Dedicated
To All The Readers Who Are Making My Dream Possible
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Copyright © 2015 Violet Jackson. All rights reserved. Including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the author.
WARNING: This book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language. It may be considered offensive to some readers. This book is for sale to adults ONLY.
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City Vibes – Complete Series
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About Me
Hey,
I'm Violet and thanks so much for taking the time to read my book! I've always been a strong curvy African American woman who isn't afraid to go against societies social expectations of us. I hope through my writing you can trying to break out of these expectations as well, and truly be who you want to be. When I'm not writing I'm a regular 30 something gal who loves reading about strong males who appreciate women in all their beautiful forms. I also have a loving husband, and two beautiful children that I am grateful for every day.
Really hope you enjoy the book!
About This Book
As a nurse at a busy Atlanta hospital, Latoya had no time for love, or so she thought...
Nurses and doctors work together every day, but for Latoya there was one doctor who she wished she knew on an intimate and emotional level. Mark Waters had been a colleague and close friend of hers for many years but they never explored anything further as he was a married man.
But after they both attended a medical conference in the romantic setting of Savannah, Mark discovered some disturbing news. His wife was cheating on him with their realtor. Broken, tipsy and disheveled he came to Latoya's hotel room in the middle of the night looking for a shoulder to cry on. But one thing led to another and they both made passionate love to each other that night.
While Latoya thought it was a onetime drunken fling in his moment of weakness, the next morning they ended up making love again. She couldn't be happier and was now hopeful that they could have a future together. The weekend passes and they are both set to go back to Atlanta. But before they leave Mark has some very bad news. He spent all night on the phone with his wife, and they were going to try and work it out. While he wasn't very excited about it, he thought he at least owed her that much. Latoya's heart shattered into a million pieces and she cried all the way back to Atlanta.
Over the next few weeks they both tried to avoid each other as much as possible, but a few chance encounters showed them both there was something more there. But neither of them wanted to break up Mark's marriage so they never ended up exploring what they felt for each other.
But then everything changes. A terrible accident happens and Mark's wife's true colors are shown...
Will Mark and Latoya end up together in a happy ending?
This steamy BWWM romance is for adult audiences 18+ only
CHAPTER 1 - Colleague
I always felt excited when I would work the same shift as Dr. Mark Waters. He was a gorgeous man that had been a close friend for many years. I was a nurse at a busy hospital in Atlanta and we had worked together as a team for a very long time. Saving lives created a strong bond between us, a grand friendship. He was married and it could never be anything more than a friendship between us, but in the last year or so I had realized that I wanted more from him.
Every date I went on I compared the man to Dr. Waters. It was becoming a routine. I was immediately drawn to him the first time I met him so I was doomed from the start. However, I always talked myself out of it remembering that he was married, and remembering that we were just so different anyway. I never expected that my fantasies of him would ever become a reality.
In Atlanta, we had all kinds of patients coming through the doors. It was a busy city with lots of crime and a high rate of accidents. It was a constant whirlwind of activity in the hospital and my job was always go-go-go. I was an ER nurse so we were saving lives after all. I did love my job and I enjoyed it even more with my best friend Mark at my side. We laughed together and cried together when the cases were hard to deal with. It was emotionally exhausting saving people, but also losing people. We were on a merry-go-round of emotion on a daily basis. It was hard to not let it get to you. However, it helped to have someone to confide in and just be your true self with. That, for me, was Mark, and I think I was the same for him.
We had very different backgrounds. He came from Connecticut and went to an Ivy League school. He was almost what some would call preppy. I, on the other hand, grew up in Atlanta in a very poor urban area in a large family. I clawed my way up to a career that I loved and supported me financially. It was strange that we were such good friends because we were so opposite, but then again, opposites attract. But it was the bond of saving lives that brought us together.
A week before a medical convention, I was working a late shift at the hospital as I always did. Mark had come in for his shift and we were doing rounds together. His blonde hair was disheveled and his blue eyes were bloodshot. He seemed out of it and foggy-brained.
“Are you alright? It’s like you’re not here,” I asked him as I put my hand on his shoulder.
He looked at me and made a little side smirk with his perfect mouth. “You know me well, Latoya. You always know when I’m feeling down. Can’t hide it from you.”
“Well, I’ve known you a long time,” I smiled. “Want to talk about it?”
“No, not really. I can mention what it’s about, but I don’t want to get into the details,” he said.
“Okay, I’m listening. My ears are open to whatever you want to say or don’t want to say,” I said.
He looked at me and laughed a little. I was glad that I was lifting his spirits a bit at least.
“Well, all right. It’s just trouble on the home front. Karen and I have been going through some things. I’m actually excited to get away next week. I need a break. Marriage is hard,” he said.
