A Second Helping Read Online Free

thrown away a good woman for a silly, weave-wearing tramp with fake nails and a tight body, who willingly accommodated his lust anytime, anywhere. At the time, he’d thought himself in heaven until he learned he wasn’t the only man she was accommodating. Then heaven turned into hell.
    So here he sat, getting ready to be served with divorce papers once again, and if the truth be told, he didn’t really care. Since the day Bernadine divorced him, his life had been in the toilet. He’d heard she’d bought herself a town, of all things, and wondered how she was doing with that, but the real question was: If he begged her hard enough, would she take him back?

CHAPTER 2
    B ernadine’s alarm usually went off at 6:00 a.m. Rising early was a necessity with all the things she had to do every day, but this morning, she’d slept in until eight and it felt so good, she vowed to sleep in more often. Of course, she had no intentions of following through on that but liked thinking about it.
    Downstairs, she put the coffeemaker to work and pulled open the door of the stainless steel fridge, then remembered she had emptied the interior before taking off for Barcelona, but to her surprise and delight, it had been refilled. Tamar probably. Grabbing a carton of eggs, she thought, Yet another bonus of small-town living. Where else but in a place like Henry Adams would your neighbors restock your fridge in anticipation of your return from vacation? Certainly not in any big city she’d ever lived in, and she’d lived in them all over the world.
    She cracked eggs for omelets, put the carton back, and wondered if Crystal was still asleep. Just as she begandebating whether to go upstairs and check, her BlackBerry went off. She picked it up. Looking at the familiar number made her shake her head with muted amusement. “Morning, Malachi.”
    â€œWelcome home. Did you enjoy Barcelona?”
    She tried to tell herself that hearing his low-toned chocolate voice didn’t do things to her, but she was lying. “I did, but it’s good to be back. What’s up with you?”
    â€œWant to talk to you about the Dog. Lots of complaints.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œFlorene, the new cook.”
    She sighed. “Amari left me a note about her.”
    â€œWhat’s it say?”
    â€œâ€˜First thing. Fire the cook.’”
    Malachi’s laugh filled her ear. “That’s my boy.”
    â€œWhen do you want to get together?”
    â€œBit early to be asking me loaded questions, don’t you think?” he tossed back in a humor-laden voice.
    His flirting put heat in her cheeks. “I’m talking about the cook at the Dog and Cow.”
    â€œPity,” he replied softly. “But how about we get together anyway. I’m outside on your porch. Brought you breakfast.”
    Surprised, she walked to the front door and opened it. There he stood, holding a plate wrapped in foil, and her heart pounded like she was seventeen.
    He inclined his head. “Your breakfast, ma’am.” His dark eyes sparkled with a mixture of mischief and temptation.
    â€œThank you.” Taking the warm plate from his hand, she discreetly drew in a calming breath and stepped back so he could enter.
    In the kitchen, he took a seat at the counter while she undid the foil and fought hard not to be affected by his silent scrutiny, but upon seeing three whole green beans sprinkled with almonds, balanced on what appeared to be risotto, nestled against four baby carrots, she turned to him and asked with confusion, “This is breakfast?”
    â€œWelcome to the new culinary delights being served at the D&C.”
    She stared.
    â€œWe hired a bad imitation of Julia Child and the paying customers are ready to throw her into a pot of boiling grits.”
    Bernadine got herself a fork and dipped in. She took a few bites. “The green beans aren’t bad. Risotto is