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

were strong and thick. I could feel his muscles under his suit. He looked down at me with his stunning brown eyes and I almost got lost in them for a second.
    We walked in to the host stand and then we were escorted to a booth. We faced the open room and I took in all the elegant furnishings and décor. It was a great place for a date. The atmosphere was dark and romantic. There was a low candle burning on the table and a string quartet played in the corner. It was a very elegant restaurant and I admired Robert for bringing me here even though it was a blind date. It showed that he knew how to treat a lady no matter what she looked like.
    We ordered from the waiter. We had oysters as appetizers with lemons. Then we had a delicious thick mint soup and fresh bread. After the soup course, we had our main courses. Robert had roast chicken with rice and potatoes. I had a thin piece of steak that was well done and covered in rosemary and cracked pepper. For the sides, I had melon, feta, and squash medley in olive oil. Then we had kale salad with apples and pecans with raspberry lemon vinaigrette for our last course. It was one of the best meals I had so far except for the one with Mark.
    Robert was nice and interesting and very well mannered. Though there was something about him that wasn’t making me feel butterflies, and I couldn’t figure out what it was. The night went on in polite conversation while we ate our meal. I learned that he worked in the advertising field. On paper, he was the perfect man, husband material. He was an outdoor man and spent a lot of time climbing, scuba diving and playing sports. That would be why he had such an amazing body.
    Still, I kept finding myself comparing him to Mark. I compared the way he talked, the way he carried himself, the way he flirted with me, and even the way he lifted the glass to his mouth. I silently kicked myself for not being able to get Mark out of my mind. I forced myself to give Robert all my attention over and over again.  Then after a few minutes I was right back to thinking about Mark. Oh no, I thought to myself. I’ve got it bad, and by “it” I meant I was in love with Mark. There was no other explanation for it.
    We finished dinner and Robert recommended heading to a bar for a nightcap. I really just wanted to go home and sort through my emotions and what I would do. I felt like I would have to move to another city. I did work with Mark after all and he was my best friend. There was no escaping it. I forced myself to say yes.
    At the bar, I was finally loosening up. I even found myself putting my hand on Robert’s thigh when I laughed and played with my hair a bit. He was a handsome man and he was into me, something that was refreshing at this point in my life.  Then it happened. I saw him.
    I was sitting at the bar with Robert, turned sideways, resting my elbow on the bar and fully facing my date. Something caught my eye in the main room of the bar. A red dress, mostly because it was almost like the one I was wearing. I turned slightly to check it out as the woman walked to the table. I was not expecting to see what I saw. Escorting the woman in the red dress was Mark.
    He had his hand on the small of her back, and they were clearly together, it was his wife Karen. My heart dropped to my stomach and my eyes teared up a bit. It took me a few seconds to process what was happening. It was really him, in the flesh, and he was with his wife. I had never seen them together and this made it real. I would have stared for ages at him, but he turned his head in my direction, or I should say in the direction of the bar. I quickly pulled my gaze away and swept the room with my eyes all the way back to my date. I was hoping it looked like I was merely looking around the room and not at Mark. I had a feeling I was unsuccessful, but at least I tried to cover up my disbelief and broken feelings.  I smiled at my date.
    “Is anything wrong?” he asked.
    “Oh no, not at all.