Risk of a Lifetime

Caroline Anderson

Striding into A&E, staggeringly handsome Dr Ed Shackleton leaves Dr Annie Brooks’s heart racing! Men are off the menu for this single mum, but avoiding brooding Ed proves impossible…Ed’s fear of his hereditary illness means he’s ruled out love. Yet a fling with Annie makes him want the unthinkable. Can Annie convince Ed that love is always worth the risk?

Dear Reader

We always think It’ll never happen to me—but sometimes, of course, it does. Because ‘it’ always has to happen to someone. And of all the things to happen an inherited disorder is probably one of the most insidious. From the moment of diagnosis in a family member the threat of potentially developing the condition, whatever it might be, hangs over those who are possibly afflicted with the defective gene—and the fallout of this emotional minefield can be devastating.

Ed is in this position, and the decision to have the genetic screening test and find out the result can only be his. But no man is an island, no matter how hard he might try to isolate himself from the love and concern of those around him. He’s doing OK, though, he thinks—and then he meets Annie and everything changes.

This is the story of a man who’s made some tough decisions, who’s never ducked out of his responsibilities or taken the easy route, and the woman who loves him enough to help him through the hardest step of all, whatever the outcome. I give them to you with my love. Take care of them. They’re very special to me.

Caroline

Praise for Caroline Anderson:

‘… an engrossing, enthralling and highly enjoyable tale that will move you to tears and keep you riveted … Moving, heartbreaking and absolutely fantastic,

with WEDDING OF THE YEAR

Caroline Anderson is at her mesmerising best!’ —www.cataromance.com on ST PIRAN’S: WEDDING OF THE YEAR

‘This lovely reunion romance is rich with emotion and humour, and all of the characters are exquisitely rendered.’

—RT Book Reviews on MOTHER OF THE BRIDE

Risk of a Lifetime

Caroline Anderson

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

DEDICATION

For my fellow MedRom authors, an incredible support group of amazingly talented women who never fail to say the right thing or tell me what I need to know. Girls, you rock!

Recent titles by Caroline Anderson:

Mills & Boon

Medical Romance™

THE SECRET IN HIS HEART

FROM CHRISTMAS TO ETERNITY

THE FIANCЕE HE CAN’T FORGET* (#ulink_8be3ec5d-59b7-5101-8da9-25c458c33265) TEMPTED BY DR DAISY* (#ulink_8be3ec5d-59b7-5101-8da9-25c458c33265) ST PIRAN’S: THE WEDDING OF THE YEAR† (#ulink_8be3ec5d-59b7-5101-8da9-25c458c33265) THE SURGEON’S MIRACLE

* (#ulink_d77f5a41-ed20-5e1b-ae10-f5a0260d94bc)The Legendary Walker Doctors† (#ulink_8be3ec5d-59b7-5101-8da9-25c458c33265)St Piran’s Hospital

Mills & Boon

Cherish™

SNOWED IN WITH THE BILLIONAIRE

THE VALTIERI BABY

VALTIERI’S BRIDE

THE BABY SWAP MIRACLE

MOTHER OF THE BRIDE

These books are also available in eBook format from www.millsandboon.co.uk

Contents

CHAPTER ONE (#u83bf0abd-ae29-5dc7-9edc-b9d468ed562f)

CHAPTER TWO (#uf91b97c3-096e-5a75-b712-b42676dadac3)

CHAPTER THREE (#litres_trial_promo)

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 ONE

‘OH, MY...’

‘What?’

Annie looked up at Kate, registered the slack jaw and widening eyes, and started to turn her head.

‘Don’t look!’ Kate hissed, dragging her eyes back to the notes.

‘Don’t look at what?’

‘Total hottie heading this way. Absolute classic TDH. He can’t possibly be our new SpR, we don’t get that lucky.’ Her eyes flicked up again briefly. ‘OMG, he is gorgeous! I think I’m in love.’

She fanned herself theatrically with the notes, and Annie chuckled. TDH? OMG? ‘You can’t possibly be in love—’

‘You wanna bet?’ Kate sneaked another peek and her voice shifted up an octave. ‘He’s coming in! And he’s got a stethoscope round his neck...!’