Free Ms. Perfectly Imperfect: BBW BWWM Interracial Romance by Roxy Wilson Page A

keep supplies there.”
    “I don’t think the nurse will like that.”
    “We can ask her,” she said.
    Layla held her hand. “Okay, let’s ask her.” Together, they marched to the nurse’s desk. Much to her surprise, Clint stood there. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” she joked.
    “Layla!” He kissed her on the cheek. “Hello, Charlotte.” He patted the child’s head. “Ready to go home? Your mom is coming to pick you up.”
    Charlotte sighed as if that was the worst news she’d ever heard. “Do I have to? I like it here. Layla comes here and I won’t get to see her when I go home.”
    Feeling touched, Layla bent to hug the girl. “I’ll ask your mom if I can come visit you.”
    “But we were going to play princess, and I wanted to lock you in the closet.”
    “What?” Clint stared at them, bemused. “Which closet?”
    Layla explained the rules of their little game. “She wanted to find out if she can lock me in that tower.” She pointed at the closet.
    Clint stared at the door. Striding over, he held it open. “I don’t think there’s much space here and her mother must already be on her way.”
    When he gazed into the closet, she saw an odd look on his face.
    He marched inside.
    Feeling a little surprised by his abrupt manner, she clutched the girl’s hand and led her back to the bed. “Listen, sweetheart, your mom will be here soon. Why don’t we play when I come to your house?” She convinced the girl to pack her belongings and wait for her mother while she went back to the desk. Layla opened the closet door.
    Clint was inspecting a tube.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “These contain the old pieces that come from the machine at the treatment room.”
    “But?”
    He shook his head. “They’re supposed to be discarded properly and not strewn about in this haphazard manner.”
    She didn’t know what to say, she still felt baffled by his behavior.
    Putting down the tube, he strode out. “Let’s go.”
    She followed him out of the ward. “What’s going on, Clint?”
    “I’m just trying to figure out if everything is in order. There has to be another reason why my treatments are failing.”
    Layla drew in a deep breath. “I’ve got to tell you something.” Now that he was a part of her life, she needed to update him. Layla definitely didn’t want him to find out things from the newspaper. She hoped that it didn’t come to that, as she didn’t want the gossip, but at the very least, she should inform him beforehand. Layla told him about Bryan’s attack.
    He clasped her hand after hearing the tale. “Are you all right? You should’ve called me.”
    “Asher was there and he helped me. Everything is fine, but I will have to look for a new manager now.”
    He kissed her hand. “You’re a brave woman, Layla. Is there anything I can do for you?”
    “No, thank you.” She felt touched by his concern. “I’m just going home now.”
    “Can I drop you?”
    “Okay, thanks.”
    Together, they left the hospital. When she sat in his car, Layla felt safe, happy. She could see that he was still upset by the deaths of his patients and was conducting his own investigation.
    When he parked in front her apartment building, he got out and opened her door. “Layla, we should go out soon. How about dinner tomorrow?”
    She’d promised him that they would and frankly, she was ready. “Sure. Pick me up at seven.”
    The kiss caught her by surprise. Desire, wild and strong, careened through her system and slammed into her heart. She wanted more. This wasn’t enough. Her arms snaked around his neck and she held on while her body melted against his. It felt great to be held by a man who cared. Yes, she still felt self-conscious about her hair loss, but now Layla felt like a woman again.
    When they separated, she touched his lips. Although she longed to ask him to join her for light snack, her mother was still at home and she definitely didn’t want to answer her questions about