The Two Week Gamble: Second Chance At Love

By Veronica Anderson-Stamps

Morgan Ross has finally began to reap the benefits of all her years of hard work.She's been hired at Grambling University as their new Art professor. Nothing could make her happier. She has the task of convincing her mother that taking this job is the right thing to do. While things seem to be falling into place, she has a chance encounter with Nick Brown, a man she had unintentionally hurt years ago. Seeing him again literally boils her blood. Nick Brown is a man who has been hurt by women one too many times. Seeing Morgan again opens wounds that he thought had healed. Something else awakens in Nick. Can he let go of the past in order to have a future? Will he take advantage of a second chance at love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Veronica Anderson-Stamps
• Release date: Jul 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476213057

Veronica Anderson-Stamps

Veronica Lolonda Anderson-Stamps was born on February 11, 1979 in Lexington Mississippi. Her parents are Loretta and Frank J. Robertson Jr. She has nine siblings. She married her husband, F. Lashon Stamps in 2015. Her childhood was spent in both Mississippi and Wisconsin. She graduated from Mississippi Valley State University in 2002 with a degree in History. While there, she received countless awards including President's Scholar and Honor Scholar. In 2005, she was awarded The Editor's Choice award from the National Library of Poetry and Poetry.com. She briefly attended graduate school during which she worked on a Masters in Criminal Justice. Before long, she was offered a job that would take her away from her studies. She currently resides in Mississippi where she incorporates technology during her work hours. In her leisure, she continues to write short stories, poems and songs. She also enjoys horror films, nature programs and science fiction movies. Verónica Lolonda Anderson-Stamps nació el 11 de febrero de 1979 en Lexington Mississippi. Sus padres son Loretta y Frank J. Robertson Jr. Ella tiene nueve hermanos. Se casó con su marido, Stamps F. Lashon en 2015. Su infancia transcurrió en tanto Mississippi y Wisconsin. Se graduó de Mississippi Valley State University en 2002 con una licenciatura en Historia. Una vez allí, ella recibió innumerables premios, entre ellos el presidente y Académico de Honor Académico. En 2005, fue galardonada con el premio al mejor hotel del editor de la Biblioteca Nacional de Poesía y Poetry.com. Ella asistió brevemente a la escuela de posgrado durante el cual trabajó en una Maestría en Justicia Criminal. En poco tiempo, se le ofreció un puesto de trabajo que la llevaría lejos de sus estudios. Actualmente vive en Mississippi, donde incorpora la tecnología durante sus horas de trabajo. En su tiempo libre, ella continúa escribiendo cuentos, poemas y canciones. Ella también disfruta de las películas de terror, los programas de la naturaleza y de las películas de ciencia ficción.

Book preview

The Two Week Gamble

A Second Chance at Love

By Veronica Anderson

Copyright 2012-2019 Veronica Lolonda Anderson-Stamps

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Chapter 1

Morgan Ross was more than ecstatic when she opened her Welcome Letter. It had been sent to let her know that she’d got the position that she’d applied for. After Morgan had graduated from graduate school, she’d taken a small position at the local school. It had been nice but Morgan wanted to do more with her life. She’d decided to apply for an open position at Grambling State University over three months ago. The letter had welcomed her to campus and stated that she would be an asset to the faculty and the overall student body. Morgan’s dreams were finally coming true. She had worked hard and felt that she deserved the title of Professor of Art History at the well-known university. She would finally be out of Mississippi. Out of this god-forsaken small town called Tchula. During her attendance at Mississippi Valley State University, she’d been ashamed to even utter the name of her home town. When she did become brave enough, people ultimately looked at her like she was some sort of country-illiterate. Yes, she’d paid her dues in full. She’d put everything she’d had into school. She was living proof that hard work and perseverance really paid off. She was finally moving up in the world.

Jordan could hardly believe what her sister was saying. She had a job. Morgan was going to be working at Grambling. All she could think of was their amazing football team. During the last season, she’d gone to all of their games. Their star player was a nice piece of eye candy. She decided to keep that little tidbit to herself. I leave in two weeks. I can barely wait. They’ve already sent me a list of the courses I’ll be teaching this semester. Can you believe it? Morgan raved. Sis, I’m proud of you. You said you’d do it. And you did. Have you told Mom yet? Jordan asked. With that question alone, Morgan’s excitement tampered down a bit. Both of them exchanged familiar glances. Morgan’s chess nut into Jordan’s warm honey eyes. They knew that their mother would have an absolute fit. Still, she’d be happy for Morgan and a bit furious as well.

