Second Chance Girl (Happily Inc. #2)

Nothing had changed. He supposed at this point, it never would. His parents had a relationship that seemed to work for them. As for what he felt about his father, well, those were words he wouldn’t say aloud.

He showed them to the master suite. He’d already cleared out most of his stuff. He would use the futon in his home office, then find out if he could get his mattress fumigated after they left. Or maybe he should simply replace it. There was no way he could sleep in it after his father had.

When he stepped back into the hall, Maya was waiting for him. She hugged him tight, then led him back to the living room.

“Are you okay?” she asked when they were out of earshot of the master bedroom. “I can’t believe how awful that was. Del always tries to tell me what it was like, but I guess I didn’t believe him.” She worried her bottom lip. “Elaine should have stood up to him.” She held up her hand. “I know, I know. She doesn’t. She’s my friend and sweet to me, but jeez. This is horrible.”

Mathias hugged her, then kissed the top of her head. “Don’t worry. We’re all used to it. He’ll be gone soon and you’re going to be married to my brother.” He glanced at Del and Nick. “Hey, we’re getting another sister and when you marry Pallas, that will make three.”

“Pressure’s on, bro,” Nick drawled.

Mathias shook his head. He wasn’t getting married. He knew the danger of that—of loving someone. People who were supposed to love you betrayed you. Something he’d always believed, only lately he was having trouble summoning the same energy. Maybe it was because he was getting older. Maybe it was Carol.

Carol? What did she have to do with anything? Before he could decide, Ceallach and Elaine joined them.

Maya took charge of the evening. She moved everyone outside. She and Elaine brought out trays of appetizers while Del mixed drinks and Sophie claimed her favorite chaise.

They all settled on the patio and watched Millie and the other animals make their way back to the barns. The giraffe paused and turned toward them, the sinking sun behind her.

The moment was perfectly framed in reds and oranges, the trees nearly black by contrast. Mathias felt the familiar itch to work. Some of it was that Millie inspired him and some was the need to escape his father. Whatever the reason, he rose.

“I have to get to the studio.”

“No!” his mother protested. “We’re all having dinner together.”

“A dish crisis?” his father asked.

“Go,” Nick told him.

“I don’t know when I’ll be back,” Mathias said, then walked through the house, to his car.

He entered the studio just as the sun set and crossed to his desk. After sketching for a few minutes, he walked over to study the latest version of the glass statue of Carol, then went to work.

Eleven hours later, he stared at what he’d created and knew he’d finally gotten it right. The clear glass piece seemed to breathe. The woman looked up, one hand raised. He put the Millie piece in front of it, with the giraffe bending toward her.

“Damn. I wish I’d made that.”

He turned and saw Ronan standing in the studio. Mathias accepted the high praise with a simple “Thanks.”

“You work all night?”

“Yeah.”

“The folks arrive?”

“Yesterday afternoon.”

Ronan walked around the two pieces. “Hell of a thing, Mathias. Don’t let Dad destroy this one.”

“I won’t.”

*

CAROL CARRIED HER to-go cup of coffee out to her Jeep. She’d barely opened the driver’s door when Mathias pulled up in the driveway next to her.

As always, just knowing he was close made her heart beat a little faster. It didn’t matter that it was barely after six in the morning and that she had to get to work to feed her animals. For a couple of seconds, she needed to simply know that he was there.

He got out of his car and smiled at her. “Morning.”

He looked exhausted. His skin was pale and there were dark circles under his eyes.

“Were you out all night?”

“At the studio. Working.”

“Did you have to or was it because your father arrived yesterday?”

He winced. “It’s early, Carol. Or late, depending on how you want to look at it. Maybe you could be a bit less direct.”

“Do you really think that’s going to happen?”

“Not for a second.”

She put her coffee in the cup holder and set her bag on the passenger seat before straightening. “Come on. You can stay here.”

He grinned. “You’re finally going to sleep with me?”

Her stomach clenched and a few key parts of her body tingled in anticipation.

“No,” she said firmly. “You’re going to sleep here alone. My house is small but I have a guest room.”

He followed her inside. “I’d sleep better in your bed.”

“I doubt that.”

She got him clean sheets and towels, then pushed him gently toward the guest room. “Text someone at your house and tell them where you are, then get some sleep.”

Mathias turned to face her. Before she could stop him, he’d leaned in and lightly kissed her.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You’re good to me.”

I can’t help it. Luck was on her side and she only thought the words instead of saying them. Taking care of Mathias couldn’t possibly be healthy—at least not for her. But she couldn’t help herself. There was something about him. Reminding herself about their disastrous sexual encounter didn’t seem to make a damn bit of difference. It was as if he had a firm grip on her heart and she couldn’t get him to let go. Or she didn’t want him to.

As either scenario was dangerous, she backed up a few feet and did her best to smile.

“Go get some sleep. I’ll be at work all day. If you wake up before I’m back, let yourself out.”

His dark gaze met hers. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.”

She wanted to say so much more, much of it along the lines of take me, take me now. So she did the only sensible thing she could think of. She ran.

*

VIOLET SLID THE omelets onto two plates. It was day two of their little domestic arrangement and she was enjoying herself way too much. Yesterday, after a night of incredible lovemaking, she and Ulrich had spent the day together. They’d walked around town, done some grocery shopping and spent the afternoon in bed. Last night had been just as magical.

It was more than what he was doing to her body, she thought with a sigh. It was what he was doing to her emotions.

What a silly thing—a shopgirl in Happily Inc, California, falling for an English duke. Not that falling for a duke from anywhere else would be all that sensible.

She carried the plates to her small table. Ulrich had already squeezed fresh orange juice and made toast. They were both on their second cup of coffee.

“This is a lot of food,” she said as she sat across from him.

“We need to keep up our strength.”

She laughed. “I suppose that’s true.” They both picked up their forks.

She found herself watching him. In part to memorize everything about being with him, but also because she enjoyed looking at him. This morning he wore a T-shirt and sweatpants. His hair was mussed, his jaw shadowed. He looked sexy and faintly dangerous—nothing like the elegant man she’d first met.