BWWM Interracial Romance 2: Open Heart by Elena Brown

Ashley herself—with a tall man, hovering over her with a hungry look in his green eyes. The two were engaged in what was obviously a very intense conversation; Ashley’s entire attention was focused on the man, and he saw the tension in her body. A cold chill worked through Tony as he stared at them for a long moment. He had met a few of Ashley’s friends, and the man she was speaking to so intently was not among any of the friends he had met. Tony’s stomach churned and he heard Vince’s voice in his mind, telling him that career-minded women like Ashley would kick him to the curb when the corporate ladder called. There was obviously something between Ashley and the man, and all Tony could think was that he had to get out of there before she saw him. If she was cheating on him—not that they had defined their relationship, or discussed being exclusive—then the last thing he wanted her to see was the devastation on his face. Tony turned on his heel and left, quickly finding his car and throwing the box of chocolates in the passenger seat with no regard for their delicacy before he started the car and sped out.

Decisions
     
    Ashley had been shocked to see Kent waiting for her at the front of the hospital. The guard who called her hadn’t mentioned who it was that wanted to see her.
    When Kent saw her he made for her immediately, not even waiting for her to come to him.
    “Why won’t you answer any of my calls? Why won’t you even give me a chance?” he had asked right away, looming over her with a look between desperation and anger on his face.
    “Why the hell would you keep calling me if you know I’m not going to answer?” she asked him, keeping her voice carefully low.
    “I thought if I made it clear to you just how much I want us to be back together you’d eventually give me a shot to make things right,” Kent told her, his nostrils flaring, his face in hard lines. “What’s wrong with you? You told me you’d always love me—you didn’t even want us to get divorced in the first place!”
    Ashley gave him a firm look as his voice rose. “If you’re going to talk to me, you’re not going to cause a damned scene. I work here, you know.”
    Kent rolled his eyes. “You live here, you mean. Is that what it is? You fucking some doctor boy here?”
    Ashley’s face flushed and she clenched her teeth, taking a deep breath to control herself. “It’s none of your business who I’m seeing. If you wanted to convince me to give you another chance, you’re really going about it the wrong way.”
    Kent trembled, inhaling sharply. He closed his eyes and Ashley saw the effort it took him to calm himself down. “Look. I’m a desperate man, Ashley. I want to be with you. I need you to give me another chance.” His voice took on the wheedling tone that she had once loved—when it was turned to convincing her to try something new or to come to bed— but now it filled her with nothing but revulsion.
    “You’re definitely a desperate man,” she conceded. “If you want me to give you another chance, you’d going to have to give me a reason to think it’s going to be any different. And anyway, you’ve missed the boat on your chance. I am seeing someone, in fact. I’m not interested in ever talking to you again.”
    Kent’s eyes widened in shock. Before Ashley could react, he started to lunge for her, his hands coming up as if he wanted to hit her.
    “Alex!” Ashley called out, unable to look and see where the security guard was.
    She held Kent’s gaze. “You need to get out of here right now, Kent. I never want to see you again; I never want to hear from you again. Get the hell out of my life.”
    Kent shook his head. “I’m not leaving until you agree to give me a chance,” he said.
    Ashley stared at him in utter confusion; hadn’t she been unequivocal?
    Alex jogged up, and Ashley caught sight of him in the corner of her eye, standing at her side. He pressed a button on his walkie talkie,