Free A Second Chance With Emily by Alyssa Lindsey Page B

discovered that both you and Emily had booked his resort for Christmas. And then Emily showed up for her honeymoon alone…”
    “What? She got married?”
    “Did you catch the alone part?”
    Adam stopped and looked away. He felt like the biggest ass ever. Emily had been completely in love with him back in high school, and it’d scared him enough to take off. Now she’d been jilted.  
    “The rest was easy, my friend.”
    “What the hell? How can you call this easy?”
    Sylvester took a step back. “The feelings are still there, huh? This is your chance, man. It’s fate.”
    “I don’t believe in that crap,” Adam said shortly, while thinking about ways to help Emily feel better.  
    “Then it’s your chance to get her out of your system. Listen, how many times have you told me about her?” His friend nodded encouragingly.
    Adam gave in and sank onto a bar stool. It was true. He hadn’t been able to get Emily out of his mind. He compared every woman he met to the girl he left behind, except she was no longer a girl but a very beautiful woman. He didn’t think she could forgive him for leaving her the way he did…but maybe... “You’re right. I have to try, right?”

Chapter 4
    She looked up from her smoked chicken salad to see Adam approaching her table with a tentative smile.  
    “Hey, there,” he said and gestured toward the empty chair across from her. “Would you mind if I joined you?”
    She sat up straighter. “Yes, I would. We parted ways a long time ago and it’s best to keep things that way.”
    “Em…,” he started.
    “Don’t call me that!”
    “Emily, you’re here alone…and so am I. Maybe we could spend a little time together?” He smiled and saw the way she reacted, glancing at his lips. “You could take a few pictures for Facebook…so what’s his name would see.”
    That got her. She gave a small, sad smile. He knew her pride had to be flattened right now and he’d do anything he could to help pull her back to her feet. Actually, he’d love to knock the jackass that hurt her off his feet, and then put a foot on his neck.
    “Okay,” she said, softening. “You can join me for dinner.” As he sat down, she added, “Did you figure out a room?”
    “Oh…” He picked up the menu and intently read the special.
    “Adam?”
    He set the menu down. “There aren’t any other rooms. Christmas is their busiest holiday, and Sylvester double booked that room on accident.”  
    Her hand went to her neck as she looked away. “There’s other hotels.”
    “All booked. I could sleep on the sofa.”
    She slumped back in her chair. “Why are you here alone?”
    He waved at a waitress, a quiet young woman with a shy smile, and ordered “his usual.” She almost laughed because he’d been so intent on the menu before. “I needed to get away,” he finally answered, which didn’t really answer anything.
    Away and alone for the holidays? Emily left it at that since she didn’t want to talk about her personal life either. Her main course arrived and she started to pick at it.
    “Don’t worry about me,” he said with an easy smile. “Eat up.”
    She rolled her eyes at him and almost missed him reaching across with his fork to steal a giant shrimp right off her plate. Almost missed – she caught him in time to slap the back of his hand.  
    They were laughing and suddenly it felt like ten years ago. She caught her breath as memories swamped her mind. He would always kissed her check when he picked her up for a date. Later, he always wanted to nibble on her neck. All through dinner, her mind played games, playing back old memories and trying to line them up with the fully grown, dazzling man before her. She’d always loved his blond hair and brown eyes; she thought the unusual mix added to his good looks and charm.
    “Emily?”
    “Hm?”
    “How about a walk on the beach? The sun is setting.”
    She knew better, she did, but she actually wanted to go. “I guess I can’t