his anything. She wasn’t even his type. He was used to dating freer-spirited women, who thought less and laughed more. Those who were loud and boisterous and were not interested in emotional attachments. Ms. Edwards had already demonstrated she was the touchy-feely type.

He left the room while the grandmother rattled off a list of questions for Ms. Edwards.

After answering a page, he returned to the nurses’ station in search of Ms. Edwards. Not seeing her, he was forced to ask where her office was located. He’d never paid much attention to the family counselors. He knew they had a job to do and as far as he was concerned they did it. Rarely did he interact with one outside other than when they asked him a question or left a note on a chart.

He knocked lightly on the nondescript door with a small plate that showed he was in the correct place. The door was opened by a woman he recognized. “Hi, Ryan. What’s up?”

“Hello, Nancy. I was trying to find Ms. Edwards.”

“Yes-s-s.” The word being drawn out came from inside. He’d found the right place. Ms. Edwards put far too many syllables in a word. He glanced around the woman in front of him. Ms. Edwards looked at him with wide, questioning eyes.

“I’ll get out of your way. It’s time to head home anyway,” the older woman said. “Nice to see you, Ryan.”

“You too.” He smiled as she left and stepped into the doorway, holding the door open. “Do you mind if I come in a minute?”

The new counselor looked unsure but nodded her agreement.

He’d received warmer welcomes but guessed he couldn’t blame her, considering their less than congenial start. She sat at the desk furthest away from the door. Her eyes resembled those of a startled animal as he pushed the door closed behind him. The look eased when he sat down in the chair furthest from her. Was she afraid of him? He conjured up one of his friendliest smiles.

She gave him an inquiring look.

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry for the comment about you being my family counselor. I misworded the statement. It won’t happen again.”

Her bearing softened. “Dr. O’Doherty—”

“Please call me Ryan. I’m a pretty casual guy generally.” She looked unsure about the idea. “May I call you Lucy?”

She nodded slowly. “Uh, Ryan, I know you’re not a fan of this coordinated patient care arrangement but I’d really like us to work together with as little conflict as possible.”

He liked the way his name sounded when she said it. Kind of easygoing and warm. “I’ll do my part but there have to be some ground rules.”

She pursed her lips and her delicately shaped brows drew closer together. “And those would be?”

“I expect the people that work for me to be punctual and to stay with me as I make rounds. I don’t wait.”

“Dr. O’Doherty, I don’t work for you. I work for the hospital, and ultimately for the patients. If I understood Mr. Matherson correctly, we do coordinated patient care. Which means we work together.”

“My OR schedule, which the hospital dictates, means I don’t have time to stand around waiting for you.”

“And my job, which the hospital and the human heart dictate, is to care for the patient and the family during a difficult time. My job is to help the whole family. We…” She waved a hand around, broadly including him. “This hospital should care for the whole person. That’s my job and I would appreciate you letting me do it.”

He flinched. “My job is to be a surgeon, I fix the problem. I don’t need to hand-hold patients or their families to do my job well.”

“No, you don’t, but it would be nice if you would at least try to on some level.”

His body stiffened and he gave her a questioning look. “The parents of my patients need to hear the truth.”

“I don’t disagree with that. I just question the delivery.”

“I thought that was why you were here?”

“It is, but parents like Brian’s like to hear reassurances from the doctor.”

She met his direct gaze for the first time for longer than a second. He stood. “Point taken.”

“What time’s your first case in the morning?”

“Seven. Why?”

“I like to be here when the child leaves the parents to go into surgery. It’s when they need the most support. Many want to talk. They’re scared. I’ll walk them down to the waiting room.”

He’d never given any thought to how difficult it was for parents to watch their child go into surgery. Didn’t want to think about it. He opened the door.

“It’s hard to let go,” she said with wistfulness in her voice.

Did she know that from personal experience? Her eyes glazed over. Where had her thoughts gone? Thankfully she recovered, the hopeless expression disappearing, to be replaced by that of a trained professional again. That he was more than capable of dealing with.

“I guess it is.” He closed the door between them. What was the woman with the sad, serious eyes hiding?

