Beginning Again: Book 1 in the Second Chances series (Crimson Romance) Read Online Free PDF

critics.”
    “I’m thinking more in the personal arena.”
    “There, too. But when a woman kisses me the way you did, I have hopes.”
    “That was just a weak moment … ”
    He hoisted the juice container in a toast. “Then here’s to more weak moments.” After downing the rest of the juice, he pushed the plate of breakfast treats towards her. “You first.”
    Her hand hovered over the plate. He grabbed it before she could make a choice.
    “No, wait. I have a better idea. Let me see if I can figure out what you’ll pick.” He watched her closely, then looked at the plate, then back at her face. “Okay, you keep looking at that scone with the icing on top. But even though you want that one you’ll take something else because you think the icing isn’t good for you. So, you’ll go for the bagel. Later, after I’m gone, you’ll pick the icing off the scone and eat it.” He released her hand and sat back in the chair.
    She jerked her hand away from the bagel she’d been about to take and selected a blueberry muffin instead.
    “You weren’t going to take that muffin and you know it.” He laughed and picked up the rejected bagel. “So, when we finish breakfast, what shall we do today?”
    “I have work to do in my gallery. In case you’ve forgotten, I’m trying to start a business.”
    “It’s Sunday, Liz. You deserve a day off. How about we go to the zoo?”
    “The zoo? That’s your idea of getting-to-know-you activities?”
    “You can tell a lot about a person by the kinds of animals she likes.”
    • • •
    It turned out, he was right. She wanted to go immediately to see the giraffes, which she said she had some sympathy for, whereas he wanted to see the elephants because he was always hoping he could find a way to free them from the confinement of their tiny cage. Neither of them liked to watch the sea lion who swam the same circle in its small tank like a patient pacing the floor in a psychiatric ward. They agreed that the big cats were beautiful to watch and the lorikeets annoying when they buzzed you looking for food.
    Mid-afternoon, when he dropped her off at home, he said he’d be back at seven to take her out for dinner at a place he wanted to try in the trendy Pearl District. Because she’d given up fighting about his planning her day, she agreed.
    When he arrived, he had a bottle of wine with him.
    “I thought we were going out.”
    “We are. But I couldn’t get a reservation until 8:30 so I thought we could have a glass of champagne here. You like champagne, don’t you?”
    “I love it. And you even brought my favorite, Argyle. But it’s not really champagne.”
    “Hey, who’s the lawyer here? I know it’s technically sparkling wine, but what the hell? I don’t see any French wine police around to object, do you?” When she shook her head he said, “Okay, then, how about glasses for this not-champagne?”
    “Right here,” she answered, bringing out two crystal flutes and an ice bucket to keep the bottle chilled.
    They settled on the couch in her living room.
    “So, now that we know each other better … ” he started.
    “One trip to the zoo and we know each other better?”
    “Absolutely. Now that we know each other better, I want to revisit our conversation from last night.”
    “Which one?” Her mind was whirling trying to find an escape, any escape from the topic he was about to raise. The only result was dizziness from the effort.
    “Do you really need to ask?”
    “That’s a closed topic, Collins. There’s nothing more to say.”
    “Oh, I think there’s a whole hell of a lot more to say.”
    “All right then, if you insist, let me be blunt, since subtle seems to be lost on you. We’re not going to get involved the way you’re suggesting.”
    “Why not? I can’t believe you don’t want to. I saw your face. I know how you felt when we kissed. And the age and contract excuses are bogus. I’m sure of it. What’s it really?”
    “Look, I’m no