A Secret Desire

By Kaia Danielle

A headstrong widow finds herself in the arms of the one man she shouldn’t want in a 1912 all-Black beach resort.

With funds running low, widow Halle Duncan’s only means for survival is to revive her late husband’s abandoned dream: a summer getaway where their people can relax and enjoy themselves, free from the weight of prejudice. An arranged union had forced her to marry young. Now once again, society dictates that she have a man by her side to succeed. But, Halle is in no rush to remarry, or even take a lover -- until an old family friend appears to tempt her with forbidden fruit.

Nick Green has been in love with Halle Duncan since he first glimpsed her years ago. Back then, he had no intention of disrespecting his mentor, and she had been his wife. Even after the old man’s death, Nick vowed to keep his distance. But when an unscrupulous land investor threatens to snatch away Halle’s resort, Nick is forced to get closer than even he could have imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kaia Danielle
• Release date: Feb 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386520337

Book preview

Washington, D.C.

May 1912

Nick Green’s fingers dug into the narrow gap between his neck and the strap of his bowtie. He felt asphyxiated by the formal accessory the moment he stepped inside the grand ballroom of the Wormsley Hotel. The grandfather clock in the corner showed that it was just past nine o’clock. Would fifteen more minutes be enough time to show his face and then disappear into the night?

He feigned a yawn as he snaked his way through the people who, like him, had attended this fundraiser in the name of supporting the only known survivors of the previous month’s Titanic disaster who were of African descent. The sinking of the ship was an overall tragic affair. It had been assumed at first that no members of the race had been aboard the luxury liner. But in the following days, the news broke that the nephew of the Haitian President had been aboard and perished. His two daughters and French pregnant wife had survived. Now, they were looking to return to France. The proceeds from this event would help pay for their return passage home.

A heavy hand flew out of nowhere to slap him harder than necessary on the back. He almost stumbled under the weight of it, sending him flying into a circle of heavily bosomed and bejeweled matrons. Their daughters, unmarried from the way they fluttered their eyelashes at him, made a big show of grabbing Nick’s arms to help him regain his balance.

Perhaps you should lay off the drink, young man. Wilma Thomas frowned.

Yes, ma’am. He made a show of dipping his head slightly, but he never turned away from her narrowed eyes. Of course, she would automatically assume that he was drunk. Mrs. Thomas never missed an opportunity to flaunt her status as the president of the local Colored Women’s Temperance League. What better way to do it than to censure a lowly social climber like him at an elite Colored Washington event?

What she didn’t know was that he had just finished a full day tending to patients in what was left of Old Doc Duncan’s medical practice. Nick was tired.

In truth, he was tired of everything about this upper crust social scene. He was just...

Tired of this old Colored Washingtonian set.

Mother! Her daughter Miranda clutched his upper arm tighter so that her cleavage hugged his biceps. Dr. Green here looks like he could use a little tender love and care.

She turned to him and whispered, Meet me in the coatroom in ten minutes. I’d love to show you what a little tender love and care looks like.

Thank you. He yanked his arm away from the cage of her fingers and breasts. But that won’t be necessary. Pardon me.

He quickly moved on before the stunned girl could respond. He continued to navigate his way through the crowd. Had his obligatory fifteen minutes passed yet?

He gasped for air the moment he broke free from the crowd in the hotel lobby. But, he didn’t immediately make a break for the exit. He was grateful of all the opportunities that this city had offered him. A Howard University education. A mentor. The chance to become a doctor. The lives that he saved in the poorest sections of the city. For once in his life, he felt like his life was his own. That he mattered. That he made a difference. Well, to those helped anyway.

If only any of it had mattered to her.

Dammit. It always came back to her. Always. Even tonight. He was here at this insufferable ball because of her. The rumor was that she was leaving town. He had to see her one last time. Then he forever could be rid of the spell she had held over him for the last ten years.

Who was he kidding? She was just coming out of mourning. The odds of her attending this hastily planned fundraiser were slim. No, she had him playing a fool for her again. He should just go.

Back when old Doc Duncan was alive, it was expected that he come to these things. To keep up appearances, the old Doc had said. It’s good for our standing in society, son. When our standing prospers, so does our business.

Making himself look good in front of his cronies had mattered more to the old man than being a good doctor. Even if it meant burying himself in debt. Even if it had meant neglecting his pretty, way younger wife. The only good thing that had come out of the man’s vanity was that he had taken Nick under his wing and personally molded him into a success story he could brag about.

Nick turned on his heel and began heading for the very door he had entered just moments ago. I don’t need to make anyone look good anymore.

Nick, wait! He stilled. That voice. Her voice. Dammit. It still had the power to command his very being. He turned around again.

Mrs. Duncan. He bowed his head slightly. He dare not look up. Looking directly at her meant being pulled into the hypnotic brown of her eyes. He made that mistake once and his heart had been hers ever since.

He shut his eyes as she pulled him into the warmth of her embrace. He inhaled deeply to steady himself. But blast it if that didn’t make his sense focus on her intoxicating scent.

I thought that was you! I haven’t seen you in ages. You couldn’t possibly be leaving so soon. Come, we must catch up. She hugged him again, this time her lips brushing his cheek. He stiffened, willing himself not to shiver from the