Silent Love
(The Love Series - Book 1)
by
CASEY CLIPPER
The Right of Casey Clipper is to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her.
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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictionally, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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First Published 2014
Copyright © Casey Clipper 2014
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Published by
www.CaseyClipper.com
Cover by Joanna Chlasta
Edited by The Killion Group, Inc.
I usually dedicate my books to my husband but this time around there are some awesome individuals that I'd like to dedicate this book to.
My two girls who deviously plot, plan, and conspire with me. Erica and Cristina. Neither one has an issue with telling me like it is, if they don't like a plot, if they love something, or if something doesn't work. Getting together with these two women and putting our heads together is something I value and enjoy beyond words. Of course, add a drink or two and Erica wants to kill off everyone. I've created a monster.
My Cali girl. An aspiring author with a brilliant mind, a kind word, and a terrific sense of humor. She doesn't know this, but I speak highly of her to everyone I know and am thankful that her room at the RWA conference in Atlanta hadn't been ready for her or else we might not have ever met. She's helped guide me, given me terrific advice, listened when I struggled and excelled, and has been there for a journey that we're both consistently learning something new everyday.
Two Ordinary Girls and Their Books are two women who I accidentally came across, but from the moment I did, they went out of their way to promote, support, and boost my books. They were the first to take notice, and with open arms offered me anything I needed to help promote my work. I can't thank them enough for all they do, but I'll try—thank you, thank you, thank you Kaprii and Lilly for all you do. Frankly, they should be thanked more often by all. Follow their Facebook page! One day I'll get my butt to England, then we can get together and see how much trouble we can create. Within reason, of course. Sounds like a plan.
1
Pulling off the bloody surgical gloves, Sean breathed out a heavy sigh of relief. By some miracle, he'd managed to save the life of the fifty-five year old man unconscious on the table. Stents, now in place, gave the man an opportunity to live years longer than when he arrived at the hospital in cardiac arrest.
"Close him up," Sean ordered.
"Yes, doc."
Sean stepped out of the surgical room, into the hallway, tossed his gloves and scrubs into the bin, then went straight for the locker room to shower. Originally, he wasn't on ER surgery rotation that evening, but the hospital became unexpectedly busy. When the case came through the ER doors, he was the only doc available.
Once he was undressed and in the shower, he allowed the scalding water to beat off his worn body. Hands placed against the wall, his head hanging, the hot stream rolled off his back, relaxing his tight muscles. That shift had been too long for a human to work. He needed to go home, collapse in bed, and not move for the next three days he had off work. Ryan wasn't fairing any better. The NICU at Magee-Women’s Hospital had seen a rush of premature babies and his brother was working overtime weekly. Both of them weren't good for anything other than sleeping, barely eating, and working their asses into the ground.
"Doc?" someone yelled into the showers.
"Yeah?" he croaked.
"Phone call for you on line one," the man said.
"Who is it?" he asked. Who the hell was calling him?
"Ah...Courtney?" he answered.
Shit. He was supposed to meet his cousin at an hour ago.
"Got it," he yelled back.
Sean shut off the water, yanked a couple towels off the rack, wrapped one around his solid waist and ran one over his overlong hair. He went to the private office in the locker room and picked up line one. "Hello?"
"Hello yourself," his cousin drawled. "I'm guessing something came up."
"Yes," he said. "You could say that."
"You sound exhausted," she said.
"I am." He sat down behind the desk. "Ryan is too."
"I don't know why you won't open up your own practice," she said. "You could make your own hours, have weekends off, holidays." She paused. "You know I can lend you the money to start up."
Hell, no. He would never borrow money off his cousin. Borrowing money off her would be borrowing money from her husband. And to owe her husband money was to owe money to the mob. Literally.
"I know what you're thinking," she said softly. "Derrick would never consider you one of his clients," she assured him.
Sean snorted. "I appreciate the offer, Court, but no thanks. I enjoy working at the hospital." It kept him and his lonely mind occupied.
His cousin remained silent for a moment. "All right, if that's what you want, but if you ever change your mind, you come to me."
He grinned. How their lives had changed since they were children. Courtney was a confident, beautiful woman who knew what she wanted and when she wanted it. Her husband had to be given full credit for that trait. Not that many years ago his cousin tended to be meek and not that self-assured.
"I will," he said.
"I'm assuming you're not going to be home soon," she said.
The delighted squeals of children in the background of her call echoed loudly through the phone. He laughed. Man, he loved those two toddler cousins of his. Being around those two balls of energy only made him long for his own family with children all the more.
"I will be," he answered.
"But you're exhausted," she again assumed correctly. He was too exhausted for a visit from her and her kids. He hated to think it, but it couldn't be helped. "Tell you what," he could hear the sympathy in her voice, "I'll leave the food I had Mary make for you and Ryan in the fridge, and we'll come back another day."
"You had Mary cook for us?" he asked. Mary was her in-home cook, maid, caretaker, or whatever other title you would want to give the woman. She did it all for the Murphy home and was well appreciated and compensated for her work.