“I’m sorry that’s happening. If I can help you feel better, let me know,” I said softly. There was a long pause of silence before I continued, “I need a break too. I’ve never been to Savannah,” I said.
“It’s beautiful. I know you will like it,” he said. “There’s a great restaurant that we should have dinner at.”
“Well you know me well and you know what I like,” I winked at him. I laughed and played it off, but really my heart was beating rapidly under my nurse’s uniform. We finishe
d our rounds and he seemed to lighten up a little. We headed to the cafeteria and had a few cups of coffee and some pastries. I listened intently as he told me that he and his wife Karen had grown distant. I had never met her. Sure, Mark and I were good friends, but our friendship was strictly work based. I liked it that way. If I had to have dinner with him and his wife, it would make her too real and I liked feeling like she wasn’t.
“Thanks for listening, Latoya. I can tell you anything. You never judge me,” he said.
“Everyone is human. Who am I to judge?” I said.
He smiled and we finished our break. Later after our shifts we walked to the parking lot together. The sun was rising and we were both tired.
“Are you all right to drive home? You’ve had a lot on your mind,” I said.
“Yes, I will be fine. Thanks for looking out. So I’ll see you in Savannah on Friday?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’ll see ya,” I said.
I went home and slept. I was off for the next week because of the convention.
***
The next day, I went shopping. I didn’t go out of town much and I wanted a few new outfits for the occasion. I found a smart white business suit, an elegant but simple silk blue dress, and a few other key items of clothing. It felt good to spend some time and money on myself. Wearing nurses’ scrubs had a way of making you feel less feminine over time. After shopping, I went to a spa and had the ultimate package. I had a salt scrub and massage that left my skin feeling perfect. I had my nails done and then got my hair did. Now, I was ready for the medical convention getaway, but deep down I knew that I did it all for him. I harbored secret fantasies that we would end up together one night of the convention but I never dared say it out loud.
Two days later, I arrived at the medical convention in Savannah and checked into my room. I opened the door and it was a beautiful small suite, decorated in the best high-end furniture and accessories in an old southern style. It was gorgeous. The wallpaper was a soft green fabric that matched the heavy drapes. The sitting area had a plush sofa and chairs along with a fireplace. A large canopy bed was right in the middle of it. I was delighted with it and unpacked while humming to myself.
The first lecture was in half an hour so I freshened up. I looked at myself in the mirror. My caramel skin was glowing and I was happy to be away from Atlanta and the hospital for a while, but I knew what made me really happy was being away with Mark. I tried to force that thought out of my head. I applied a neutral peach lipstick and pulled my hair back. I wore the smart white business suit with the tight pencil skirt. I always looked good in white. I guess that was why I became a nurse. I laughed at my little joke and then left my room to attend the first lecture.
I sat in the back of the large conference room and started scanning the crowd for Mark. I had no idea if he had even arrived yet. Then I saw him walk in. He always took my breath away on first glance when he was dressed in something other than his doctor’s clothing. He was very attractive.
I watched as he walked down the aisle to his seat in a dark gray suit. His shoulders were broad, his blonde locks of hair casually fell over his blue eyes, and his full lips were soft and a pale pink. He had a manly scent to him that drove me crazy and I wished that he would come sit next to me so I could be enveloped in it. Then, as if on cue, he turned toward the back of the room where I sat and acknowledged me. He walked slowly towards me. I could see the reaction of women as he walked by them. All eyes were on him. It made me feel proud and jealous at the same time. He stood in front of me and gave me a hug then sat beside me.
“This should be interesting,” he said.
“What?” I said my eyes growing wide. Did he think what I think he meant? Was he talking about us being this close together?
“The lecture of course. I’ve been following this doctor’s work for a long time. I’m excited to hear his latest techniques,” he said, fumbling through the paper handouts.
“Oh, right. Of course, I am too,” I said, looking through the pages, feeling stupid that I thought anything else.
We sat quietly through the lecture but I could feel Mark casting side-glances at me. What did it all mean? I wouldn’t let myself get ahead, and I felt guilty that I was having feelings for a married man. I had to stop. I vowed that as soon as I got back to Atlanta, I would take dating seriously and find someone to distract me from all of this. Mark looked over at me and then took out his pen and wrote on my paper, “this is boring.”
I giggled a little, which turned some heads. Playing like this made me feel excited when he looked at me. I was nervous and had the feeling of butterflies in my stomach. It was arousing and exciting. I instinctively uncrossed my legs and then crossed them in the other direction. I could see Mark’s eyes look at my legs, he was a man after all. Then he wrote again on my hand, “Let’s have dinner tonight at 8?”
He looked at me and gave me a sly smile.
