THE GOOD DOCTOR
Karen Rose Smith
Fortunes of Texas: Reunion
Silhouette Signature Select ~ October 2005

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Peter Clark would never describe himself as a jaw-dropping catch--despite being one of San Antonio's most respected neurosurgeons.  So why is beautiful New York neurologist Violet Fortune looking at him as if she would like to show him her bedside manner?  Not that he minds...it's been a long time since he's met a woman who could ever hope to compete with his work.

Being with Peter helps workaholic Violet ditch her self-doubt and discover what it feels like to be in the arms of a man who understands the depths of her commitment to medicine.  But while that dedication helps heal, it also has the power to force Violet and Peter apart.  And suddenly Violet must decide if Texas is truly her home.

REVIEWS

"The Good Doctor is a heartwarming story with a sweet but sexy romance at its core. The sparks between Peter and Violet are palpable, but what makes this couple so special is the author's subtle development of their emotional attachment.."  Catherine Witmer/Romantic Times Bookclub

Chapter One

         "You've got it all now," Linda Clark decided as she appraised her brother.
         "Just wait till those nurses get a gander at you," Stacey agreed, her smile as wide as her sister's.
         Dr. Peter Clark swiftly closed his office door, hoping no one else had heard.  "Cool it, you two," he demanded in a stern voice as he strode to his desk, wondering how long this visit was going to last.  He had an appointment in fifteen minutes.  His sisters weren't in awe of him as some of his patients were, so it might be hard to kick them out.  He loved them dearly but sometimes...
         "I don't know why I let you dress me like a mannequin," he grumbled.  He was still not sure the navy-tweed blazer was something he would have chosen on his own.  He definitely wouldn't have bought the silk
shirt and the patterned designer tie--
         "You turned thirty-nine yesterday, and you wouldn't even let us give you a party.  The least we could do is spruce you up a bit," Linda teased, brushing her dark brown hair away from her face.  "Now, tall, dark
and handsome really applies.  I like the new haircut, and we didn't even have anything to do with that."
         "My regular barber was out of town."
         A laugh came from Stacey's direction.  "Thank goodness!  The only thing we could add now is color contacts to make your eyes a little greener."
         He'd had enough.  They'd taken him to lunch and then accompanied him to a men's store to pick up his tuxedo for Friday night.  Despite his protests, they'd insisted on buying him a blazer, shirt and tie as birthday gifts, convincing the store's manager to have them pressed so he could wear the outfit back to the office.  His usual routine wasn't frivolous, not by a long shot.  Most days he was in the hospital or in surgery from dawn to dusk.  This venture into the lighter side of life just didn't fit him any more than some of those blazers he'd tried on.
         He deliberately checked his watch.  "I have an appointment in ten minutes."
         "We're not leaving until you assure us you'll show up on Friday night."
         Counting to five, he tried to keep the impatience from his voice.  "You talked me into the bachelor auction because it's for a good cause.  I never go back on my word.  Not even if that means I have to
endure the humiliation of standing on a runway and having women bid on me.  Now, as I said..."
         Linda sighed.  "Your life is much too serious.  I couldn't stand doing what you do.  A pediatric neurosurgeon holds too much power in his hands.  How do you handle that responsibility?"
         "Very carefully," he replied seriously.
         Nothing meant more to him than his work and the kids he treated.  In fact there was one right now who was breaking his heart.  The bachelor auction would be raising money for high tech equipment for the
pediatrics wing to help children like Celeste.  That was the only reason he'd agreed to be a part of it.  That, and the fact that the wing had been built as a memorial to his mother.  If only there was someone like his mom to help with his little patient.  She needed loving care as much as she needed high tech equipment and surgery--maybe even more.
         There was a knock on his office door and Katrina, his receptionist, poked her head inside.  His office would be chaos without her.  He was in partnership with two other neurosurgeons and she made sure
the organization of their schedules and appointments didn't interfere with the work they did.  She was a petite dynamo in her forties with short-cropped, curly black hair, a round face, and an impish smile.
         "Violet Fortune is here.  I didn't think you'd want to keep her waiting."
         Linda's brows arched under her dark bangs.  Stacey's mouth rounded as she digested the Fortune name.
