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Unlocking the Doctor's Heart
Susanne Hampton
A reason to stay?Fresh off the plane from London, Dr Beth Seymour hopes for a new start in sunny Australia. But she comes down to earth with a bump when she meets her fearsome and oh-so handsome new boss, A&E consultant Matthew Harrison. Once playful and charming, heartbroken Matt is now distrustful of anyone who tries to get close, and his demanding manner has his staff quaking in their boots! But when feisty Beth stands up to him a long-buried tenderness emerges from Matt. Could Beth be the key to his locked-away heart?
‘Well, that didn’t seem so difficult, Dr Seymour. I wonder whether we should put your problem down to a lack of assertiveness. Or perhaps you weren’t in a hurry.’
Beth found his unremitting and unjust criticism more than she could handle. She paused for a moment before replying. She wanted to gather the last shreds of composure she possessed. Australia was supposed to be different. A new start, where she would be valued as a doctor, and also as a person. She had to make that clear now.
Finally, with a calm that belied her still shaky confidence, she challenged her aggressor. ‘You’re wrong with both suggestions, Dr Harrison. It appears that Australian men are not astute enough to get the message when it’s delivered politely. But don’t worry. I’m sure I can alter my delivery to suit the occasion. I learn quickly.’
She watched as the corners of his mouth curved slightly. Not a full smile, but Beth was relieved to see that at least it wasn’t the face of a man about to end her medical career. In fact, to her surprise, she found herself thinking it was a very handsome, almost roguish face. The blue eyes that had threatened her only minutes before now seemed to sparkle as they lingered on hers. She felt her pulse quicken and blood flow into her cheeks.
Conscious of her blushing, she abruptly turned her gaze from him, trying to concentrate on her case notes, but still she felt strangely distracted by his presence so close to her.
Matthew liked her spirit. She had just stood up to him, and not many people could do that. They cowered to his seniority and his reputation. But Beth didn’t flinch when she gave back as good as she got.
‘OD in Priority One,’ called a nurse as she raced past them.
Beth felt a firm hand on her arm.
‘Well, Dr Seymour, let’s see just how fast you learn!’
Dear Reader
I am so excited to introduce Beth and Matthew in my very first book, UNLOCKING THE DOCTOR’S HEART. I feel so privileged to be able to bring these characters to you and tell their very special love story.
The fact that I am able to do this as a Mills & Boon
Medical Romance™ author is a very special story too. An incurable romantic, and an avid reader of Mills & Boon books, I have wanted to write for this publisher for the longest time. I started writing romance a few years ago and, although I did occasionally dare to dream of one day using the title ‘Mills & Boon Author’ I wasn’t totally convinced that it would actually happen. But, just like falling in love, it happens when you least expect it.
I continued writing because I can’t imagine not doing it. And, having a medical background, I wanted to write a romance set in a busy hospital. So that is just what I did—and I added the element of travelling around the world to find love. Beth is a young Englishwoman with a feisty spirit and a desire to find her own identity and fall in love, and she travels to Australia in search of both. Matthew is a man who needs love but has locked away his heart after being badly hurt. They are two wonderful people who have never found ‘the one’. When I felt sure that this story was finally ‘the one’ I sent it off. And then it happened. I received the call from Mills & Boon with the exciting offer of a book contract.
I am thrilled that my first book is set in my hometown of Adelaide, in a fictitious hospital, the Eastern Memorial. It is loosely based on a large city teaching hospital and the story includes local landmarks, including my favourite shopping destination of Rundle Street. I hope you enjoy the rollercoaster ride that takes these two wonderful, dedicated doctors from colleagues to lovers and manages to mend a broken heart along the way.
Warmest wishes
Susanne
Married to the man she met at eighteen, SUSANNE HAMPTON is the mother of two adult daughters—one a musician and the other an artist.
The family also extends to a slightly irritable Maltese shih-tzu, a neurotic poodle, three elderly ducks and four hens that only very occasionally bother to lay eggs. Susanne loves everything romantic and pretty, so her home is brimming with romance novels, movies and shoes.
With an interest in all things medical, her career has been in the dental field and the medical world in different roles, and now Susanne has taken that love into writing Mills & Boon
Medical Romance™.
UNLOCKING THE DOCTOR’S HEART is Susanne Hampton’s debut title!
Unlocking the Doctor’s Heart
Susanne Hampton
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to Peter, Ori, Tina and all of my wonderful family and friends who supported this dream of mine for so long: Sylva, Yvette and Sandra, my very first homegrown editors; The South Australian Romance Authors and Romance Writers of Australia for all of their encouragement; Flo Nicoll for her amazing patience, guidance and advice.
