Second Chance with Her SEAL

by Gillian Blakely

  Sabrina gathered her folder and they followed the other couple to the hotel lobby.

  “Forget the theme park. Move to Atlanta and open a decent haunted house,” Sabrina said.

  “Oh,” Marissa cooed. “He’d love that.”

  “The one we went to Thursday was…”

  “Crap,” David inserted.

  Sabrina nodded. “He’d know. He's been to well over 100 haunted houses.”

  “Really?” Allen eyed him, his expression turning thoughtful.

  David shrugged. “A hundred and fifty-seven, but who's counting?”

  Allen laughed.

  The four of them paused in front of the elevators.

  “Thank you so much for bringing over the sketches. I love your work so much,” Marissa said and pulled Sabrina in for a hug.

  “And I love that your work makes her so happy,” Allen said, taking his turn.

  “You're both very welcome. I can't wait to meet this little one,” Sabrina said. Once again, he was struck by how warm and genuine she was.

  It shouldn’t have surprised him, but for some reason, it did. What did it say about him that his world had been filled with cut-throat, cold people and one woman stood out like the brightest star in the heavens. It was like seeing the girl who’d dazzled him at seventeen, brightening his world, opening his eyes.

  David hung back as Sabrina said good-bye to her friends.

  “I’ll be in touch,” Sabrina said as the elevator doors opened.

  With his arm around her waist, Allen guided his wife on board. They turned and waved. David lifted his hand.

  He'd just had lunch with one of the best directors in the world. He didn't think he could be star struck, but...surprise.

  He huffed a laugh.

  “Sounds like you two had a good time,” Sabrina said as the elevator doors closed.

  “Nice guy.”

  “He is.”

  “How many weeks is she?”

  Again, Sabrina's brow lifted in curiosity and he saw the questions churning through her mind. “Thirty-four.”

  Rather than ask the questions, she turned for the main door.

  “Ready for part two?”

  “Of?”

  She slid her arm through his again and pressed the side of her breast against him. God help him. What was it about this woman that got under his skin so easily?

  “Our date. Don't worry, I'll have you home before you turn into a pumpkin.”

  He laughed as they stepped out into the warm October sun. The air was crisp, just the way he liked it. The gorgeous blue sky above beckoned and he had a hard time remembering exactly why it was he'd been resisting the gorgeous woman clinging to his arm.

  A few hours in her company and he felt like a new man.

  Which was dangerous, he knew.

  But when she turned that wide, warm smile up at him, he found he didn’t care quite so much about protecting his heart. In fact, he was starting to wonder if he’d lost the battle the moment she’d collided with him at Jill’s Halloween bash.

  “Lead the way.”

  12

  Sabrina felt more energized than she had in years. Brunch was a complete success. David had loved the trip to the Civil War museum. After that, she'd pointed her car north to the Atlanta Motor Speedway where a fleet of supercars waited.

  She knew the red one was a Ferrari but that was as far as her knowledge went.

  “Pick one,” she said, after they'd been admitted.

  He seemed a little tongue tied as his gaze darted left toward the brilliant yellow car and then right to the two black ones. Somewhere in there was a Lamborghini and she distinctly remembered him saying he wanted to drive one someday.

  Today was someday.

  Of course, they'd been thirteen and the world had been their oyster. That was back before she'd lost control of her body and ruined their friendship, but she was hoping this was still on his bucket list.

  “I paid extra so you can have a full half hour. Normally they only let you do three laps,” she said, curling her lip at the stinginess. If this was his only chance to drive such an exotic car, she wanted him to enjoy the thrill as long as possible.

  “You're something else,” he murmured, squeezing her hand.

  “Have fun.”

  He headed off with the driving instructor and she made her way toward the bleachers. A few minutes later he was behind the wheel of the yellow car and the engine purred.

  He glanced her way, seeking her out. She gave him two enthusiastic thumbs up and a big smile.

  Her stomach did a little somersault as he put the car in gear and drove away. So, she wasn't immune to a sexy guy in a hot car. Who knew?

  Well, she'd known.

  All those years ago when he'd pulled up in front of her house in the brand-new truck his stepdad had bought him, she'd almost swallowed her tongue. Her teenaged heart had thundered as she'd watched him from her bedroom window.

  That'd been the first and last time she'd ridden next to him, until today. He'd been cocksure in the way only teen boys can. But he was sweet, and protective too.

  She could still hear him telling her to put on her seatbelt. It was his one rule. The vehicle goes nowhere until everyone is buckled up.

  The yellow car appeared at the far turn and sped past like a bullet. She smiled. Down on the side of the track, a photographer snapped photos of each car and driver as they raced past. She planned to buy a copy for David and herself, that way they'd never forget today.

  She knew better than to wallow in regret. If Ethan had taught her anything, it was that life was meant to be lived. There was no use staring in the rear-view mirror when the future was out the windshield.

  But that didn’t stop the ache in her chest.

  As they said, hindsight was twenty-twenty.

  If only she’d known what she did now.

  Her eyes tracked a sleek black car as it zipped by.

