Tracy Wolff: Healing Dr. Alexander

Getting Jack back

This was not his professional plan. Dr. Jack Alexander—dedicated surgeon and humanitarian—never expected an accident would end his time in the O.R. Nor did he expect to have to abandon his aid work. Now, back in Atlanta, he’s faced with rebuilding his career…his life. And his hope for the future comes from the least likely source—the little family next door.

From the first moment he spots Sophie Connors having a water fight with her young sons, Jack is captivated. She defies all of his assumptions about family and relationships. Too bad she resists committing. Somehow he has to change her mind. Because together they may find that life doesn’t always turn out the way you planned…sometimes, it turns out even better.

Praise for Tracy Wolff!

“Wolff does an amazing job depicting Rhiannon’s fear and insecurity, as well as Shawn’s desire to help her get over both.”

—RT Book Reviews on Unguarded

“The Christmas Present is more traditional in its plot (lovers from the opposites sides of the track) but the characterization is...strong.”

—Dear Author on The Christmas Present

“Unguarded is a deeply compelling,

character driven novel.”

—Lynette’s Two Cents on Unguarded

“Wolff is an excellent writer.”

—IReadRomance.com on

The Christmas Wedding

Dear Reader,

I am so excited that Healing Dr. Alexander has finally made it to the shelves. This is my second book about doctors working to make the world a better place. Jack’s story has haunted me for years and I’m thrilled to have this chance to share it with the world.

I first got the idea for these books—and this story, in particular—when I was still in graduate school. Though I knew I wasn’t ready to write it then (too busy juggling school, teaching and a new baby) it was an idea I couldn’t let go of. So I filed it away, and when it came time to propose my latest ideas to Harlequin, I knew it was finally time for me to write this book.

Healing Dr. Alexander is a story of love and redemption, preconceived notions and second chances. My main characters, Jack and Sophie, have both had a really difficult time of it in recent years and I love the fact that, despite all their pain, mistrust and determination to go it alone, in the end they find their way to each other and their happily-ever-after. It isn’t an easy road—with their pasts and their baggage, trusting in something as nebulous as love is about as easy as going for a root canal without anesthetic. But somehow they manage it, and I’m so glad they do. Putting the end on this story and giving these two the future they both richly deserve was one of the most satisfying things I’ve done in a very long time. I hope, when you get to the end, you’ll agree.

Thanks so much for picking up Healing Dr. Alexander and giving Jack and Sophie a chance. I love hearing from my readers via email at tracy@tracywolff.com or on my blog, www.tracywolff.blogspot.com.

Happy reading,

Tracy Wolff

Healing Dr. Alexander

Tracy Wolff

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tracy Wolff collects books, English degrees and lipsticks, and has been known to forget where—and sometimes who—she is when immersed in a great novel. At six, she wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow and a prince—and at seven, she ventured into the wonderful world of girls’ lit with her first Judy Blume novel. By ten, she’d read everything in the young-adult and classics sections of her local bookstore, so in desperation her mom started her on romance novels. And from the first page of the first book, Tracy knew she’d found her lifelong love. Tracy lives in Texas with her husband and three sons, where she pens romance novels and teaches writing at her local community college.

For my husband.

Love,

Tracy

Contents

PROLOGUE

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

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

PROLOGUE

“DR. ALEXANDER, now!”

The panic in the head nurse’s voice barely penetrated Jack Alexander’s concentration as he searched for the bleeder that, if not stopped, would claim his patient’s life. The top of the damn artery had started to roll back up the leg and he was having a difficult time finding it amidst all the blood.

“Dr. Alexander!” Becca’s shrill voice called his name a second time.

“Whatever it is, it’s going to have to wait!” he said, not taking his eyes from the teenage boy on the gurney in front of him. “I’ve only got a couple of minutes here or I’m going to lose him.”

The clinic didn’t have enough blood stored to make up for what was currently being pumped out of the poor kid. And while there was a line of people hundreds deep outside the clinic, most of the Somali patients were too close to starvation to afford the blood loss that came with donating. No, if this boy had any chance of survival at all, Jack had to find the top half of the shorn artery. Now.

“They want to talk to whoever’s in charge. I told them you were in surgery. They didn’t care.”

“Who?” he asked, distractedly. Then turning to Ruth, the nurse who was assisting him, he barked, “Stretch his leg out as far as you can. I’ve got to dig for it.” It was times like these that he missed his fully equipped operating room back in the States. Performing surgery in an ill-equipped tent in Somalia might have been his calling, but in moments like this it was also a horror.

“The Shahab,” Becca told him, her voice low and urgent and frightened. That got his attention.

“They’re here?” he demanded, even as he dug deeper into his patient’s leg. He was deadly aware of the moments that kept ticking by. In another ninety seconds this whole situation was going to be moot because the teenager on the table in front of him would be dead. Damn it. He glanced down at the kid’s face. He couldn’t have been more than fourteen or fifteen. Far too young to die.

“They’re outside. They want supplies.”

“We just gave them stuff last week,” he said, following the path the artery had taken, his gloved fingers slipping. Thank God they’d had enough anesthesia to knock the kid out—this time. But if they gave the Somali warlords any more supplies, they wouldn’t have enough for the next emergency. The next shipment from For the Children wasn’t expected for at least three more weeks. “Tell them we don’t have anything left to share.”

“I did. They aren’t listening.”

The panic in her voice finally got through to him, but there was nothing he could do about it. Not then, as his fingers finally brushed against the ragged edge of the severed artery. “Stay here,” he told her as he twisted his arm and shoved his hand a little deeper. “I’ll take care of them when I’m done with this surgery.”

“I don’t think they’re going to wait.”

“They’re going to have to,” he snapped, “because I’m not letting this kid go.” He finally got hold of the artery and pinched it tightly between his thumb and forefinger. “Get the clamp ready, Ruth.”

She already had the surgical clamp in her hand, and extended toward him. He tugged on the artery, not bothering to be gentle. The boy was going to feel like hell when the anesthesia wore off, but at least now he actually had a chance of waking up. Here, now, that was all the hope Jack could offer him.

The knowledge grated his insides raw, but he couldn’t afford to dwell on it. Not right now.