Secret Date
Victoria Pinder
Secret Date
Copyright©2018
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemble to actual events, business establishments, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
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Published in the United States of America.
Copyright © 2018 Victoria Pinder Love in a Book
All rights reserved.
Created with Vellum
This book is dedicated to my baby daughter, Elizabeth. She’s my angel. I was worried before she was born that somehow having her would mean I wouldn’t be able to write. She is such a good girl that she showed me my fears were stupid and that fears don’t deserve energy. I want her to grow up into the beautiful and strong girl I know she’ll be.
Contents
The House of Morgan Family Tree
Join Victoria Pinder
Series Information
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Secret Crush Preview
Secret Baby Preview
Secret Bet Preview
Secret Wish Preview
Secret Dad Preview
Secret Heir Preview
Secret Tryst Preview
Secret Romeo Preview
Also by Victoria Pinder
About the Author
The House of Morgan Family Tree
Mitch Morgan married Isabelle Marshall
Their children: Peter, Victoria, John, Luke, Elizabeth, Matthew
Mitch Morgan had an affair with Fiona Dupree
Their children: Mitch, Damien, Galen, Axel, Catherine (also called Jess)
Mitch Morgan had an affair with unknown Italian woman.
Their children: So far research indicates 4 male children.
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Peter married Belle Jordan in Secret Bet.
No children.
Victoria married Colt Collins in Secret Baby
Their children: Clara.
John married Alice Collins in Secret Crush
They have one child, unnamed.
Luke is engaged to Caro Soliz in Secret Wish
No children. Luke and Caro get married in Secret Romeo
Elizabeth married Rafe Soliz in Secret Dad
Their children: Brandon.
Matthew is currently not married.
~~~
Mitch Morgan married Tess Taylor in Secret Heir
No children.
Damien married Serenity Hanscom in Secret Tryst Expecting Twins.
Galen marries Natalie Parker in Secret Date
Axel is currently not married.
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Series Information
Please check out the entire House of Morgan Series and get caught up.
The House of Morgan
Secret Crush
Secret Baby
Secret Bet
Secret Wish
Secret Dad
Secret Heir
Secret Tryst
Secret Date
Secret Romeo
Secret Match (coming Feb 2019)
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 1-3
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 4-6
Natalie Parker undressed, folded her clothes on the table, and tied the horrible, paper-thin hospital gown loosely behind her back. Once a year, she faced this task because cancer ran in her family and she’d rather know early if she needed to fight that battle.
She settled back on the flat hospital bed and waited for her doctor to come in.
Was that her boss’s deep voice? Natalie sat up and her pulse raced as she stared with apprehension at the closed door. She glanced at her pocketbook, where she’d stuffed her office wig. Voices argued in the hall and every so often she swore she heard Galen Morgan’s sexy baritone. Her heart thumped a warning that he might find her here, though that really made no sense.
A female doctor with dark brown hair whose name she didn’t remember from the group plan entered her room, and Natalie tried to relax. She lay down while the doctor took a seat near her bottom half, then wheeled the chair toward the medical supplies. The doctor wore a frazzled expression. “Morning.”
Natalie slipped her feet into the stirrups without being told what to do, though she tried not to think about the check-up, and pasted a smile on her face. “The office is super noisy today.”
The doctor tugged her plastic gloves on as she rolled her eyes. “You have no idea how crazy it is out there right now.” She flipped on the bright overhead light. “Now lie down so we can get you started and on your way.”
Guess even doctors’ offices get insane. Natalie closed her eyes and braced for the uncomfortable plastic pliers that were a normal part of the procedure. That masculine rumble in the hall definitely sounded like Galen, who had no reason to be here. Eyes sealed shut, she tried to continue the conversation and not think about the annual check-up or Galen Morgan. “I’m going to work after this.”
No pinching? The doctor must have used a cream because Natalie didn’t even squirm—she then patted Natalie’s ankle and said, “Done.”
Natalie opened her eyes and took her legs from the stirrups. Outside, she heard Galen Morgan mention a cigarette which sent a cold chill down her spine. He really was outside in the hall and obviously upset.
The doctor stood while Natalie sat up. “Remember, you’ll need to rest so try to keep your feet up for the rest of the day.”
