Page 1 of No Faking a Second Chance

Chapter1

Georgia

Ihad another dream abouthimagain.

That’swhyIlet out a big yawn asIpush open the door toAlderChiropracticClinic, whereI’veworked for about a year now.Thebell dings above my head, alerting everyone inside of my arrival.Cindywaves to me from the receptionist's desk with a bright smile, but it falters when she studies me.

Ishake my head. “Let’snot.”

Shechuckles. “Ididn’t say anything.”

“Youdidn’t have to.”

Thedoor toDr.Alder’soffice swings open and the man himself comes waltzing out.Iglance up and give him a small smile before walking slowly past, then flopping into my own chair.Asthe office manager,Dr.AlderthoughtIdeserved my own office, which is situated in the far corner of the building and away from all the chaos throughout the day.

There’sa light tap on my door andIgroan at the interruption.Iwalked in two minutes ago, who could possibly need something from me already?

“Whatis it?”Iask without looking up from the paperwork sitting on the flat surface of my desk.

Athroat clears andIdart my gaze up to meetDr.Alder’shard stare. “Roughnight?”

Isigh. “Justa hard time sleeping.Iseverything okay?”

Henods and inches further into the room until he’s only a few feet away from my desk.Onehand runs through his neatly shaven hair as he leans forward. “Justchecking on you, that’s all.Youseem off today.”

Ismirk at him. “Dr.Alder,Ijust walked through the door.Howcan you possibly tellIlook off?”

Dr.Alderchuckles. “You’veusually got more of a pep in your step when you come in.”Hepushes away from the desk and walks over to the door, then stops in the doorway and looks over his shoulder. “You’reall good though?”

“Allgood, just tired.”Withthat, he gives me a small smile and shuts the door softly behind him.Hisvoice is muffled as he speaks to someone outside the door, but gets further away as they walk toward the front.

BishopAlderis one of the obtainable bachelor’s in our small town ofDaisyCreek,Texas.Heonly got here a couple years ago, then opened his own chiropractic office a little under a year after that, and since then he’s had a stream of women at his door.Itdoesn’t surprise me much, butI’dnever say that out loud.

Hetook me on as one of his first employees, whereIstarted out as a receptionist, then worked my way up to this managing position.Thefirst thingIever noticed about him was the emeralds of his eyes.Theyare hypnotic, andIdon’t blame any woman for getting lost in them.AttimesIfind myself doing the exact same thing.

Butthat would be unprofessional.

Notonly isBishopmuch older thanIam, fifteen years older, but he’s my boss andI’dhate to have everyone around the office thinkI’mgetting special treatment because of a relationship.Hegives meMarkSloanvibes fromGrey’sAnatomy, and if anyone watches that show, that alone is enough to make you squirm when he’s around.

HeandIhave been friends for a while.Whenyou’ve been working alongside someone for so long, you’re bound to form a friendship of some sort.Friendsor not, though,I’mnot going to deny how attractive he is.

Theway he holds himself in the office is somethingIadmire, and there are times whenIfind myself entranced by it.He’salways careful with his patients, kind, but at the same time, he exudes power.It’san amazing thing to witness andI’mproud to have been here for so long.

There’sanother tap on my door, this one more frantic thanBishop’s, and the door gets pushed open beforeIcan tell whoever it is to come in.

“Girl, you look rough.”Winniechuckles at her comment and flops into one of the empty chairs in front of my desk.

WinnieDavishas been my best friend since we were kids and lived a few houses down from each other.Shewas the only girl who would play with me, and we quickly became inseparable.That’swhere my everlasting crush onCamdenDavis,Winnie’solder brother, came from.

“Awe, sweet as ever.”Iroll my eyes and lean back in my seat. “What’sup?”

Shereaches into her purse and hands an envelope over to me with a bright smile. “Iknow, you already have an obligation to come, butIwanted to give you a formal invitation for the big day.”

Igrab the envelope from her curiously and open it up, a smile forming on my face whenIsee the invitation for her upcoming wedding.That’sthe thing about being twenty-five — we aren’t kids anymore.Bothof us are starting to create our own lives with other people.Well,Winnieis.I’mstill silently hoping thatCamdentakes notice of me.

“Youdidn’t have to give me this,”Isay.

Sheshrugs. “Iknow how you are with things, you’ll probably put it in that damn box you stash in your closet.”

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