CHAPTER TWO

THAT EVENING LUCY arrived home later than she’d planned. To be at the hospital early for four mornings out of the week meant she had to stay late in the evenings to prepare. On top of that there was the time she spent getting to and from work. Accustomed to the freedom of driving a car, she found using the subway system restricting and oftentimes frustrating. Never good at reading maps, she had a tendency to take the wrong train far too often. This was one aspect of living in a huge city that she’d not thought through.

Her heavy-set, dark-haired landlord, who was standing outside the building, called, “Hello,” as she started climbing the stairs to her studio apartment.

“Hi, Mr. Volpentesta,” she returned with more enthusiasm than she’d had in a long time.

He presented her with a big, white, toothy smile.

Lucy made her way up to the third floor above the Italian bistro. She didn’t mind the climb. It was good exercise and she’d always enjoyed being fit. Staying in shape and eating right were important to her. She sucked in a tight breath. That had been one of the many reasons she’d had no trouble carrying Emily.

Emily. The hurt throbbed deep. She had to get beyond the pain somehow.

Unlocking the door, she pushed it open and stepped into the studio apartment. A nice window allowed light into the space. A bed faced it and there was a small sitting area. In one back corner was a kitchenette, functional but tiny, and in the other corner was the bathroom, which included a tiny closet.

She’d managed to make the place homely with the few things she’d brought with her. When she had time she’d give it the care it deserved. It wasn’t much by most people’s standards but she enjoyed the multicultural, tree-lined neighborhood. She’d been lucky to find a place within her budget.

Alexis, her sister, didn’t understand Lucy’s need to move so far away and Lucy had no intention of ever sharing the real reason she’d left. It was her deepest shame. It had almost killed her but she’d had to get away. It was better for everyone that she leave, despite how much she missed her sister, and Emily. She wanted Alexis and her family to be happy. For her to hang around, wishing she was a part of their close-knit group, hadn’t been healthy for any of them.

Dropping her purse on the table, which had obviously been confiscated from the bistro, she put the kettle on to heat water to make tea. Sweet iced tea was her drink of choice. No matter where she lived she took that small pleasure with her. Even in the cold early spring weather she couldn’t give up that small part of her growing-up years. It was one of the passions she and her sister shared. She wouldn’t go there. Spending her evening crying wasn’t part of her plan.

Taking a deep breath, she moved to her bed, pulled off her business suit and replaced it with sweatpants and sweatshirt, then she tugged on slouchy socks.

The streetlight below her windows flickered on, washing the room in a warm glow that only added to her loneliness. She clicked on a lamp on her way back to the stove and after pouring the hot water over the tea bags and sugar she reached for a can of soup from the open cabinet.

She’d gone from carrying a baby and living in her sister’s home, where love abounded, to a shabby room in an enormous impersonal city. She sank into one of the two chairs she had and put her face in her hands.

Stop it. Get a hold of yourself. You can survive this. You have to make your own life.

The next afternoon, she entered Daniel Hancock’s room to find Ryan leaning back in a chair as if he made social visits to the teenage boy’s room regularly. Ryan had removed a tumor from the sixteen-year-old’s brain stem the week before.

“Ah, Ms. Edwards, just the person we were looking for,” Ryan said, as if he was genuinely glad to see her, which created suspicion in her mind.

He’d made it clear the day before that he wasn’t interested in her being involved in his cases unless he thought she was needed. Now he acted as if they were old friends and he was planning to ask her a favor. She was unsure how to read his attitude change. Up until this moment she would have characterized their relationship as two dogs circling each other, trying to decide how not to get in each other’s way.

She’d play along. Approaching the end of the bed, she smiled at Daniel. “What can I do for you two gentlemen?”

“I was just telling Daniel that he can’t return to school right away. That he’ll need to be home-schooled for a while until his site heals. Can you help to arrange that?”

“I’ll see about it right away.”

“Did you know that Daniel’s the star of his high-school baseball team?”

“I had heard that.” In fact, his future had begun to disappear when he hadn’t been able to control his hand movements. Now, because of Ryan’s skill, Daniel had a chance at his dream again. She could forgive some of Ryan’s brashness for that alone. He might lack empathy at times but he had major surgical skills.

Ryan stood and, grinning, said to Daniel, “I hope to see you playing for the Yankees one day soon. I’ll leave orders for the teacher to be cute and like baseball—how does that sound?”

Daniel gave him a weak smile but seemed pleased.

