Second Chances (3 page)

The familiar throb of an impending headache invaded her senses, and Kristin found herself wishing they would leave. Then she would have an excuse to leave herself. As the pain became more insistent, she slowly rubbed her forehead.

David stepped closer and took her other hand in his. “Are you all right?”

Ingrid and Bernard reappeared into their little group, and Kristin twisted her hand out of David’s grasp, not giving Ingrid any chance to see his hand holding hers. Besides, it wasn’t necessary.

Sophie grabbed his arm at the elbow. “David, she probably drank too much…and we need to mingle. Remember, you promised.”

“Did you miss us, love?” Ingrid laughed as she removed her arm from Bernard’s elbow. Her expression changed to one of concern as she must have noticed Kristin rubbing her temple. “Is everything all right?”

David stepped back and Kristin inhaled deeply, as the pounding inside her skull increased. After struggling for so long, she let the simple attraction for this man disquiet her, especially when paired with the reactions he somehow so easily fired within her. She turned to her friend. “I’m not feeling very well. Could you have the driver take me home?”

“Certainly, sweetie.” Ingrid slipped her arms around Kristin’s shoulders and steered her toward the door. “If you would excuse us, gentlemen.”

Kristin couldn’t help herself, she turned to steal one last glance back at the only man that had stirred her emotions since her husband had died.

“David, are you coming or not?” Sophie’s high pitched wine carried over the crowd.

He stared after her, but finally dropped his gaze and turned to Sophie, who stood with her hands on her hips waiting impatiently.

As he trudged over to his fiancé, Kristin somehow knew that this wouldn’t be the last time their paths would cross.

Chapter Two

David craned his neck scrutinizing every angle he could inside the Royal Festival Hall. Just like the art gala last week, the hospital charity ball was in full force around him, people drinking, laughing and dancing and he didn’t care a bit. He’d actually attended tonight willingly, providing himself with the possible opportunity of running into Kristin Shepherd again.

“Are you even listening to me?”

David’s attention snapped back to Sophie, who stood glowering at him. He’d learned to tune out her preening and incessant talk about her career. Now, she crossed her arms in a way to show off her ample chest as her blue-gray eyes narrowed. She wasn’t happy with him.

“Em…sorry…my mind was away for a bit. What is it you were saying?”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “You know, I came with you to this gala tonight, the least you could do is pretend to pay attention to me.”

“I told you I was coming myself. You didn’t have to come with me.” His eyes still darted around the room and barely gave her his attention.

She clapped her hand to her chest and widened her eyes in exaggerated dismay. “And chance the tabloids having a heyday with you going out alone on the eve of my being away for filming? Not bloody likely!”

David sighed in irritation and leaned toward her. “You worry too much about what everyone thinks. If we were just honest with them, none of this would matter.”

“Don’t be daft.” Her voice lowered as a couple walked by and smiled at them.

“Really, Sophie. All we need to do is pick the right person to talk to, and none of this will affect either one of our careers negatively.”

She nodded at another passing guest, and then possessively threaded her arm through his. “We’re not having this discussion again, and especially not right now. I have an image to uphold, and this is just not the right time for upsetting things. It’s not like I’m asking for years of your life, just a few months.”

“But I hate lying to people” Sophie tugged roughly on his arm, cutting him off. A photographer had stopped to take a photo of them.

“Just smile at the man,” she forced out from clenched teeth.

David obliged, then disentangled himself from her grasp. She turned to face him, her blue-gray eyes a reflection of cold ice.

“What’s the matter with you?” she uttered vehemently under her breath. “This isn’t up for discussion. You know what will happen if you don’t…cooperate. And we wouldn’t want that.”

“No, we wouldn’t want that,” David echoed sarcastically.

Sophie’s expression softened while she straightened his bowtie. “I always did like you in your dress kilt. Maybe we could go back to your place so you could give me a proper send off. You know, like old times.” She let her finger drop and traced along the edge of his white dress shirt.

