Heartbreaker Read Free

I’ve seen you,” her mother suddenly exclaimed. “I mean, besides here. There was a write-up in the Sunday paper a few weeks ago. You performed miracle surgery on the head of state from some foreign country. You’re the heart specialist from Houston.”
    Michael bowed his head briefly in acknowledgment.
    So, he wasn’t falsely modest about his skill, Susan noted. He was one of the top five heart surgeons in the U.S., per her own doctor. “Bold, innovative and determined” had been said of him in the article her mother referred to.
    â€œSusan,” Kate said, a plea in the word.
    Susan shook her head, warning her mother not to say anything to the arrogant heart doctor. Her own physician wanted her to go to Dr. O’Day for a consultation. So far, she’d steadfastly refused.
    â€œSusan,” her mother said, more sternly this time.
    â€œI’ll see someone,” she promised.
    Her mother wasn’t at all deterred by her tone. “This is like…like a nudge from God. You can’t ignore it.”
    Susan could and was determined to do so. “Don’t be sil—” She broke off, unable to be rude to her mother. “I’ll see a doctor soon.” But not this one.
    â€œThis is a golden opportunity.”
    â€œIs there something I should know about?” the irritating doctor wanted to know.
    â€œSusan has a heart condition,” Kate answered before Susan could reply.
    â€œAh, I see.”
    Susan felt his gaze on her, as incisive as a laser beam. “It’s nothing,” she said, and heard the stubborn denial in her tone. “I’m fine.”
    â€œYou collapsed on the stage at your last performance,” her mother reminded her sternly.
    â€œI—I was tired.”
    â€œCollapsed?” he questioned. “I’ve seen you perform. You were magnificent.”
    Amazed, she stared at him. He looked sincere. Maybe he wasn’t such a baboon, after all, she conceded, since he obviously recognized her talent. She silently laughed at her own cockiness. She was as sure of her skills as the famous doctor seemed to be of his. “Thank you.”
    â€œDid you have any symptoms before you fainted?” he asked, lifting the glass of iced tea the waiter had placed before him, his attention focused and sharp. “Chest pain? Shortness of breath? Tingling in the left arm?”
    â€œI didn’t have a heart attack,” she informed him. “I checked out fine in that department.”
    â€œShe was born with a congenital heart condition,” her mother supplied. “In a nutshell, her heart is toosmall for her body. It was little to begin with and stopped growing before she reached adolescence.”
    His gaze lasered into her again. “A child’s heart in a woman’s body. How old are you?” he demanded, a frown furrowing a deep groove between his eyes.
    â€œTwenty-seven,” she replied, then was annoyed with herself. His forceful manner caused her to answer before she had time to consider that her age was none of his business.
    â€œHmm.” He spoke to her mother. “It’s a wonder she’s lasted this long.”
    â€œI beg your pardon,” Susan spoke up. “My health is none of your concern. I have a competent doctor of my own.”
    â€œWho?”
    She was alert to his probing ways now. She paused as if considering, then told him the man’s name, a very prominent internist in Houston.
    â€œHe’s good,” the surgeon admitted. “Did he refer you to anyone for a checkup?”
    This was a question she didn’t want to answer. She tried to think how to do that without lying.
    â€œSusan?” her mother probed, her worry obvious.
    â€œHe referred me to you, if you must know.” She raised her eyebrows loftily. “I haven’t had time to make an appointment.”
    â€œWhy are you determined to stay in denial about this?” he asked