  If only the car was a time machine that could take her back fifteen years. If only she could convince her teenaged self that bullies should be ignored, that she wasn’t worthless, that her weight could be managed.

  Tears pricked her eyes and she wiped them away. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself back to the here and now, focused on the track and the cars racing by at breathtaking speeds.

  The energy in the stands wasn’t all that different from the fair he’d taken her to all those years ago. She remembered staring up at the enormous Ferris wheel in awe, much like everyone was looking at the exotic cars. That night she’d lost another piece of her heart to the boy who’d moved to the nice side of town.

  The boy all the popular girls liked.

  Unfortunately, she’d started gaining weight as her teen years hit and she couldn’t stop it. No amount of mascara or baggy clothes could hide her shame.

  But that night when he’d picked her up, she’d felt on top of the world. Until the next morning when her bubble of happiness was shot down over the shores of St. Simon’s Island.

  Sabrina remembered wrapping her arms around herself as she’d heard them talking. They hadn’t meant for her to hear, of course. But when her name came up, she couldn’t turn away.

  Silly, silly girl.

  If only she’d been stronger. If only she could turn the clock back and shake herself.

  The problem with growing up was that you were left with so many ‘if onlys.’ The past couldn’t be changed no matter how much she might want to.

  So, for now, she had to live in the moment. Especially now.

  If David was going to be in New Orleans by New Years, she had her work cut out for her.

  Worrying her lower lip, she watched as the banana yellow car came to a smooth stop in front of the stands. By tonight he’d know everything and maybe, just maybe, he’d forgive her.

  He had to. And she had to make him understand how hurt she’d been all those years ago. Even if he wasn’t the one she was supposed to spend the rest of her life with, she could still be a better
friend than she’d been those last few weeks of school.

  The drivers’ side door slid straight up, but he didn’t get out. Sabrina stood and stretched.

  David’s attention was firmly on the driving instructor in the seat beside him. His head bobbed up and down and then he laughed. The hearty, distinctive sound carried across the breeze.

  His happiness made her heart soar.

  She still had a trick up her sleeve and she hoped it was the perfect cap for their day.

  * * *

  David was riding high.

  Trust Sabrina to remember that he’d always dreamed of driving a Lamborghini. And then she’d made that dream come true.

  The car had been everything he’d imagined: sleek, fast, the handling superb. The rush of a lifetime, and that was saying something.

  Sabrina hopped down out of the bleachers and met him halfway.

  It was the most natural thing in the world to wrap his arms around her waist and lift her off her feet in a bear hug.

  “That was amazing.” He set her back to her feet and stared down into her upturned face. “Thank you.”

  “I’m glad you liked it.” Her arms draped around his waist and his gaze narrowed on her upturned lips.

  It’d be so easy to swoop in for a kiss.

  The adrenaline and excitement made it even harder for him to resist, especially knowing how well their lips fit together. How she’d open on a sigh and welcome him inside.

  “You should drive it. Adrian said it’d be okay.”

  Her eyes widened, and he liked that he’d surprised her. She peered around her shoulder and he watched the fiery flecks in her beautiful eyes.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. Go.”

  He turned and watched her gorgeous legs eat up the distance. But as he saw Adrian vault from the car and scurry around to introduce himself, David crossed his arms over his chest.

  Everywhere they’d gone today, men and women alike had checked her out.

  He’d gotten used to it as a kid because she had such rare and breathtaking eyes. But as he’d gotten older, he’d heard the whispers. Sabrina’s mixed heritage caused an awful lot of looks.

  But today he didn’t think the attention was due to anything other than her incredible figure and her inner beauty shining out. He had to admit that her confidence was sexy as hell.

  Even now, she shook Adrian’s hand and tossed her head back with a laugh. The delicious sound carried across the pavement and hit David square in the chest.

  She’d shed the shyness like a snake skin, revealing a curious soul.

  Hooking his hands over his hips, David fought the unease rising in his chest. Just because another man found her attractive...it shouldn’t mean anything to him. But it did.

  He should be happy for her. Conquering her demons, coming out on top, obviously working so hard on her own happiness.

  She made it seem effortless. Being happy. Grabbing life by the horns. Taking advantage of every day.

  When had he stopped living?

  He dropped his chin to his chest and met the demon head on. David could pinpoint the exact time and place he’d been when his world had stopped turning. It’d been all of sixty seconds after he’d taken Vanessa’s call.

  Her sobs echoed through his mind. She choked out the words. Choked on them.

  He couldn’t understand her, his brain couldn’t parse the garble, but his heart had known instantly.

  A mother’s pain was unmistakable.

  “He’s gone.” It’d taken her another minute to collect herself enough to utter the two words that had crushed him easier than any punch.

  His pain had been so swift, so overwhelming that the phone had dropped from his hand and blackness took him. His teammates had rallied around him.

  They were the only reason he’d survived. The only reason he was still breathing.

  But even they hadn’t been able to save Vanessa.

  She hadn’t waited for David to get leave. She hadn’t survived the heartbreak. She hadn’t bothered to say goodbye. Her note had been simple, to the point.

