The Socialite's Secret
The doctor she can’t forgetTwo years ago, socialite Scarlet Portland spent one wild night with A&E doc Luke Edwards. She hasn’t forgotten their sizzling heat – it’s branded on her mind forever – or that night’s devastating emotional repercussions…Now Scarlet’s back in London and back in Luke’s life. All she wants is one more chance, to see if the happiness she’s only ever felt in his arms was real. But though their chemistry burns hot as ever, will he want her when he discovers the truth?
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‘A well written, enjoyable medical romance. With lovable characters and an interesting plot line, this book makes me even more excited for the upcoming books in 200 Harley Street.’
—Harlequin Junkie on 200 Harley Street: Surgeon in a Tux
‘A compelling, sensual, sexy, emotionally packed, drama-filled read that will leave you begging for more!’
—Contemporary Romance Reviews on NYC Angels: Redeeming the Playboy
Scarlet felt the heat of his palms caress her cheeks and then his mouth was soft on hers and he kissed her. Oh, how their mouths needed each other … It was a soft morning kiss and because of it, Scarlet knew, she would float better through the day.
She kissed him back, feeling again the lips she missed, and so gentle and unexpected was he that Scarlet felt tears sting in her eyes.
But it was just a kiss and neither pushed for more.
‘Look at me,’ Luke said, still holding her face, yet she would not meet his eyes.
‘I can’t.’
‘You can …’
But she couldn’t. Not after what had happened.
Luke and Scarlet surprised me all the time as I wrote their story.
Sometimes I wondered how they would get to their happy ending. This couple had so much to work through, and yet every time I doubted they could Luke stepped in and reassured me that he knew where they were headed.
I love a hero who is one step ahead—not just of the heroine but also the author!—and Luke has the calm assuredness that I felt Scarlet needed. I do believe in love at first sight, and their story confirmed that for me.
Happy reading!
Carol x
CAROL MARINELLI recently filled in a form asking for her job title. Thrilled to be able to put down her answer, she put ‘writer’. Then it asked what Carol did for relaxation and she put down the truth—’writing’. The third question asked for her hobbies. Well, not wanting to look obsessed, she crossed the fingers on her left hand and answered ‘swimming’. But, given that the chlorine in the pool does terrible things to her highlights, I’m sure you can guess the real answer …
Table of Contents
NO NEWS WASN’T always good news.
It was just the tiniest of diversions from Luke Edwards’s usual morning routine but, having poured a glass of grapefruit juice, Luke turned the television on and listened to the news as he got ready for work.
It was just after 5:00 a.m. on Monday.
There was the usual stuff that should make mankind weep, yet it was immediately followed by the news that Anya’s Saturday night performance at the O2, the last in her sell-out world tour, had been amazing and she would be heading back to the States today. The reporter moved to the next piece of celebrity gossip—a football star’s wife who was rumoured to have had buttock implants.
He changed channels and found that it was just more of the same.
Luke flicked the television off and, though he still had half an hour to kill, he was restless so he decided to head into work. He went upstairs and selected a tie, which he put in his jacket pocket. As he came back down he grabbed his keys and glanced in the mirror, wondering if he really ought to shave.
No.
His straight dark hair needed a cut too but that could wait for next week.
It was still dark outside as his garage door opened and Luke headed out into a cold and wet November morning. He drove through the practically deserted, sleepy, leafy village, where he lived, towards the heart of London. He had recently been promoted to Consultant in a busy accident and emergency department at a major teaching hospital.
People sometimes said that he was crazy to live so far out but he also had a flat at the hospital for the times when he was on call or held back at work.
Luke liked it that where he lived was between Oxford, where his family were, and London, where he worked. The very distinct separation between his work and home life suited him well. The village was friendly but not overly so. He had been living there for close to a year now and was getting to know the locals at his own pace. Luke knew that, despite what others might think, he had made the right choice.
Or not.
It all depended on today.
It was a long, slow drive but he was more than used to it. Often he listened to music or a lecture he had heard about, but this morning he turned on the radio.
He needed to know if there was any news.
For the last four days Luke had been on edge and hypervigilant while doing all he could not to show it.
The traffic was terrible, he was told.
Thanks for that, Luke thought as he glanced at the time.
There was a huge snarl-up on the M25.
Luke was in the middle of it.
Finally, just before 7:00 a.m., the sun was coming up, the hospital was in sight and a new day had dawned.