I nodded yes and looked away. There, I did it. I was so excited I could jump up and down for joy. It was the best feeling. I felt like I was floating in the clouds. Then I remembered, it was just dinner. Get a hold of yourself, Latoya.
After the lecture, I rushed to my room to get dressed for dinner.
I finally decided on the blue silk dress. It was simple and not too revealing, but it hugged my body and showed off my curves. The material felt wonderful against my skin. I topped it off with a pair of black boots and gold earrings. I curled my brown hair and pulled it up on one side above my ear. I didn’t put on much makeup, because I didn’t wear much on a normal basis. I put on some lip-gloss and checked myself in the mirror. I was pleased with what I saw.
I went down to meet Mark. I walked into the lobby and nervously looked around. Then I saw him. He was standing at the bar with a martini in his hand. He looked at me and smiled. His blue eyes were stunning even from this distance. I walked over to him slowly. His blonde locks of hair went well with his dark suit. When I was standing next to him, he looked down at me from his tall height and said, “I’m so glad we’re going to dinner. We deserve a treat. You look stunning,” he said.
“Thank you, Mark,” I said.
The lobby was buzzing with people enjoying the evening.
“The restaurant is a few blocks away,” he said, leading the way.
Mark put his hand on the small of my back and led me out the door. His touch made me feel instantly aroused. I couldn’t believe the effect he was having on me. His slight hand on me made me feel excited and it was obvious to me that he was feeling something too. The chemistry between us was undeniable. It felt good and bad at the same time.
CHAPTER 2 - Decadent Dinner
I followed him out of the hotel onto the street. The night was humid and thick with the scent of jasmine. The cobblestone streets and old buildings were prominent in this section of Savannah and it was just as magical as I had imagined it to be. Mark starting talking about the history of the area as we walked and I listened intently. He was always so cute when he was passionate about a subject. History was one of the subjects we bonded on when I first started working at the hospital.
“This is it,” he said as he stopped in front of a grand building with fluted columns on each side.
“This? It’s beautiful,” I said, taking it all in.
“I thought you would like it,” he said proudly, as if he was pleased with himself for knowing what I liked.
We walked in and it took my breath away. The restaurant was a grand, airy, light-filled room bordered by mirrored doors and marble columns that gave it that palatial sense. The furnishings were mint green and white and elegant. Plenty of plants and palms filled the room along with chandeliers. There were a few people having dinner, but it was mostly private. We were escorted to a table, and Mark insisted on pulling the chair out for me at the table. I sat down, and then he sat. He stared at me with a smile on his face. I really had no idea what was going on and I was so confused.
A waiter came over to us and Mark took command.
“Two coffees.”
The waiter nodded and was off. “I assume you would want coffee but that was presumptuous of me, to assume I know what you want,” he said to me in a way that made me instantly aroused. I didn’t think he was still talking about coffee. What was going on here? I was out of my comfort zone.
“Yes, I like coffee,” I said.
I could feel him staring at me. I gave myself permission to look up at him. He was beautiful. His full lips looked soft and his blonde hair was thick and one piece fell over his brow. We stared at each other intensely, never breaking eye contact. I was feeling all sorts of emotions while he looked at me. I wanted him to lean across the table and kiss me. I wanted to know what he looked like under that suit, and I wanted him to take me. I forced myself to stop thinking these thoughts and with help from the waiter, I snapped out of it.
“Here we are, two coffees.”
The coffee was presented elegantly in fine white and blue china. A silver caddy was placed in the middle with a small silver jug of milk and a small silver bowl with sugar cubes and silver tongs. It was elegant and refined. Mark was the perfect gentleman. He ordered a nice bottle of wine for us and then he offered to order my meal for me. I had never been treated so nicely. I fought back tears because I wanted to cry. Being treated so well was not something that I was used to and I was feeling so grateful it overwhelmed me, but even more so that this was a married man and I was only his friend. I held back the tears and tried to enjoy eating our dinner.
I was in complete awe of the place. With our wine came the first course of different kinds of cheeses and fruits. Then we had a delicious hot southern-style soup with hot bread. For the main course, we had filet mignon that was so tender it fell away with the touch of the fork. The side dish was roasted vegetables with nuts and cranberries. It was sweet and delicious.
It was quite refined and elegant and I felt like a princess as I ate the decadent food in such a beautiful environment. For dessert, we had a rich, dark chocolate mousse. It was the best meal I had ever had in my entire life. It was a meal fit for royalty. After dessert, we sat and talked and laughed over brandy to let our meals digest a bit and to rest. Mark looked at me from across the table. His blue eyes were looking right through me as though he knew what I was thinking. It made me feel embarrassed.
The Nurse's Secret Love (BWWM Romance) Page 1
