by Alexa Rivers
She took his breath away.
She’d never looked more beautiful.
He smiled. She smiled. They greeted each other.
His breathing quickened and his stomach knotted as he patted the blanket and said, “Will you join me?”
She hesitated, gnawing on her lip. “I have to go back to work soon.”
“I spoke to Monica. She doesn’t mind if you take fifteen minutes off to sit with me, but it’s your choice.”
After what seemed an eternity, she nodded. “Okay.”
He went weak with relief. He’d gotten over one hurdle. Hopefully fifteen minutes was all he’d need to get over another. With shaky hands, he poured wine into one of the paper cups and handed it to her. She sipped, and watched him over the rim.
“Have something to eat,” he said, and she selected a cracker and wedge of creamy cheese. He didn’t touch the food. He was too nervous to eat, and he feared if he poured himself a drink, he’d spill it in his lap.
“This is nice,” she said, waving the cracker.
He didn’t know whether she was referring to the food or the setup, but either way, he’d take the compliment. “I’m glad you approve.”
“What I can’t figure out is what you’re doing here.”
Time to get to the point. As his dad would say, shit or get off the pot. “I want to be with you. I want to give ‘us’ a shot.”
She stared at him like he’d sprouted a second head, the food and wine forgotten.
“I want to take you out, buy you dinner, go to the movies. Treat you right.” When she still seemed utterly baffled, he asked, “Am I bungling this?”
“No,” she said softly, shaking her head from side to side. “But I’m not sure exactly what you’re saying.”
He needed to put this simply. “I want to go on a date with you, sweetheart—a proper date—with no expectation of anything coming from it other than that we enjoy ourselves.”
She cocked her head. “You’re asking me on a date?”
“Yes.” He grinned, his confidence growing since she hadn’t run screaming or immediately rebuffed him. “My family would think I was crazy if I didn’t. Do you know how many times they told me not to let you go? A lot.”
Her mouth formed an “o” of surprise. “Ha! That’s brilliant.”
“You’re brilliant.”
She snorted. “Cheesy, O’Connor. Real cheesy.”
“I know.” He took the cup from her, balanced it on the ground, and held her hand in his own, ready to offer her his heart and pray she didn’t break it again. “So, what I’m asking is, will you let me take you out? Will you wait just a while before you move away so we can see if we could have something real?”
Evelyn pondered it. Her brows lowered in thought. For every second she remained silent, his tension ratcheted up a notch. Finally, she pursed her lips and said, in the same casual tone with which she’d agreed to join him, “Okay, sounds like a plan.”
“Yes?” he asked. “Just like that?”
A cheeky smile stretched across her face. “Did you want me to play hard to get?”
“Well, no.” He floundered. “Frankly, I didn’t know what to expect, but I didn’t think you’d agree to stay so easily.”
She laughed, and it lit her whole face. Her deep brown eyes glowed with affection. “Here’s the thing, Irishman. I’ve been feeling a bit off for a while, and I haven’t been able to figure out why, but I think I finally know. I’m tired of always being on the move.” She shrugged. “I’m getting older, and there aren’t many places I haven’t seen. I’m ready to try something new. Something like staying.”
“Seriously?” He came onto his knees and leaned over her, dropping a kiss on her lips. “You couldn’t have said this a little earlier? Like, say, before we did the deed?”
Her smile turned wry. “You didn’t give me the chance, and besides, I was still working it out for myself. You know me—I have to come around to things in my own time.”
He kissed her again, because it was that or wring her infuriating neck. “Do you have any idea how crazy you make me?”
She grinned. “I think I need another kiss to remind me.”
He obliged, and this time it was slow and all-consuming. He put every ounce of his feelings for her into it, hoping she could tell how serious he was. They drew back and he kissed her nose. Her eyes fluttered closed, and he kissed her eyelids. She giggled, her smile broadening.
“Work with me,” Davy said impulsively. “Come and do my books. Help me in the bar. I’ll need another staff member in the new year.” A wonderful, crazy idea occurred to him. “Move in with me.”
She burst out laughing, the sound light and happy and perfect. “Slow down, Irishman. One step at a time.”
“Why?” he demanded, gathering her into his arms for a kiss. “There’s plenty of space in my apartment for two.”