Strange. That was the first time after a yearly exam she’d ever been told to rest before, but her mind raced with worry over the fact that Galen was here. What if he saw through her disguise? In order to work for him, she’d added twenty years to her appearance with a wig and makeup. Would he recognize her outside of the office? She scooted to the edge of the exam table. At least she already had her loose clothes with her. Nothing form-fitting to give her away. Her heart pounded but she tried to keep the conversation with the doctor normal. “Okay? That’s new.”
The doctor took her chart
and partially opened the door to slip out. “You’re all set. You can get dressed now.”
She caught a glimpse of Galen’s profile. Natalie’s entire body froze in panic. Then the doctor closed the door and Natalie clutched the paper-thin wrap to her chest.
Seeing her sexy boss here and in some sort of argument outside the door meant he must have a girlfriend. She shook off the troublesome thought. And now she needed to quickly add makeup with the cloudy hand mirror attached to the powder to help her look aged so he wouldn’t notice anyway. Her first priority was to escape this office without being seen.
Natalie zipped up her black dress, two sizes too big, and found her gray wig and makeup kit. She smeared her purplish rose lipstick and tucked her long straight blonde hair into the wig. She couldn’t find her elastic tie. Maybe it was in her car?
Once she had her black glasses on and aged her face with caked on makeup, she kept her head down and eased out of the room, hoping that whatever was going on meant Galen would be too busy to notice her.
As she turned the corner, she almost ran right into Galen’s muscular back as he stood outside a different exam room door. His eyes widened in recognition. Drat. And why did he have a scrape on his cheek? Not that she had any right to ask. She kept her head down, “Mr. Morgan…I’m on my way to the office now.”
He caught her wrist and she glanced up at him. He immediately let her go, folded his hands in front of him and stared at her like she’d answered a prayer. A different kind of hum entered her, but she knew he’d never see the real her. Instead Mr. Broad Shoulders said, “Ms. Parker! I think you must be an angel. Can you drive Ms. Gonzales home while my brother and I deal with some paperwork?”
The Hollywood actress? That must be the cause of the craziness. Natalie peeked into the open room and saw one of Galen’s brothers with the famous actress. She pushed her glasses up higher on her nose and said, “That will make me late to the office.”
He let out a huge sigh and nodded. “We’ll consider this part of your job for the day, Ms. Parker. I’ll reimburse you for any expenses.”
“Okay.” She clutched her bags closer to her chest and stepped back. A few minutes later, the gorgeous film actress in a tight-fitting white tank dress that showed off her ample bosom and perfectly formed curves walked to the elevator with Natalie tagging behind, looking like a bag lady. Once the doors closed, Jennifer crossed her arms and stared at Natalie’s profile.
Natalie kept her head down even though her scalp beneath the wig itched.
As the metal doors opened, Jennifer shook her head in admonition. “Galen has no idea you’re wearing a wig, does he?”
Eyes averted as she left the elevator, Natalie said, “Umm.”
Jennifer stayed at her side as they walked out of the medical building and into the bright sun, which made her head itch even worse. “You don’t have to answer, but honestly, that makeup you’re wearing to look older isn’t well done at all.”
Great. It had worked for the past year. Besides, she wasn’t trying to win an Oscar in a movie. The makeup and wig were to keep her job. Natalie dug into her bag and fished out her Hyundai Sonata car keys, hitting the button to unlock. The lights flickered. Her hand shook slightly as she reached for her door. “Miss Gonzales.” Would she tell Galen about the disguise and ruin her life?
“Jennifer,” the actress said and slipped into the passenger seat.
The gentle sway of the palm trees portrayed a calm and peaceful summer day, but her stomach tightened into a knot. She started the car and removed her fake black glasses to clean off the steam. “We don’t know each other or anything, but I would appreciate it if you don’t tell Mr. Morgan about my disguise.”
Jennifer straightened her shoulders and studied her profile. “Look, I can help you get Galen to notice you and you won’t have to dress up like,” she considered, “like a homeless woman with no fashion sense.”
Natalie jammed her glasses back on. Today was the strangest Monday ever. She put the car in reverse and pulled out of her spot. “That’s a horrible idea.”
“Is it? I saw how you looked at him. That desire in your eyes can’t be hidden.” Jennifer buckled her seat belt.
