Last Chance: A Second Chances Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

didn’t get served. Whatever leftovers we had, we gave them to the workers so they’d have some for their families.
    Grayson tried to stop me, but I kept going, ignoring him. If I stayed around him for much longer, I’d break down. When I got to the kitchen, one of our chefs was wiping down the counters. We had three of them, all amazing cooks, but Arthur was my favorite. He was in his mid-fifties, with a head full of white hair.
    “What’s up, Artie?” I said.
    He smiled and gave me a little wink. “Nothin’ much, darlin. Just ready to get home to my wife. Tomorrow is our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.”
    Grinning from ear to ear, I squeezed his shoulders. “Congratulations. That’s amazing. Maybe one of these days that’ll be me.”
    He patted my hand. “I’m sure it will. You’re a beautiful, young woman.”
    If only a certain other person felt the same way. “Thanks, Artie. Why don’t you head out so you can get home? I’ll finish up here.”
    “Are you sure?” he asked. I could tell he didn’t want to leave.
    I pushed him toward the door. “I’m sure. Now go.”
    He clocked out and grabbed his coat. “Thank you. I’ll see you in two days.” He waved and disappeared out the door. Once I had all the trash piled together, I grabbed two of the bags and dumped them outside in the trash bins. I only had one more bag left to throw away, but this time when I walked outside, I wasn’t alone.
    “Really?” I snapped, tossing the last garbage into the dumpster. “What the hell do you want?”
    Luke stalked toward me, his gaze heated. “You’ve ignored me all week. We need to talk.”
    “No, we don’t.” I marched to the door, but he grabbed my arm, hauling me around to face him.
    “Yes, we do. Why are you so angry with me?”
    I scoffed incredulously. “Seriously? You’re gonna ask that? I can recall, just over a week ago, finding you all over another girl, not two days after we’d slept together. Forgive me, if it didn’t settle well.”
    “Nothing happened with her, Lara. Besides, I never promised you anything. This is the one thing I wanted to avoid. But I—”
    Jerking my arm out of his grasp, I pushed him away. “Duly noted. I was just an idiot who thought you could change.”
    “Would you let me finish?” he snapped, pulling me into his arms. “Damn, you’re stubborn. How can I make this right?”
    “You can’t,” I growled low. “Whatever this is between us is done. Now I know you can’t be trusted. So do me a favor and leave me the hell alone. I gave you a chance and you screwed up. There will be no next time. It was a mistake I knew I shouldn’t have made, and I sure as hell don’t plan on making it again.”
    “Lara, please. We can’t end things like this.”
    My eyes burned, but I refused to shed a tear in front of him. “Maybe you should’ve thought about that sooner. Now let me go.” The back door slammed open.
    “Lara, what’s going on?” Grayson demanded.
    Luke’s grasp loosened and I jerked away. “Nothing. Luke was just leaving.”
    He glared at Grayson and then to me. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    Grayson pulled me behind him, his body tense and ready to fight. “Yes, you are.”
    They equaled in size, but Grayson’s brother was an MMA fighter and they used to train together before he was killed. Luke was just as volatile, but the last thing I wanted to see was them fighting over me.
    “Stop!” I screamed, unable to hide my tears. I was equal parts embarrassed and angry.
    Luke flinched when he saw my face but I couldn’t hold back anymore. I rushed inside and slammed the door. It wasn’t long before Grayson barreled through and locked the door behind him. He pulled me into his warm arms, his hand against the back of my head as I laid it on his chest. I held him tight and sobbed, my tears soaking through his shirt.
    “Dammit, Lara, why would you get involved with him?”
    “Because I’m stupid,” I cried.
    Releasing a heavy sigh, he