Second Chances Read online

  That last thought startled her. Did she want him to think about kissing her? As she let her gaze fall to his mouth, taking in his full, smooth lips, she came to the conclusion that the answer was yes.

  A pang of guilt hit Kristin as the image of her late husband James’s gray eyes flashed in her thoughts. He had been the only man who’d made her think such things. She quickly wiped her mind of the reflection, and hoped the deep sadness she carried wasn’t as difficult to hide as it still felt. Though she doubted anything could be hidden from David’s intense gaze.

  The painful images bouncing around in her head made it difficult to process a coherent thought, but Kristin tried to carry on some semblance of a polite conversation. “It must be exciting, traveling and meeting all kinds of people…” Her voice trailed off awkwardly, and her mind blanked while David continued to stare at her lips.

  His powerful presence had her so flustered she couldn’t form complete sentences. Oh, for Gods sake, why was she having such a strong reaction to him? Kristin’s shaking hand fluttered to her neck and nervously toyed with her necklace. Keeping her hands busy helped her to concentrate.

  No one interrupted them and Ingrid wasn’t coming back anytime soon. Some friend. David’s dark, unfathomable eyes blazed with an inner light as they followed her hand. Kristin sensed his slight change of mood, but was unsure what had happened to cause it.

  David turned his head toward the crowd, appearing thoughtful for a moment. “There can be quite a lot of excitement, but the hours tend to be grueling, which makes a personal life rather difficult at times.”

  Kristin tipped her head to the side as she continued twisting the tiny pendant on her necklace around in her fingers. Was he trying to tell her he was unattached at the moment, or something else?

  “How about you? Where is your husband this evening?” David’s eyes darted about the room, like he expected an introduction.

  For a moment, confusion clouded Kristin’s mind, then she glanced at the wedding ring that still adorned her left hand, suddenly aware of what had caused David’s slight shift in mood.

  Swallowing slowly, she peered into those piercing eyes once more. “I am a…widow. My husband passed away two years ago.” She brought her hands together in front of her and anxiously twisted the small gold band around her finger. “I just haven’t had the heart to take this off yet.”

  Admitting her status as a widow typically ended many conversations. Even after two years, the words still sounded foreign to her, hollow and unable to convey the grief she carried in such a simple statement.

  David’s eyes clouded with sentiments she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Understanding? Pity? Guilt?

  Gently he reached out to squeeze her wringing hands. “I’m so sorry,” David whispered, as his dark eyes drew her in even deeper.

  Kristin managed to force a weak smile and squeezed his hands back. Her hands were small inside his warm grasp. For the first time in a long while, the lock around her heart tried to click open, and she almost let herself be comforted.

  A blond woman in a beautiful gold beaded evening gown appeared at David’s side, and Kristin dropped his hands immediately.

  David’s body jerked in surprise as the woman wrapped her arm around the crook of his elbow and leaned over to kiss his cheek.

  “There you are, my darling. I have been looking all over for you. Where have you been keeping yourself, my love?” The tall, gorgeous woman trained her blue-gray eyes up and down Kristin briefly and then looked away, an obvious dismissal as she returned her attention to David.

  “I’ve finally found that reporter I mentioned earlier, but I told him to wait until I found you.” The smile she had pasted on her face never reached her eyes.

  Taken aback, Kristin was dumbfounded by what she could have done to earn the woman’s rebuff. Obviously, not all English adhered to the rules of politeness in public.

  The woman’s proper English accent was a tell tale sign of her privileged background. Her blond hair was pulled tightly back from her angular face in an elaborate twist that accentuated the diamonds that adorned her ears and throat. The sparkle of her jewelry was nothing compared to the beading on her champagne-gold dress. She was breathtaking, and obviously very familiar with David.

  David grasped the woman’s hand and unwound it from his arm. His features looked strained as he kissed her cheek lightly. “I have been right here, Sophie, steering quite clear of any photographers.”