Ryan offered his hand to the teen. Lucy appreciated the way Ryan showed his respect for the young man by treating him as an equal. It was a way of giving Daniel a sense of control in a place where he felt he had none. Why hadn’t Ryan given the same consideration to the mother the evening before?

She followed Ryan out of the room. “You know, Lucy, having you readily available may be a good thing after all.”

“It isn’t my job to be at your beck and call.”

“Maybe not, but so far it’s working out well.” He grinned and walked off.

And she’d thought moving to New York was going to make her life easier. How long was this coordinated patient care agreement supposed to last?

Hours later all she wanted to do was go home and fall asleep. Instead, she was hunting down Ryan for a signature on a couple of forms. She knew the vicinity of his office but she’d never been there. Punching the automatic door-opener on the wall, she waited then passed through a set of doors that led into a short hallway. Here she was no longer in the sunny land of the patients’ hall. Instead, it turned into the practical world of business. She searched the uniformed name plates until she found Ryan’s beside the second door on the right. It read: “Dr. Ryan O’Doherty, Associate of Neurosurgery”.

She’d heard talk about Ryan not getting the department head job. Most of the nurses were surprised. They’d all thought he would be a shoo-in. Apparently popularity wasn’t the deciding factor. If it had been and the staff had voted, it would have been unanimous. Even in the OR, where the pressure was greater and personalities sometimes clashed, the staff all seemed to appreciate Ryan’s skill and winning ways. She just wished some of those winning ways would spill over when she had to deal with him.

His office door stood partially open. She knocked and waited. No answer. The forms had to be signed tonight or first thing in the morning. Maybe she should page him? No, she didn’t want to do that. She’d just leave the forms on his desk and text him, asking him to sign them before he went into the OR. She rolled her eyes. She was sure he’d be real glad to hear from her.

Apprehensive about entering Ryan’s private space without permission but thinking she had no choice, she stepped into his office. His ever-present lab coat lay across the back of his desk chair. He must have gone for the day if he didn’t have it on. On the other hand, his office door was open.

She placed the papers on his desk and picked up a pen lying there to write him a note. Maybe he would see them before she had a chance to text him.

Ryan stepped out of an adjacent doorway into the room.

She squealed, jumped. Her hand went over her heart before it settled with a thump. “Oh.” Heaven help her, he wasn’t wearing a shirt. She gulped. Coming into his office hadn’t been a good idea.

Ryan’s slacks hung low on his hips and his belt was undone. She couldn’t take her eyes off his chest. An expanse of muscle covered in a light dusting of hair.

“What’re you doing here?” he said brusquely. His tone stated clearly he wasn’t pleased to see her. He stepped behind his desk and pulled out a drawer. Removing a shirt, he slipped it on and began to button it.

She followed his movements as he worked his way up the shirt. His long, tapered fingers moved swiftly. Ryan was a large man to be doing such delicate work as brain surgery. She’d heard he had a gentle touch with the scalpel.

What would it be like to be caressed by him? What kind of question was that? She shook her head. The last thing she needed to do was get moony-eyed over Ryan O’Doherty.

“Lucy, did you need something or did you just stop by to gape? Or maybe snoop?” His tone had turned teasing but still held an edge of distrust.

She straightened and moved away from the desk, trying to gather her poise as she went. “I do not snoop!”

His mouth quirked at one corner. “Then gape? Because you’ve yet to tell me why you’re here.”

“I need you to sign these forms so I can get Daniel’s home schooling set up before he’s discharged. These…” she pointed to the papers to prove she was telling the truth “…have to be in by tomorrow to make the deadline. That’s if you still want him to have a cute teacher. They’ll be all gone by tomorrow afternoon I was told,” she said with the most insincere saccharine smile she could muster.

“Why, Ms. Edwards, you surprise me. I had no idea you had a sense of humor.”

Ryan should’ve been livid at finding Lucy in his office without permission. This was his private domain and he wanted it to remain that way. The look of surprise on her face and the widening of her eyes when she’d seen his state of undress had defused his anger. She hadn’t immediately turned away. Instead, her eyes had grown darker, her gaze fixed on his chest. It hadn’t been one of her shy looks but one of bold appraisal. Pure male satisfaction had won out over his irritation. His ego officially skyrocketed.

She huffed, stepped over to the desk and picked up the papers. “If you would just sign these, I can get out of your way.”

