Free Second Chance by Rachel Hanna

kissed deeper and deeper. It was as if we were trying to move right through each other. I started stepping backward pulling him with me down onto the sofa.
     
    On top of me, Tanner was running his hands up and down my sides as I played with his hair. The sensuality of the moment overwhelmed me, captivated me, scared me.
     
    “Tanner… Tanner…. Wait… I can’t,” I said pushing him back as I sat up and covered my mouth.
     
    “What’s wrong?” Tanner sat up and rubbed his hand on my cheek.
     
    “This isn’t right. I can’t do this again…” Tears pouring down my cheeks, I jumped up, grabbed my purse and ran out into the rain that had started after the storm. I ran as fast as I could to the front of the house. Fumbling with my keys, I started trying to unlock my SUV. I just had to get out of there before I did anything I regretted. Like falling in love.
     
    “Shannon! Shannon, wait!” Tanner was running behind me. I could see him in the rear view mirror as I bolted from the farm. From his life. From my fear.
     
     

Chapter 14
     
    “Girl, you look like a wet dog… What in the world happened? Come in…” Denise said as she answered her door that night.
     
    “I don’t want to talk about it,” I muttered as I walked into her foyer drenched in raindrops and tears.
     
    “You ALWAYS want to talk about,” she said giggling a bit.
     
    She was right. My sister knew me well, and she knew I would eventually spill the beans about whatever was bothering me. She poured me a glass of red wine, which made me think about Tanner even more.
     
    The two hour drive to her house gave me a lot of time to think. About Tanner. About that kiss that just about curled my toenails.
     
    I spent 45 minutes telling Denise everything. About the tornado. About Tanner throwing his body on mine in the basement… and then again in his living room. About John’s plan and the letter and Emmy. Spilled the beans on everything.
     
    “Wow, that is quite a story. You really know how attract drama, Shan,” Denise said with a smile.
     
    “I am so over drama, Denise. I thought my drama died with John,” I said rolling my eyes.
     
    “Love is dramatic,” Denise commented offhand.
     
    “Love? What’s love got to do with it?”
     
    “Well, Tina Turner, I think you might be falling in love…”
     
    “I’ve only known him a couple of days,” I said in an irritated tone.
     
    “People fall in love like that, Shannon. With Dan, I fell almost immediately from across the room. You know that. We only dated for two months and got married. It happens!”
     
    “Well, it isn’t happening to me. I won’t let myself…”
     
    “Let yourself what, Shannon? Be happy?” Denise put her hand over mine on the table. “Don’t seal yourself off, dear sister.”
     
    “That’s what Tanner says. He wants to know why I am putting myself in a prison that John created…”
     
    “I am liking this Tanner fellow more and more,” she winked.
     
    “You would like him, actually. He’s kind and sweet and gentle…” I trailed off placing myself right back in his arms, at least in my mind.
     
    “Then why are you being so stubborn?” Denise chided as she let out a belly laugh.
     
    “My husband JUST died, Denise!”
     
    “Your husband was dead to you long ago, Shannon, and you know it. You aren’t doing anything wrong. Get on with living your life, whatever that entails. If Tanner is in it, great. Just make good choices. Don’t pick another jerk who will steal years of your life,” Denise said softly.
     
    “I know you’re right. It’s just so hard to trust anyone with my heart…”
     
    With that, we decided to go to bed. It had been a very long day for me. I would figure out what to do in the morning.
     

Chapter 15
     
    Morning came and went in Atlanta, but I slept right through it. Just before 11am, I finally dragged myself out of Denise’s guest bed and took a look at myself in the mirror. With just my jeans and a