TAKE A CHANCE (Chance Colorado Series) Read Online Free Page A

important than being forced to face down her own personal demons in order to move back to Chance to look after her mother.
    It didn’t matter that she’d have to see him again. It didn’t matter that he would be married now, after eight long years, and likely have a houseful of kids. It didn’t even matter that every time they saw each other she’d have to live with his knowing that she’d tricked his younger brother into dating her for the sole purpose of getting close to him.
    None of that mattered because she was totally and completely over Logan O’Connor. She was over all men. None of them could be trusted as far as she could throw them.
    A quick glance from the road to her passenger brought a smile to her face. Her brother might be the one exception to that rule. She admired him more than anybody she’d ever known.
    Matt had endured five long months of hospitals, multiple operations, and what had to have been an unimaginable degree of pain. In spite of it all, he was here beside her, headed back to Chance to face the loss of his friend, Danny. Matt had survived and was doing what he had to do.
    Just like Matt, she was doing what she had to do.
    Her family was her biggest responsibility and she was determined to see to their welfare, both Matt’s and her mother’s.
    Allie rolled her shoulders and leaned forward to squint at the sign ahead. After three hours of driving with no conversation save Chester’s constant complaints, the big green sign overhead announced her turnoff in a quarter of a mile. She followed the arrows, leaving the highway behind to pick up a small mountain road. Several more minutes and the little town of Chance lay stretched out before her, looking as if time had passed it by.
    In a way, it had. This was it. She was back home again as if she’d never left.
    Time to check her dreams at the door and put on her game face.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER THREE
     
     
    Of all the stupid things Allie had ever decided to do, wearing these heels today had to rank right up near the top of the list. If she could manage to make the long trudge across the rutted, rocky parking lot without breaking an ankle, she’d consider herself a lucky woman. Ending up on her butt in a field certainly wasn’t the impression she’d hoped to make after not having seen these people for so many years.
    Allie grabbed on to the car door to stabilize herself before following behind her mother and brother as they made their way toward the gathering of people on the front lawn of the new community center.
    The second time she stumbled on a dirt clod, Matt fastened a hand on her elbow.
    Perfect. Both Matt and her mother were forced to use a cane to steady their steps, but who was the one stumbling into town and needing help? Her, of course. The one who was supposed to be there to help them.
    At least she could console herself that she was being escorted by the most handsome man in Chance. Her brother, always attractive, cut quite a figure in his uniform.
    “Hey!” a cheery voice called from behind them. “Wait up, you guys!”
    Allie turned toward the sound and spotted her cousin Desi hurrying in their direction, her arm raised in greeting.
    Though Desi’s twin followed several steps behind, there was no mistaking one for the other. The only similarities between Desi and Dulcie were their features and their size. Beyond that, they had always been as different as was humanly possible for identical twins.
    Since before high school, Desi had been the more eclectic of the two, and today was no exception. From the bright purple braids twined through her long brown curls, right down to the black and white high-top sneakers peeking out from under her long gypsy skirt, Desi sported a look all her own.
    Seeing her never failed to bring a smile to Allie’s face.
    “It’s been too long,” Allie said, holding her arms out to capture her cousin for a hug.
    “It sure has,” Desi agreed, returning the hug before linking