Unexpected Chance by Joanne Schwehm Read Free Book Online Page A

and kissed the
top of it. There was that scent again. It was everywhere he was. It seemed as
though we were standing there forever. We heard plates and noticed Valerie was
placing our lunch orders down. Still holding me and not looking at her, he said,
“Thank you for being here with me.”
    We let go of each other and sat to eat the rest of our lunch. The
rest of the conversation was light. He asked where I was working. I told him
that I was in the process of job hunting and that I wanted to be an editor. I
couldn’t tell him about my book, but part of me really wanted to. He wished me
luck and told me he really hoped I got what I wanted. I was starting to think
he was what I wanted. This was supposed to be research, but instead, I knew I
was falling for him.
    He paid for our lunch and shook hands with Anthony. I waved to
Valerie and this time gave her my best smile. We left hand in hand and made our
way to the park. This man was not at all the way Julie described. I hoped this
was the real Alex and that I wasn’t being played. I really didn’t think I was,
but I couldn’t be sure.
    He stooped and looked at me. “I’m really having a good time. Remind
me to thank Julie for bringing you to the club last night and all the men who
attended the event for being losers.” We both laughed at that thought.
    “I already thanked her for that. Hey, can we talk about last
night? I have a couple of questions.” I hated bringing up other women, but
since this was technically research and I wanted to know what he really
thought, I decided to move on with my line of questioning.
    He looked at me with a nervous look and said, “What do you want
to know?”
    “Well, you said that relationships were complicated because of
the club life. I like you, Alex, and I don’t want to sound like ‘that girl,’
but I need to know about the women, about Leah. Seeing your popularity firsthand
. . . You’re a good-looking guy. You probably get your share of propositions,
and . . .” Ugh! How could I phrase this without sounding possessive and
awestruck, like a girl crushing on a guy for the first time? I hung my head. I
couldn’t put a single thought together, and I wanted to write a book? I slowly
shook my head.
    Alex must have sensed my discomfort with what I was trying to
say. He brought both my hands up to his mouth and kissed my knuckles. “Aubrey,
first of all, I’m glad that you think I’m good-looking.” He smiled and I
blushed. As if he didn’t know that already . . . “You’re different than
the women at the club. I don’t think you know how beautiful you are. I watched
the guys last night. They all wanted you, which is why I made sure to sit and
talk to you. I know what my life at the club seems like, but right now, you’re
the only woman I want to dance with, kiss, and hold.”
    His words were not exactly what I was hoping for. It all sounded
good, except for the “right now” comment. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Did
that mean that tomorrow or the next day he would want to dance with, kiss, and
hold someone else? I didn’t see that as romantic at all. I was even more
confused. My brain was on overload. I started to think this was a bad idea. I
stared off in the distance, lost deep in thought, and decided that I didn’t
want him kissing anyone else.
    “You’re being quiet, Aubrey. Do you not want me kiss and hold
you?”
    Going on my tiptoes, I brought my lips to his. Why did I feel so
brazen with him? His lips were soft and gentle. Although it was just a whisper
of a kiss, it was still a good kiss. This was either going to go very well or
end very badly. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my temple.
    His phone buzzed. It was Brett asking if we wanted to meet him
and Julie for drinks at his place. He asked me and I nodded. It would be good
to see Julie. I needed perspective. This seemed as though it was going either
nowhere fast or my heart was going to end up shattered. I’d known Alex for