Second Chances Read Online Free PDF Page A

this is it. If your sister or other friends ask about it, tell them I helped convince my father for the boy’s sake, and it pleased you.”
    “It would mean I liked you before.”
    “Didn’t you?”
    The conceited tone was really too much to take.
    “Aargh! Do you have to sound so superior all the time?!”
    The outburst surprised him and reminded him of her harangue to his father in the morning, of older ardent battles; of the heat raised by a vague brush of lips...He would have to remember how passionate she could be, if he didn’t want the whole scheme to blow up in his face. Arthur held up his hands in a mute apology.
    Maya sighed, already calm once more. Then she frowned again, though this time it was more worry than anger that shadowed her face.
    “Your father won’t be pleased. Not only you are challenging him by refusing his candidate but you are courting me…”
    “I’ll take the risk.”
    His answer surprised her even more. Arthur seemed unconcerned about upsetting his father. Robert used to interview her boyfriends like a Spanish inquisitor whenever she dared bring them to the Manor, and now he apparently couldn’t stand her any more…There was more to this than met the eye. It should make her suspicious. Yet God helped her, she was curious.
    “Okay then...What’s next?”
    “Next? Colin is taking a look at your wardrobe.”

Chapter 6
     
    Maya tried to push up her glasses, only to realize once more she wasn’t wearing any. The lack of weight on her nose was still bothering her, but at least she had grown out of the “I-feel-naked” phase. And she had to admit, the surprised (and sometimes appreciative) looks of her coworkers were worth the ten minutes it had taken her to put the contact lenses on in the morning.
    She caught her reflection in the window. Contact lenses were not the only change Colin had suggested (imposed had been more like it). He and Gavin had spent one complete evening inspecting her closet to finally reach the conclusion that Maya was in desperate need of a shopping trip, with Arthur’s credit card.
    The fact that the owner of the card had not even argued about it had annoyed her beyond reason. Her clothes were perfect for her work and the other activities she had! She was perfectly capable of paying for her own clothing, thank you very much. Making a “pretty woman” out of her was absolutely out of question, and not part of the bargain. She was not Arthur’s customary snobbish fashion starlet and it was exactly for that reason that Arthur was supposed to have fallen for her…
    After a two-hour long battle, Colin had finally convinced her to buy a couple of pieces, to complement her own wardrobe. So today she was wearing her favorite jeans, which fortunately had escaped the cut, with a fitted red blouse and matching lipstick. She liked the blouse. The fabric was smooth, and the color was cheerfully bright. As for the lipstick…
    The light knock on the door brought her back from her reverie.
    “Miss Finnegan? You have a visitor…”
    “Thanks. Oh…Hello, Arthur.”
    Hopefully, to her curious assistant, her blush could pass for the simple pleasure of seeing Arthur rather than the shame of having been caught off guard when he stepped in her office. At a loss of what to do, she was glad he took the initiative, even if the hug and quick peck on her cheek felt awkward.
    Arthur released her as soon as he heard the door close behind them. He kept his voice low nonetheless.
    “You have to learn to relax when I touch you or no one is going to believe us.”
    It vexed her to feel her cheeks growing even warmer at the patronizing tone. Maya forced a smile on her face before she asked: “Did you come for Matthew?”
    He caught the hint instantly. “ We are not going public before the payment is secured.”
    “Yes, indeed. I have all the papers here.”
    To an outsider, the exchange could have appeared quite innocent, Maya thought. Still there was a less than subtle warning