For some reason he was a little disappointed at the idea. This was the most entertaining time he’d spent with someone in a long time. Who would have thought he’d find the quiet, ordinary woman interesting? No, ordinary was the wrong word. There was nothing ordinary about Lucy.

Ryan picked up the forms and reviewed them. Setting them down again, he took the pen she’d dropped and signed a form. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her looking around. He had learned quickly that she was observant, almost intuitive about people. What was she learning about him?

He glanced at her as he pulled the second form to him. She studied his shelves filled with books intermingled with pictures and baseball memorabilia. Her gaze moved on to the opposite wall. There hung a framed picture of a Yankees baseball game in progress, which took up most of the space. Putting down the pen, he turned to sit on the edge of his desk. Lucy’s consideration had traveled to the framed pictures on his desk.

Before he realized it, he’d said, “Those are my nieces and nephews.” He pointed toward a picture with two dark-haired women in it. “My sisters.” He rarely volunteered personal information to anyone. No wonder Lucy was so good at her job. Something about her made people want to tell her their secrets.

His gut clenched. He didn’t want her to know his. “Is there anything else?” His words sounded more dismissive than he’d intended. He handed the forms to her.

All business again, she said, “I’ll see that they are faxed before I go home.”

He watched her leave his office. Why all of a sudden was he looking forward to coming to work the next day?

Ryan’s running shoes made a rhythmic sound as he took the turn in the paved path on his way back to the hospital. He slowed when he saw Lucy sitting on a park bench. Her head was tipped back, her face held up to the sun. That golden rope of hair gleamed in the light. She’d removed her heavy cardigan and had her legs stretched out in front of her. He hadn’t known her long but he suspected this was the most uninhibited she’d been in a long time.

She really was an attractive woman who seemed to want to blend in, go unnoticed. It hadn’t worked where he was concerned. He’d noticed too much.

As he grew closer, he could see that her eyes were closed. He wouldn’t have disturbed her but just as he approached she shifted and sat up as if jolted awake.

“Hey,” she said, drowsiness in her voice.

“Hey.” He liked this off-guard Lucy. When she had her full faculties back in a second she’d close off fast. She acted as if she was wary of everyone and everything.

“Been running.” She stated the obvious as he was standing there drenched in perspiration and wearing a sweatshirt and shorts.

“Yeah, one of the perks of working at Angel’s is that the park is so close.”

“I think so too. I already miss the lakes, forests and the spaciousness of the suburbs of Atlanta. Somehow knowing I can come to the park helps.” She began to put on her sweater.

What had caused her to make such a drastic move? He couldn’t ask that type of question if he wasn’t prepared to share in return. “Have you had a chance to explore the park?”

She laughed. “It may not surprise you to hear that I’m afraid I might get lost. So I don’t get out of sight of the hospital.”

He smiled down at her. “Maybe I can give you a tour some time. We’ll leave breadcrumbs if necessary.”

“If I’m along, it’ll be necessary.”

“Well, I’ll leave you to your sunning.”

“I’ve got to go in too. I need to get some lunch before I meet you for clinic.”

“I don’t know if it’s necessary for you to be at clinic today.”

She stood and faced him with an unwavering look. “Why not? I thought we were past having this discussion.”

He held up a hand. “It has nothing to do with me not wanting you there. I’m only going to be seeing patients who were discharged before you arrived.”

Her face relaxed. “I see. Just the same, I’d like to be there.”

She started towards the hospital without a backward glance at him. He’d been dismissed, something he wasn’t used to having happen from anyone other than his sisters.

Lucy entered the doctors’ shared clinic building attached to the hospital. Ryan’s day of the week to see patients was Wednesday. She looked around the waiting area of the clinic. It had large glass windows that provided a view of Central Park. Painted on the walls were murals with happy-faced animals. The orange furniture and light green carpet created a happy effect. Toy tables sat in an open space to the side. It was a place where children wouldn’t be afraid to come.

She found Ryan waiting in the hall of the clinic. “I’m sorry, I’m late. No matter how much time I allow myself, I still eat it up having to backtrack everywhere I go.” Lucy said as she caught her breath.

He smiled. “I’m starting to expect it.”

“I’m getting better. I can get to work without getting off the subway and doubling back a station. I do get my exercise, though.”

