Free Second Chance at Forever (Forever Book 2) by Mary Wasowski

Reconciling with Walker was never going to happen now.
    From what I had read and seen in the papers, Walker has clearly moved on with the daughter who reigns from one of the Hamptons elite families. I’m sure his father was gleaming with delight. I didn’t care what was reported on his lifestyle and all that was being played out in the papers. I believed that once Walker learned the truth behind my reason of leaving him, he would leave Elizabeth and come back to me.
    Samuel and I had been talking for most of the morning. It felt good to talk to someone and share my feelings. But I was getting tired and my body was still recovering from all that I went through. “Thank you, Dr. Briggs, oh sorry, I meant Samuel. I need to meet with Marsha, who is waiting on me. But thank you again for breakfast and the talk.”
    By the time I had reached my room, I was exhausted. True to form, Marsha was waiting inside for me. She began rattling off question after question, and I was just too tired to answer her. Anything we needed to discuss could be done tomorrow on our flight back to California.
    Marsha startled me the next morning by barging into my suite. “Rise and shine, Peaches! We have a flight to catch.”
    “What time is it?”
    “Time for you to get up and get ready. You slept close to sixteen hours.”
    “I did what? I can’t believe that I slept that long.”
    “You have to be starving. I had room service bring you dinner, but you never answered your door. That must have been some breakfast with that handsome doctor of yours.”
    “Stop it, Marsha. He was just being kind.”
    “Oh please! I think I saw a little naughty than kindness in his eyes. Did you not see how he couldn’t take his eyes off of you?”
    “I’m going to take a shower now. When I get out, I expect you not to be here. The flight will be long enough to endure with all of your incessant questioning.”
    “Have it your way, Peaches. I know lust when I see it.”
    “Goodbye, Marsha.”
    I was finishing getting dressed when I heard knocking at my door.
    “Marsha! I said I would meet you downstairs,” I said as I flung the door open. Samuel was standing there with two cups of coffee. He was the last person I expected to see.
    “Hi, what are you doing here?” I asked him.
    “Didn’t you know coffee delivery was one of our services that we provide?”
    I smiled and invited him in.
    “Thank you, Samuel. It was very thoughtful of you.”
    “You’re welcome. It was my pleasure. Can I ask you something?”
    “Of course,” I responded.
    “Reese, do you have to go back to California?”
    “Yes, I do. I have to get all my shoots rescheduled. I’m going to take the good doctor’s advice, and take some time off.” Physically I would heal. Mending my broken heart would be another issue.
    “What would you say if I asked you to not get on the plane today? I would love for you to stay here with me in New York.”
    What? “Samuel, you don’t even know me. How can you ask such a question like that?”
    “I know everything I need to know about you, Reese. You’re amazing, and I feel drawn to you for some reason. If you stay, we can get to know one another better.”
    “I’m sorry, Samuel, but I can’t. My work over the next few months will keep me very busy. I will mostly be traveling, and I don’t think that is how you want to start off anything with me. I’m sure you have more important things to take care of than to date me.”
    “You, at the moment, are all that I want.”
    “I’m flattered, really. But I can’t, Samuel.”
    I didn’t have time to respond to him. Samuel pulled me into his chest and kissed me. I let him, and for the first time since I left Walker, I realized this was what I needed. I wanted to feel a physical connection again, and being held in Samuel’s arms allowed me to do so. I returned his kiss, until he broke our connection and placed his forehead against mine. What am I doing?
    “Go to California. Here, take my