Second Chances Read Online Free
Author: Nicole Andrews Moore
table, he hadn’t even attempted to dab, or mop. And the mother in Hannah was dangerously close to doing it for him.
She glanced at her watch. It was 6:50. This date had to end. Her next meeting was on the verge of taking place and this guy, who could never be in the running regardless of what he offered her, had to go.
“Well, it was really nice meeting you,” Hannah began, completely interrupting him.
“Oh,” he said. “Oh, oh.”
Hannah rose as though to go. “I need to use the ladies’ room and then I have…plans.” She fidgeted with her left ear lobe, an obvious sign that she was lying to anyone who knew her. This jerk didn’t. In fact, he hadn’t even tried to get to know her. Instead, he had spent the time boasting about his life, what he had to offer a woman. Given the fact that he’d barely let her get two words in edgewise the entire evening, she was certain he would mistake her lobe fiddling as a flirtation.
“So, when can I see you again?” His eyes sparkled as he eyed her figure.
Never! Her mind shouted, but outwardly she simply said, “Leave me the best way to contact you and I’ll let you know once I’ve made a decision.” She had heard her boss say that numerous times to prospective employees. It always worked with them. And Hannah had no reason to believe that it would fail on this occasion.
The man rose awkwardly to his feet and leaned in to kiss her cheek before he passed her a business card and strode away. As soon as his back was turned, she swiped at her cheek, certain his slippery kiss was a combination of saliva and sweat. Hannah sighed. It had only been a partial lie. She really did need to pee. And definitely check her makeup. That’s what women did on dates, right? It had been so long and she was so grossly out of practice that she no longer knew how to act in such a social situation.
Her second date arrived right on schedule. Punctuality was a plus. He looked as though he had walked right off the cover of GQ. Plus. And minus. She sighed.
He smiled warmly showcasing a perfect set of even pearly white teeth. Her eyebrow shot up quizzically. She couldn’t stand men who spent more time on themselves than she did. And as the mother of four-year-old twins, she was lucky she found time to shave her legs and pits.
“My name is Tad,” he began, reaching for her hand. Hannah went in for the shake, but he turned her hand over and kissed just above her knuckles seductively.
She pasted a smile on her face. Great. Another playboy. “Hannah,” she said seriously.
Tad had exhibited a sense of humor, a moderate amount of intelligence, a good deal of interest, and more than a healthy amount of vanity. By eight twenty-five, Hannah was tapping impatiently. Again, she worried over how to end this date in time for her third dud to show up. She tried subtle. But the ‘well it was nice meeting you’ line went right over his head. Instead, Tad had reached across the table and caressed her hand as though it was some sort of invitation. She squirmed. “I really must be going,” she said and moved to rise from the table.
Tad grabbed her arm. Initially she was shocked by his audacity. She whirled to face him and immediately wanted to slap the look off his face. This was a man who was used to getting his way. “Let go,” she said through gritted teeth.
Instantly, Gavin sat up straighter on his bar stool. He might just have to blow his cover and go to her aid. Other than the fact that she was soon to be the object of his revenge, he really had nothing against her. And he never could condone a man making unwanted advances on a woman. Just as he rose from his seat, however, a new man entered the picture.
He watched in fascination as the man dispatched the cad effortlessly with a grace that seemed natural. Gavin sat down
She glanced at her watch. It was 6:50. This date had to end. Her next meeting was on the verge of taking place and this guy, who could never be in the running regardless of what he offered her, had to go.
“Well, it was really nice meeting you,” Hannah began, completely interrupting him.
“Oh,” he said. “Oh, oh.”
Hannah rose as though to go. “I need to use the ladies’ room and then I have…plans.” She fidgeted with her left ear lobe, an obvious sign that she was lying to anyone who knew her. This jerk didn’t. In fact, he hadn’t even tried to get to know her. Instead, he had spent the time boasting about his life, what he had to offer a woman. Given the fact that he’d barely let her get two words in edgewise the entire evening, she was certain he would mistake her lobe fiddling as a flirtation.
“So, when can I see you again?” His eyes sparkled as he eyed her figure.
Never! Her mind shouted, but outwardly she simply said, “Leave me the best way to contact you and I’ll let you know once I’ve made a decision.” She had heard her boss say that numerous times to prospective employees. It always worked with them. And Hannah had no reason to believe that it would fail on this occasion.
The man rose awkwardly to his feet and leaned in to kiss her cheek before he passed her a business card and strode away. As soon as his back was turned, she swiped at her cheek, certain his slippery kiss was a combination of saliva and sweat. Hannah sighed. It had only been a partial lie. She really did need to pee. And definitely check her makeup. That’s what women did on dates, right? It had been so long and she was so grossly out of practice that she no longer knew how to act in such a social situation.
Her second date arrived right on schedule. Punctuality was a plus. He looked as though he had walked right off the cover of GQ. Plus. And minus. She sighed.
He smiled warmly showcasing a perfect set of even pearly white teeth. Her eyebrow shot up quizzically. She couldn’t stand men who spent more time on themselves than she did. And as the mother of four-year-old twins, she was lucky she found time to shave her legs and pits.
“My name is Tad,” he began, reaching for her hand. Hannah went in for the shake, but he turned her hand over and kissed just above her knuckles seductively.
She pasted a smile on her face. Great. Another playboy. “Hannah,” she said seriously.
Tad had exhibited a sense of humor, a moderate amount of intelligence, a good deal of interest, and more than a healthy amount of vanity. By eight twenty-five, Hannah was tapping impatiently. Again, she worried over how to end this date in time for her third dud to show up. She tried subtle. But the ‘well it was nice meeting you’ line went right over his head. Instead, Tad had reached across the table and caressed her hand as though it was some sort of invitation. She squirmed. “I really must be going,” she said and moved to rise from the table.
Tad grabbed her arm. Initially she was shocked by his audacity. She whirled to face him and immediately wanted to slap the look off his face. This was a man who was used to getting his way. “Let go,” she said through gritted teeth.
Instantly, Gavin sat up straighter on his bar stool. He might just have to blow his cover and go to her aid. Other than the fact that she was soon to be the object of his revenge, he really had nothing against her. And he never could condone a man making unwanted advances on a woman. Just as he rose from his seat, however, a new man entered the picture.
He watched in fascination as the man dispatched the cad effortlessly with a grace that seemed natural. Gavin sat down
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