Heat rushed to Natalie’s face. She turned the car toward the road, her cheeks burning. “I don’t know what you saw. He’s my boss. Nothing more.”
Jennifer laughed but switched her attention to the road. “But you like him which makes the wig you’re wearing confusing.”
Her head itched beneath the scratchy wig. Natalie took it off as it was clear she wasn’t fooling Jennifer anyhow and tossed it on the backseat. “Mr. Morgan doesn’t hire pretty young women in the office. I wanted to work there so I borrowed my neighbor’s wig. Now, why were you at the gynecologist with two different Morgans at your heels?”
Jennifer handed her a card with her address on it. Natalie glanced at it and realized this was on her way to work. She’d see Galen soon and hear his side of the story on why he was at the gynecological office.
Jennifer then sighed and asked, “Honestly?”
“That would be welcome.” Natalie slipped the card into the empty cup holder to her right.
Jennifer leaned back in the passenger seat. “Peter and I dated for a long time. Then we broke up and he married another woman. I still miss him and want him back.”
The sing-song of her voice caught Natalie by surprise. She wasn’t prepared to feel bad, but Jennifer sounded so sad. Natalie fixed her glasses and repeated what she’d heard. “By all accounts he’s happily married now.”
Jennifer nodded and wiped tears from her eyes. “I know. It hurts me every time I hear that.”
With all the commotion in the hallway, Natalie hadn’t heard crying or anything about heartbreak. The words shouted were about sperm and property and babies. Natalie kept her voice low and asked, “That doesn’t explain the visit?”
Jennifer kept her gaze out the window. “I wanted to have Peter’s baby. They have his sperm, ready for injection and I almost talked them into getting it ready for me. But Galen told his brother and ruined my shot.”
Her ears buzzed. There was something missing from the story, which sounded illegal. But this also meant Galen had no girlfriend and wasn’t dating Jennifer. Natalie’s shoulders relaxed. “So, Peter didn’t know you wanted to have his child?”
Jennifer swallowed and stilled in her seat, looking ahead and not at her. “No, but it was my chance to always have a part of him even if he doesn’t want me back. I just want to be happy and a piece of him is better than nothing, where I am right now.”
The Morgans were the richest family out there. Natalie’s brain buzzed as she drove onto the highway. “That’s either really sad or really conniving if you intended to go after him for his money.”
A small snicker came out of Jennifer that sounded sad instead of sarcastic as she looked up at the sun. “I had an offer to have his father’s child and make a lot of money, but I chose not to. I’m not only after money despite what you might think. I was in love and clearly he didn’t love me back in the same way I felt.”
Natalie had no idea what she’d do if she lost the man she loved to another. Sure, a college boyfriend, Rocco, had cheated on her, but she wasn’t left clingy or holding onto the past. She reached out and brushed the other woman’s shoulder. “Then I feel sorry for you.”
Natalie took the next exit and headed toward the beach. They drove over the bridge that led to the small island chains that had the best views of the city. Neither said a word as they passed the exit for Star Island, home of famous multi-million dollar movie stars, basketball players, famous singers, and the Morgans.
Jennifer flipped in her seat and her brown hair settled perfectly behind her head. Only a movie star would be that seamless with the action. “I meant what I said about helping you get Galen for yourself so that you can stop wearing that unflattering wig.”
They turned onto a nice island for millionaires and Jennifer’s building. Natalie stopped th
e car in front and shook her head. “No thanks. While Galen is hot to look at in the office and creates a nice fantasy in my mind, I want to find a man who is attracted to me without using tricks.”
Jennifer shrugged and unlocked her seatbelt. “I was like that once but then I lost, bad. I also learned that my looks get me pretty far. If you change your mind, let me know. My number is on my card.”
Natalie looked down. Jennifer wasn’t what she’d expected at all. She waved as the starlet climbed out. “It was nice to meet you, Ms. Gonzales.”
“Jennifer.”
She waited until Jennifer was inside the building and then checked to make sure traffic was clear before she pulled back out on the street and headed to work.
The silence in the car was palpable. So what if she had a slight crush on her attractive boss? He’d never notice her, ever. He thought she was at least twenty years older than she was. Once she parked in the employee lot, near the back, she stayed in her car, fixed her wig and makeup with the mirror and band to keep her hair from falling in her face, and then “waddled” into the office.
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