A Love Like Nun Other: Book One in the Game Winner Duet

by Nicole, Angela

  A Love Like Nun Other

  Copyright © 2019 Angela Nicole

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Editing—All About the Edits

  Cover Design—T.E. Black Designs; www.teblackdesigns.com

  Interior Formatting & Design—T.E. Black Designs; www.teblackdesigns.com

  Photographer—CJC Photography

  Cover Model—Luke Spetsas

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Epilogue

  Dear Readers …

  His Runaway Goal

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Other Books By Angela Nicole

  To the former Sister Anthony. Thank you for sharing in our love of books.

  Sophia

  “I don’t understand why you’re pressuring her to go into the convent, Vito. My God, she’s just a baby.”

  “She’s not a baby, Carla. She’s twenty. Sophia needs guidance and structure.”

  It’s the same argument they’ve been having for the last two years. Since I turned eighteen, my father has been obsessed with sending me to the convent. His sister, my Aunt Antonia, was a nun until she passed away four years ago.

  I’m not sure if my parents know I can hear them through the vent, but the one from their room is connected to mine. And on some nights, it’s a terrible thing.

  The thought of going into the convent isn’t so bad, I guess. I volunteer at our church by teaching Sunday school. I’ve never really had a boyfriend and, quite frankly, I’m not that interested. Hearing stories from my best friend Brenda, about how all guys are jerks, doesn’t give me a good feeling about dating.

  I know it’d please my father if I followed in his sister’s steps. My mom, on the other hand, she wants me to go out and experience all the things she did, except for getting pregnant with me at the age of nineteen.

  It’s not that she didn’t love me or want me—she’s my biggest supporter—but it was difficult for her growing up in a very Catholic Italian family. My grandfather Lou forced my father into marrying my mother, and I think I was around four when he first told her he loved her. At least that’s how she tells it.

  My father has told my mother he doesn’t want me to worry about finding that special someone. If I’m married to God, I won’t ever have my heart broken.

  I know they both mean well, but I don’t want this coming between them. I suppose the best thing about going into the convent is I’ll still be a nurse. I went to nursing school right after I graduated high school. It’s all I ever wanted to do.

  Glancing at my watch, it’s almost time to start my shift at St. John’s Hospital. I change into my scrubs and head out to say goodbye to my parents, who are still arguing.

  “Sophia,” my dad calls.

  “Yes, Papa?”

  “Sister Agnes is coming over tomorrow to speak with you.”

  Of course she is. Sister Agnes is on board with getting me into the Sisters of Charity, where I can continue caring for the ill and infirmed.

  “OK, Papa. My shift gets done at seven tomorrow morning. I’ll see you then.”

  I head down the driveway to the bus stop, which is only a block away. It takes me right to the hospital so I don’t need a car. But I don’t even get to the sidewalk when I hear my mother behind me.

  “Sophia, wait,” she yells.

  “What is it?” I ask as I turn to her. She looks frantic.

  “I’m worried you’re just trying to please your father with this convent business.” She takes my face in her hands. “Just remember, sweetheart, this is your life, not his.”

  My mother is right on both accounts. It’s difficult for me to reconcile my father’s feelings with mine. So, I smile back at her and lie. “I want what Papa wants. It’ll be good for me, I promise.”

  My mother pulls back. Seeing the determination on my face, she nods and goes back into the house. We both know when tomorrow comes, my life will change forever.

  Seven Years Later

  Leo

  Being a professional soccer player has its perks. Traveling around the country, meeting new people and, of course, the women, are just some of those perks. Injuring my foot while playing with a bunch of kids isn’t.

  “Coach is going to be pissed, Leo,” my teammate, Chris, laments. He’s our goalie and a damn good one.

  “Stop giving me shit and just help me into the waiting room.”

  Even though I know Chris is right, my pride is hurt worse than anything Coach Sellers can do to me. Our season doesn’t start for another seven weeks. Hopefully, that’s enough time for my fucking foot to heal.

  As I hang on to Chris’ shoulder, we’re greeted by a very crowded emergency room. Just fucking great! I pull my hat down, hoping no one recognizes me.

  Soccer is pretty popular here in Florida. My team, the Clearwater Rebels, won the finals last year and are on track to do the same this year. I hope I didn’t just screw up our chances.

