Second Chance with Love Read Free Page A

if a bit nervous. But she had already been captivated by the eyes of another.
    The guy's name was David, and he said he had spotted Hilda the moment she walked into the bar. She blushed as he told her that she was beautiful. Other than this, she didn't know how to react. He spoke mostly about himself and his job.
    "So at the moment, I'm just a chef but I don't want to stop there," he said. Hilda listened to him describe how he intended to create his own business, a chain of restaurants, that would eventually free him from the nightmare of having to slave for a boss. He described his family, his student years, and his personal preference when it came to a woman's behavior. Hilda listened with keen interest.
    Then he stopped.
    David's face took on such an embarrassing look of bewilderment that Hilda creased her forehead in response.
    "Eh, I forgot you're name. Ha, ha!" He gave himself a gentle face-palm.
    "Oh," said, Hilda, "I didn't say. My name is Hilda.” She smiled.
    He smiled and blushed a little, bid her a wonderful afternoon after making note that he'd been speaking to her for over half-an-hour, and then left in a stunned silence.
    Hilda sat feeling a pinch of disappointment, though she was unsure why. If only he'd return, she'd apologize for any offense she caused.
    He must have come back, Hilda imagined as she felt the presence of someone.
    "You're back, I never meant to seem offhanded it's just…." Hilda turned, expecting to see David. But it was him. The guy from earlier.
    "So, what's your name?" he asked.
    "Hilda,” the word stumbled out of her mouth.
    "Hmmm." He sat down as if she were saving him a seat. "Just Hilda?"
    "Hilda Borja.” He smiled and looked about to speak, when a high-pitched laugh rang out in the room. Hilda and Nathan both turned towards the source of the disturbance.
    Hilda gasped as she saw Melanie folded over, laughing at the man in sunglasses, who had since removed them. She wore a broad grin on her face.
    "Your friend seems to be having a good time,” Nathan smiled. Try as she did, Hilda could not ignore his eyes, particularly his long black eyelashes.
    "You're friend doesn't seem to be having such a bad time, either,” Hilda gestured with her book to their friends.
    "I don't know, it could actually be worse than it seems,” he intoned with a smile.
    "What do you mean?" Hilda looked back at them.
    “I mean his allergic reaction,” Nathan pointed out. "You see, he probably tried to play it off with his oh-so-cool attitude, but your friend probably persuaded him to remove the glasses, discovered his reddened eye and now he has to back peddle and try and charm her by being funny."
    "You think?"
    "He's too cool to show it, but he's probably sweating buckets. I just hope she finds him funny."
    "Wow, but I wouldn't be too concerned. My friend is harmless."
    "So why are you here? Something tells me you're not particularly happy to be here,” observed Nathan, his cool eyes studying her.
    "It's not that I'm... okay, it did take some convincing to get me here." Hilda looked into his eyes and felt herself unable to look away. They were a swirling dark brown she had never encountered.
    "Anyway I want to say I've seen you at a gathering before, but I don't think I would forget someone like you." Nathan said.
    "Well, I'm not as activity in my church as I could be." Hilda felt an intense burning in her cheeks that she was powerless against. She followed his gaze, which was pointed to the table, and she suddenly realized she was fiddling with the corners of the pages from her book. Calm down Hilda, try and be cool . She felt like a fourteen year old in the company of an adult. He was so cool and calm, whereas she found herself coming apart at the seams just from being at a table with him.
    "Your eyes tell me that you're that there's an artist in you." He gave her a pointed look.
    Hilda glanced away only for her eyes to fall on his firm jaw line. She felt herself sweat. Quickly, she dared her gaze to