Ryan gave her body frank consideration. “I can see that you do.”

Warmth washed over her. It felt wonderful to have a man look at her with interest. In the past few days they’d managed to develop a working relationship that was at least doable if not comfortable. On her part, she’d spent longer than normal getting to know Ryan’s patients and their families. On his, he seemed to at least tolerate having her around.

“You know, I’ve been meaning to tell you that I like that Southern drawl.”

The grin on his lips and the dimples it brought to his cheeks made him the sexiest man she’d ever seen.

“But you talk so slowly that I forget what you said at the beginning of the sentence by the time you get to the end of it.”

She thrust her chin out and looked at him hard. “Are you making fun of me?”

The laugh lines around his eyes grew more prominent. “I would never do that.”

Lucy couldn’t help but return his teasing smile. Something she hadn’t done in a long time. It felt good to have some humor in her life again.

A nurse came down the hall. “You first patient is in exam two, Dr. O’Doherty.”

Ryan took the patient chart from the nurse and Lucy followed him. The man could turn on the charm when he chose. She’d have to watch out or he might use it against her.

Lucy joined him during each examination. All the patients were there for sixth-week post-op visits and would be released from Ryan’s care after this clinical appointment. Neither he nor she would see them again unless the patients required additional surgery. Maybe that was why Ryan didn’t invest more effort into getting to know the families. They weren’t normally long-term patients for him.

“This is the last patient,” Ryan told her as he pulled the chart out of the holder on the door. “Amanda Marcella. Three years old. “

He tapped lightly on the door then entered. Lucy followed and he introduced her. “So, how’s Amanda doing?” he asked the far-too-young mother.

“Okay, I guess.”

Lucy cringed. If she had a child who was sick she wouldn’t be treating the child’s heath so nonchalantly.

The little girl had an external shunt located on the right side of her head. Ryan removed the bandages. He really had a tender way about him.

“This shunt isn’t positioned correctly. The site needs to be checked and rebandaged. I’ll show you how I want it done,” he announced, engrossed in what he was doing.

“I don’t like doing that sort of thing. My boyfriend has to do it,” the mother said.

Ryan looked up. “This isn’t something that you have a choice about. You have to take responsibility for your child.”

He didn’t wait for the mother to respond before he turned and left the room.

At the girl’s stricken face, Lucy stepped toward her. “Do you have any one else who can help you?”

The girl shook her head slowly, her eyes filling with tears. “My parents kicked me out when I got pregnant with Amanda. I try to do what I can but I’m no good at being a nurse.”

Ryan returned with a nurse in tow. She carried a disposable suture kit. “I’m going to put in a couple of stitches to secure the shunt. It’ll still have to be bandaged and cleaned regularly.” He looked at the mother to punctuate his point.

The mother’s eyes grew larger and she screwed up her face with displeasure. Couldn’t Ryan tell he was scaring the girl? If he did notice, why didn’t he care?

“Why don’t we wait outside while Dr. O’Doherty is working?” Lucy suggested. The mother nodded and Lucy led her out into the hall.

“I know Dr. O’Doherty wants me to see about Amanda’s head but I just can’t. It makes me so sad to look at it.”

Minutes later Ryan opened the door, letting them know that he was finished. Lucy and the mother returned to the room. Ryan looked at the mother and said, “The nurse will show you how to bandage the site. You’ll need to bring Amanda back again next week. I’ll expect to see that the wound has been cared for.”

The girl mumbled, “Okay…” and took her whimpering child from the nurse.

Ryan left and Lucy gave the girl’s shoulder a reassuring pat and joined him.

“I hate it when I perform surgery and the patient is improving but the parents won’t take care of the child,” Ryan said through clenched teeth, softly enough not to sound unprofessional. Lucy had no doubt that he wished he could say it loud enough that not only the mother could hear but everyone else as well.

“Can we go to an empty exam room and talk a sec?” Lucy asked.

He gave her a frustrated look but nodded his assent.

When they were in the room with the door closed behind them, she turned to him and said, “Ryan, you can’t be so hard on that mother. She’s little more than a child herself and terrified. She has no help at home and a sick child to care for.”

“She has a duty to her child. She has to see that her child gets the care she needs.”

“Her grief is so great she can’t stand to look at her baby, it scares her,” Lucy flung back. “Haven’t you ever been in a spot where you thought you couldn’t handle it?”

