Second Chance Summer
(Chance #1)
by
Emma Hart
From the New York
Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Love Game and Playing for Keeps
is a story of hope and the beauty of getting a second
chance at the kind of love that comes once in a lifetime…
“You don’t get a love like ours and get to leave it
behind.”
Kia James was never meant to return to
her hometown of Harlan Grove, Alabama… But she has.
And Reese Pembleton was definitely not
supposed to still be in love with her the way she is him… But he is.
Last summer was the summer to end all
summers. It was the summer they both fell in too deep to get out, and try as
she might, Kia can’t deny that whatever was there between them a year ago is
still there. If she’s honest with herself, there’s so much more there than
there ever was, but the way her dad walked out six years ago has shattered her belief
of that fairytale love every girl craves.
Reese isn’t giving up so easily. His
biggest mistake was not chasing after Kia the way he wanted to when she upped
and left him without a word. Despite what she says, he knows her better than
anyone, and he knows she still wants him the way he wants her. And this time,
nothing will stop him from getting – and keeping – his girl.
But nothing is that easy. When Kia’s dad
arrives back in town, family secrets come tumbling out she never realized
existed. Everything her mom has ever told her about the reason he left is a lie
– but how can she trust the man who, by his own admission, didn’t fight for her
as hard as he could have?
With her past and present wants and needs
colliding, Kia is thrown into the turmoil of the biggest decisions of her life.
And she realizes, sometimes a second chance is all you need.
~ Excerpt ~
“Shit!
Kia!” Reese calls after me. “I didn’t mean it like that!”
I
ignore him and keep walking. Step, step, step. Keep going, Kia, don’t stop for
him. His hand grabs my arm, and I turn, yanking my arm back as I near where his
truck is parked.
“What,
Reese? You’ve made it clear last summer was a mistake. You’re right. It was. It
was just a whirlwind mess between two people who had no idea what they wanted
from life.”
“I
didn’t mean it like it came out. I just meant I didn’t want you to hate this
place because of me.”
“I
don’t hate it because of you.” I look at him and laugh bitterly. Shadows play
across his face in the darkness. “I hate this place because of what it means to
me.”
“What
does it mean, Kia? Tell me.” He loosens his grip on my arm; his thumb gently
stroking my skin.
“It
means nothing,” I say quietly, stepping back. “Nothing.”
“You’re
lying,” Reese steps closer and holds my other arm. “If it meant nothin’, you
wouldn’t be running from me.”
“I’m not
running from you! Why would I be? One summer, that’s all we had.”
“Is
it?” he asks quietly. “One summer? Is that really all we had? Do you think my
feelings disappeared the way you did? Do you think they upped and went in the
middle of the night just like you?”
“I
never said that-”
“‘Cause
they damn well didn’t!”
“Rumor
has it you’re seein’ someone, or have you forgotten that?” I throw back at him.
“Maybe
I don’t care about her. The person I care about is front of me.”
“After
eleven months? Why don’t I believe you?”
“Let
me show you. Make you believe me.”
I
shake my head. “You’re so fucking funny.” I pull myself from his grip and move toward
my car, passing his truck.
“Am I?”
he growls, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward him. My back hits the door of
his truck, and he stops in front of me. He places his hands either side of my
head, his face bent into mine. “Am I funny, Kia? Really?”
My
heart is pounding furiously at his nearness, and I push at his arm. My blood is
thundering through my body, my breathing coming hard and fast. I can feel the
warmth emanating from his body. I want more. I need more. I want to feel his
body pressed against mine, even if it’s just for a second. I need to feel it.
His
hazel eyes collide with mine, and I can see he feels the same. It’s been a
year. He still feels it. I still feel it.
“Jokes
usually are funny,” I retort, trying to move away from him in an attempt to
regain control of my body.
His
mouth crashes into mine, his lips molding to mine. One of his hands cups the
side of my head, the other resting on my waist. I grab his shirt when he nips
my bottom lip. My mouth opens, and his tongue meets mine, stroking it in a
gentle caress. Our bodies push together, and I drink him in, kissing him
greedily.
Now,
I remember. I remember why I can’t fight it. Why I’m powerless. Why, at
nineteen, he is all there is.
I
open my eyes as our mouths part. His lips are hovering over mine, close enough
they could touch mine again, but they don’t. In the small gap between us all,I
feel is the chilling night air where, just seconds ago, there was nothing but
heat.
“Am I
funny now, Kia?” he breathes, still holding my face.
“Yep,”
I whisper, my voice slightly shaky. “You’re fucking hilarious.”
Reese’s
hand leaves my waist and tugs the door open. “Then you better get in the truck
so you can find out exactly how not funny I am.”
“I’m
not...”
“Get
in,” he growls, his eyes promising me a fight.
“No,”
I say, pushing him back. I shake my head. “No.”
“What?”
I
walk around him and away from him, walking backward. I shake my head,
everything warring inside me. “I… No, Reese. I can’t.”
“Kia?”
he calls.
“That…”
I take a deep breath and stop at my car. “That shouldn’t have happened.”
~ Links to Buy ~
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~ About the Author ~
By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and
calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops
the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies – usually wine – and writes
books.
Emma is
working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at
every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a
dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or
several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.
She likes
to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.
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