Romance: The Second Chance - Contemporary Romance (Romance, Contemporary Romance, Suspense Romance Book 1) Read Online Free

response. The word beautiful flushed through Abby, and she strained not to let it show on her face. She offered a forced half smile; he studied it, then turned away, but she didn't think he bought it.
                  “Yup, she does. You gonna take our order though? Abby here is starving.”
                  “Don’t be rude,” Abby murmured, but she couldn't argue with the facts. She was hungry.
                  “Sure thing, what can I get for you ladies?”
                  Eli’s eye flicked back his eyes to Abby. His gaze was like a fishing lure, bright and pulling—she wasn't used to being looked at this much.
                  “I'll had the fish and chips,” Molly said. “Extra salt!”
                  “Alright.” Eli said as he took the pen from behind his ear and scribbled something onto a notepad on the counter. “and how about you, stranger?”
                  Suddenly both of them were looking at her. Waiting for her to speak. Abby opened her mouth, but she felt frozen. Caught. What with Eli and his staring, she hadn't even had time to think about what she wanted to eat.
                  “Uhmm... I'm not sure. It all looks good.” She squinted at the menu, stalling, but what she wanted more than anything was to get out of there. To get away from Eli.
                  “Tell you what Abby. How about I whip you up something special, and if you don't like it, it's on me.”
                  As though they were old friends. Abby stared at him, balking. She never made friends easily, but his casual charm and intensity already had her back up; the last time she’d given up control with someone it had nearly gotten her killed. No, never again.
                  Blindly, she pointed to a random item on the menu. “No, it's okay. I'll have that.”
                  Eli turned to see where she was pointing. Even she couldn't really tell.
                  “The Crab Medley?” He looked at her as if she were crazy. Maybe she was. “You sure?”
                  Abby nodded. “Positive.”
                  “You're a brave girl,” he said, and shook his head.
     
    ~*~
     
                  Twenty minutes later, Abby's stomach growled and groaned mercilessly. At this point she’d east anything. Crab medley, fish and chips, the uncleared leftovers at the next table.
                  Molly was doing a great job of distracting her from her pain. Telling her story after story. Just when Abby thought she was done, Molly pulled another one from her sleeve. So far she had learned about Molly's wisdom teeth surgery, and how “awfully impacted” they all were. The long history of boys she’d dated before, and after, her short marriage. The inspiring journey of her first 10K race. And finally, her latest obsession, surfing.
                  Personally, Abby couldn't imagine Molly out there in the thunderous waves, and figured it probably had more to do with the surfers than the surf boards, but Molly told a good story.
                  When their food came, Eli brought it out himself. He carried two dishes in his left hand, and a massive platter in his right. He was limping a little, but if she hadn't known she might not even have noticed; the confidence in his stride nearly overpowered it. But it was there. Though there was something about Eli. Something about the way he carried himself. He moved as though he was sure of himself, and as though that self-assurance was all that mattered to him.
                  Abby couldn't remember the last time she was sure of anything... much less herself.
                  Eli reached the table placed Molly's fish and chips, with an absurd amount of salt, right in front of her.
                  “Mmm, smells delicious,” she said,