CALLEN (Second Chance Novels Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

as this. As expected, my sadness draws the woman next to me into conversation.
    "Planning to drink away your mood?" she asks in a kind, subtly-flirtatious voice.  
    I offer a sad chuckle. "If only such a thing were possible."
    "I think we've all been there," she offers in understanding and an obvious attempt at connection.  
    I sigh for two reasons: to sell my act and to release a fraction of my inner-frustration with my behavior.  
    "I guess we have," I nod as I turn to her and offer her a sad, appreciative expression. I introduce myself, and the slow chase is in motion. "Callen Reed."
    "Tipton Montgomery. Nice to meet you," she smiles in both sophistication and attraction.  
    Jesus, her name is as pretentious as my drink. I think of Evelyn's lack of pretentiousness in spite of her station, and I miss her all the more. The blonde in front of me, however, will have to do.  
    We drink in silence for a moment until I order her another Merlot as a thank-you for her willingness to talk with someone who's probably not very good company right now. My manipulation is in full swing, and she's already drawn into her role as my therapist for the evening.  
    Within two more sips of our expensive drinks, Tipton's hand is on my arm and she's gently asking for the cause of my sadness. I speak only one word.  
    "Grief."  
    Her head tilts in sympathy as she asks, "How long ago did you lose her?"
    I smile sadly at her. "That obvious?"
    "Callen Reed, a heart-sick man is easy to recognize."
    "You're an insightful woman," I softly compliment.  
    Within the next half-hour, I slowly tell her my story in enough bits to draw her closer to my singular need. She listens in honest sympathy, keeping her hand on my arm. When I speak my last sentence, I secure her as mine tonight.  
    "You remind me of her," I admit shyly as my final manipulation. "She's the only woman I've ever loved, and you're so much like her. Honestly, I like being reminded. Thank you for talking with me this evening."
    With a squeeze of my arm, she leans in and gently kisses my cheek. She then leans her temple on my shoulder and laces her hand through mine. Her body language demonstrate my obvious success.  
    After delving so deep into my memories of Evelyn and my shallow connection with Tipton, my need for her comfort is acute. I allow my body language to demonstrate the same.
    I take her cheek gently in my hand and kiss her tenderly, allowing myself only a moment on her lips. A moment, however, is all I need to transform Tipton into a hazy vision of Evvie. Tipton looks deeply into my blue eyes and speaks her offer to be my Evelyn tonight.  
    "I can't," I lie. "I don't want to use you. I don't think I can be with someone so much like her. You'd only be a fantasy. That's not fair to you."
    Those final five words of my manipulation stand as the most honest sentence in a sea of the white lies.
    "Callen, I'm lonely tonight, too," she admits quietly. "I'm drinking away my own sadness. Let me help you so we can both feel better. Let me take you home. My penthouse is only a few blocks away."  
    I take her honest acceptance and offer her a final codicil to this sad arrangement.  
    "This can't start anything, Tipton. Being with you might be too painful, and I can't replace her. I'm desperate for you tonight, but this will end as soon as it starts."
    "I already understood that, Callen," she says kindly. "But I appreciate your honesty."
    I'm not a total bastard.
    I kiss her once more and pay for both our drinks. She takes my hand and we walk from the establishment to her posh top-floor apartment.  
    "Why are you sad tonight?" I ask quietly.  
    "All men aren't as honest as you," she says with her own quiet sadness.
    Maybe I am a total bastard.  
    "Come here," I say softly as I pull her into my arms to kiss her deeply. I absorb her sadness which reminds me of Evvie's. My fantasy takes hold as I unpin Tipton's hair from the upsweep so similar to my love's blonde twist I once