He went pale for a second but soon recovered. Still, she’d seen it. His reaction to the mother had been over the top—was his cool relationship with his patient’s parents masking something more?

“What do you suggest?” he asked in a tight voice.

“I don’t think forcing the girl to do the wound care is the answer. She needs help. Which I will see about getting her. Until then, if you would write an order for home health a couple of times a week, I think it would be best for her and the child.”

She was shocked when a slight grin formed on his lips. “I’m starting to feel manipulated but I think you’re right this time. I’ll write the order.” Taking the chart he held, he turned and left the room.

She’d eased one aspect of the girl’s issues but she’d hit a nerve in Ryan’s. Why?

The knock on her office door told her Ryan stood on the other side. Even the rap of his hand was distinctive. Her officemates had gone home long ago. She might have left sooner if she’d had more to go home to. Instead, she was busy trying to see what services were available to Amanda Marcella. Going to the door, she opened it.

“Hi, I was just wondering if you might have dinner with me tonight. Let me say thanks for helping out this afternoon and apologize for making you feel less than welcome on your first day.” He grinned.

Ryan could slay dragons and carry off a princess’ heart with that movement of his lips.

“Just doing my job. No thanks necessary. I appreciate the invitation but I think I’d better just go home.” Why in the world wasn’t she accepting an opportunity to go out with a good-looking, smart man? Because she could be one of those slayed by his grin. Because it couldn’t go anywhere. But why did it have to?

“You don’t think you can take a few minutes to keep a hard-working colleague company while he eats?” His grin widened.

She was starting to fall for his charm. “I guess I could for a few minutes. I am hungry. But do you mind if I pick the place?”

“Sure. Just so long as it’s not a beans-and-sprouts place. I want meat and cheese and more meat.”

Lucy smiled. Something she was doing more often when he was around. It felt good. “There’s meat, along with great salads.”

“Perfect. Let’s go.”

He stepped through the doorway and waited for her in the hall. For heaven’s sake, what was she doing? She had no business going to dinner with Ryan O’Doherty. He was far too likeable. And he made her far too angry sometimes. She secured her scarf around her neck and pulled on her coat. Stepping into the hall, she pulled the door closed behind her and prepared to lock it.

Ryan was no longer there. It was late enough that most of the patients were in bed for the night. One lone mother spoke softly to her child and Lucy’s heart constricted. She’d thought distance would ease her feelings about Emily but with each baby she saw there was a fresh stab of pain. Would it ever go away?

She looked around and found Ryan standing in front of the nurses’ station, talking to one of the staff. The nurse was snickering. He looked in her direction and grinned.

His smile pushed the heartache away. She needed her mental faculties just to deal with him. The man had the ability to turn that charm on and off at will. All the nurses seemed to go calf-eyed whenever he walked down the hall. More than one had requested to care for his patients in order to have his attention for a few minutes.

That laughter and fun-loving attitude covered the seriousness of his job and the caring heart that she only glimpsed when he was dealing with the children. She’d seen him displeased and she was beginning to think few saw the emotional side of him. That he’d let it slip when she’d been around was something to ponder.

Ryan smiled and started toward her. The nurse saw Lucy and returned to her duties. When she reached Ryan he said, “I just got a page. I need to stop by the nursery for a few minutes to check on a child, if you don’t mind.”

No, she couldn’t do that. It would kill her to see the babies. She would cry. “Um, why don’t I just meet you in the lobby?”

“I would’ve thought you might want to meet the family, if they are there.”

“I’ll just wait and see if you are assigned the case.”

He gave her a quizzical look. “Okay. I’ll see you in the lobby as soon as I can.”

Lucy breathed a sigh of relief as Ryan walked off. She just wasn’t ready to face the nursery.

In the taxi, Ryan grinned when Lucy had to give the address of the restaurant for a second time. The cab driver didn’t quite understand her sweet Southern drawl. He himself liked it, a lot. Her slower, softer accent was soothing. He especially liked it when she said his name.

Lucy had a way about her that relaxed him, and others as well. She wasn’t authoritarian when she spoke but people listened to her. Plus her manner implied that everything would be all right given time. He’d seen it first hand when she talked to his patients’ families. She’d given of herself. At one time, he’d done that more freely but now he had nothing left.