Courtney chuckled. "Yes. I know how much the two of you have been working, and you've probably been eating terribly. I wanted you both to have at least one decent meal. Well, Mary made you a few. There's dinner in there for a week."
"Your Mary is a saint." He relaxed in the chair and rubbed the towel over his bare chest, sopping up the droplets.
"She is. I'll let you go, don't work too hard, Sean," she said. "And tell Ryan I said hi. Love you."
"Love you too, sweetheart. I'll make sure we stop by soon," he assured her.
"You better. I'd hate to have to send my husband after you. He tends to get cranky lately," she said.
"Is something wrong?" he asked concerned.
"Only in the fact that he can't seem to impregnate me again and is growing frustrated. But not for lack of trying," she laughed evilly. Probably knowing how that would make him cringe.
"All right, all right. TMI. I'm hanging up now," he said. "Love you, bye." He set the phone receiver down before Courtney could go on further about her sex life.
Hanging his head back, Sean finally felt exhaustion creep in. His limbs and eyelids grew heavy. Would he even be able to drive himself home? A knock on t
he door interrupted him about to lose consciousness.
"Hey, brother, need a ride?" Ryan asked. Once again, his brother used his stealthy, ingrained SEAL skills to gain access to the part of the hospital he wasn’t cleared to enter. Sean admired his brother’s lack of ability to follow set rules. He casually leaned against the doorframe and crossed his beefy arms over his chest. Ryan’s normally sharp blue eyes looked just as tired as his.
"Yeah, I don't think I can drive," he answered.
"You gonna get dressed?" Ryan asked and raised a brow.
Sean snorted. "Don't know if I can."
Ryan laughed and jerked his head. "Come on, let's get you out of here."
Slowly Sean stood, his bones creaking and cracking. His body was no longer able to pull these long shifts without paying a hard price. Edging closer to age forty, maybe he needed to consider Courtney's offer.
"Talked to Court," Sean said while he followed his brother.
"Yeah? How is she?" Ryan asked.
"Good, I guess. I didn't ask. She was supposed to come over, but she understood I'm too tired. She had Mary cook for us, though, and left the food in the fridge," he said.
"Thank god. I love Mary's cooking. I don't think I could handle take-out again tonight," Ryan moaned.
"I know," he said. They went into the locker room, and Sean slowly slid into his sweats and tee shirt. "Court offered me up money again to open my own clinic."
"You should take it," Ryan said, seated on the bench, packing his brother's gym bag.
"I don't want to owe Derrick Murphy money," he groaned.
"Derrick wouldn't do that to you or his wife," Ryan countered.
"You think?"
"I know," Ryan answered confidently. "Court would have him by the balls if she ever found out he treated either one of us like a client. Not only that, he feels he's indebted to us," Ryan pointed out.
"True, but I don't want to seem as if I'm collecting on that," he said.
His brother shook his head. "He won't see it any other way, but he will treat us with respect and more than likely give you the money."
“I don’t want a gift,” he said.
Ryan shrugged. “You might not have a say. Derrick’s pretty damn in control of what he wants and when he wants it. No isn’t in his vocabulary. Well, except for Court,” he snickered.
Sean smirked. “True. I don’t know how she deals with that man.”
“She’s lucky to have him,” Ryan noted.
“Agreed.”
Sean pulled on his fleece, picked up his bag, and both men leisurely left the locker room. They took the elevator to the ground floor and headed towards the VA Hospital employee parking garage. Sean stepped through the double doors that led to the garage and was hit in the chest by a ball of coal black hair and thin limbs in a navy business suit. Before he could reach out and grasp her, she flew back and landed hard on her ass. Papers from folders skimmed across the concrete floor. She landed so damn hard Sean and Ryan winced.
“Good lord,” Ryan said from behind him.
Sean reached down to help the poor girl up. “Are you all right?”
That’s when he was struck by lightning. A set of ocean blue eyes looked up at him, frazzled and confused. Lined with black lashes, they hit him straight in the gut.
“Jesus,” Ryan whispered.
With his hand outstretched, Sean stood struck stupid, unable to find his voice.
Flawless, milky skin contrasted dramatically with her inky hair. Like a porcelain doll.
She reached up and placed her dainty hand into his. Engulfing her palm, he helped her off the ground. Ryan dutifully chased dancing papers around the garage.
“Sorry.” Her voice was soft and delicate. If he hadn’t been paying attention, he might not have heard her.
Pulling free of his grasp, her natural warmth left him. An odd feeling of loss briefly washed over him. He watched her brush off her hands and her backside, then pull her jacket into place. Cinched at the waist, that suit highlighted her hourglass figure. It didn’t matter how exhausted he was, his body stirred at the sight.
Ryan approached with a stack of skewed papers. “Sorry, they’re probably out of order.”
“Thank you,” she said, again her voice barely audible.
“You’re welcome,” Ryan said, handing her the papers. “Ryan Millen.”
Sean couldn’t miss how she zeroed in on his brother’s lips. She blushed. “Beth Connors.”
“The guy next to me who’s lost his voice is my brother, Sean,” his dumbass brother said.
