Free Second Chances by Christle Gray Page A

supposed to attend a movie and possibly nosh somewhere. How was he going to explain Sophie’s actions this time?
     
    ~~~
     
    Kristin hummed as she sat in her office, working on her computer. Everything looked liked her paintings. Vivid colors swirled around her, food tasted better, and smells seemed sharper. Tasks as mundane as paying the gallery’s bills even took little joy out of her mood.
    Meeting David for drinks, eating lunch together, and talking on the phone with him every day replaced the loneliness. It seemed she wanted to trust him and sharing her life seemed so natural.
    Kristin found David’s company both easy and exciting at the same time. They liked a lot of the same things, and David had a way of making her laugh until she couldn’t breathe sometimes.
    James had made her laugh every day they’d had together, right until the end. Of course, Kristin dealt with her physical attraction to David, by channeling the energy into her artwork. Battling that chemistry left her exhausted most days, but the trade off was definitely worth the war. She hadn’t been so happy and creative in years.
    The computer was busy saving the file she worked on when a small rap on the office door startled her. Immediately, the door opened and Ingrid walked in, promptly falling into one of the chairs situated on the opposite side of the desk. Her friend wore a navy blue suit and red pumps, making Kristin guess she had just come from a meeting at work.
    “Blimey, but you’re difficult to get in touch with these days,” Ingrid narrowed her brow in Kristin’s direction.
    “Am I?” Kristin tried to appear innocent while she shuffled some papers on the desk. “I guess I have been pretty busy. I’ve”
    Ingrid raised her hand. “Don’t give me that, Kristin. I know you’ve been spending quite a lot of time with that David McDougal bloke.” Ingrid’s voice reeked of disapproval.
    Kristin cleared her throat as nervous prickles danced along her spine before she steeled herself to meet Ingrid’s gaze. “There’s nothing wrong with spending time with a friend. How did you know, anyway?”
    Ingrid raised her eyebrows. “Is that what you two are, friends? And, I didn’t know. I guessed.”
    Is that indeed all that they were? Sure, she had agreed with him that anything more was out of the question right now, but as she spent more and more time with the attractive Scotsman, Kristin wasn’t sure either she or he believed that anymore.
    “That’s all we are, Ingrid. Friends.” Kristin’s voice grew softer as she spoke, since she was less sure of the truth of her words. She hoped Ingrid hadn’t noticed.
    Ingrid shook her head back and forth. “I can tell by the look in your eyes that you don’t even believe that yourself, so why on Earth would you expect me to?”
    Kristin dropped her gaze. Ingrid could always see Kristin’s true emotions, a trait that was both a blessing and a curse. That was why Kristin had been avoiding her. She knew Ingrid would be able to see her true desires, which would make it harder to keep his secret. “He makes me happy, Ingrid. Happier than I’ve been in a very long time.”
    Ingrid reached across the desk and squeezed Kristin’s hand. “I know he does, love. I can see it all over your face. But why would you let yourself care about someone who is engaged to be married to another woman?”
    Why, indeed. Kristin toyed with the idea of letting Ingrid know about the fake engagement, but decided it would put David too much at risk.
    “It’s complicated.” Kristin absently fidgeted with a pen on her desk.
    Ingrid let go of Kristin’s hand and leaned back in her chair. “It’s not like you to shut me out like this. Why won’t you talk to me?”
    Kristin wanted to open up to her friend, she did. Ingrid had been the one person she had really learned to trust since James died. But the timing and the situation weren’t right just now. Kristin swallowed and managed to meet Ingrid’s