Stubborn Heart by Ken Murphy Read Free Book Online Page B

children.
    Mark tried to break in. “But—”
    “The only one making your drama is you.” Carla ignored him. “The choice is yours. Stay in your shell, or get out and live.”
    Mark ended the call. He grabbed a light blanket and walked out onto his balcony. Curling up in a chair, Mark stared out at the lights of the city. He knew Carla was right. It was time to move on. It had been almost eight months since he had ended his relationship with David. But then again, David had been nothing more than a repeat of the one before him.
    Mark thought back over the men he had dated. It seemed as though he made the same mistakes time after time. Things always started out good, but the good times never lasted for long. The men he had dated had either wanted to change him, or they cheated on him. Sometimes they did both. What if Trevor turned out to be no different than all the others?
    What if Trevor was different? Would it really make a difference? In a few months, his fellowship would be up and Trevor would move on to something else. Trevor had explained how few opportunities there were for people with his particular specialty. He would have to move somewhere else. Mark was at a point in his life where he was settled. He had a career. He had a home. Trevor was just getting started. Could he really invest himself, his feelings, in a relationship that would only be temporary?
    That could be the solution , Mark thought as he pulled the blanket tighter around himself. Maybe as long as I understand that this is temporary, I won’t get hurt.

Chapter 7

    M ARK was excited about seeing Trevor again, in spite of his resolve to keep his expectations low and his feelings in check. After several changes of clothes, he’d finally decided on a blue and white pinstripe shirt, jeans, and brown deck shoes. The phone rang as he was returning the last of his wardrobe rejects to the closet. He confirmed with the desk attendant that he was expecting Trevor and waited for him to arrive.
    A few moments later, he heard a soft knock at the door. Mark opened the door and was immediately engulfed in a bear hug. Trevor wrapped one hand around Mark’s shoulders and put the other on his lower back. He almost lifted Mark off his feet as he pulled him into the embrace.
    “Wow!” Mark exclaimed, laughing as he was released. “That was some greeting.”
    “I know,” Trevor said, laughing as well. “I have been looking forward to seeing you all day. I maybe got a little carried away.”
    “I don’t think so. That felt really good,” Mark replied, stepping to one side as he waved his hand for Trevor to come inside. Mark gave him the once-over, now that he could actually see Trevor.
    Trevor looked incredible. He wore an emerald-green silk shirt with black jeans and boots. He followed Mark into the living room area and then took a seat on the sofa. Mark picked up a bottle of white wine and two glasses and joined him. Mark filled both glasses with wine and handed one to Trevor. He lifted his glass in toast. Trevor raised his glass as well, and they clinked them together briefly.
    “Here’s to Friday, the end of the workweek,” Mark said as he took a sip of his wine. “I hope work wasn’t too rough today.”
    “Not a bad day at all. No new surgeries, just the post-op patients,” Trevor explained. “I probably could have finished up before I did. By the way, you look really nice today.”
    “Nice?” Mark sighed in feigned disappointment. “I was going for ‘hot and sexy’.”
    “Now who’s digging for compliments?” Trevor asked with a chuckle. He turned and rested his arm on the back of the sofa so he faced Mark.
    “Sometimes a fella just wants to be noticed,” Mark answered matter-of-factly.
    “Oh, I noticed. You look amazing. Make that hot and amazing.” Trevor smiled as he gazed into Mark’s eyes. Then Trevor became quiet. His face changed and he looked serious. He reached over and took Mark’s glass from his hand, and without