David grabbed her hand and lowered his head toward her ear. “Don’t push me, Sophie. You may have convinced me to play along with your charade, but I am not in the mood for any of your games.” He let go of her hand and took a small step backward.

Sophie pressed her shoulders back, her chin jutting out defiantly. “Suit yourself, darling. I’m going to find myself a glass of champagne and a person who actually thinks I’m worth paying attention to.” She stalked off, the skirt of her pale blue dress accentuating the sway of her hips.

David shook his head silently. How much more of this could he take? Things could be so much easier if he let the whole story come out, but some part deep within him hesitated. Maybe because of the love that had once existed between them, or maybe he was just scared she would find a way to ruin him. She didn’t make idle threats. Either way, his life was complicated in more ways than he ever thought possible.

David scanned the room once again, searching for Kristin. Why was he still bothering to try to find her? He wasn’t exactly in a position to start a relationship with anyone right now. And with the way she reacted about her late husband, well, maybe she still mourned her loss. He had no right to intrude.

He brushed his hand through his hair in frustration. What he wouldn’t give for an ice cold beer right now. The bar was calling his name. Even a nice scotch would do if the beers they had were rubbish.

David headed across the room toward the bar area. He was still looking for Kristin, even though he had convinced himself she wouldn’t show after all. Well, even if there couldn’t be a relationship between them, the least he could do was apologizeif he ever ran into her again. He hadn’t wanted her to be upset. That was good enough reason for hoping to see her, right?

~~~

After she entered the great hall, Kristin stopped for a moment and took in the view.

Wine-colored fabric draped the walls and tables, accenting the arrangements of white roses and lilies scattered about the room. Although purple wasn’t her favorite color, it looked beautiful reflecting the soft glow from the glass chandeliers.

A band played on a stage across from the long bar, next to an area where people danced as well as listened to the music. The rhythmic music gave the place an old world charm.

So many people, their smiles and laughter carried through the air. Kristin’s resolve wavered in the face of their happiness. Anxiety crept up on her and turned her hands cold. Had she really convinced herself she was ready to start a new chapter in her life, moving on from her grief-filled past?

Nervously, her fingers automatically moved to twist her wedding band, a habit that she had developed since her husband died. For some reason, the gesture gave her reassurance. Finding only the indentation on her finger, she realized that reassurance would have to be found elsewhere.

After what happened at the National Gallery, Kristin decided it was time to remove her ring. She’d shed a few tears over its loss, and the ring was placed in the jewelry box on her bedside table. The indentation of the long worn jewelry was a small but significant reminder of her past love. Some of her nerves tonight came from the guilt that still plagued her about taking it off.

Kristin’s gaze darted around the room as she desperately searched for her friend. Ingrid’s position on the hospital board put her in charge of organizing this gala every year, so where in the world was she?

“Kristin, darling, I’m so glad you’re here,” Ingrid sidled up next to her, almost giving her a heart attack.

Kristin recovered quickly and let go a long sigh of relief, her friend’s sudden presence reassuring. “I’m glad someone is. I’m beginning to think I made a huge mistake coming here.”

Ingrid eyes widened. “I must say, I was surprised when you agreed to come, after refusing every time before, but you know I believe it’s definitely time for you to get out like this more.” Her friend took a sip of her dirty martini.

“I know you’re right. I do. I just wish it weren’t so damn hard for me. I feel like I don’t even know who I am without James to lean on.” Kristin’s voice broke a little. Her heart ached with longing to have James by her side.

“I know, love, I know.” Ingrid laid a reassuring hand on Kristin’s shoulder. “But just being here is a step in the right direction. The rest will come in time.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Kristin smiled briefly at a few people who stopped and traded hellos with Ingrid. “By the way, what was it you had to take care of that couldn’t wait, so I had to come alone?”

Ingrid lowered her hand and shook her head back and forth. “Don’t
even