  Sophie pursed her lips into a pout. “But you know how hard I’ve been working lately, and you promised I could have a good time tonight. You promised, David.”

  She reached up and clasped his chin in her long fingers, and turned his head so he looked directly at her. “Don’t make me regret talking you into coming with me tonight.” Her lowered voice took on an almost sinister quality as she dropped her hand to her side.

  Kristin stared wide-eyed at Sophie, half expecting her to stomp her foot and throw a tantrum if she didn’t get her way.

  Turning her head toward Kristin, Sophie’s pointy chin angled, as if truly noticing her there for the first time. Her demeanor changed back to that of the sweet, smiling English lady.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce your friend?” Sophie’s steel blue eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Kristin, but the smile never left her face.

  Sighing, David motioned with the wave of his hand toward Kristin. “Kristin Shepherd, Sophie Miller.”

  “His fiancé,” Sophie emphasized the title as she turned to glare at David briefly.

  Kristin’s insides crumbled at Sophie’s introduction. Of course, David was involved with someone. Why would a man like him be available? And why would she even care if he was? Relationships weren’t exactly on the agenda for tonight anyway, right?

  Sophie extended her left hand in greeting. The engagement ring she was wearing shimmered in the light of the room, shouting at everyone with its extravagance. As she shook Sophie’s hand, Kristin knew Sophie was showing off the ring deliberately, definitely staking her claim on David.

  Kristin forced a tight smile. “Congratulations to the both of you.”

  Sophie’s wide smile still never reached her appraising eyes. “And what brings you to this fine event this evening?” She wound her arm possessively through David’s again. “Your husband, your job, a love of art?”

  Having found a woman she didn’t know talking to her fiancé, Sophie must be fishing for information to see if she was a threat or not. The comment shot through her nonetheless, calling all the pain associated with that question directly to the surface.

  Kristin compressed her lips tighter while her eyes flickered briefly to David’s. He no longer smiled, but barely shrugged his shoulders in what she assumed to be an apology.

  “I own an art gallery here in London, so I guess you could say I’m here because of my job, and a love of art.” This was why social events could be so taxing. They forced her to make small talk.

  “Fascinating,” Sophie muttered, as she glanced around the room, obviously bored by the conversation. She tugged on David’s arm and motioned across the room with a tilt of her head. “Look, my director, Nigel, is over there talking to one of the photographers. We really should make an appearance. It would be good for the film.” Sophie tried to start in that direction and tugged David with her again, but he stood unmoving, his eyes fixed on Kristin.

  The familiar throb of an impending headache invaded her senses, and Kristin found herself wishing they would leave. Then she would have an excuse to leave herself. As the pain became more insistent, she slowly rubbed her forehead.

  David stepped closer and took her other hand in his. “Are you all right?”

  Ingrid and Bernard reappeared into their little group, and Kristin twisted her hand out of David’s grasp, not giving Ingrid any chance to see his hand holding hers. Besides, it wasn’t necessary.

  Sophie grabbed his arm at the elbow. “David, she probably drank too much…and we need to mingle. Remember, you pr
omised.”

  “Did you miss us, love?” Ingrid laughed as she removed her arm from Bernard’s elbow. Her expression changed to one of concern as she must have noticed Kristin rubbing her temple. “Is everything all right?”

  David stepped back and Kristin inhaled deeply, as the pounding inside her skull increased. After struggling for so long, she let the simple attraction for this man disquiet her, especially when paired with the reactions he somehow so easily fired within her. She turned to her friend. “I’m not feeling very well. Could you have the driver take me home?”

  “Certainly, sweetie.” Ingrid slipped her arms around Kristin’s shoulders and steered her toward the door. “If you would excuse us, gentlemen.”

  Kristin couldn’t help herself, she turned to steal one last glance back at the only man that had stirred her emotions since her husband had died.

  “David, are you coming or not?” Sophie’s high pitched wine carried over the crowd.