Mom, I’m not trying to hurt you. I applied for the job a while back. Honestly, I’d almost given up. I got this letter today and now I’m suddenly hired. I really want this. Morgan explained. She’d wanted Jordan to come along to their mother’s house with her, but Jordan had claimed that she couldn’t close the animal clinic early. Sure… yeah right. She’d thought, when Jordan started making excuses, she really poured them on thick. Morgan needed her big sister’s support. Jordan apparently thought that she could handle Lauren Ross-Weathers on her own. Why did you apply for a job that was going to take you so far away from home? Lauren asked. Mom, you know I have worked so hard. I even skipped partying with my friends to get the grades that I got. I’m ashamed to say that the whole time I was in college, I didn’t even take the time to seriously date. When I was working on my masters… dating was definitely out of the question. Mom, don’t act like this. Just please be happy for me. Morgan pleaded. "I am happy. I just wish you’d applied for a job at Valley. You loved the campus, didn’t you? I mean I never heard you complain about it. Lauren conceded. Yes, I loved it. I loved the freedom I had there. Before Morgan had finished the sentence, she already regretted the way that it had come out. What do you mean by that? You had your freedom here. Are you saying that I smothered you girls? I did the best I could. I was a single mother, working and taking care of two kids on my own. You father decided late in the game that he didn’t want a family. He divorced me and moved on." Lauren exploded. This was not what she called handling the situation. Why hadn’t Jordan come along? She looked across that table at her mother. She sat there with her eyes averted. She still looked young and very beautiful. The sunlight pierced in through the kitchen blinds and played a beautiful light show over her cold black hair and fair skin. Her eyes, however, averted, were a beautiful brown with a hint of hazel. Yes, their mother was a force to be reckoned with.

Before Morgan could think of something to sway her mother, her step-father, Sam Weathers, walked in from the garage. How are my girls? Lauren faced her husband and said sadly, "Morgan headed to Louisiana. She has taken a job at Grambling. Talk to her Sam. Dad… it’s not like that. Mom seems to think that I’m doing this to hurt her. Morgan explained. Sam took a long look at Morgan. She started to feel like he was going to tell her that she was crazy for wanting to work and live so far away. Sam was a hard man but he was also reasonable. Congratulations Morgan. I couldn’t be more proud if you were my own flesh and blood." Sam smiled. Lauren gave him a look that could slice a brick wall in two.

Don’t mind your mother. She’s a bit upset with your sister Bree. She’s at it again. Sam explained. Lauren’s eyes lost their heated gleam and softened. What do you mean? What’s up with Bree? Morgan asked. Sam’s tall figure slumped over the kitchen counter. Lauren took the reign. She’s hanging out with that same old crowd. She stays out all times of the night. We can’t seem to get through to her. Morgan had to admit, no one could tell Bree what to do and not to do. She was her own cheering section. She marched to a different drum. She had a beat of her own. She was a huge contrast to Morgan and their big sister Jordan. Bree was over six feet tall, where the other two were five six and five eight. She’d taken her father, Sam’s height. Her skin was dark ebony like Sam’s. Morgan and Jordan were a rich caramel in color, a mix of both their mother and father, Fred Ross' skin color.

Everyone knew that Bree thought that she was a bad girl. Beneath that whole bad-girl persona was a girl who really wanted to be accepted and had dreams of being a model some day. She was acting out again. No doubt, in Morgan’s mind, that it was yet another ploy for attention. That was usually the case when it came to Bree. What does she want this time? Morgan asked dully. She was so tired of her baby sister’s games. Lauren said nothing, while Sam smiled a bit. She wants a car. Morgan had to struggle to keep from laughing. Bree was only fifteen. Morgan and Jordan had only received their first cars when they’d each turned eighteen. For Morgan, that had been some eight years ago. That was an exciting time. Back to the present. Listen, Mom, Dad. I have to go. I’ll stop by later this week. Ask Bree to give me a call. Morgan explained as she rose from the table and walked towards the front door. She closed the door barely hearing her parents telling her that they loved her.

Morgan pulled away from her parent's home. A place that she, her mother and Jordan had moved to after Lauren had married Sam. Bree came into the picture later. Boy was she a surprise. Even at this age, she was still causing an uproar. Morgan drove out of the middle-class neighborhood. She glanced at the houses as she passed. She would miss all this… seeing her parents… dealing with Bree and her small circle of friends. Just because she was leaving, that didn’t mean she would never see them again. As she crossed the bridge that would eventually lead to her apartment across town, there he stood. Could it really be him? Was Nick Brown really standing there? Morgan almost missed her turn looking at him. She had to be sure. She decided to circle back around the old city hall.

Her breathing came fast. If it was him, what would she do? What could she do? She was the one who’d walked away from him over eight years ago. During their courtship, she’d never allowed him to kiss or even hug her. She had been going through a stage. At least that’s what she’d called it. Sure they’d been intimate, but it had been like two strangers instead of two people who had supposedly cared for each other. She’d left without even saying goodbye. It was just as well. She hadn’t had a good role model when it came to men. She figured he would leave when he got what he’d wanted. Instead, she left before he could break her heart. She and Jordan had been young when their father had left but they never forgot how their mother cried for months over the man.

Nick stood there wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him. If they weren’t, he could have sworn the woman who’d passed him in that purple Pontiac, was Morgan Ross. Was it really her? He’d heard all about her success. She was good at everything this side of the Mississippi. Everyone bragged about her but only he knew the woman she really was inside. She’d left him without a goodbye. She was one cold…. No, he couldn’t let himself get that type of attitude. After all, that was the type of brutal honesty that led Tonya to leave him. Now he was home to make a fresh start. There was no way he was going to dredge up old memories. Old memories and too much heartache; that’s what came to mind when he thought of Morgan. Still, in the back of his mind, the question rang… was that her?

Morgan rounded the curve. She set her sights on where she’d seen him. Yes, it was him. He stood there deep in conversation with his aunt, Helen. His bright smile and huge dimples still dominated his face. She tried to look away but it