Finally Sean shook off his momentary stupidity and rolled his eyes. He stuck out his hand. “Sean Millen. Sorry to meet you like this, Beth.”
She turned his direction and zeroed in on his mouth. Her tiny, pink tongue darted out and wet her full lips. Sean could have sworn his dick punched through his sweats. How fucking embarrassing.
Once again, her soft hand ended up in his, but this time her grasp was firm as she finally looked him in the eyes.
“Hello,” she said softly. “I better get inside. I’m already fifteen minutes late.”
“Nice to meet you, Beth,” he said. “Maybe we’ll see each other again around the hospital.”
She nodded then quickly scooted around him and Ryan and rushed off. He watched her, mesmerized. Her high heeled pumps clicked off the concrete and stone floors, and her hips swayed just enough to make a man drool as she hurried away.
“Man, if you don’t go after that, I will,” Ryan said. His brother stood just as struck as he was.
“Nope, mine first,” Sean claimed dibs.
“Wonder where she works. I’ve never seen her before,” Ryan mused.
They both turned and went to Sean’s practical SUV.
“It’s an enormous hospital, Ry. There are probably plenty of beautiful women we haven’t met,” he noted.
Ryan burst out laughing. “Yeah, right. If we don’t find them, then tend to seek us out, brother. Our rep precedes us in both hospitals.”
And Sean hated that. He knew Ryan loathed it as well, but what could either one of them do? They each hadn’t found a woman they were willing to settle down with, as well as one who would be willing to live with their brother-in-law. Many years ago, Sean and Ryan vowed they'd stick together through thick and thin. As they’d grown older, they’d somehow managed to bond even closer to each other. They’d never be able to move out from the house they shared without it affecting both of them. So they needed to find women who were willing to share their daily lives with each other.
Ryan grasped the nape of his neck and hauled him into the side of his body. “Let’s get you home. You look awful.”
Sean snorted. “Thanks.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” Ryan grinned.
He returned the same grin. How could he not? He loved the hell out his younger brother. Ryan’s non-serious nature kept him in check. If he didn’t have Ryan, he might lose himself in his sober personality.
2
As Beth rushed to the elevators that would take her to the administrative floors of the VA hospital, she silently berated herself for making an ass out of herself. Of course she would literally bounce off one of the two hottest bachelors in the city. Oh, she’d never met or seen them before, but the Millen men’s reputation of swoon worthiness was well known. Clearly this rumor rang true.
Stabbing the button at the elevator, she balanced the paperwork in her hands. She cursed under her breath at the time it would take her to put the mess back in order.
When the doors opened, Beth rushed inside and hit the top floor button. She'd already been running late this morning because of a phone call from her father checking up on her. She often forgot to call in every other day, and her parents worried when she didn't. She couldn't blame them.
At the fifth floor, the doors opened, and three men stepped inside dressed in suits. She recognized them as the VP, Director of Operations, and Head of Security. All three slimes. She focused on the
floor, not making eye contact. Part of her felt ashamed she no longer had the confidence to meet people in the eyes, but it was better that way.
The elevator ride seemed painstakingly slow. Glances from the three jerks over their shoulders didn't go unnoticed through her peripheral vision. Some day she might get past those leers. She just wished it would happen soon.
When the elevator jerked to a stop and the doors opened, they all filed out and headed opposite directions. Beth hurried down the hall to her tiny cubicle. As soon as she slid into her space, she slammed the pile of papers on the desk and logged onto the computer to clock in. Once punched into the system, she breathed a sigh of relief and slumped down in her worn office chair. Another day, another dollar.
At noon, Beth slinked out of the building and down the block to the restaurant to get a chicken salad to take back to the office. She was secretly addicted to the menu item. The vinaigrette dressing tasted so good she was positive she moaned aloud with every bite.
After picking up the order she placed online, she rushed back to her cubicle and ate at her desk. Alone. The great part about eating by herself, her mind got to wander back to the man candy that was Sean and Ryan Millen. While she carefully prepared her salad, those sapphire blue eyes of Sean's assaulted her mind. She'd never come across a man with that eye color. The man's chest had been hard as a rock, hence her bouncing off him like she hit the side of the brick building. How old was he? He looked to be in his thirties. He couldn't be older than that. His warm hand had felt fantastic wrapped around her tiny, normally cold hand. She'd bet he was a cuddler. A small snort escaped her nose.
She'd love to ask around but didn't have any friends or acquaintances at the hospital to try to gossip with and find out any info. Oh well, that would be for the best anyway. Not like she was interested or he was. She wouldn't be able to go out with him. Which was a depressing thought. She sighed and sank back into her chair, instantly losing her appetite. Tears formed, and her breath hitched. Unable to stop the droplet that escaped her eye and tried to slide down her cheeks, a swipe of her face, she pushed the salad aside and hid behind her hands. How lonely she'd become. How much she desired to be able to have a Sean Millen in her life, but that was asking too much from the universe. One favor a lifetime, right? She already cashed that in four years ago.
Silent Love Page 1
