Second Chances Read Online Free PDF Page A

turned her attention to Susan across the table, who appeared to be watching Brian very closely. The quick, secretive grin that flashed across Susan's expressive face sparked Karina's curiosity.
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    "Where do you live, Mars? Obviously, not here. Our men aren't so foolish," joked Mark. His hand was in the air trying to get their waitress's attention.
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    "I gather you're hungry, Mark," Brian teased. "Did you even take a lunch break today?"
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    "I'm starving. My stomach remembers this place. Have you all decided what to have?"
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    "No point in even looking, when I don't know what the dishes are." John nodded at the still-closed menu in front of him.
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    Karina opened her menu and saw what he meant. There was no shorthand explanation to go with the names of the entrees. Nor were there pictures of the dishes.
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    Brian turned to Mark. "I have an idea. You know the food. Why don't you pick six dishes for us to share? That way, everyone can try a little bit of everything."
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    "Easily done." Mark tilted his head towards the tiny woman now standing beside him. Together, they discussed the choices. The strange sounding names combined with the musical accent added a touch of far-off magic to the evening. Karina appreciated that they were in for a treat.
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    "Mark lived in Thailand for several months," Brian said. "He's quite a connoisseur."
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    "Wonderful! We're so lucky that we get to enjoy his expertise." Karina rubbed her hands together in anticipation. Always willing to try new foods, she'd only had Thai cooking a couple of times before, so to have an expert advise them on their meal was fun.
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    She glanced sideways at Brian and caught him staring back. At this distance, she couldn't help noticing how square his cheekbones were, matching his chin perfectly. God, those dimples. She didn't remember those. She turned away before she could reach over with her fingertip to stroke the natural recesses. She caught Susan's observant eye. With a toss of her head in the direction of the back of the restaurant, Karina silently suggested a trip to the Ladies' room.
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    Susan jumped up at the idea, her expression smug, bursting with the effort of holding back a secret. Karina followed closely behind.
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    "What are you smirking about?" Karina asked, certain she already knew the answer.
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    "Don't worry. I don't think anyone else noticed."
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    "Noticed what?"
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    "The attraction between you two. You obviously think he's cute."
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    "God, he's gorgeous. But I have to tell you, we have a history. Not much of one, but it seems like time didn't dull the attraction." Karina collapsed in an exaggerated swoon against the counter. They both burst out laughing.
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    When she'd regained control, Susan said, "And he's available. In many ways you complement each other."
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    "Really?" Karina said, her voice sounding a little desperate to her own ears. Disbelief warred with hope in her voice. Did Susan really see something? And more importantly, did she want to go down that path again? "He's confusing the hell out of me."
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    "Duh, meeting him again has obviously stirred things up. Let it develop." Susan bent closer to the mirror to check her makeup. "You two would be good together," she reiterated firmly. "See where it goes."
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    Karina wasn't so easily convinced. The pain of their last night together couldn't be so quickly dismissed.
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    "Let's head back before the men eat everything." With the door half open, Susan motioned Karina to move in front of her.
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    "Then we'd be hungry and have to find another way to appease our appetites." Karina leered comically, waggling her eyebrows as her ribald sense of humor made an appearance. "Instead of sharing dinner with the men, let's have the men for dinner."
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    Susan chuckled and lightly elbowed Karina in the side. "I'm on a diet, remember?"
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    "That's okay. I wasn't sure I wanted to share anyways!"
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    Still giggling, Karina retook her