Loving Again: Book 2 in the Second Chance series (Crimson Romance) Read Online Free PDF

wanted to see if the deal you offered me was still good.” It was her turn to drop her eyes.
    After a deep breath, she looked up again. “I was going to call you this weekend, I really was, to tell you I was coming back to Portland. Assuming it matters to you. Next month. I mean, that’s when I’m moving.” Her eyes searched his face, trying to find the answer she wanted to see there.
    Before Sam could say anything, the waiter brought their entrées, then came back with a pitcher to freshen their water glasses.
    After the server left the second time, Amanda said, “So? No reaction? I thought you might like what I just said.”
    He carefully cut a piece of his chicken cacciatore, chewed it and swallowed it before he answered. “Wasn’t sure how you’d react to my showing up in Seattle unannounced. You were happy to see me but you glowed when you talked about your time here. I thought about that after I left the gallery. Wondered if you’d be telling me you’re staying here.”
    “So — you’re saying, what? You psyched yourself up for me to stay here? Is that what you want?”
    “God, no.”
    “Then, have you changed your mind about the deal?”
    “The deal?”
    “The one where I came back to Portland so we could see if we could make it work out between us. If I move back will you … can we … ?”
    “Amanda,” he interrupted, “do you really think I drove all the way up here to see an art exhibit? I mean, I love your work but I came to see you. I had to find out what was going on. It’s been driving me nuts.”
    “Then what is all this reluctance about — payback for not being in contact for a while or for saying I liked seeing you off balance?”
    “I’m not reluctant. I don’t understand what you meant when you said I couldn’t kiss you good night.”
    “No, I meant that you were expecting bad news but there wouldn’t be any.”
    “Didn’t sound like that. It was either no kiss or … ” He snapped his fingers and said with an innocent expression, “Oh, wait. You meant you didn’t plan to say good night to me tonight.”
    “You think I invite men to sleep over on our first date?”
    “First date? We’re way beyond first date, aren’t we?”
    “Have we ever had dinner out before tonight?” He shook his head. “Gone to a movie?” Head shake again. “Had anything that even vaguely resembles a date?” He opened his mouth to answer and she quickly said, “Rides to the ER don’t count.” He smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
    “I mean, think about it. Yes, we’ve known each other for over a year and we’ve slept together. But it hasn’t exactly been a normal boy-meets-girl, has it? I know how you act in an emergency and how well you do your job but I don’t know what the M stands for in your name or whether you like to dance or swim.”
    She waved her fork around as she continued with the list. “I don’t know whether you’re a morning or a night person. Where you went to college. Whether you went to college. I don’t even know how old you are, much less when your birthday is. Somehow we never got around to that kind of thing, what with a murder trial and drug dealers battering down my door.”
    He laughed. “I guess I agree. Well, except for the sleeping together part. I don’t recall any sleeping that night.” He ignored her eye roll. “I admit we’ve done things in reverse but didn’t you say you’d make an exception for me.”
    “That was about a piece of art, Sam, not relationships or sex or what-ever-it-is we’re talking about now.”
    “So, what would you like to do for the rest of the evening?”
    “How about we finish our dinner and then go home and have dessert. We can talk about it.” Before he could answer, she said, “There’s ice cream in the freezer and my roommate is gone for the weekend.”
    “You’ve convinced me. And, since you asked: October 9th and I’m thirty-six. The M is for Martin, my mother’s family name. I swim okay but I grew