Judy Christenberry - The Doctor Delivers

I’ve always loved my niece, Liza, like a daughter. A beautiful and talented singer, Liza was groomed from childhood by my pushy sister-in-law to be a star. Now, I never understood why my younger brother, Graham, married an ice princess like Cynthia in the first place…. Over the years, Liza has bent over backward to win her mother’s love—yet to no avail. Still, Liza has always known that she has a safe haven with Meredith and me in Prosperino whenever she needs it. Unfortunately, it looks like the strain of the disappearance of her beloved foster cousin Emily, and her stressful nationwide tour have finally taken their toll on her. Funny how Liza seems much less distraught about losing her voice than her mother is. One might even say Liza’s relieved to be out of the spotlight. Hmm…maybe her new outlook on life has something to do with that compassionate specialist, Dr. Nick Hathaway, who has taken on her case. From what I hear, the dashing doc is working miracles on my niece’s aching heart!

JUDY CHRISTENBERRY

has never been enthralled with a doctor until Dr. Nick Hathaway became a part of her world. But she’s perfectly content for him to fall for Liza Colton. After all, the beautiful singer resembles Audrey Hepburn, Judy’s favorite actress. So, writing their story for the incredible series THE COLTONS has been a particular pleasure. Their sprawling family has variety for everyone. This bestselling author always loves the happy endings for both her and her characters. She hopes you do, too.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Meet the Coltons—

a California dynasty with a legacy of privilege and power.

Liza Colton: The dynasty’s diva. During a national tour that could fulfill her parents’ ambitions, this up-and-coming starlet suddenly has a change of heart. Could it have something to do with her handsome doctor’s bedside manner?

Nick Hathaway: A family man. His marriage to a self-absorbed blue blood had been a bitter pill for this doctor to swallow. And though he was strongly attracted to his celebrity patient, he had no doubt that she was cut from the same piece of silk. Even if her warmhearted actions seemed to prove just the opposite!

Meredith “Patsy” Colton: A dangerous bedfellow. Frustrated at her attempts to find her sibling and to kill that “bothersome” Emily Blair, Joe Colton’s impostor wife has just stepped up her campaign….

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

“Doctor, you’ll never guess who’s here to see you!”

Liza Colton’s head snapped up. Her glance around the room confirmed that she was still alone in the examination room, waiting for the busy doctor’s attention. Her gaze focused on the door, realizing it wasn’t quite closed.

“Missy, I don’t have time for guessing games.” The deep voice had an interesting, intriguing timbre that fascinated Liza. She wondered if his appearance could possibly match his voice. Not that it mattered, really.

“But it’s the latest diva!” the invisible nurse gushed.

Liza stiffened.

“Diva?”

As if the nurse thought he didn’t understand the word, she said, “You know, that’s what they call Streisand, Céline Dion, Mariah Carey—”

“I know what the word means, Missy,” the male voice asserted. “I’m just surprised, though. What diva would be here in Saratoga Springs?” But there wasn’t an ounce of interest in his voice.

“Liza Colton! I saw her two nights ago. She’s the latest diva. Well, she will be. She’s not quite there yet. But she was fabulous! Why, she got a standing ovation at the end. Everyone just kept on clapping.”

Liza smiled. It had been a gratifying moment. And she hadn’t had too many of those lately.

“The beer sales must’ve been brisk,” he said dryly. “Why is she here?”

“It’s tragic! She can barely speak.”

“After performing two nights ago?”

“And last night, too. And she’s got another performance tonight.” There was a brief pause, and Liza thought maybe they’d moved away. Which suited her just fine. The man obviously didn’t appreciate music or have much regard for her talents.

“Oh, Doctor,” the nurse, who’d shown her into the examining room, pleaded, her overwrought tones making Liza roll her eyes, “you just have to save her!”

“Let’s don’t get carried away, Missy. I’m an ear, nose and throat specialist, not a heart surgeon.”

Well, unlike most doctors, at least he didn’t have an inflated view of himself. Liza decided maybe she could forgive him for his earlier remarks.

Then the door opened.

She was skilled at cloaking her emotions—good thing—but she’d never been bowled over by a man’s looks before.

He was gorgeous. Not picture perfect, like the models or actors who tried to impress her. She wasn’t sure how she knew, but he had…substance. That was the word she was searching for. Gorgeous substance. His dark brown hair was conservatively cut, but rumpled, as if he ran his hands through it…and made her want to do the same. His physique was that of an athlete, strong, muscular. And his blue eyes almost made her swoon. Or was that her illness?

“Ms. Colton?” he asked as he stepped into the room and extended his hand.

She was reluctant to accept that offer of welcome. But she finally shook his warm hand with hers. And shivered.

“Cold? Oh, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Dr. Hathaway.”

She gave him a slight smile and nodded.

“I understand you’ve been exciting the crowds with your singing. Congratulations.”

She wanted to ask if he paid his nurse a bonus for filling him in on his patients so he could appear so interested. But he wasn’t worth straining her voice any further.

With a nod, she waited for him to get down to business.

“Can you tell me what the problem is?”

She drew a deep breath. Many men had told her how sultry, how sexy, her voice was. But now it was raw, raspy and painful. With care, she said, “I’ve strained my voice.”

When she said nothing else, he pulled out a tongue depressor. “Open up.”

After several minutes of studying her throat and checking her ears, a frown on his well-chiseled face that, incredibly, included a cleft in his chin, he stepped back. “When did you first feel discomfort?”

“Last night,” she whispered.

“After your performance?” She nodded.

“Did it hit you suddenly?”

She shook her head no.

“Have you ever had this problem before?”

She shook her head. Then she said, carefully, “Stress. Antibiotics. Rest.”

Nick Hathaway clamped down on the cynical laughter that rose in his throat. Typical of these spoiled, wealthy young women. She’d never had the problem before, but she’d already diagnosed it and determined the cure.