Free Second Chance at Love (The MacKenna Born & Bred Trilogy) by Tara Paradise Page A

to the club, it was only 9:00.The place was jam packed. The music
could be heard from outside. It was deafening. “I don't know if this was such a
good idea,” she said, beginning to feel a bit uneasy. Karissa grabbed her hand
and dragged her inside.
    Brooke didn't think she'd ever seen so many bodies crammed
into one place at one time. She glanced over at Karissa, and her sister
explained, “A live band is a big thing around here. It brings everyone out.”
She smiled. “You're gonna have a great time, you'll see.”
    Somehow Brooke doubted that. They squeezed their way in at
the bar to order their drinks. There were elbows everywhere, and Karissa was
nudged forcefully into the guy next to her. He was tall, and his arms came
around her as she fell into him. They were strong, well-muscled arms, Karissa
noticed. And tanned. Her eyes were level with the broad, muscular chest that he
had to go with the great arms. He wore a blue cotton V-necked shirt.
    “I'm so sorry,” she exclaimed, and looked up to see Seth
staring down at her.
    His arms were still wrapped around her and their bodies
pressed close. And it was one hard body, Karissa discovered. She could feel the
heat rush to her cheeks.
    Oh God, how mortifying.
     Seth noticed her blush, and thought he could feel her body
humming with nervousness.  A body that was soft and warm, he noticed. He liked
the way she felt in his arms.
    “You can throw yourself at me any time, sweetness,” he teased.
She laughed nervously, and he let her go. She was just a little bit
disappointed. “Who are you with?” he wanted to know.
    Karissa tugged on Brooke's arm, who had her back turned to
Karissa while some bulked-up guy flirted with her. Brooke excused herself,
thankful for the getaway. She beamed at Seth.
    “Well, hey there handsome,” she said.
    “Hey, Brooke,” he shot back, not in the least bit affected
by the compliment. He knew she didn't mean it suggestively. They'd always been
just friends. Brooke had always belonged to Logan, and that's simply the way it
was. “Where are you ladies sitting?”
    “We just got here,” Karissa answered.
    “Why don't you hang with us?” Seth offered. “We have a table
in the back, out of the way. It was the last one.” He smiled unapologetically.
    Brooke and Karissa looked at each other in silent agreement.
    “That sounds great,” Karissa said.
    Seth nodded, and led them through the club to a corner in
the back. The table was empty at that moment. Brooke spotted Chase at the pool
table, a buxom blonde draped over him. He seemed to be enjoying himself just
fine. Brooke looked around, and saw no sign of Logan. He'd never been into the
bar scene, anyway, so she assumed he wouldn't be there. She was relieved.
    She took a seat across from Karissa, who had already seated
herself next to Seth. Hmm , she thought to herself. She'd gotten
comfortable and sipped her drink, watching Chase annihilate his opponent at
pool. His blonde bimbo, who she'd heard Chase call Candy, headed to the ladies
room, and Brooke wondered who she was exactly. Surely not his girlfriend.
    Brooke was enjoying the music the band was playing, and was
beginning to think that the night wouldn't be so bad after all, when a sudden
movement to her right had her glancing over just as Logan slid into the seat
next to hers.
    Of course he would be here, she thought. This is
fate playing a cruel trick on me.
    He held his hands up in the air as if to proclaim his
innocence. The look on his face was comical, and Brooke couldn't help but
laugh.
    “Is this your idea of us maintaining our own personal
space?” he wanted to know.
    “Funny,” she said. “I didn't know you were here. I don't
remember the club scene being your thing.” She was only mildly annoyed with him
still for his behavior the day before at the stream.
    “It's not.” He took a swig of his beer. “I only stop in once
in a while with the guys.”
    She raised a brow in question, and he said, “I got