Page 33 of The Billionaire's Second Chance

But I was one better: I was determined.

I took another sip of my wine, the tiny bubbles fizzing against my tongue. “I’m sorry, sometimes, that mine didn’t live to see his daughter become an old maid,” I said.

“Hardlyold,” Tally said, lifting her nose. She was a few years older than I was. Ryan’s age.Charlie’s age.“And hardly amaid, either,” she said, lifting her glass. I raised my own to meet hers with a roll of my eyes. “But don’t distract me, Sam, I wanted to know about you and Charlie.”

If only she knew just how intimately Charlie and I had been working, there would be no question of my maidenhood. “It’s been fine. We meet at the school. It’s funny being back.”

She smirked. “God, he was so annoying back then.”

“He still is,” I said, and she laughed.

“He’s the same as he ever was. Ryan was always the serious one.” Her wine glinted in the lunchtime light of the restaurant as she lifted it to her lips. “Too serious,” she added.

My phone buzzed in my work bag, and Tally nodded. “Go ahead.”

Charlie Martin. My stomach flip flopped.

Hey, can you come by the school this afternoon?

I can, I said.What time?

4? Is that too early?

I checked my watch. 1:30. I should get back to the office.

“It’s him,” I said to Tally.

“Who, Charlie? Ask how he is,” she said. “I hardly see him anymore.”

“Well, you divorced his best friend,” I said. “What do you expect? And you just saw him at Ryan’s wedding. Flir– Talking to the caterer,” I added, the words tasting strange in my mouth.Jealous. I at least knew how to use the word correctly.

“It was mutual,” she said with a smile.

“She was flirting back?” I asked, frowning down at my phone as I typed.

No, 4 is fine.

I’m at lunch with Sarah Talford.

She wants to know how you are.

“Ha. I meant the divorce.”

Tell her I’m handsome, charming, and rich.

I pressed my lips together to stop my smile. Typical Charlie.

More importantly, how do you expect to get through all those billionaires if you’re at a restaurant with Tally in the middle of the work day?he said. Tally took a sip of her wine, lifting the bottle out of the bucket to look at the label again.

They’ll wait,I said.A combination of Tally’s presence and the bottle of wine we’d shared made me bold.Besides, I have a real billionaire to see first. And I know just when and where to find him.

I watched as bubbles appeared, then disappeared, then appeared again.

Let me guess, he said.4 at the library.

This time I did smile.

No, I sent, then hesitated, wondering if I dared. I did, I decided. I was Samantha fucking Scott. I got what I wanted.