Wendy Marcus – NYC Angels: Tempting Nurse Scarlet (страница 1)
Dear Reader
I am thrilled to have been asked to provide Book Six in this eight-book continuity about Angel Mendez Children’s Hospital, set in New York City, just a few hours from my home. It was an honour to work with the wonderfully talented authors who contributed to this series.
My story is about Scarlet, the head nurse of the hospital’s NICU—Neonatal Intensive Care Unit—and Lewis, the head of the hospital’s paediatric emergency room.
Since I have no first-hand knowledge of NICUs, this book took quite a bit of research to pull off. But I love learning new things, and now have a healthy respect for the hard-working nurses and doctors who provide care to the tiniest of patients and their families.
In this story I touch on the issue of adoption—a topic near and dear to my heart as I was adopted. It takes a special person willing to make a lifetime commitment to adopting, taking care of and loving another person’s child from birth through adulthood, or anywhere in between. I hope I did the storyline justice.
I love to hear from readers! Please contact me at Wendy@WendySMarcus.com
Thank you for buying and reading my books.
Wishing you all good things
NYC Angels:
Tempting
Nurse Scarlet
Wendy S. Marcus
NYC Angels
In March New York’s most notoriously sinful bachelor Jack Carter found a woman he wanted to spend more than just one night with in:
And reluctant socialite Eleanor Aston made the gossip headlines when the paparazzi discovered her baby bombshell in:
This month cheery physiotherapist Molly Shriver melts the icy barricades around hotshot surgeon Dan Morris’s damaged heart in:
And Lucy Edwards is finally tempted to let neurosurgeon
Ryan O’Doherty in. But their fragile relationship will need to survive her most difficult revelation yet…
Then, in May, newly single (and strictly off-limits!)
Chloe Jenkins makes it very difficult for drop-dead-gorgeous Brad Davis to resist temptation…!
And after meeting single dad Lewis Jackson, tough-cookie Head Nurse Scarlet Miller wonders if she’s finally met her match…
Finally join us in June, when bubbly new nurse Polly Seymour is the ray of sunshine brooding doc Johnny Griffin needs in:
And Alex Rodriguez and Layla Woods come back into each other’s orbit, trying to fool the buzzing hospital grapevine that the spark between them has died. But can they convince each other?
Be captivated by NYC Angels in this new eight-book continuity from Mills & Boon® Medical Romance™
These books are also available in eBook format from www.millsandboon.co.uk
CHAPTER ONE
SCARLET MILLER, head nurse of the NICU—Neonatal Intensive Care Unit—at Angel Mendez Children’s Hospital, lovingly referred to as Angel’s by the staff, walked onto the brand new, now fully functioning unit she’d played a key role in designing and creating, feeling more at home than she did anywhere else. Feeling proud of all she and her wonderful colleagues had accomplished, during her four years as a manager—national recognition for providing the highest level of care available for sick and premature newborns with one of the lowest mortality rates in the U.S. A high tech yet caring, state of the art yet warm and welcoming sixty-two bed unit that the residents of New York City and its surrounding areas kept at or near full capacity on a regular basis.
“Looks like someone finally had herself a hot weekend,” Linda, one of her older nurses said, walking up beside her. At least she wasn’t complaining about the switch from the open floor plan of their old setup to the mostly private rooms of their new wing.
“If by someone you’re referring to me.” Scarlet stopped at the nurses’ station, took the pink message slips held up by one of the unit secretaries and gave the young woman a smile of thanks before turning back to Linda. “And if by hot you’re referring to my oppressive, sweat-drenched, Saturday night of misery, the hottest eleventh day of May ever recorded in Weehawken, New Jersey, during which I spent more than sixteen hours without power ergo without air conditioning, then yes. I did indeed have a hot weekend.”
“Uh oh.” Linda glanced toward a huge vase filled with at least two dozen long-stemmed red roses and accenting ferns perched on the counter to their left.
“Uh oh what?” Scarlet asked.
“I told you we shouldn’t do it,” Ashley, the young secretary said, shaking her head.
Scarlet looked at her. “Do what?”
Cindy, one of her newest nurses, who’d been observing patient monitors and video feeds as part of her orientation, looked up over the counter and pointed to a rectangular golden box of chocolates, the cover askew.
“Would someone please tell me what’s going on?” Scarlet didn’t have time to play around, she needed to get back to work after a morning of meetings and greet the family of their newest micro-preemie, baby girl Gupta, born at twenty-six weeks, one pound, thirteen ounces, thirteen inches long, who’d arrived during her absence.
“We thought they were yours,” Cindy said.
“What—?”
“The flowers. And the chocolates,” she clarified.
“Why…” would they think someone had sent her red roses, the floral symbol of love and passion, typically given by men to their wives, girlfriends, and lovers, when she practically lived at the hospital, and hadn’t had a man in her life since… Hmmm. Since…
She gave up rather than belabor the pitiful fact it’d been so long she’d require a quick browse of her calendar, from last year, or Lord help her, maybe the year before, to spark her memory. Not that she’d humiliate herself by actually looking. But in her defense, no woman could have achieved the level of success she’d managed—which benefited the hospital, its tiniest patients and their families as much as it did her—without putting in long hours on the job.
“Because the card that accompanied them is made out to you.” Linda pointed to the mini mint green envelope sticking out of the beautiful, fragrant, partially opened blooms which did in fact have her name on it. Spelled with one t unlike the famous Scarlett she’d been named after—only her mother hadn’t taken the time to get the spelling right.
Scarlet plucked the card from its plastic holder and opened it.
Right there Scarlet knew the card wasn’t meant for her. But she read on…not to snoop, mind you, but to search out any identifying information on the intended recipient.
Beneath his name he’d listed his home telephone number, his work number, cell number, and e-mail address. Scarlet’s namesake must be pretty darn good in the sack. “Call down to Human Resources,” she told Ashley. “Ask if there’s a new hire named Scarlet and where she works.”
While Ashley did as instructed, Cindy grabbed the card from Scarlet’s hand and read it. “Yowza.” She used the card to fan herself then handed it to Linda.