And finally to my brother Rod—always a hero in my eyes
Contents
CHAPTER ONE (#ua44f02f8-7b0e-53ae-8130-10698231af4c)
CHAPTER TWO (#uea5b5bfc-c55a-5471-92f2-f7cbe04bb1df)
CHAPTER THREE (#u6978e984-9db2-56f2-9da8-0d37d07177b9)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE
‘DO I LOOK like a mop?’
Beth wondered if this was a trick question, considering the young man asking was quite tall and wiry, not unlike a stick in stature, with a head of loose brown curls. She resisted the temptation to acknowledge an odd similarity.
‘Pardon me?’ she asked.
‘I’m sick and tired of Harrison cleaning the damned floor with me. I tell you, he treats residents like they’re not fit to be in his god-like presence.’
Beth watched from the corner of her eye as the stranger paced the lift. Adding an exaggerated depth and hint of sarcasm to his voice, he continued, ‘And short of lying comatose in ICU, there’s no excuse for arriving late at work while I’m in charge!’
Beth turned around to fully face the figure sharing her lift. ‘Please tell me you’re not talking about Dr Harrison, the senior A and E consultant?’
‘Afraid I am.’
‘I was hoping—’
‘Well, you’re out of luck,’ he cut in. ‘The other consultants are saints compared to our Hannibal Harrison.’
The lift stopped on the third floor, the doors opened to an empty lobby and after a prolonged wait slowly closed again.
‘Why do people push the button for every lift on the floor?’ the lanky man growled, before giving in to a lopsided smile. ‘Better watch my temper, I’m starting to sound like Harrison!’
Beth breathed a heavy sigh. This man had just confirmed the rumours she had overheard when she’d visited the human resource department only minutes before. She had tried to dismiss it as idle gossip.
‘That’s just wonderful,’ she said. ‘I start work with him this morning.’
‘So you’re the newest victim.’ He smiled sardonically, rubbing his hands, then offered one in friendship. ‘Just joking, it’s a bad habit of mine that you’ll have to get used to. I’m Dan Berketta, and you must be our RMO exchange from London. Let me be the first from Cas to welcome you to the Eastern Memorial.’
Beth met his handshake. ‘Beth Seymour.’
The lift stopped again, this time on the first floor.
‘This is where I get off,’ Dan explained. ‘I’ve been sent on an errand by the man himself. I’ll catch up with you later.’
The doors closed, leaving Beth and her thoughts alone as she travelled down to the ground floor. Somehow she had to make the best of it, despite Dan’s bleak report and terrible impersonation. She had no choice, she mused as the lift came to a stop. In vain she tried to tuck back a wisp of hair that escaped from her chestnut plait. She sighed when another frizzy strand fell across her eye. The humid Australian summer weather was playing havoc with her curls and that was just what she didn’t need. She feared frizzy curls around her face made her look even younger and she wanted desperately to appear every bit of her twenty-eight years today.
After a few moments struggling with the rebellious wisp, she conceded defeat and stepped from the elevator into the commotion of the A and E department. It was only eight o’clock on a Monday morning, but the tone of the day ahead was evident.
The hallway was lined with chairs and each one was taken. The cries of a colicky baby were almost drowned by the abusive yelling of an elderly drunk, who was being escorted to the exit door by two well-built orderlies. A barouche, attended by three hospital staff and clearly heading for Emergency Theatre, rushed past, forcing Beth to take two steps back.
‘Chin up, Beth Seymour,’ she muttered to herself. ‘No matter what, this is definitely where you want to be.’
Beth had worked too hard and waited too long for this day—travelling halfway around the world in the process—to let anything dampen her enthusiasm. Not even an A and E consultant with a supposed foul temper.
No one could be that bad, she decided. Or could they, she wondered, as she spied a man drumming his fingers impatiently on the reception desk. She checked her watch, even though she knew she wasn’t late, then berated herself silently for letting him intimidate her before they had even met. She had made a pledge to herself to appear the consummate second-year resident, confident and totally professional.
She had recognised Dr Harrison from the description given by the girl in Personnel. Tall, late thirties, wavy dark hair and deep blue eyes. He fitted the description, although she wouldn’t have called him exceptionally tall. Height was such a personal thing, she decided as she drew closer. She couldn’t help but notice his white coat was a little worse for wear as she breathed a sigh and stretched out her hand.
‘You must be Dr Harrison. They told me I’d find you here. I’m Elizabeth Seymour, the new exchange resident. Everyone calls me Beth. I’ve been assigned to A and E.’
The man didn’t meet her handshake. He stared blankly as he rubbed his chin. ‘Listen, lady, I’m no doctor, I’m a dental technician. I work down the road at the dental hospital and I’ve been waiting for an hour for someone to take a look at my rash. I have a truckload of dentures and crowns I gotta get back to, so can you cop a squiz and give me somethin’ for the itch?’
