Page 1 of Our Chance

Chapter One

Freya Parker couldn’t believe she wasdoing this again, but it seemed to be the only way to grab acertain guy’s attention. At least, it had done so the last timeshe was here. Justthinking back to that night had been a little crazy. She’d beenhere with her sister Adele, who’d been celebrating her divorce fromone of the worst guys Freya had ever had the displeasure ofmeeting, Hank. He’d been a number one asshole. He’d attempted tohide it, but she’d been the only one in her family to see throughall the bullshit.

Their parents had adored the lawyer hersister brought home. They thought he was good people, but Freyahated him. She’d seen him be cruel, manipulative, and also flirt with women other than hiswife. He’d been a player from the start, but had anyone believedher? No. They thought she was making it up. She’d already had herparents coming around to her place, trying to play nice, attemptingto apologize, but Freya didn’t want to hear apologies.

When Hank had been around, it was alreadybad enough that he’d convinced her family he was a good guy. Shehad no choice. At herparents’ request, she’d never visited when Hank and Adele werearound.

She’d been happier for it, rather than sitthere and watch himgloat. At least she didn’t have to put up with that anymore. Theonly problem, as Adele was celebrating her freedom, Freya hadfinally caved and given in to her own cravings.

“What are you doing here?”

That voice. The depth of it made her achefor him.

She picked up her beer and tilted it againsther lips, taking a long swallow, before she glanced toward him.

Maverick Lavin.

At one time, he’d been the town’s“bad boy.” The ultimate rebel.She was pretty sure people had been afraid of him, but then, aboutthree years ago, it all changed. After his father died of a heartattack, Maverick had come home, and he’d been running the LavinMechanic shop ever since. He was the best damn car mechanic in thestate, and she knew he was kept busy by people driving all the wayto their small town for him to look at their car.

Also, a tiny little problem.

At one time, Maverick had been her sister’s boyfriend. This wasbefore Hank, when she’d been going through her rebellious phase.Their parents had been out of their mind when Maverick came to pickup Adele.

Freya had been jealous. Yep, not an emotion she was used tobecause when it came to her sister, she was rarely jealous ofanything. This time, she was. Maverick had been her secret crushfor so long. When she was eighteen, Maverick and her sister weretwenty-five years old.

She knew he wouldn’t even look ather then. She’d been tooyoung. Now that she was twenty-five, and Maverick was thirty-two,that had all changed, especially three nights ago.

Celebrating with her sister, she’d notgloated, and while Adele got drunk, she and Maverick had hit it off. Freya hadn’t wantedthe night to end, so when he suggested they take it to his place,she’d not argued. In fact, she’d been thrilled. Of course, she’dchanged it so that they could go to her place. Maverick didn’targue.

Actually, she’d enjoyed the whole night,apart from when he’d nearly lost it for taking her virginity.

She’d had the biggest crush on Maverickfor so long that no one had been able to compare, and shecould not just go ahead andsleep with random guys. She had been waiting for the right guy.He’d never come along.

Then there was Maverick, and she justcouldn’t say no, and the truth was, she didn’t want to.

Looking back now, she probably should havewarned him she was a virgin. Those words hadn’t been easy for herto say, so she’d kept them to herself. It had nearly ended indisaster, because when he finally entered her, he’d not been gentleabout it, and yeah, thathad hurt. She’d screamed, and it kind of freaked Maverick out. Hehadn’t been happy. Also, she had a feeling he wasn’t happy thatshe’d been a virgin.

There was no point in avoiding him.

Putting the bottle back onto the counter,she turned toward him. “I’m enjoying a drink, do you have a problemwith that?”

Damn, he still looked good. Her memorywasn’t playing tricks on her. Maverick was a good-looking guy, even when he had thispissed-off expression on his face.

She tilted her head to the side and watchedhim. “Care to join me?”

“You shouldn’t be at the bar.”

She sighed. “Why not?”

“Because, you should be home … resting.” He leaned in andwhispered that last part.

Freya rolled her eyes. What more could shedo? After the sex, Maverick had been so sweet. He’d insisted on her soaking in a bathwith salts, and playing the part of the perfect boyfriend andgentleman, but come morning, when she woke up, he was gone. It waslike it hadn’t happened.

“We had sex,” she said, not even attemptingto lower her voice.

“Yeah, but you were a virgin, Freya. Youshould be resting.”

She glared at him. “I’m prettysure husbands of thepast were quite happy to keep it in their pants, and, you know, toallow their newly wedded wives to rest. Please, we had sex and I amfine.” She’d been sore the day after, but it had faded as the daywore on, and now she was more than fine.

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