  Chris leads me over to the chair so I can take my weight off my foot. It’s throbbing like a bitch. Thankfully, he goes up to the desk and grabs the paperwork I need to fill out before a doctor sees me.

  “Here,” Chris says, handing me a clipboard.

  “Thanks. Do you have my wallet? I need my insurance card.”

  “Shit, it’s in the car. I’ll be right back.”

  Chris makes his way out to the parking lot while I fill out the information I know.

  “Here,” he says a few minutes later, as he tosses me my bulging black leather wallet. “What the hell is in there anyway?”

  “Phone numbers,” I say, but it’s a lie. I keep everything. It’s a bad habit I ne
ed to break.

  Chris chuckles, but I know he believes me.

  I fill out the insurance information quickly, hoping to be seen soon.

  “Can you take this up for me?”

  Chris grabs the paperwork and hands it to the guy behind the desk. I slump down in my chair, so I can minimize any attention I may get. It’s not like I don’t like talking to fans, but I don’t want my injury getting out before I have a chance to talk to my coach.

  Ten minutes pass, and I’m ready to cut off my right foot.

  “Leo Cameron,” a nurse yells.

  Shit. Chris and I glance around, but thankfully no one looks at us.

  He helps me hobble into the exam cubicle. It’s a big room, but it’s cut off by a curtain. There’s another patient in the room. From what I tell, it’s a young boy. It seems he fell off a trampoline and broke his arm—poor kid.

  “Sit on the bed,” the nurse barks as she points to it.

  Chris snickers at her abruptness.

  “Something funny?” she asks him.

  “Uh no, ma’am.”

  Well, seems I have Nurse Ratchet caring for me today.

  She turns to me. “My name is Rayna, and I’ll be helping you. What happened to your foot?”

  “I was playing soccer, when I had to jump quickly over a kid who fell to the ground. My landing was awkward, to say the least.”

  She grabs my foot and I yelp. “Holy shit!”

  I hear a giggle come from the other side of the curtain. Whoops, I forgot about the young boy.

  “That was uncalled for,” Nurse Rachet says.

  “Well, then don’t grab my foot,” I say sternly.

  “I’ll go alert the X-ray techs that you’ll be coming in. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  She leaves the room but the pain in my foot stays.

  “Jesus, she has crazy eyes,” Chris says, as he laughs.

  As I get settled, another nurse comes in. She’s gorgeous, and I’m disappointed when she goes behind the curtain.

  “All right, Jesse. This may hurt a little, but I’ll try to be careful, OK?”

  “OK, Sophia, but I might cry,” little Jesse responds.

  Sophia? Why couldn’t I get Nurse Sophia instead of the sadist I have?

  “It’s all right to cry when you’re hurt, Jesse. I cry too sometimes.”

  Her voice is just as angelic as she looks.

  Even though I only saw her for a few seconds, Sophia is already embedded in my brain.

  Chris raises an eyebrow at me while I strain to listen to the lucky kid on the other side of the curtain.

  “There,” she says. “All done.”

  “That didn’t hurt,” Jesse says.

  “Thank you for being so nice to my boy,” a woman, who must be his mother, says to Sophia.

  “Of course. Breaking your arm can be very scary, but Jesse is a brave boy and did a great job.”

  I hear a rustling behind the curtain, like the young patient is getting dressed. Just as I’m about to lay back on the table, Jesse and his mom say goodbye to Sophia.

  “What do you think your nurse would do if you started to cry?” Chris asks with a laugh.

  I give him a warning look.

  Suddenly, Sophia peeks her head around the curtain. “Hi, would you like me to open this, so you have more room?”

  “Actually, could you please be my nurse?” I know I’m flirting, but I don’t care.

  Sophia laughs as she moves closer.

  My heart rate picks up, and she’d know if it I were hooked up to a monitor.

  “Rayna a little too rough for you?”

  Oh God, if she only knew how rough I like it, she’d run screaming. “I could use someone who doesn’t want to torture me. How about it? Can I be your patient?” I ask with my best smile.

  Just then, Nurse Ratchet reappears. “Sophia, isn’t your shift over?”

  Sophia looks annoyed at the harshness of her co-worker’s question.

  Glancing at her watch, she nods. “Sure is.”

  Before she leaves the exam room, she leans over and whispers, “Good luck.”

  Sophia

  The hot shower feels good as it beats against my skin. I had a double shift today, and my muscles are killing me. I know it’s only eight o’clock in the evening, but I’m ready to fall into bed.

