Second Chances Read Online Free Page B

people that had never been wrong.  It was part of his job to ferret out fact from fiction.  Of course he was also supposed to be unbiased, but his heart went out to this woman.  And he was absolutely not what she was looking for.
     
    Hannah paused.  Maybe she came on too strong, too brutally honest.  He was pulling away.  She could sense it.  She may have missed all the signs in Brett, but since that experience she had grown more aware more alert.  “I guess I sound as desperate as I am,” she mumbled.  “Don’t give me an answer tonight.  Just think about it, please.”  She reached into her purse.  “This is my phone number…until the end of the month,” she shrugged.
     
    Frowning, Rick took it.  “I really do want to help you,” he began quietly.  “Let me think on it, okay?”  He slid out of the booth, and stood at the end of the table staring at her.  She was really attractive and far more fragile than she let on.  There was a tightness around her mouth that belied the stress she was under, the dark smudges under her eyes attested to her lack of rest.  He sighed and grasped her hand for a moment, determined to leave her with some measure of comfort.  “You will hear from me,” he said then he turned and walked away.
     
    Hannah stared after him.  He seemed really…nice.  Rick seemed like the kind of guy she would have for a friend.  She sighed.  And yet, somehow, she knew that when he finally called, it wouldn’t be to offer her a place to live.  She glanced at her watch.  Her last chance would be arriving in just a matter of minutes.  To keep from watching the clock, she swirled the ice in her glass, glanced at a menu, and perused the bar.
     
    Thirty minutes later, it was obvious he wasn’t coming.  She signaled for her check, carefully paid by cash, and exited the bar.  The tension was building.  She was afraid, not for herself, but for the girls.  Hugging her jacket around her, Hannah slowly made her way to her car.
     
     
    Gavin had continued to watch her.  He hadn’t intended to stand her up.  He had sat there for over five hours.  The problem was…vulnerability.  On both sides.  Somehow he knew that if he spoke to her, took the time to get to know her, he would like her.  He growled.  He didn’t want to like her.  He wanted to punish her.  This plan of hers to find some rich man to take care of her and her children was…sickening.  She’s just being practical, his heart argued.  How desperate must she be?  
     
    When she stood to leave, Gavin waited an appropriate time and left.  He wanted to see what she drove, what direction she was heading.  Who was he kidding?  He was going to follow her and he knew it.  Unable to fight it, he left a hundred dollar bill on the bar and walked purposefully out.
     
    The woman was just getting into a late model white SUV.  She pulled on her seat belt and cautiously glanced about before backing out of her parking space.  She even signaled.  A smile softened Gavin’s face.  She was making this entirely too easy.  She turned left onto 51.  And after a few short miles, she made another turn into an apartment complex.  It was a nice enough place, not too old, the property was well maintained and with decent vehicles in the parking lot.  She pulled up in front of a garage, parked the vehicle, and pulled down the visor.  A lit vanity was opened and she swiped at her cheeks while she practiced smiling.  He cocked his head to the side as he studied her.
     
    All too quickly, she leapt from the vehicle, locked it, and headed down the hall to the last apartment on the left.  Once she was safely ensconced within, Gavin exited his own vehicle, grabbing a pen and napkin from the console.  Jotting down the building and apartment numbers, he headed back to the Lexus to make the long drive to Lake Norman.  He didn’t mind.  It would give him time to think.  And once he arrived, he would think some more.  Time