         "A Fortune coming to see you?  What's all that about?" Linda asked.  Then, as if a light bulb went on in her head, she snapped her fingers.  "Oh, I get it.  Violet Fortune's a neurologist with a reputation
almost as good as yours.  Maybe she came all the way from New York to consult with you."
         "Okay," Peter said, rising to his feet.  "You did not hear a name.  You have amnesia about anything Katrina said."
         "We'll see Violet Fortune on our way out.  Her picture has been in the Red Rock Gazette now and then," Linda concluded.  "You know, that paper you never read because medical journals are more important."
         His sisters were successful women in their own right.  Stacey owned a small boutique in one of San Antonio's gallerias, and Linda was a loan officer with a major financial institution.  Both of them, however,
seemed to be able to see the lighter side of life much better than he could.  Maybe because he'd been the first born.  Maybe because when their mother had died, the event had shaken his world most.  Perhaps that's why they'd been able to accept his father's quick marriage afterward--as well as their stepmother--and he never could.
         Both of them on their feet now, realizing he did have work to do, Linda gave him a quick hug.  "Happy day-after-your-birthday once more."  She patted the sleeve of his blazer.  "Really hot," she kidded again.
         He couldn't help but laugh then as Stacey hugged him, too, and added, "If not before, we'll see you Friday night.  Just make sure that black tie's straight before you stroll down the runway, okay?"
         When his sisters stepped into the hall, he decided to walk them out.  He didn't want them waylaying Dr. Fortune out of curiosity.  They must have sensed that because they grinned at him, waved and cast a few
long glances at the woman sitting in his waiting room.  Seconds later they were gone and he turned his attention to Violet Fortune.
         As soon as he did, he was caught off-guard.  She was stunning...absolutely stunning.  Her reputation as a brilliant diagnostician had already reached Texas.  At only thirty-three, she'd already made her mark in her field.  Maybe he'd envisioned her in a lab coat, with a severe hairdo and a no-nonsense demeanor, but today--
         Her hair was light brown with sun streaks, chin-length and  had obviously been cut and styled by someone who knew what he was doing--it was silky and bouncy, complimenting the patrician lines of her face.  Her eyes were light blue, sparkling, and vulnerable.  That surprised him, too, but then he didn't know why she was here.  Certainly she knew he had a pediatric neurosurgery practice.  Did she have a child?  Had Ryan and Lily Fortune recommended him after serving on some of the same boards he did, after raising money for the same good causes?
         "Violet Fortune?" he asked, just to make sure.
         Standing, placing the magazine she'd been paging through on the chair beside her, she gave him a smile that socked him in the solar plexus.  "Yes, I'm Violet Fortune.  Are you Dr. Clark?"
         "Last time I looked," he countered with his own smile,  ignoring the lightning-like signals his libido was sending his body.
         October in Red Rock, Texas, could still be warm.  She was wearing a full skirted, royal blue dress with a yellow-and-red design around the hem.  He suspected the short boxy jacket covered straps to a
sundress.  Dark red high heels showed the curves of her legs to perfection, and he quickly jerked his gaze up to hers.
         When he extended his hand, the action helped him focus and he could more easily ignore the reaction he was having to her.  "It's good to meet you, although I'm a bit puzzled as to why you're here."
         "Ryan and Lily have spoken highly of you."
         The soft grip of her hand registered along with everything else about her.  She seemed to be looking into his eyes with the same intensity he was looking into hers and that created electricity.
         "I think highly of them," he said gruffly, releasing her and pulling away.
         Breaking eye contact, she quickly glanced around the office but no one else was in the room.  Despite the fact his receptionist was behind her glass window, still Violet kept her voice low.  "This visit has to do with Ryan."
         All business now, hearing the somberness in her voice, he motioned down the hall.  "Let's talk in my office."
         Although Violet had decided long ago not to follow in any man's footsteps, she found herself keeping up with Peter's long stride, studying him while he didn't have his attention on her, wondering why the earth had seemed to shake a little when he'd taken her hand in his.  She didn't react that way to men, especially not male doctors.  In fact, she'd begun to think something was wrong with her...that she was frigid.  Since her teenage years when she'd so desperately sought a boy's attention, something important in her heart had simply turned off when it came to romantic relationships.  Peter's tall, lean  but muscular physique, his short but thick black hair, his piercing green eyes had created a twitter inside of her she couldn't seem to still.