  The day started with a bang, literally. We had a patient with a gunshot wound, someone in cardiac arrest we were able to revive, and an emergency C-section. That was all before lunch.

  After I rinse the shampoo from my hair, I rub the knot in my shoulder.

  At least the day ended on a good note. Jesse was so sweet trying to be a brave little boy. He did well when he decided not to cry. I sure would’ve, with the break he had.

  I step out of the shower and wipe the steam from the mirror. Oh God, I look like crap. I need to get some sleep for sure. But first, food.

  I throw my robe on and head into the kitchen to quickly make a sandwich.

  I eat standing up at my kitchen counter because I haven’t eaten since noon and I’m famished.

  Just as I’m heading to bed, my phone dings.

  Glancing down, I see it’s my friend, Brenda. She’s been my best friend since third grade, and even stuck by me when I went into the convent at twenty years old.

  I left the convent a year and a half ago. It was a difficult decision, but one I don’t regret. It just wasn’t for me. The desire to have a family was stronger than my vows.

  Brenda never questioned my choices. My parents, namely my father, well, that’s another story.

  Brenda: How was work, chick?

  Me: Busy as I’ve ever seen it. Getting ready for bed.

  Brenda: We’re still going out tomorrow night, right?

  She always wants to go out when I have a weekend night off. I don’t really drink, but I do like to dance, and there’s a new dance club in town I want to check out.

  Me: Of course. I can’t wait to see what Club Electric is like. Make sure you put your dancing shoes on.

  Brenda: Already done! I’m heading out with Ricky tonight. We’re going to Gallagher’s for dinner and drinks.

  Me: Have fun. See you tomorrow.

  Ricky is Brenda’s friend…well, a friend with benefits, I guess.

  I wish she’d stop sleeping with him though. He doesn’t seem to want a relationship with her other than as a booty call. Brenda’s a great girl, and I’m afraid she’s going to get her heart broken.

  Once snuggled in bed, I turn on my TV. As I scan the guide, I see a sappy romantic movie and flip to the channel.

  Between romance movies and books, they’ve taught me everything I know about relationships. My parents sure weren’t any help. And Brenda? Well, she’s pretty much a pervert, so there’s that.

  There must be something between fake romance like the movies and my best friend’s sex life.

  Being a twenty-seven-year-old virgin is tough. For instance, who’d want to go out with a woman who’s barely been kissed? I've thought about online dating, but that’s pretty scary. Brenda has even offered to set me up with one of her co-workers at the school where she teaches. But every time I think I’m ready, I make up an excuse as to why I can’t go out.

  Letting out a big sigh, I throw my remote against my door.

  I’m frustrated…yes, perhaps sexually.

  My mind wanders to the guy who was behind curtain number one today at work. He was tall, blond. and had a killer smile. Leo, I think his name was.

  When he asked me if I’d switch places with his nurse, I wanted to in the worst way.

  As much fun as it is to think about being with a guy like Leo, he wouldn’t look at me twice if we were out somewhere. After all, the only reason he talked to me was because he thought I’d gentler than Rayna.

  My thoughts drift to my parents. They own an Italian deli in Tampa, and I help them out on days when I’m not at the hospital, like tomorrow. I’ll be at the deli by seven in the morning and home by fou
r in the afternoon.

  Plenty of time to get ready for my night out. Especially since I’m not a high maintenance kind of girl.

  As a nun, I wasn’t concerned too much with makeup, the latest hairstyles, and such. While I didn’t wear a habit like strict orders, I still wasn't worried about being attractive to others. After all, why would I be?

  Somewhere between running through my encounter with Leo and the list of things I have to do at the deli, I fall asleep.

  My dreams are full of memories of my time in the convent. Sometimes I miss the friends, but never the discipline I endured.

  Leo

  Last night was a nightmare. I couldn’t sleep between the pain in my foot and the woman I couldn’t get off my mind. Her black, curly hair and blue eyes haunted me all night long.

  Sophia isn’t like the type of woman I’m usually attracted too. She’s a natural beauty, nothing fake about her… not an eyelash, not her hair, or her boobs. At least, I don’t think they’re fake.

  I can’t believe she left before I asked for her phone number. Nurse Ratchet was so quick to get rid of her and I missed her as soon as she was gone. When she was talking to me, it was like my injury didn’t exist.