  He stared after her, but finally dropped his gaze and turned to Sophie, who stood with her hands on her hips waiting impatiently.

  As he trudged over to his fiancé, Kristin somehow knew that this wouldn’t be the last time their paths would cross.

  Chapter Two

  David craned his neck scrutinizing every angle he could inside the Royal Festival Hall. Just like the art gala last week, the hospital charity ball was in full force around him, people drinking, laughing and dancing and he didn’t care a bit. He’d actually attended tonight willingly, providing himself with the possible opportunity of running into Kristin Shepherd again.

  “Are you even listening to me?”

  David’s attention snapped back to Sophie, who stood glowering at him. He’d learned to tune out her preening and incessant talk about her career. Now, she crossed her arms in a way to show off her ample chest as her blue-gray eyes narrowed. She wasn’t happy with him.

  “Em…sorry…my mind was away for a bit. What is it you were saying?”

  Sophie rolled her eyes. “You know, I came with you to this gala tonight, the least you could do is pretend to pay attention to me.”

  “I told you I was coming myself. You didn’t have to come with me.” His eyes still darted around the room and barely gave her his attention.

  She clapped her hand to her chest and widened her eyes in exaggerated dismay. “And chance the tabloids having a heyday with you going out alone on the eve of my being away for filming? Not bloody likely!”

  David sighed in irritation and leaned toward her. “You worry too much about what everyone thinks. If we were just honest with them, none of this would matter.”

  “Don’t be daft.” Her voice lowered as a couple walked by and smiled at them.

  “Really, Sophie. All we need to do is pick the right person to talk to, and none of this will affect either one of our careers negatively.”

  She nodded at another passing guest, and then possessively threaded her arm through his. “We’re not having this discussion again, and especially not right now. I have an image to uphold, and this is just not the right time for upsetting things. It’s not like I’m asking for years of your life, just a few months.”

  “But I hate lying to people” Sophie tugged roughly on his arm, cutting him off. A photographer had stopped to take a photo of them.

  “Just smile at the man,” she forced out from clenched teeth.

  David obliged, then disentangled himself from her grasp. She turned to face him, her blue-gray eyes a reflection of cold ice.

  “What’s the matter with you?” she uttered vehemently under her breath. “This isn’t up for discussion. You know what will happen if you don’t…cooperate. And we wouldn’t want that.”

  “No, we wouldn’t want that,” David echoed sarcastically.

  Sophie’s expression softened while she straightened his bowtie. “I always did like you in your dress kilt. Maybe we could go back to your place so you could give me a proper send off. You know, like old times.” She let her finger drop and traced along the edge of his white dress shirt.

  David grabbed her hand and lowered his head toward her ear. “Don’t push me, Sophie. You may have convinced me to play along with your charade, but I am not in the mood for any of your games.” He let go of her hand and took a small step backward.

  Sophie pressed her shoulders back, her chin jutting out defiantly. “Suit yourself, darling. I’m going to find myself a glass of champagne and a person who actually thinks I’m worth paying attention to.” She stalked off, the skirt of her pale blue dress accentuating the sway of her hips.

  David shook his head silently. How much more of this could he take? Things could be so much easier if he let the whole story come out, but some part deep within him hesitated. Maybe because of the love that had once existed between them, or maybe he was just scared she would find a way to ruin him. She didn’t make idle threats. Either way, his life was complicated in more ways than he ever thought possible.

  David scanned the room once again, searching for Kristin. Why was he still bothering to try to find her? He wasn’t exactly in a position to start a relationship with anyone right now. And with the way she reacted about her late husband, well, maybe she still mourned her loss. He had no right to intrude.

  He brushed his hand through his hair in frustration. What he wouldn’t give for an ice cold beer right now. The bar was calling his name. Even a nice scotch would do if the beers they had were rubbish.

