Free Second Chance Hero by Rebecca Sherwin Page A

interested in women, by the way he scoots his
chair closer to his partner and takes hold of his hand.
    “If you dare do anything like that again, I will not
be held accountable for my actions. What are you doing here Deacon?”
    “I had a business lunch.”
    “Right. Clearly you are a busy and talented
businessman, hence why when I saw you I didn’t say hello in case it was
unprofessional considering your reason for being here. Now say I was here
negotiating a business deal, like the busy business woman that I am, do
you think I’d have anything to negotiate after that stunt you just pulled?”
    Shit again. I hadn’t thought about that.
    “I didn’t think about it like that.”
    “Clearly. I don’t know what your problem is, but you
need to back off. How am I supposed to get on with my life back here with you
breathing down my neck?”
    “I’m not – I just. Fuck it. I’m sorry, okay?” She
nods.
    “I’ve got to get back to my four way affair before
I’m declared bankrupt.” She takes a deep breath and her expression relaxes,
“Thanks for the necklace.”
    She taps me on the shoulder as she walks past and it
sends shockwaves through my body, her touch literally vibrating through me. I
turn around and watch her trying to compose herself as she walks back to her
table. I don’t know what’s going on with us, but it’s fucking with my mental
state.

Chapter 6
     
    Jenna
     
     
    “What was that about?” Anthony asks as I sit back
down at the table.
    I shake my head and pour us all a large glass of
wine. I don’t want to talk about this.
    “I know that look,” Abbie squeaks, “I’m going to
guess that was enigmatic Deacon Reid?”
    “Your investigative skills know no bounds, Abs.” I
tie my hair back to get it off my neck and hope that’s all I have to say, but
they’re looking at me like it’s hot gossip, “Yes, that was Deacon Reid. He’s
arrogant, he’s rude and he thinks he can just waltz in and out of my life
whenever he feels like it. I’m having the salmon.”
     
    I invited Abbie and Carl here so they can help me
with the opening of the new bakery. It won't be ready for a couple of months,
but I need to copy over the recipe books, make sure they’re okay handling the
business with a boss who’s a hundred miles away and they’ve brought some photos
of the other two shops so I can keep the theme the same in the Folquay store.
Carl decided to bring Anthony with him so they could spend the weekend here
together, which is fine by me since we’ve bonded many times over rosé and chick
flicks.
    “Salmon sounds good. Is it caught here?” Carl asks.
    “Seriously?” I laugh, “Is Alaskan Salmon caught in
British Waters? I would say that’s a no.”
    “Well you live near the sea, fish are caught in the
sea. I don’t care about specifics, unless we’re specifying just how gorgeous
that beacon is.”
    “It’s Deacon. You should stop talking now.”
    He covers his face with his hands in embarrassment
and Anthony orders another bottle of Chardonnay.
     
    ~
    “Hi, Kip.” I answer my phone on the way to meet with
the surveyor, “Now isn’t a good time. Everything okay?”
    “Yeah, it’s Friday. What’s happening tomorrow?”
                “Of course it’s Friday. Sorry I’ve been
really busy. Come down and we’ll go for dinner.”
    I hear him sigh.
    “I can't keep doing these long drives, baby.”
    “I know. But I just thought we could go for dinner
here.”
    There’s a long pause on the other end and I stop
outside the bakery, grateful that the surveyor isn’t here yet.
    “Okay,” Kip finally says, “I’ll get off early today
and come down.”
    “Great. I’ve got to go, I’ll see you tonight.”
    I hang up quickly and open up the shop.
    “Miss Rivera!” I turn to see a tall dark haired man walking
towards me, a tool belt round his lean waist and a drawing pad under his arm,
“I’m Perry.”
    “Nice to meet you, Perry. Come in.” I step inside
and