         His office door was open, and he stood aside so she could enter before him.  A gentleman, she thought.  Wasn't that rare?  She'd grown up with four brothers who treated her as a projection of themselves.  Chivalry had never been part of their relationship, though they were fiercely protective of her.
         The aroma of coffee wafted around the office and Peter gestured to the pot on the credenza that had obviously just been brewed.  "Katrina must have snuck in here and started that for me.  Would you like a cup?"
         "No thanks.  I'm fine."  Violet was worried and anxious enough.  She didn't need caffeine revving her up more.  Maybe that's why she felt this attraction to Dr. Clark...because her guard was down.  It had
been down for over two months now.  That's why she'd come to Texas to her brothers' ranch and answered Ryan's call.
         Apparently deciding his own mug of coffee could wait, Peter Clark lowered himself into the high back, leather swivel chair behind his desk.  He waited until she'd seated herself in one of the gray tweed chairs
across from it.  The barrier and the bit of distance made her feel more self-possessed then when he'd greeted her in the reception area.
         "So what can I do for you?" he asked, curiosity evident in his expression.
         Taking her dark red clutch bag in her hands, she opened it and extracted a legal-sized envelope.  When she handed it to him, she concluded seriously, "You'd better read this first.  It's from Ryan."
         After he glanced at it, he looked even more perplexed.  "Essentially it's a release form giving you permission to discuss him with me."
         She nodded.  "That's precisely what it is.  I'm not only a relative and good friend to Ryan and Lily, but I'm a neurologist as well."
         "I know that.  I'm familiar with the articles you've published.  You've made a name for yourself in a short amount of time."
         "I guess New York isn't as far from Texas as I sometimes think it is."
         "The world is getting smaller, but it's more than that.  Red Rock is a small community and the Fortune name means something here.  Besides your relationship to Ryan and Lily, your brothers have established
themselves, too."
         Her brothers Jack, Steven, Miles, and Clyde had vacationed in Red Rock as kids and had decided to settle here as adults.  Steven had just bought his own ranch and was renovating it.  A gala, during which the
governor was going to present Ryan with an award, would take place there next month.  Miles and Clyde's chicken ranch, the Flying Aces where she was staying, was thriving.  Her oldest brother Jack had just married recently and settled here, too.
         "What I'm getting at," Peter continued, "is that the Fortunes are continuously discussed in Red Rock and that includes you."
         "Me?  I don't even live here."
         "No, but your name and career are bandied about along with all the other Fortunes.  Most people in town know your history."
         "What history would that be?"
         "Education history for one thing.  I heard with tutors you graduated high school a year early.  You also did a four-year college program in three.  In med school, you earned respect quickly and began seeing patients in New York City when you joined a prestigious neurological practice there.  Your life's an open book," he added with some amusement.
         An open book?  Not by a long shot.  No one but her immediate family knew why her parents had hired a private tutor for her and why she'd concentrated so hard on her studies.  Not even Ryan and Lily knew what had happened to her as a teenager, the wrong decisions she'd made and foolish choices.
         Rerouting the conversation back to her visit, she nodded to the letter in Peter's hand.  "I'm here because Ryan asked me to speak to you."
         "About?"
         "He's having symptoms."
         "What kind of symptoms?"
         She took another paper from her purse, opened it, and laid it on his desk.  "First of all, I need to tell you that Lily knows nothing about this and that's the way Ryan wants it.  That's also why he called me.  He
began having severe headaches and he didn't want to consult with a doctor in Red Rock or San Antonio because he tried to brush off the pain at first.  He also didn't want any more rumors to get started.  There have been enough about him concerning...everything."
         "He's not still a suspect in the Jamison murder, is he?  The police certainly should have ruled him out by now."
         It sounded as if Peter had no doubts about Ryan's innocence.  "Apparently they haven't ruled him out.  That stress alone could cause headaches.  But when he called, he told me he'd never had this type of headache before, so I took him seriously.  I needed a vacation so I decided what better place to take it than in Red Rock."
