Second Chance (Cold Springs Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

was an intruder and had no right messing around in Jean’s things, moving and rearranging—certainly not taking her things to Goodwill. Even though Aunt Jean had left everything to Sam, it still felt wrong.
    Shoulders slumped, she looked around the room.  There was no way she was sleeping in Aunt Jean’s bed. Not that she had died in it. Sadly, Aunt Jean had suffered her heart attack while talking to the customers she loved downstairs in her diner. Nevertheless, Aunt Jean’s bed was too personal. The entire bedroom made up the way it was, was too personal. She would sleep on the loveseat in the little living room.
    Making sure the door was locked, she kicked off her shoes, quickly changed into yoga pants and a T-shirt, and found a blanket and extra pillow in the top of a closet in the hallway. She had expected the most sleepless, uncomfortable night of her life with her feet hanging off the end of the loveseat.  She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
     
    ~ * ~
     
    True to his word, Ian’s truck was waiting in front of the diner first thing the next morning.  He drove a beat-up Ford F-150, an older model with rust taking over much of the blue paint.
    “Thanks for offering to help.” Sam held the door for him.  The breeze had a brisk chill to it, sending cold straight to her bones. She would have to shovel the sidewalk this winter, she suddenly thought. The thought was an unwelcome one.
    “It’s no problem.  I wasn’t doing much today.”
    “How do you know Burt so well?” she blurted as he passed by.  She decided the only way to know was to bluntly ask. That and she felt a bit overprotective of Burt now that she was back in town, or maybe now that Aunt Jean was no longer around. Or maybe a combination of the two.
    Ian shrugged.  “I started going to the diner before…before I left town.”
    Sam got the distinct feeling that Ian didn’t want to talk about it. She didn’t know why, just something she picked up on. “Can I get you some coffee?”
    “No, thanks.” He went to pull the door shut and the knob came off in his hand.  “Well, that needs to be fixed.”
    Sam gave a surprised start.
    “Good thing you know somebody.”  He flashed her a cocky grin.  “I’ll get my tools.”
    Sam hadn’t seen him smile before, and it suited him.  Not just suited him.  It lit up his whole face.  He was rough and brawny like one of the heroes in her mother’s romance novels. Sam felt heat rush to her cheeks.    
    She stood in the kitchen as he left and came back with a toolbox.  “So you became a handyman.”
    “Contractor.”
    “Sorry... What’s the difference?”
    “Handyman doesn’t sound very professional.”  He winked.  “Sorry about your aunt, by the way.”
    “Yes, well…thank you.  I appreciate that.” 
    “I think you’ll make a go of it here,” he said, his voice husky, deeper than she remembered.
    She smiled.  Ian was the first person besides Burt who believed in her.  Even if he did want her to hire him as her handyman.  She’d take it. 
    “Are you sure you have time?” She didn’t want to take him away from anything he needed to do. “Can I pay you for your trouble?”
    He seemed hesitant for a minute then scratched his head. “Burt said you know a lot about contracts?”
    “I used to I suppose. Why?”
    He pulled a piece of paper from his back pocket. “I was wondering if you’d be willing to take a look at this and see if it’s legit.”
    He handed the paper to Sam. “It’s a maintenance contract I was just offered. My first one. I’ve never really dealt with them before, and I really want to sign it, but I’m not sure about some things in it. Could you take a look at it and let me know what you think?  I’ll pay you, of course.”
    Sam briefly glanced at the document. She didn’t mind returning the favor for Ian, but a maintenance contract and a book contract were two entirely different animals.  “I really don’t have any