Second Chances (3 page)

"Karina."

Jesus.
She closed her eyes briefly.

Slowly, she turned to face Brian. God, he looked good. She stared up into steady, curious eyes that were only slightly wary. Softly she answered, "Hello, Brian. It's been a long time."

He reached out to grab her shoulders as if not sure whether to hug her or push her away. "I couldn't believe it when I saw you there last night." He grinned a huge smile, maybe tinged with relief. What had he expected? "Damn, you look good."

She shrugged. What could she say? "Thank you."

They stared at each other in silence. So much needed to be said, and everything was left unspoken.

After a long moment, he said, "It's wonderful to see you." At her questioning look, he smiled quietly. "Really."

And she believed him. Warmth unfurled inside. Nerves bounced then calmed now that they'd finally made contact. "Good." And she meant it. Her smile brightened. "I'm really enjoying your seminar. You're very knowledgeable."

He went as if to say something. She leaned in, hoping…

With a regretful smile, he straightened, reached out and put a friendly arm around her shoulders. She lowered her gaze, willing him to pull her in closer. Instead, he turned her toward the door to the seminar room. "Good. Then let's get back. The next set is due to start."

Karina blinked. What? That was it? She walked back to the seminar room, her nerves feeling as though they were being tossed on the high seas. Relief warred with irritation and the first stirrings of old anger resurfaced. She had a right to be angry. Didn't she? He'd left
her
. Only they'd made no promises. It had been for the one night only. She'd known it, she'd accepted it. So why was the sense of betrayal rearing its ugly head now?

Because she'd wanted that night to turn into so much more. She'd wanted to be so much more to him.

And it turned out he hadn't wanted her in any way.

It didn't matter that she'd known that going in, or that it had been pisspoor timing for him back then. She'd gambled and lost. And now…what?

Brian showed her to a seat up at the front. It felt as though his hand lingered on her shoulder as he left. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking. She couldn't be sure. But her heart was ready to believe he'd done it, and that just confused her more. She smiled shakily as he walked away. He was, as always, the consummate professional. Damn him anyway.

The next part of the workshop required people to form groups. They were instructed to each explore one area of their lives that they wanted to change, and ask the rest of the group for suggestions on how to go about doing so. Mark, Brian's assistant, supervised this session, and Karina watched him with interest.

"Many people get bogged down with responsibilities and forget what makes our lives worthwhile. Find something you want to do. Set a goal to work toward. Remember to plan some fun into your changes. Now choose a new partner and talk about what your goal might be, and how each of you might achieve that goal."

"Karina, will you work with me?" the woman seated next to her asked.

"Yes. Please." Karina jumped at the offer. Susan was facing the conflict of going back to work now that her children were all in school. Like Karina, her problem was that she had no idea what she wanted to do. On the plus side, however, Susan had a supportive husband with whom she was still madly in love.

Despite being physical opposites—blonde, elfin Karina versus statuesque, brunette Susan—and in different stages of their lives, the two women had connected instantly.

"All right, let me start. I adore my husband, but I want more for myself. I just don't know what that
more
is." Susan laughed self-consciously. "I'm not making any sense, am I?"

"Yes, you are. You aren't happy with yourself and therefore aren't happy with your half of the relationship. Getting your self-confidence back through finding a purpose or a job that you love will help you to learn to love yourself. Your marriage would be renewed because you will be renewed," Karina offered.

Susan's expression was incredulous. "If you can figure that out, why are you here?"

Karina laughed ruefully. "I need help, that's why. With my career, for a start. I'd love to have my own business, but haven't a clue in what area." And that was only the beginning. There was so much more that she couldn't even go into. Focusing on the seminar had become a bigger issue, and increasingly difficult. Her hormones were tracking Brian's movements throughout the room, anticipating when he might stop in at her group to check on their progress, her heart pounding whenever he seemed to be heading in her direction.

And he never came.

"This seminar has been difficult." Grimacing, Karina added, "The more I see change required in one area, I find other areas that need it more. Are you noticing the same thing?"

"Yes, definitely. Seeing the well-dressed people here reminds me how I've let my personal appearance slip. Staying home with the children meant that I didn't need good clothes. That's another reason why I'd like to return to work, I'll care about my appearance again. It's been an eye-opener to come here." She added a little glumly, "I hadn't realized how much these things still mean to me. How can my husband stand to be around me?"

"He loves you and has gotten used to your changes the same as you have." Karina changed the subject. "We're supposed to break for lunch soon. Are you going in with the crowd?"

She wanted time alone. But the best thing would be if she was with the others. Where she wouldn't have time to think. Or feel.

She was off-balance already. It wouldn't take much for her to fall even farther.

S
usan sought her out before the start of the afternoon seminar. Karina perked up at the sight of the other woman. She hadn't come purposely looking for new friends, but was delighted by the developing bond that was being created, particularly as Cat and Serena's futures were up in the air at the moment, too. Who knew where they'd all end up?

"Hi there, you look better," Susan remarked. "John's holding a couple of seats for us. I'm going to grab a coffee to take back in with me. Do you want one, too?"

"Are you kidding? Just point me in the right direction."

They found John easily in the crowd and slipped in with a few minutes to spare. John laughed when he saw what the women were carrying. "You can't even make it to break time, can you?" he teased Karina.