  David headed across the room toward the bar area. He was still looking for Kristin, even though he had convinced himself she wouldn’t show after all. Well, even if there couldn’t be a relationship between them, the least he could do was apologizeif he ever ran into her again. He hadn’t wanted her to be upset. That was good enough reason for hoping to see her, right?

  ~~~

  After she entered the great hall, Kristin stopped for a moment and took in the view.

  Wine-colored fabric draped the walls and tables, accenting the arrangements of white roses and lilies scattered about the room. Although purple wasn’t her favorite color, it looked beautiful reflecting the soft glow from the glass chandeliers.

  A band played on a stage across from the long bar, next to an area where people danced as well as listened to the music. The rhythmic music gave the place an old world charm.

  So many people, their smiles and laughter carried through the air. Kristin’s resolve wavered in the face of their happiness. Anxiety crept up on her and turned her hands cold. Had she really convinced herself she was ready to start a new chapter in her life, moving on from her grief-filled past?

  Nervously, her fingers automatically moved to twist her wedding band, a habit that she had developed since her husband died. For some reason, the gesture gave her reassurance. Finding only the indentation on her finger, she realized that reassurance would have to be found elsewhere.

  After what happened at the National Gallery, Kristin decided it was time to remove her ring. She’d shed a few tears over its loss, and the ring was placed in the jewelry box on her bedside table. The indentation of the long worn jewelry was a small but significant reminder of her past love. Some of her nerves tonight came from the guilt that still plagued her about taking it off.

  Kristin’s gaze darted around the room as she desperately searched for her friend. Ingrid’s position on the hospital board put her in charge of organizing this gala every year, so where in the world was she?

  “Kristin, darling, I’m so glad you’re here,” Ingrid sidled up next to her, almost giving her a heart attack.

  Kristin recovered quickly and let go a long sigh of relief, her friend’s sudden presence reassuring. “I’m glad someone is. I’m beginning to think I made a huge mistake coming here.”

  Ingrid eyes widened. “I must say, I was surprised when you agreed to come, after refusing every time before, but you know I believe it’s definitely time for you to get out like this more.” Her friend took a sip of her dirty martini.

  “I know
you’re right. I do. I just wish it weren’t so damn hard for me. I feel like I don’t even know who I am without James to lean on.” Kristin’s voice broke a little. Her heart ached with longing to have James by her side.

  “I know, love, I know.” Ingrid laid a reassuring hand on Kristin’s shoulder. “But just being here is a step in the right direction. The rest will come in time.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” Kristin smiled briefly at a few people who stopped and traded hellos with Ingrid. “By the way, what was it you had to take care of that couldn’t wait, so I had to come alone?”

  Ingrid lowered her hand and shook her head back and forth. “Don’t even get me started on all that. Evidently the caterers were having issues with the wait staff for tonight, and both threatened to leave for one reason or another.” She stopped to take a breath and fluff her short light brown locks. “But since no one else was up to the challenge, I worked my usual magic and made peace, all while looking amazing.”

  “You do look amazing.” Kristin chuckled at her friend. Ingrid always knew how to make her laugh.

  Ingrid’s white dress showed off her petite figure, the high waist flowed out to a full satin skirt that fell just above the knee. Her red and white stilettos added quite a few inches to her height.

  “Those shoes are fabulous, by the way.” Kristin nodded appreciatively at her friend’s choice in footwear.

  Ingrid swiveled her foot, showing off her shoes. “They are fabulous, aren’t they? Too bad they apparently double as medieval torture devices. My feet are killing me.” She stooped to massage her toe just as a young man in a waiter’s uniform hurried up to them.

  “Miss Pierce? We have another problem in the kitchen.”

  Kristin shot a questioning glance at Ingrid, who growled in apparent irritation. “What devastation is taking place now?”

  The blond waiter shifted nervously from one foot to the other. “I’m not sure. They just told me to find you.” He winced, as if expecting a barrage of anger directed toward him.