She cupped his face between her palms. “That’s not taking it slow,” she said, her smile saying she didn’t mind. She kissed his forehead. “Yes, I’ll work with you. But you’re not my boss. We don’t need that clouding our relationship. I’ll work with you as a private contractor. No, I won’t live with you, but I will date you, and maybe one day we’ll get there. We’re not rushing anything. I want to be wooed.”
He chuckled. What had he ever done to deserve this woman?
The sun reflected in her eyes and they seemed to twinkle. Her cupid’s bow deepened, as did her smile. She was so beautiful.
“Have I told you I adore you?” he asked.
“No, but I wouldn’t mind hearing that.”
“I adore you.” His hands steady, he helped himself to a cup of wine, then shifted to sit by her side, his arm around her shoulders. “Shall we have a toast?”
She snuggled into his side. “I propose a toast to you, Davy O’Connor. And to summer. And a brilliant start to a new year.”
They clinked their paper glasses. “Cheers.”
Then they stretched out on the blanket beneath the high morning sun and talked for far longer than fifteen minutes, but neither of them cared. All they cared about was getting to know each other again. Davy’s heart was full and he’d never experienced such a wonderful moment as his second first date with Evelyn Parata.
The first of many.
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Thank you for reading Second Chance Christmas. I hope you enjoyed celebrating Christmas with Evie, Davy, and his family.
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Reviews help like-minded readers find books. If you enjoyed Second Chance Christmas, please consider leaving a review.
Also by Alexa Rivers
Midnight Kisses
Should Emily accompany the man she’s adored forever—who stars in her R-rated lumberjack fantasies—to his ex’s wedding? Probably not, but her chance to get close to Justin has been a long time coming, and she doesn’t intend to let it go to waste.
* * *
Accidentally Yours
Millionaire CEO Eli Lockwood knows he should stay away from the curvy journalist dogging him for a story, but once he has a taste of Aria, nothing else matters… Until a plus on a stick turns his world upside down.
From Now Until Forever
Sophie wants a hot fling with her best friend’s playboy brother to move on her from ex—no big deal, right? Except there’s more to military veteran Cooper than meets the eye, and before long she’s torn between dreaming of forever and protecting her heart from another player.
* * *
It Was Always You
When Dr. Avery Brown’s scientific research jeopardizes her safety, her ex is assigned to protect her. With every moment they spend together, the lines blur, and it becomes harder to remember why she shouldn’t fall for him all over again.
Dreaming of You
Wedding boutique owner Clarissa Mitchell doesn’t believe in happily ever after, but when her virtual crush intrudes on her actual life, she can’t help but wonder whether there might be room for a
white dress in her future after all.
Second Chance Christmas
Breaking down outside her ex’s bar—out of money and options—wasn’t how Evie planned to spend Christmas, but she’s always been good at going with the flow, and this time her heart is telling her to grab onto Davy and not let go.
Acknowledgments
Since this is the last of the Little Sky Romances, I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has helped me while I’ve been writing the series. Thanks to my family for reading early drafts and offering advice, and to my beta readers—in particular to the ones who offered advice that wasn’t necessarily easy to give (or take) but helped my stories immensely. A massive thank you to Kate S for being an awesome editor, and for all your contributions to my stories (and your enthusiasm). Thank you to Serena C for your thoughtful comments and for bringing consistency to my writing, and to Virginia, Carol and Lorna. Thank you to the judges of writing contests, who’ve provided constructive feedback along the way, to Deranged Doctor Design for my gorgeous covers, Lastly, thanks to everyone who has offered help, opinions, information and advice during my publishing journey. You’re all wonderful.
About the Author
Alexa Rivers is the author of sexy, heartwarming contemporary romances set in gorgeous New Zealand. She lives in a small town, complete with nosy neighbors, and shares a house with a neurotic dog and a husband who thinks he’s hilarious. When she’s not writing, Alexa enjoys travelling, baking cakes, eating said cakes, cuddling fluffy animals, drinking copious amounts of tea, and absorbing herself in fictional worlds.
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Copyright © 2020 by Alexa Rivers
Second Chance Christmas
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This book is a work of fiction. All similarities to real people, places, events and organizations are coincidental, or creative license has been used.
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