Susan Carlisle - Christmas With The Best Man

Dear Reader Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text Introduction Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication Praise CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN Extract Copyright , I always enjoy being included in a continuity. It’s entertaining and interesting to see characters come alive through different authors’ talents and watch them all interconnect. I count myself fortunate to have been a part of this project. Thanks to my fellow authors, who I’m proud to share this project with. I particularly had fun writing the scene about the young boy who broke his leg in a sledding accident. I patterned it after my son-in-law, who had a similar occurrence with his own son. We still give him a hard time about stepping in front of a moving sled. The son has recovered well from his injury! I should also thank Kim Turner and Marybeth Hunter. Their medical expertise made my story more realistic. I appreciate all their pointers. Most of all I hope you enjoy Helena and Elijah’s story. They each have a dark past to overcome. Love isn’t an easy thing for them. I hope you enjoy the Davenport family and the people who touch their lives at Manhattan Mercy Hospital as much as I do. I love to hear from my readers. You can reach me at SusanCarlisle.com . Happy Holidays, everyone! Susan

Title Page CHRISTMAS WITH THE BEST MAN Susan Carlisle www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author SUSAN CARLISLE ’s love affair with books began in the sixth grade, when she made a bad grade in mathematics. Not allowed to watch TV until she’d brought the grade up, Susan filled her time with books. She turned her love of reading into a passion for writing, and now has over ten Medical Romances published through Mills & Boon. She writes about hot, sexy docs and the strong women who captivate them. Visit SusanCarlisle.com . Books by Susan Carlisle Mills & Boon Medical Romance Summer Brides White Wedding for a Southern Belle Midwives On-Call His Best Friend’s Baby Heart of Mississippi The Maverick Who Ruled Her HeartThe Doctor Who Made Her Love Again Married for the Boss’s BabyThe Doctor’s Sleigh Bell ProposalThe Surgeon’s CinderellaStolen Kisses with Her Boss Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

Dedication Pam, thanks for the years of friendship.

Praise Praise for Susan Carlisle Contents Cover Back Cover Text Introduction Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication Praise CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN Extract Copyright “Gripping, stirring, and emotionally touching... A perfect medical read!” —Goodreads on His Best Friend’s Baby “This emotional love story kept me riveted. A truly satisfying, emotional read. Susan Carlisle’s work is like that. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.” —Goodreads on NYC Angels: The Wallflower’s Secret

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

DR. HELENA TATE knew what a madhouse the ER could be during and after a major nor’easter but to experience it first hand was always a draining experience. Not only was snow piled everywhere, the wind was howling and the temperature teeth-clatteringly cold.

Injured people filled the chairs and any extra space in Manhattan Mercy’s emergency department in New York City. Even though the department might be the one of the most modern and efficient ERs in the world, it had still been all hands on deck for the last couple of days. Inside it was at least warm and cheerful. Being a week before Christmas, the nurses had banded together to decorate the department. Garlands hung around the unit desk, wreaths adorned doors, and there was even a Christmas tree in the corner of the waiting room.

Despite the festive time of the year the sick and injured just kept coming. Thankfully the flow had started to ease. She must be out of here in an hour if she had any hope of making Grace and Charles’s wedding on time. A must, since she was the maid of honor.

She and Grace had been friends and roommates during medical school and had stayed in touch. When Grace had mentioned needing a change from her overseas work, Helena had told Grace about a position becoming available in the ER and had offered her a place to stay. Grace had soon learned Charles Davenport would be her boss and had talked of cancelling the interview. Helena had encouraged her to come on anyway, having no idea there had been something between Grace and Charles during their medical school years.

Helena smiled then sighed. Now they were getting married. She was thrilled for them.

Finishing with her latest patient, Helena looked at her watch to check how much time she had to shower and change. The locker room wasn’t the perfect place to dress for a formal event but unusual circumstances called for flexibility. If anything, she’d learned long ago as an unwed pregnant teen to adjust to what life threw at her and move on.

The pain of finding out that her boyfriend had wanted nothing more to do with her, and especially the baby, had been horrible. More devastating had been the loss of the child. Seventeen was too young to become a mother, but the guilt she carried over not wanting the baby was what had stayed with her all these years.

She had survived with the love and support of her family. That’s what mattered now. The part of her personality that made her think positively had made being an ER doctor a good fit professionally for her. Days like the last few only proved it. How she was holding her love close. She wanted a man who wanted her forever. Some might think she was foolish to believe in happily ever after but she was still going to hold out for it. Grace and Charles were proving it could happen and Helena had to believe Prince Charming was somewhere out there for her as well.

Drawing back Trauma Four’s curtain, she stepped out of the bay and was sideswiped by a blur of white. “Ho.”

Dr. Elijah Davenport, Charles’s twin, glanced over his shoulder. “Hey Helena, can you give me a hand? A kid just came in with a broken leg and the father’s having trouble breathing.”

She hurried to keep up with him. “I saw Jim Leonard come in a few minutes ago. Isn’t he the doctor relieving you this evening? Shouldn’t you be thinking about getting ready for the wedding? After all, you’re the best man.”

“Yeah, but there’re also patients to see. When Charles left me in charge I promised not to let the place fall apart.”

Like Elijah would ever do that. He might be the quintessential playboy doctor but Helena had never doubted he was a dedicated physician. Truth be known, she thought him the best doctor in the department. But no way would she tell him that. His head was already big enough where women were concerned. It would only add to his already over-the-top ego.

Still, he had earned it. Elijah was beyond good looking. From his dark brown hair, charmingly out of place most of the time, to his tall, buff beachboy physique and the “Davenport blues” that sparkled when he laughed, Helena easily understood why women were agog over him. She might be as well but she wasn’t interested in anyone who worked their way through the nurses. Or in the heartache he would cause if she lost her heart to him. She wouldn’t accept anything but true love.

Helena’s attention went to Elijah, who had paused at the door to an exam room. “I’ll take the kid and you see the father.”