Second Chances Read Online Free PDF

seat.
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    Mark sighed. " Now what are you two laughing about?"
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    The women shook their heads, grinning madly at each other.
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    Brian leaned in close. "Karina, I've listened to your laughter all afternoon, but nobody's let me in on a single joke. So, come on—give over. Please?" A wheedling tone entered his voice.
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    Susan jumped in to answer. "She was just commenting on having a man-sized appetite." Then she burst into peals of laughter at her inside joke.
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    "Well done, Susan." Karina smirked. "We'll make a comedian out of you yet."
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    The men just watched and shook their heads, before everyone turned back to the meal.
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    By the end of the evening, the warm cozy atmosphere of the restaurant had affected the ambience within the group itself. They strolled back to the hotel, replete and relaxed. Karina barely noticed that the light drizzle had turned to rain.
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    The street around them was quiet, devoid of both traffic and pedestrians. Empty storefronts seemed to wait for them in the gloom, watching them with dark, fathomless eyes. Despite the pleasant chatter happening around her, Karina felt a chill of nervousness run up her spine. She chided herself silently for being foolish; their group was large and fairly noisy. Nothing bad was going to happen to them. But then why did she feel such a sense of misgiving?
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    On the way up the long path to the hotel's entrance, Karina noticed a man on the opposite side of the street, standing motionless in the downpour, staring up at the front of the well-lit building. Rain pattered off his hat, dripping from the brim in a steady stream. His face was hidden in shadow, but something about him made Karina hesitate.
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    "I wonder what he's doing?" Karina jerked her chin in the man's direction. At that moment he turned his head, and she caught a glimpse of his profile. There was something familiar about it. Almost. The others, only intent on making it inside, barely glanced his way. "Maybe he's lost," she suggested, squinting into the darkness. "Do you think we should go and ask him if he needs help?"
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    "If he's lost, wouldn't he'd go and ask at the front desk?" Brian held open the door for her. "Come inside and get dry." He cast a glance at the stranger then shrugged. "If he bothers you, you can mention it to the hotel staff, but he's not actually doing anything. Besides, he'll probably be gone before they even get out there." His palm landed gently on her back, ushering her in out of the rain.
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    Looking one last time over her shoulder, Karina realized that she could no longer see the man.
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    The creepy stranger had already moved on.
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    ***
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    Anger flashed, old and sharp, scraping Ian raw as it rose to the surface.
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    That had been Karina. From university. How could he forget her? He couldn't.
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    The same old bitterness choked him. She was another thing Brian stole from him. He snorted. The two suited each other. Both had made his life miserable.
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    And both appeared to be happy.
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    That just brought Mary to mind. His stomach twisted. She even refused to talk to him now. Said she needed more time.
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    His pain burned. He slammed it down deeper.
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    And sneered. Brian and Karina, huh? His research hadn't brought any hint of a relationship in Brian's life. No mention of Karina anywhere, and he certainly would have noticed.
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    He had a score to settle with her, too. He'd dig deeper now that he realized she was here with him.
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    The thought of the two of them being happy together twisted in his gut.
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    He'd wanted her something fierce back in university. She wouldn't give him the time of day back then. Wouldn't even give him a decent chance. Especially that last night when she'd left the pub with Brian. He'd watched them leave, had followed them to Brian's place and had stayed outside and waited.
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    But she never came out.
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    Apparently that relationship hadn't worked out back then. And