The Nurse's Secret Love (BWWM Romance) Read Online Free Page A

go to a nursing lecture. I didn’t see Mark again the entire afternoon or for dinner. Later that night I sat in my room waiting for him to show up but he never did. I fell asleep with the lights on.
    The next morning, I awoke to a knock at the door. The conference was over and we would all be going home that day. I sort of thought it might be housekeeping at that hour. I opened the door and it was Mark. He looked tired and emotionally drained.
    “Can I come in?” he said.
    I moved aside and let him in.
    I wanted him to say something romantic. I wanted him to tell me that he had instantly fallen in love with me as though it was love at first sight.
    “There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to blurt it out. I’ve been up all night on the phone with Karen. We worked through a lot of issues and we are going to try again to make it work.”
    I said nothing but stood motionless. I felt stupid. Deep inside I knew that what we did didn’t mean we would be together but the hopeless romantic in me had hoped it would. After a few moments he continued, “I’m sorry. I know that’s not fair to you. I do like you a lot, Latoya. You are my best friend, but Karen is my wife and I owe it to her to try. I hope you understand.”
    “Yes I do. It’s all right,” I said.
    He came closer and placed a soft kiss on my forehead and said, “Have a safe drive home, Latoya. Thank you for the other night.”
    It wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but I didn’t really expect him to say he loved me. It never really went that way in real life, after all this wasn't a romance novel. “Thank you, Mark. Have a good morning,” I said as I smiled politely. I held the door open and he left. I grabbed a coffee in the hotel lobby and then made my way out to my car. The morning seemed lovelier than ever after the midnight storm that had come through. I drove home, crying the whole way.  I was crushed.
    ***
    When I got home, I told a friend that I needed to take charge of my romantic state. I didn’t tell her why, only that I was tired of not being in a relationship. She offered to help me out and set me up on a blind date with one of her friends that she thought I might like. I welcomed the offer. I needed the distraction. I needed anything to get Mark out of my mind.
    The night of my blind date, I loathed getting dressed. It all felt so forced. I wanted to be excited and enjoy myself but the image of Mark kept popping up in my mind. I wanted him again and again, and not just sexually. I wanted to be with him. Those feelings were terrifying to me. I donned red lipstick to match my red and black dress.
    I wore black thigh high stockings and black stiletto heels. I wanted to feel sexy and enticing at least, if not for my date then for myself. Mark did that to me. I now saw myself as a sexy vixen and it was starting to show in how I dressed and presented myself. It was a refreshing change to my usual nurse scrubs. I liked it.  I topped my outfit off with a gold shimmering purse and a cropped black jacket. I was ready.
    I took a cab. I was meeting my blind date Robert for dinner.  The cab pulled up and the doorman opened the door.  I hesitated and took a deep breath feeling uneasy about the night, and then I stepped out.  I heard, “Latoya?”
     
    I turned to see a handsome man with brown hair and brown eyes dressed in a dark suit waiting for me.  He was very tall, at least 6’4, and he was well built. He looked like he could be a mountain climber or a surfer. He was very attractive. However as soon as I saw him, Mark’s face crossed my mind. I forced that thought out of my mind.
    I smiled at him with genuine warmth.
    “Hi, you must be Robert?” I asked.
    “Yes. You look very beautiful, Latoya.”
    “Thank you,” I said, smiling and feeling good and confident about his compliment.
    “Shall we?” Robert said, motioning to the restaurant.
    “Yes, thank you,” I said.
    He put his arm out and I looped mine in his. His arms