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The Doctor Delivers
Judy Christenberry
I'm no blue-blooded princess…I'm the mother of your child!Something critical was missing in Liza Colton's life. Burdened by fame and catastrophic family secrets, she'd sought refuge in Saratoga Springs to heal. Then Dr. Nick Hathaway appeared by her bedside, and Liza knew she'd found the one person who could make her whole. Poisoned by his own past, the bitter doctor wouldn't see her for who she was. Until one night of passion changed everything….
JOE COLTON’S JOURNAL
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!
About the Author
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.
The Doctor Delivers
Judy Christenberry
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://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….
Contents
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
One
“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.
“And you came to see me so you could demonstrate your brilliant diagnostic skills?” He knew better than to use sarcasm on a patient, but she happened to be the kind of woman he avoided at all costs.
Beside being beautiful, she was wealthy and self-centered. He knew from experience how wealthy women worked. And with beauty added to the mix—
She spoke again in that painful voice. “Antibiotics.”
He raised one eyebrow. “I don’t dispense antibiotics on request, Ms. Colton.” She just stared at him with the most glorious green eyes he’d ever seen. “I’ll need to do a throat culture, run a few other tests.”
She had the nerve to shake her head.
Nick glared at her, but she raised her left wrist and pointed to the watch she wore. A Rolex, of course.
“Theater,” she whispered.
He couldn’t believe her. “You surely don’t think you’re going to perform tonight?” Damn, the woman could barely speak.
She shrugged her shoulders.
“Look, Ms. Colton, if you are under my care, there will be no performance tonight. No performance for at least two weeks, at which time I will reevaluate your situation, but I promise nothing.” He sounded too angry. Drawing a deep breath, he finished in cold tones, “If you find those terms unacceptable, I’ll be glad to refer you to another local doctor. Or you can take yourself to New York City and a considerably more expensive doctor to confirm what I’ve just said.”
Much to his surprise, after staring at him with various emotions changing those brilliant green eyes to a darker color, she gave a vigorous nod of approval. Then she whispered, “Antibiotics.”
He was surprised at the relief that her agreement gave him, but her last word irritated him again. “No antibiotics until after the tests.”
Her eyes rounded in panic, and she vigorously shook her head no.
“Yes,” he insisted. “I insist.”
To his consternation, she slid off the examining table, picked up the purse she’d left in a side chair and started for the door.
He should let her go, he decided. He didn’t need a patient unwilling to listen, intent on getting her way, determined to be in control.
Then she fainted.
Liza didn’t come to until she’d been put in an ambulance. The clanging of the doors brought her around. There was a man beside the stretcher and she reached out to tug on his shirt.
“Just lie quietly, ma’am. We’ll have you to the hospital in a couple of minutes.”
She didn’t need to be told the obvious. She tried again. “Doctor,” she whispered, not seeing the handsome man who’d examined her.
“No, I’m not the doctor. I’m a paramedic.” He grinned at her, no doubt impressed with his boyish charm.
She wasn’t impressed by his intelligence. “Hathaway!” she returned, the strain sending shooting pains down her throat.
“Oh!” the young man exclaimed, as if a lightbulb had gone off over his head. “You mean where is Dr. Hathaway?” After she nodded, he added, “He’s meeting us at the hospital.”
Frowning, Liza thought about what had occurred. The doctor had wanted her to have tests. No doubt if she went to a hospital, he’d expect her to stay. She couldn’t.
Grabbing his shirt again as the paramedic leaned forward to say something to his partner, who was driving the ambulance, she said, “No hospital.”
“Hey, pretty lady, we’ve got a fine hospital. They’ll take good care of you.”
She vigorously shook her head.
Ignoring her response, he said, his voice full of fake cheerfulness, “Here we are.”
When they rolled her into the emergency room, she felt like the center of a whirlwind, not moving as everyone rushed around her.