get me started on all that. Evidently the caterers were having issues with the wait staff for tonight, and both threatened to leave for one reason or another.” She stopped to take a breath and fluff her short light brown locks. “But since no one else was up to the challenge, I worked my usual magic and made peace, all while looking amazing.”

“You do look amazing.” Kristin chuckled at her friend. Ingrid always knew how to make her laugh.

Ingrid’s white dress showed off her petite figure, the high waist flowed out to a full satin skirt that fell just above the knee. Her red and white stilettos added quite a few inches to her height.

“Those shoes are fabulous, by the way.” Kristin nodded appreciatively at her friend’s choice in footwear.

Ingrid swiveled her foot, showing off her shoes. “They are fabulous, aren’t they? Too bad they apparently double as medieval torture devices. My feet are killing me.” She stooped to massage her toe just as a young man in a waiter’s uniform hurried up to them.

“Miss Pierce? We have another problem in the kitchen.”

Kristin shot a questioning glance at Ingrid, who growled in apparent irritation. “What devastation is taking place now?”

The blond waiter shifted nervously from one foot to the other. “I’m not sure. They just told me to find you.” He winced, as if expecting a barrage of anger directed toward him.

Ingrid straightened and turned to Kristin. “Apparently, love, my evening is to be spent putting out fires. Every year, coordinating this event gets me more and more brassed off. I’ll try to meet up with you later for a drink.” Ingrid started to follow the waiter, and then turned back. She gingerly clasped Kristin’s hand and held it up between them, the absence of the ring glaringly obvious. “And don’t think for a minute that I didn’t notice
this
.”

Ingrid smiled and squeezed Kristin’s hand. “Lead on, sir,” and she followed the waiter.

Kristin watched them go as the awareness of being on her own slowly tiptoed up on her once again, leaving her body covered in a cool wash of dread that pooled in her stomach.

Damn it James, why did you have to leave me? This would be so much easier if I weren’t alone.

Socializing without him just sucked. But in order to move on with her life, she
had
to try
.

I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.

Repeating the mantra inside her mind gave her strength. She braced her shoulders and set off across the large room toward the bar. Of course, a nice glass of champagne wouldn’t hurt either.

Passing guests smiled and she made herself return their greetings, determined not to spend the evening moping. The satiny silk of her red dress brushed her legs sensually. She’d splurged on the garment, hoping it would provide some amount of confidence for these first steps toward a new life. And just maybe, she would catch the eye of a certain gorgeous someone. But she couldn’t do that unless she stayed and at least tried to have a good time.

Kristin found an empty seat at the bar and ordered a glass of champagne, turning around to watch the band. People crowded the dance floor swaying to the waltz. She caught the gaze of a handsome blond man a few feet away, and his brilliant smile widened.

Icy panic seized her and as she swiftly wrenched her gaze away, and the champagne glass nearly fell out of her hand. What was wrong with her? Could she not merely meet a handsome stranger’s eyes without having a panic attack?

Inhaling deeply, she focused again on where the man had been standing, but he was no longer there. The breath she released contained a mixture of relief and disappointment.

“Baby steps, girl. Baby steps.” She turned back to rest her elbows on the counter as she nursed her drink.

The hairs on the back of her neck rose, giving her a creepy crawly sensation of being watched.

“The lady in red,” a lilting Scottish brogue broke through her thoughts. The trill in his “r” was like fingertips dancing a tango along her spine.

Fear of meeting his eyes again made Kristin swivel slowly in her seat, coming face to face with the man she had been unable to forget. Her heart somersaulted in her chest as dark smoldering eyes captured hers.

His black and red dress kilt showed every inch of his lean legs. Strong shoulders disappeared into his jacket. She wanted to run her fingers through his dark hair. Oh God, she was out of control.

“It’s…lovely to see you again,” her words faltered as his image stole her breath. Her eyes flicked to the red rose in the buttonhole of his Prince Charlie Jacket. It matched her red dress. Perfectly.

His lips curled into a crooked smile as he took her hand. His long fingers grasping her small ones brought on that tingling sensation once more.