Never Say Never, Part Three (Second Chance Romance, Book 3) by Melissa Shaw Read Free Book Online Page A

abort her baby.”  
    “Christ. Why do I need to know this?”  
    “You have to know what kind of character the man has.”
    “This is totally inappropriate and irrelevant, Emily. It’s a thinly veiled attempt to win my favor and prove whatever innocence you think you have with regards to killing my parents.”  
    Emily spluttered helplessly. She choked a few times. Everything kept backfiring. How had she gotten this wrong as well?  
    “He broke her arm, okay? He broke his wife’s arm and he’s a danger to my children. If he’s a danger to them, he’s a danger to you too. Do you get that? Who knows what he’s capable of? What strings he can pull to get what he wants or to get rid of who he wants.”  
    “We appreciate your concern,” said Janet, rolling the ‘r’s on the word ‘appreciate’, “but Chase can handle his business.”  
    “Thanks for the, uh, warning? But I’ll be fine. I suggest you focus on your children.”   He stood and motioned towards the exit, but she didn’t move.  
    “Chase. Chase, come on, please. This is …”  
    “What? What is it Emily, I’m dying to hear the opinion of a murderer. Do you have any idea what I lost because of your selfish, drunken stint?”  
    “Chase,” she began, but the follow up sentiment failed her.  
    “Yeah, exactly. Now, get the fuck out my apartment.” Chase pointed forcibly and Emily walked out into the hallway without another word.  
    Janet came to the door to close it behind her, then whispered after her into the hallway. “And don’t expect an invite to the wedding, darling.” Then she swung it shut with force.  
    Emily walked back to the elevator. This was the last time she’d see him. It was clear he despised her that Janet was the one he wanted, but she couldn’t keep back the sobs. Her visit had been a cruel education in reality.  
    She just wanted to go home, sleep and start fresh the next morning.

CHAPTER TWELVE

    “I was hoping you’d give me a call about my offer, but when you didn’t, I figured you might still be down about the other day.” Joseph sat on the steps of her apartment building, smiling and holding a bottle of wine.  
    “I’ve had a rough day, Joseph. Thanks for the visit.” She entered the building. Hopefully he’d get the message and stay behind on the stairs, rather than follow her up. No such luck. He was with her all the way, even while she unlocked her front door.  
    “Mind if I come in?” He pushed past her before she could grant him entrance. This was an irritation. She just wanted to curl up in bed with a cup of tea, then cry herself to sleep or something. But no, Mr. Lawyerman was insistent on ‘ruining’ her evening.  
    She followed him in, then went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water and downed it in one go.  
    “Thirsty, eh?” Joseph’s grin twinkled with a mischievous edge. He twiddled the bottle of red under her nose. “I’ve got just the thing for that.”
    “Not tonight thanks.” Emily left her handbag on the kitchen counter and went to sit down on the sofa. She didn’t put on the TV. Joseph came to sit beside her seconds later.  
    He brought two glasses of red wine and forced one into her hand, then clinked them together and took a swig.  
    “How are you feeling?” He asked, then fidgeted on the couch.  
    “I’m fine thanks.” She’d been better, but she’d shared too much with the pushy stranger already.  
    “Good, good,” he said, with an absent-minded wave. “So I’ve been thinking. We should go out on a date sometime. We had a lot of coffee, I mean a lot of fun at coffee the other day, right? Right? So, would you like to go out with me again?”  
    There wasn’t a polite answer which wouldn’t break him down. She wasn’t ready for anything with anyone. She had too much on her plate, her heart was broken and she was on the verge of a custody battle.  
    Balancing that and work was enough. But if she said no, would he still