She smiled at him before inhaling deeply, closing her eyes in sensual delight as the rich, dark aroma smoothed over her senses.

"Now that's a smile to wonder about! I'd love to know what you're thinking?" asked a dark, velvety voice.

Karina opened her eyes to Mark's warm, brown ones smiling at her.

"It's a secret. Don't use your Barry White impression on me."

Mark chuckled. "Brian's about to start and you definitely want to listen to this part." He continued down the aisle to where Brian sat at the front of the room.

Brian stood to greet them.

"Good afternoon. Is everyone rested and ready to go again? Good. Let's get started."

For the remainder of the afternoon, Karina sat entertained and fascinated with the man in front of her. He led the audience where he wanted them, yet kept them well informed on their way. Instead of finding aspects of his personality to not like, she was falling quickly from infatuation into attraction. He was a dynamo.

Still relaxed when the talk ended, Karina allowed herself to go with the flow of people, naturally becoming part of a group of people heading into the workshop portion of the afternoon. This sense of belonging stopped her old insecurities from intruding during the next set of exercises. As she settled, her body language opened and her natural chutzpah showed. Her sharp wit wove through the conversation, placing herself firmly at the center of attention.

Susan said, "I'm really looking forward to this next session. It's on our innermost desires."

Karina laughed. "I'm so not sharing mine!"

"Come on, please Karina," said Rob, one of the younger single males. He waggled his eyebrows back and forth.

Quick repartee flew back and forth, keeping their group in giggles. Their enjoyment attracted envious glances from the other seminar members.

It also caught Brian's attention, bringing him up to their hysterical group.

"Well, I'm glad to see everyone is enjoying themselves," he commented, curiosity in his voice. "Karina, as I recall you always did have a great sense of humor. Care to share the joke?"

Karina couldn't answer for the mirth that bubbled through her. Tell Brian that she'd jokingly compared sex with her dream man to being the ultimate goal of her life? Nope, she so didn't want him to hear that. He just might make the connection. Hoping to prevent anyone else from spilling the beans, she spoke up quickly. "Sorry, our humor ran away with us. We'll try not to disrupt the rest of the class."

She grinned, inviting him to join into the fun.

Pure male appreciation gleamed in a familiar response as their gazes caught and held. A bolt of awareness shuddered through Karina. The answering glint in his eyes spoke volumes and offered an invitation of his own. Full and aristocratic, the energy of attraction surged once again between them.

Memories of skin sliding across heated skin, lips caressing hers and whispered murmurs raced through her psyche.
God.

Flustered, Karina broke the connection first. Heat bloomed on her cheeks and her heart jumped inside of her chest. My God. She didn't dare look at him, afraid of what she'd see…or not see. Damn. What was happening here?

Susan smoothly stepped in to cover the awkward silence. "Karina's a natural comedian. Her one-liners have kept us in stitches for the last half hour." She added, "We're working on the assignment as well. We promise."

Smiling back at the other woman, Brian said, "Good. It's nice to see everyone having fun. Carry on the good work." With one last lingering glance at Karina, he headed over to check in with a different group.

***

Brian forced his legs to move him away from the woman that had been driving him crazy all morning. Jesus. He'd never thought he'd see Karina again. And damn if that chemistry wasn't exactly the same as it had been years ago.

Still tiny with wild, untamable blond curls, she was a delight with her ready smile and quick wit. And a torment.

His body didn't give a damn about explanations. It wanted to play…and how. Karina was a trip down memory lane, and a difficult one in many ways. His relationship with Breanna had just ended—a relationship he'd thought was going to last through time. He'd planned on drinking himself into oblivion at the pub when Karina had walked in. Available. Interested. And so alive and caring, he hadn't been able to resist.

That one night had blown him away. Two years of memories with Breanna—gone in a heartbeat. It had been a hell of a lesson. A lesson that had scared him into backing off. He hadn't planned on leaving without speaking with her that last morning. He'd gone into the bedroom to say his good-byes. She'd been so beautiful. So exhausted. Perfection.

And it had shaken him.

But her declaration of love had terrified him even more.

He'd seen an opportunity to avoid the situation, her, even his own overwhelming emotions, and especially the incredible shift in his world…and he'd taken it. Coward.

There. He admitted it to himself. He'd been scared of the emotions coursing through him. The speed of the disintegration of his relationship with Breanna. The speed of the developing relationship with Karina. He hadn't been able to trust his emotions or the lightning-quick shift in his perception.

And now, she was here. At his seminar. Deep inside, his soul shook with change—again. Last time change had rocked his world, Karina had rocked his soul.

What was the universe tossing at him this time?

He'd almost cancelled this seminar after the rash of threatening phone calls and letters he'd received recently. The police hadn't explicitly told him to, but had asked him to seriously consider it.

As a concession he had doubled his security, warned the hotel to stay extra vigilant and had proceeded with careful watchfulness.

Now he was glad he hadn't cancelled.

Look what he'd have missed if he had.

***

Karina basked in the warm glow of heightened self-confidence for the rest of the afternoon. Even as the exercises took her through some heavy storms in the emotional arena, the glow stayed. Approval could do that for a person. She finished the afternoon in high spirits, her hopes restored and her heart singing. There was…something…still there between them. It was just a matter now of finding out what that something was. The chance she'd taken in coming to the seminar had proven positive—at least, so far.