Taking Chances (The Chances and Choices Duology - Book 1 of 2 - Contemporary Romance) Read Free Page B

he drew.

 
    He had his hands full with two cups, a pink box
and a white bag filled with bakery goodies, so I started to get up to take
something from him. In that moment, Buster lunged faster than I’d ever seen him
move. He managed to tangle his leash with Buddy’s, which caused Buddy to try to
dart around me to get out of the way. My legs got tangled in the leashes just
as I was taking a step toward Seth, and I started to fall forward. I fell face-first
into Seth’s chest. He caught me by wrapping both of his strong arms around me,
and it felt like heaven.

 
    My humiliation quickly crept in, as he helped me
get untangled and back to my chair. “I’m such a clutz ,”
I muttered, shaking my head. “And you caught me and managed to keep ahold of
all the stuff in your hands,” I said as I blew on my tea.

 
    Seth brought a warm blueberry donut out of the classic
pink bakery box and set it on a napkin in front of me. “It could have happened
to anyone,” he reassured me kindly. Then he chuckled, “I’ve never seen a basset
hound move that fast.”

 
    “I know, right? I wonder what he was after.”

 
    “Well, I hate to reward him for almost knocking
us both down, but I did enjoy catching you.” His eyes twinkled as he grinned at
me.   He lifted two dog treats out of
the white bakery bag. “Do you think he’d prefer peanut butter or chicken?”

 
    “From the way he licks our jars clean when we
are done with them, I know he’s a fan of peanut butter.”

 
    As Seth leaned down to give the dogs their
bone-shaped cookies, I took a deep breath to calm myself. Then I shifted the
conversation and started asking him some questions. I learned that he was a
boat builder, that he loved nature and that he wasn’t just handsome. He was
also funny, smart and sweet.

 
    Mr. Finley, the grandfatherly bakery owner,
stopped by our table to see if we needed anything. When he leaned over Seth’s
shoulder to refill the hot water in our tea mugs, he caught my eye and waggled
his bushy eyebrows, making me smile.

 
    I kept looking for the fatal flaw that must be
present in Seth, but I sure didn’t see one. With this level of perfection,
women must be throwing themselves at him all the time. It didn’t make sense for
him to be spending time with me, and seeming to enjoy himself. I almost had
myself convinced that he must be gay, when he asked if he could see me again.

 
    I made a valiant attempt to control the
excitement in my voice as I responded that I could probably work him into my
busy schedule, texted him my cell phone number and told him goodbye. Then I
proceeded to float on cloud nine all the way home, thinking what a fantastic
day this had turned out to be.

Chapter 4

 
    “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I said,
grabbing Courtney and hugging her, as soon as she walked downstairs.

 
    “Umm, you’re welcome,” she said, hugging me
back. “What’d I do that was so great?”

 
    “You suggested that I say ‘hi’ to him, and he is
so handsome, but I didn’t know how handsome until he turned around. He’s so
dreamy that it nearly took my breath away, but it’s not just his looks. He’s
also kind and funny and down-to-earth, and he has a golden retriever,” I
gushed, breathless.

 
    I knew the golden retriever part would win her
over. “Well, any guy who has a great dog like that has to be somewhat okay, but
slow down. Who is this guy and what do you know about him?”

 
    I took a moment to enjoy how protective she was
of me, and then I started about telling her all about Sumptuous Seth. Courtney
liked my nickname for him, but decided that SS was much easier to say.

 
    “SS does sound great,” Courtney admitted. “Just
be safe and only meet him in public places at first. You never know. He could
be an ax murderer or some other kind of freak.”

 
    “We’re coming to Joe’s on Friday night, so you
can check him out for yourself and see if you think he has dead