         "Are you staying at the Double Crown?"
         "No, I'm staying with Miles and Clyde at the Flying Aces.  I can't show too much concern about Ryan because Lily will become suspicious."
         Peter took the evaluation she'd typed up in hand then looked it over.  His expression became more somber as he did.  "He's having some tingling in his arm?"
         "Yes."
         "You said he didn't want to see anyone local.  Why come to me when my speciality is pediatric neurosurgery?"
         "He trusts you, Dr. Clark.  You'll keep all this confidential, including my involvement.  I've recommended he have testing done but I'm not licensed to practice in Texas and I don't have hospital privileges here.  You, however, do.  Ryan thought if the two of us worked together, we could get to the bottom of whatever is wrong.  It would safeguard his privacy."
         "He knows I did my residency in Houston," Peter mused.  After a second look at the report she'd written, his gaze met hers.  "I want to talk to Ryan myself."
         "He'd rather not come here, and he doesn't want Lily or anyone else in the family to know."
         When Peter rubbed his chin thoughtfully, Violet couldn't help but notice what a strong jawline he had, what large strong hands.  "All right.  I'm glad Ryan believes he can trust me.  We can meet someplace neutral.  I just bought a home on the outskirts of Red Rock.  There's a garage with an entrance into the kitchen and privacy fence around the back.  If you drive Ryan there, he doesn't have to be noticed by anyone.  I can examine him and then we can decide what to do next."
         "When are you available?" Violet asked.
         "Tonight."
         Obviously Peter Clark didn't like Ryan's symptoms any more than she did.  "I'll call Ryan and see if he's free."
         She took her little blue cell phone from her purse.  A few minutes later, after a brief conversation with Ryan in which they all agreed on a time, she closed the phone and dropped it back into her purse.
         "Ryan said to make sure to tell you he'll pay you double your usual fee because he knows this is an inconvenience.
         "Ryan's a friend.  There won't be a fee, not for tonight."
         "He won't like that."
         Peter smiled.  "Maybe not, but it will be my only condition for examining him."
         "I can see why he respects you," she said softly.
         Silent communication passed between them and because of their concern for Ryan Fortune, a bond was formed.  However, that bond seemed to be more personal than professional.
         Standing, she met his gaze.  "It was good to meet you, Dr. Clark.  I don't want to take up any more of your time."
         "It's Peter," he corrected her.
         "Peter," she murmured.
         Holding her gaze, he seemed to be waiting for something.  Finally, with a wry smile turning up the corners of his lips, he asked, "And should I call you Dr. Fortune or Violet?"
         She felt her cheeks turn hot and couldn't remember the last time she'd blushed.  "Violet's fine," she decided, feeling much too warm in the small office.
         When he stood and came around the desk, they were standing very close.  "Ryan is lucky to have you in the family and lucky you'd fly all the way here to examine him."
         "He and my dad have always been close.  I grew up respecting him, and he's like a favorite uncle.  I don't want anything to happen to him."
         "This could be serious."
         Already knowing that, the possibilities keeping her awake the past few nights, she saw Peter felt he had to put the probability into words...so that she could take it as a warning, so that she wouldn't deny
what might be the cause of Ryan's problems.  "I know this could be serious.  But on the other hand, stress and tension could cause symptoms, too."
         "That's possible.  We'll proceed one step at a time."
         Feeling as if she could stand there all day just looking at Peter, absorbing his strength, his concern and his compassion, she gave herself a mental shake.  She didn't need any of those things from him.  Ryan did.
         With a deep breath, she stepped away from Peter's powerful aura and walked toward the door.  "You don't have to see me out.  Ryan says he knows where your house is located, so I guess I'll see you tonight."
         "Tonight," Peter agreed, his deep voice making the word sound like a commitment.
         As Violet escaped into the hall and closed Dr. Peter Clark's office door behind her, she knew it was a commitment to Ryan Fortune.

From the book: THE GOOD DOCTOR, Karen Rose Smith, Silhouette Signature Select, October 2005
ISBN:  0-373-38930-2, Copyright: 2005, Harlequin Books S.A.

In December, Karen Rose's next Silhouette Romance, TWELFTH NIGHT PROPOSAL, will be released.  It will be part of the Shakespeare in Love continuity series.

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