Page 38 of First Chance

The heel of my palms dig into my forehead, trying to understand this cruel world. It’s only a few minutes later that Becky comes out of the house and sees me sitting alone.

“I don’t know what your story is, Jo, but this place is really good for giving second chances. My brother can be a bonehead, but I’m glad he’s letting you help him.”

“He didn’t want to hire me.”

“Can you blame him? He has trust issues with women.” She snorts, knowing it’s an understatement. “He’s also fiercely protective of his own.”

“He warned me not to make friends with any of the guys and plenty of other things, but I keep screwing up. I keep making him mad. Even when I don’t know why.”

“I meant what I said, he’s a bonehead, but he also sees you as someone to protect now. He’ll do that in the only way he knows how, even if it doesn’t make sense.” Her cryptic advice reminds me of Lochlan.

“Well, he’s definitely hard to interpret sometimes.” I laugh when she does.

“Thank you for helping him here. And, Emory. I think she’s going to talk about meeting a beauty queen all week at school.” She stands up, noticing them coming out of the door, Lochlan right behind them.

“She’s wonderful. It was nice meeting all of you.” I smileas Emory comes from behind and snakes a hug around my neck.

“Bye, Miss Jo. I’ll see you next time!”

Once they say their goodbyes and leave, the air is thick with Lochlan’s presence.

“You alright?”

What a silly question. I’m never alright, not truly. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not.” He sits down next to me for only a second before he shifts a few feet to the side to lean against the porch railing instead, as if he can’t stand to be near me.

“Hearing about Emory being abandoned just upset me, I guess.”

“Becky and Tessa were newly married, still figuring things out, but they knew they could give her a good life. It worked out.”

I nod, not really sure what to say.

“What’s really bugging you?”

“Nothing, I’m fine. Thanks for inviting me to dinner.”

* * *

Fresh spray tan, fresh coat of matching paint on my fingers and toes, and a new white dress to wear on the biggest weekend of summer. Tonight’s charity event will host all the biggest businesses and prominent families. Charities and politicians of all statuses will mingle and negotiate for theircause.

And, it’s my job to make it look like Second Chance Sanctuary belongs there just as much as everyone else.

“Lochlan, are you ready?” I yell as soon as I open his front door, stopping so hard my shoes pinch my toes when I see him thumping down the stairs.

The man attempting to button the cuff of his black dress shirt is not the Lochlan Dane I know.

His hair is still long but trimmed and styled back so it’s not obscuring his face. There’s a rogue curl falling down over his forehead that looks perfectly imperfect.

His beard is gone, but he’s not completely clean-shaven. There’s enough stubble to leave a shadow, and you can see an indented white scar that curves along his chin and disappears underneath.

But, most surprising is a mustache that matches his features impeccably.

It’s trimmed precisely along his top lip, not too long on the sides or unfitting in any way.

I’ve never felt drawn to that style of facial hair, but I’ve never seen it look so right. He has always been attractive, I’m not blind, but at this moment, I realize how attracted I am tohim.

My heart thunders erratically as I cope with my spiraling thoughts…I’m attracted to my boss.

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