Beth dropped her hand. She was stunned into an embarrassed silence.
‘Well, you heard the man,’ came a voice from behind her. ‘Bay four is empty, so show the gentleman in there and check out his rash, Dr Seymour.’
Beth spun around, and was forced to raise not only her eyes but her face, in order to meet the deep blue pools belonging to the voice.
It was painfully clear—in fact, Beth thought she could almost bet her future medical career on it—that this voice and these very deep blue eyes belonged to the real A and E consultant. A quick glance down at his ID tag confirmed her nightmare. The name Matthew Harrison was glaring back at her in bold print from beneath his photograph.
‘Is this a hearing problem or an attitude problem, Dr Seymour?’ he asked dismissively, as he sifted through some case notes on the desk. ‘I said you can take this patient into bay four and begin the examination, unless of course there’s some quaint English tradition that prevents you working before ten in the morning.’ His eyes lifted from the case notes before him and he met Beth’s stunned gaze.
‘And if that’s the case, Dr Seymour, you’d better see me in my office, because I don’t need a second-year resident working for me but abiding by her own set of rules.’
With that he turned away, gathered an armful of files and proceeded down the hall and out of sight.
Beth bit the inside of her cheek as she looked around. The waiting room was full. People without seats were leaning against the walls. Then there was the queue she had passed moments before in the corridor. And all of them, she felt certain, had heard the dressing down she had just received.
‘Here are his notes, Dr Seymour. I’ve just completed them now,’ said a nurse, who Beth couldn’t have recognised five minutes later in a line-up if her life had depended on it. Her normally clear reasoning had deserted her the moment Matthew Harrison had attacked.
Somehow she managed to hear the end of the instructions ‘...and the bay Dr Harrison suggested is second on the left.’
‘Fine,’ Beth replied, as she took the file and tried to focus on the name. ‘Well, then, Mr Somers, if you’ll follow me, I’ll see what I can do.’
With a bowlegged gait, he followed her. ‘I sure hope you can give me something to stop the itching. It’s been driving me mad for near on four days.’
With her back to the patient as she led him into the bay, Beth rolled her eyes and gave a little sigh. This was not how it was supposed to happen. The fantasies of her first day on the job in Adelaide had been very different.
She put down the notes, closed the curtains and crossed to the washbasin. Quickly but thoroughly she washed her hands and slipped on some latex gloves. Then she turned back to catch her patient drop his pants to the floor and bend over the examination table. She swallowed hard as she approached the splayed figure.
‘Where exactly is the problem, Mr...? Mr...?’ Oh, God, she couldn’t believe she’d forgotten his name. Her eyes were levelled at a man’s naked backside and she had no recollection of his name. Whether it was the sight before her or the run-in with Dr Harrison that had blanked her mind, she wasn’t sure.
‘Somers,’ he called over his shoulder, ‘Barry Somers. But my friends call me Bazza.’
‘Yes, of course. Mr Somers,’ she repeated, but had no need to ask where the problem was, as she watched him raise his hand to the afflicted area.
‘It’s just here. I was out shooting with me mates when I got nature’s call and ducked behind some bushes. Well, seems like I backed into some prickly pear. I was a bit embarrassed to come in, I thought maybe it’d go away but it hasn’t.’
Beth proceeded with the delicate examination. Upon completion she removed her gloves and wrote out a script.
‘You can have this filled down the corridor at Pharmacy,’ she explained. ‘Apply the cream to the irritated area three times a day and you should be fine in a few days.’
He stared at her without answering.
‘Mr Somers, did you understand me?’
‘Yep,’ he said. Dismissing everything else she had previously told him, he continued, ‘You know, Doc, you sure are pretty. Has anyone told you that you have beautiful brown eyes?’
‘Mr Somers, please get dressed.’
‘Are you single?’
Beth chose to ignore the question. ‘I don’t mean to hurry you up but we’re very busy so if you could please put on your trousers and make your way to Pharmacy.’
‘Can’t blame a man for asking,’ he said, as he tucked in his shirt and finished dressing. ‘You’re from the UK, right? Been out here long?’
‘Yes, I’m English and, no, I’ve only just arrived.’ Beth answered the less personal questions. ‘Now, unless there’s anything related to your treatment, I think you can go.’
‘Me and me mates, we’ve got a shack on the Murray River... Have you ever been water-skiing?’
‘I’m not a watersports kind of person,’ Beth replied, as she filled in the last of the case notes and closed the file. She moved to the curtain, pulling it open. ‘Now, I really do have a lot of patients to see.’