If he ever discovered he had something to give, he hoped someone like Lucy was around to share it with. But now wasn’t the time. He’d never confided in anyone from work and he wouldn’t be starting now, no matter how tempting it might be.

Lucy sat beside him in the back seat, staring out the window. He wasn’t sure if she was avoiding looking at him or was just engrossed in the lights of the “city that never sleeps”.

“Have you been to New York before?”

“Once, when I was a kid. With my parents. I don’t remember much about it, though.” The wistful tone in her voice made him think that it hadn’t necessarily been a happy memory.

“I bet you never thought you’d be living here.”

She glanced at him. “No, never,” she said, before turning back to the window. “And with your accent, I’d guess you’ve never lived anywhere but here.”

“Brooklyn boy, born and raised,” he said proudly.

“So that’s why you have the baseball picture in your office.”

“Yeah. I’m a big Yankees fan. Do you keep up with baseball?”

“If you live in Atlanta you have to follow the Braves. My brother-in-law gets season tickets so I’ve gone to a few games.”

“I have season tickets to the Yankees. Maybe you’d like to go to a game some time?” He shifted uncomfortably. What in the world was he doing, inviting her out to a game? That sounded too much like a date.

The taxi pulled up at the curb.

“Volpentesta’s. That’s some of the best pizza pie in the city. For someone who has been in the city no longer than you have, you sure know where to get a good meal.”

Lucy smiled as she climbed out of the taxi. When she offered her share of the taxi fare he said, “It’s on me. My idea for the pizza.”

She didn’t fight him, just waited on the brick sidewalk gone wavy with age. She tensed a second when he lightly touched the curve of her back but she eased just as quickly. As they came to the door of the restaurant, he reached around her to open it.

“Someone taught you good manners. That’s the second time you’ve opened a door for me.”

The dull pain that he carried in his chest sharpened for a second. “My father was very old school. He would say, ‘Ryan, my boy, you treat a woman like you want your sisters to be treated. It’s the O’Doherty way.’”

“Kind of got off track when you first met me, didn’t you?”

“Hey, I showed you up to the floor.”

“Yeah, but you would’ve liked to drop me down the elevator shaft.”

“Was I that bad?”

She nodded.

“Then I’ll try to make up for it over dinner, okay?”

She smiled. “I’ve really gotten over it, so don’t let it worry you.”

A man who was almost as round as he was tall approached them, his hands outstretched. He asked with a strong Italian accent, “Miss Lucy, how are you today?”

Her smiled reached her eyes. Ryan felt a hot stab of jealousy. What would it take to have her smile at him like that? He wasn’t going to analyze that thought.

“Mr. Volpentesta, I’m doing fine. We would like a table.”

“Anything for you, my dear.”

Ryan gave her a quizzical look. The wait even on weeknights for a table at Volpentesta’s was long and she’d just waltzed in without a reservation.

The restaurant was an authentic Italian bistro right down to the red checked cloths and the candle on the table. The room was dark enough to make for a pleasing ambiance but not so dim that he couldn’t appreciate Lucy’s incredibly expressive face.

She wore little make-up. On occasion he’d noticed that she’d applied a gloss to her lips that made them dewy looking. Her hair was always contained by a ribbon or clip or was braided. More than once he’d pictured what it might look like free. She was unique. He’d give her that.

It had been a long time since he’d found a woman so interesting. She reminded him of Irish coffee. Sweet, fresh cream on top with a stout bite beneath. What kind of magic was this woman conjuring over him?

“Come this way, my dear.” Mr. Volpentesta led them to a table for two in a far corner of the room.

“How do you know him?” Ryan said close to her ear.

“I live upstairs.” She turned and followed the man again.

“Good choice,” he said, more to himself than her when they were given a cozy spot. What he’d had in mind had been more of a friendly meal than a lovers’ evening. He looked around the room but not finding a better option he accepted his fate. He held her chair out and waited until Lucy was settled before he sat.

“Your father has left nothing out.” She spread her napkin in her lap.

“He was a thorough man.”

“Was?”

Left no choice, he said, “He died.” He couldn’t keep the heartache out of his voice.

At her stricken and pitying look, he wished he’d lied. She placed a hand on his forearm and gave him an earnest look. “I’m sorry.”

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