Another Chance to Love You Read Online Free PDF

didn’t expect you, Daniel. Did we—”
    “No.” He shook his head. “I just took a chance and dropped by. I was curious about where you worked. I wondered what Solutions was. Your card doesn’t say.”
    Monica motioned him into her office. It was an enormous, triangular-shaped room with windows on the two longer sides and a spectacular view of the sage-and-bitterbrush-covered foothills and the pine-topped mountains beyond.
    Daniel let out a low whistle as he walked into the center of the room. “Wow,” he said softly, then turned to face her. “You’re president of this company?”
    She raised an eyebrow. “As a matter of fact, I own it.” The corners of her mouth curved up in a droll smile. “And I think I should be insulted by your tone, Mr. Rourke.”
    “No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be insulting. It’s just…I don’t know. I didn’t expect…” He let his voice trail away, knowing he was going to make it worse if he kept talking.
    “You thought all I wanted to do was stay home and be a mommy.” She breezed past him and went to stand behind her massive glass-top desk.
    He couldn’t tell if she was being sarcastic or not. “Sorry,” he repeated, just in case.
    Monica’s gaze swept over the office. When it settled once again on Daniel, she said, “This sort of all just happened. It wasn’t what I set out to do.”
    “I doubt that. About it just happening, I mean. You must have worked hard. I’m impressed. Very impressed.”
    She shrugged off his words, but he could tell she was pleased.
    Daniel again wondered about men in her life. Were there others out there who complimented her on her achievements? Was there anyone serious in her life? She was so beautiful. There must have been plenty of men who had wanted to marry her.
    Why haven’t you married, Monica?
    Before he could ask that question aloud, the door opened behind him. “Monica, dear. Are you ready to—”
    He turned toward the familiar voice from his past. “Hello, Mrs. Fletcher.”
    She paled. “Daniel?”
    He knew immediately that Ellen Fletcher hadn’t known Monica went to see him at his book signing. And in that instant of strained silence, he recalled the last time he’d spoken to this woman on the phone. “Leave Monica alone,” Ellen had said. “She doesn’t want you in her life anymore. Haven’t you hurt her enough?”
    Monica would have been about five months pregnant with Heather by that time. Ellen Fletcher had to have known he was the father. She could have told him, but she’d chosen not to.
    Bitterness burned his throat. He thought he’d gotten past that particular emotion. It looked as though he was wrong.
    “I…I didn’t expect to see you.” Ellen clutched and un-clutched the strap on her handbag. Her eyes flicked toward her daughter. “I didn’t know anyone was with you, dear. I was early, and Terri wasn’t at her desk. I…I’ll leave the two of you—”
    “It’s all right, Mom,” Monica replied, sounding calm and unconcerned. “Daniel dropped by to see the office. You remember he came to Boise to sign his book. Well, he’s decided to stay for a while.”
    “Stay? In Boise?”
    He wondered if Ellen was going to faint. He almost took a step toward her, just in case he needed to catch her, then stopped himself from doing so.
    “Mother and I have lunch together every Monday at one o’clock.”
    Daniel turned toward Monica again. She wasn’t nearly ascalm as she sounded. He could see the tension in her eyes. Despite himself, he felt sorry for her. She obviously had some explaining to do to her mother.
    “Listen,” he said, “I’ll be on my way, let you two get to your lunch.”
    “Thank you, Daniel.” Monica’s smile was fleeting.
    “I’ll call you.”
    She nodded.
    He turned to leave. “Good to see you again, Mrs. Fletcher.”
    With that lie lingering in the air, he strode out of the office, still not knowing what Solutions was—and not caring, either.
     
    “Good grief!”