  She couldn’t survive the loss of her son.

  Her son.

  David cleared his throat and looked up as the Lamborghini rolled to a stop. Sabrina flashed him a smile so dazzling that it melted all the pain. The brightness radiating off her chased away the darkness. And as she alighted from the car, he wanted to hold on to that sweetness, her purity, her warmth. Their past be damned.

  In so many ways, she reminded him of Samuel. Genuine, innocent, stars in her eyes.

  “That. Was. Amazing!” She squealed as she approached.

  As she bounced on her toes before him, he cupped her cheeks. Her jaw dropped slightly, and she stilled.

  “Thank you,” he murmured against her lips. He’d worry about reconciling their history later. Right now, all that mattered was being alive, being with her, casting the shadows out and letting the light in.

  Her palms slid up his chest.

  “You’re welcome,” she whispered back.

  She kissed him back, softly at first. Exploratory in a way their first night hadn’t been. Her lips were supple and seductive.

  He slid his hands down her back, wrapped his arms around her and lifted. She gasped. Damn it felt good to hold her, to feel her melt against him.

  When he sat her back on her feet and lifted his head, she was grinning up at him. It was the wide, warm smile she’d used with Allen and Marissa.

  His heart melted a little more.

  “I want to do that again,” she said, arms around his shoulders.

  “The kissing or the car?”

  “Both,” she quipped, and they shared a laugh.

  Maybe Teo and Dylan had been right after all. Perhaps rehashing the past, putting demons to rest was the way forward. The logical choice, the smart choice. Because the feelings inside him were unlike anything he’d ever felt.

  Freedom. Completion. Whole. Home.

  13

  Sabrina marveled at the change in David. The kiss they’d shared on the tarmac had melted her bones. And though he hadn’t said a word on their way to dinner, he’d reached for her hand and hadn’t let go.

  If only her eighteen-year-old self could see her now.

  She braked for a red light. All around them, lights flickered on as the sun dipped behind the horizon. Glancing over at him, she found him studying her. His gaze was soft and everything about him seemed tranquil somehow.

  The near permanent scowl she’d come to expect was missing.

  His shoulders were relaxed, his other hand loose against his thigh.

  Whatever he was thinking, he didn’t share. But it was enough. Being with him like this, the tension dissolved. It was enough.

  A green glow filled the car and she looked up to see the light had changed. Pressing on the gas, she was suddenly eager to get to their destination.

  The parking lot of Fat Matt’s Rib Shack was jam packed. She managed to squeeze her car between a dumpster and a wall. But it was worth it.

  “It’s nothing fancy, but the food is out of this world.”

  He met her behind the trunk. “The guys have been raving about it.”

  She smiled.

  They had to wait in a long line and then squeeze themselves into a crowded table. A band took the stage at the far end of the small room. As the first notes filled the air, David turned and shot her a smile.

  An honest-to-God smile from David Jameson almost knocked her off her chair.

  Her breath lodged in her throat and she studied his profile as he got into the music. Was it too soon to hope that this change was permanent? What would he say when he learned the truth? When she revealed what had happened when the mean girls at her high school had found out about her date with David?

  Elbow to elbow, they devoured the best ribs she’d ever gnawed off a bone. By the time she’d stuffed herself silly, she was so giddy with happiness she was about to burst. Every morsel had been divine. Bu
t the highlight was when he’d finished his own meal and stretched his arm along the back of her chair.

  Wherever this laid-back version of him had come from, she’d take it. Sliding her hand against his hard thigh, she leaned closer.

  Maybe she’d been wrong about him.

  Maybe he was coming around. All those years ago, this was the exact sort of moment she’d dreamed of. A burst of giddiness bubbled up inside her.

  But they still needed to talk. Suddenly it couldn’t wait another minute.

  The second the band finished the song, she stood. His brows rose as he stared up at her.

  “Where’s the fire?”

  “I--” Spit it out, Sabrina. “There’s one more thing I have planned.”

  “Okay.”

  When they got to the car, she reached into the backseat and pulled out the journal and the letter she’d written.

  She tucked it between her thighs and pushed every speed limit as she headed back to the RV park. As she turned onto the gravel drive, she thanked her lucky stars that she didn’t see flashing blue lights in her rear-view mirror.

  “I know you said you’re only here until Christmas,” she began as she navigated the twists and turns. “Or maybe you won’t even be here that long.”

  She pulled to a stop behind his truck and put her car in park, but she didn’t kill the engine.

  Taking a deep breath, she handed over the notebook. Unease prickled her neck. She was handing over her most private thoughts from a time that had caused her so much pain. It was all the ammunition someone would need to destroy her. Her soul was splashed across the pages. Every demon was laid bare from the summers of her childhood to the years after Ethan’s death.

  “Every time I try to talk about this you shut me down or we start kissing.”

  “Talk about what?”

  “I overheard you. That day on the beach. You didn’t know I was there, but I’d come out to walk. But you were already there with Leslie and the others. You couldn’t have known what I was going through. At least, I didn’t think you did. Later I prayed that you didn’t.”