A Chance in the Night
Skye D'Lane isn't looking for a hero. She stopped believing in dreams a long time ago–that's what got her trapped in a lifestyle she never wanted. Even sexy Christian Holt sweeping in and rescuing her from danger can't convince her to take another chance on love.Christian never planned on being anybody's hero, especially someone like Skye. He's spent most of his life trying to outrun his own painful past, but he can't get her out of his mind. If Christian can help Skye escape her situation, maybe he can save not only her life, but her heart, too. And maybe this could be a second chance for a new life, for both of them.
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Christian stared at the woman before him
He wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked, but he couldnâtâor wouldnât.
He stepped toward her, and she didnât stop him. Her eyes widened and the tip of her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. The small motion nearly caused his knees to buckle. âI have a confession to make,â he began, his voice straining as his body tightened.
âAnd what would that be?â she asked, her eyes wide and luminous.
Instead of answering, he simply brushed a soft yet firm kiss against the sweetness of her mouth. Once his lips touched hers the contact ignited a firestorm that he couldnât quite control. Her body melted against his, pressing in all the right places. Her softness fit perfectly against his hardened planes, and as she clutched his lower back, he felt his whole world tilt.
Of course, this complicated matters.
Dear Reader,
Sometimes life doesnât turn out the way we envision. A series of bad judgments can derail the most focused individual, sending them crashing into a situation that wasnât of their design and certainly not part of their dreams. When Skye DâLane materialized in my mind, I knew her soul before I ever knew her story. Sheâs the tough but tender, not-going-to-give-up heroine who finds love and acceptance in the arms of a truly amazing manâChristian Holt.
This story is near and dear to my heart, as I believe in the power of self-love and forgiveness. Weâve all stumbled and made mistakes, but it takes a strong will to pull yourself up and keep going even if no one else believes you can.
I hope you enjoy this story of redemption and forgiveness tempered with love. I know I did!
Donât miss the last in the Mama Joâs Boys trilogy next month, Secrets in a Small Town.
Hearing from readers is one of my greatest joys. Feel free to drop me a line at my website, www.kimberlyvanmeter.com, or through snail mail at P.O. Box 2210, Oakdale, CA 95361.
Happy reading,
Kimberly Van Meter
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kimberly Van Meter wrote her first book at age sixteen and finally achieved publication in December 2006. She writes for Harlequin Superromance and Harlequin Romantic Suspense. She and her husband of seventeen years have three children, three cats and always a houseful of friends, family and fun.
To anyone whoâs found the courage
to pick themselves up after a devastating fallâ¦take pride in your courage and your refusal to quit.
You are an inspiration!
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER ONE
CHRISTIAN HOLT KNEW THE minute she entered the bar. His skin prickled in a sensation that was not unpleasant but certainly unnerving as his subconscious seemed to be on high alert for this particular woman and he wished he could find the off switch.
He didnât want to notice how her hair waved like summer wheat in a soft breeze over a gently rounded shoulder or how her face reminded him of an artistâs rendition of Helen of Troy that he saw in an art gallery in Soho.
A businessman wearing a Brioni suit flagged him with a lifted finger and ordered a Bombay Sapphire gin and tonic. Christian could tell by the six-thousand dollar threads the man was going to ask for the good stuff. He could also tell that the man wasnât a good tipper by the way he didnât make eye contact with him, as if Christian was beneath his notice. Christian gave the man his drink and, as expected, the businessman barely gave him ten percent. Christian smiled and nodded to the man for his patronage and then made a mental note to go light on the booze next round.
Unbidden, Christianâs gaze returned to where the woman was sitting. She wasnât what heâd call a regular at Martini, the upscale Manhattan bar where heâd worked for the past three years, as she rarely drank but she was there often enough for him to notice why she came.
Martini, for all its elegance and refinement, was an excellent feeding ground for anyone with a rich palate. It was a playground for the wealthy and over-privileged, with its posh contemporary decor backlit by hidden lighting. He watched as money changed hands, deals were sealed with predatory smiles and beautiful women were never far from the action.
And this woman, with her perfect figure and equally perfect face, was one of many he saw slinking around the city for one purpose: anotherâs entertainment.
He slewed his gaze away from her, disgust threatening to curl his lip and ruin the careful facade he put out there as the amiable professional who knew when to look away and when to quietly pay attention.
He wanted nothing to do with this woman. Or any woman of her profession.
Christian had an eye for detail that heâd honed on the raw situations that shaped his early childhood. Out of necessity heâd learned how to read people as well as any FBI profiler with a fancy education. Heâd learned his skills on the streets, figuring out quite young that everyone had something to hide and sometimes those secrets were vile enough to twist a person into something ugly. So, yeah, Christian had a sixth sense about people. And he was using those skills to make a nice living as a bartender at Martini where money was no object and anything could be bought.
