Her Second Chance Read online

  “Those Prescott men must be irresistible because Vanessa was next. She fell hard and married Devin’s cousin, Ralph. With that love bug going around, we should not have been surprised last year when Laura succumbed while on vacation and married her hotel mogul, Wilham Kramer.”

  “And he wasn’t even a Prescott!” They laughed.

  Maureen admitted, “I am glad Laura and Wil are relatively close in Chicago.”

  “Which leaves only you, me and Vanessa in the book club. We’ve turned into the Pitiful Three,” Trenna quipped.

  “I tried to talk Sherri Ann into joining but she turned me down.”

  “As an attorney, Sherri Ann doesn’t have much time to read for pleasure. Plus she works for Darrin Morgan. That can’t be a picnic.” Trenna revealed, “I thought about asking Grace to join our club but decided against it. Since the trial, she has had a hard time dealing with that awful man’s release.” She paused, and then asked, “How’s Mrs. Hale?”

  “My grandmother is fine. Why did you change the subject? What aren’t you telling me?”

  ”Nothing important.”

  “You know I’m going to find out sooner or later, so you might as well tell me.”

  “I ran into Darrin Morgan today. And I mean literally. I bounced off his chest like a Ping-Pong ball.”

  “What? Were you hurt?”

  “No, I’m fine. He caught me before I landed on my behind. Evidently, I pushed the wrong button and got off the elevator on the wrong floor.” When Trenna heard her friend’s snicker, she snapped, “It’s not funny!”

  Maureen grew up playing with the twins and had attended the same schools. The Hales and Morgans were long-time friends and neighbors.

  Laughing, Maureen said, “I wish I could have seen your face.’’

  “It’s not funny.”

  ‘It’s hilarious!”

  “Goodbye, Maureen.”

  “Don’t hang up! I was only teasing. Okay, okay, I’ll stop. Tell me why you’re upset?”

  “You know why.” Trenna shivered recalling Darrin’s intense masculine charm. “He asked me out. Again. Why can’t he get it through his thick skull that I’m not interested and leave me alone?”

  “You sound so angry. Why? What terrible thing has he done besides ask you out?” Maureen didn’t wait for a response, instead rushed ahead, saying, ”Come on, Trenna. Darrin has been interested in you since you opened the nursery school. Why don’t you go out on one date with him and get it over with? Then, the two of you will realize there’s no chemistry between you and we can all move on.”

  “Absolutely not!” Trenna frowned. If only it were that simple. “How many times do I have to say, I don’t like him?”

  Sighing, Maureen said, “But why? You haven’t given yourself a chance to get to know him.”

  “Why bother? He has enough women running after him, he doesn’t need me.”

  “That may be true, but he’s still interested in you.”

  “Maureen, I don’t like him!”

  “Careful. Have you forgotten, ‘Thou shall love thy neighbor as thy self’?”

  “That was low, Maureen Sheppard!”

  “Nope, my friend. That was from the Most High.”

  They couldn’t help but laugh, they attended the same bible study class. “Well?” Maureen prompted.

  “I’ll try,” that was as far as Trenna was prepared to go.

  “Fair enough. The Morgan twins are not afraid to go after what they want. They’ve brought in millions since their father passed and Darrin’s been at the helm. You and Darrin should go out to lunch and talk. It could be a good thing, right?”

  “Maureen, are you listening to me?”

  “Trenna, are you listening to yourself? You’re interested in Darrin. Only, you’re just too stubborn to admit it. I’ve seen the way your eyes light up and sparkle whenever you hear his name.”

  “Don’t you mean sparks fly? He makes me see red. Why are you trying to fix me up with him? Never mind! I’m hanging up. I will see you at seven-thirty.”

  ”Wait! Before you go, ask yourself why you’re protesting so strongly. After all, we’re talking about spending one evening with a sane, single, and gainfully employed male, who openly admits to finding you attractive. There’s no harm in that.”

  “Be that as it may, we’re talking about Darrin Morgan. I can’t forget the way he tore into Grace on the witness stand. It still makes me shudder. He was ruthless! And because of him, Grace’s rapist has been walking around free.”

  “No!” Maureen said sharply, “We both know Todd Marks raped Grace. And Marks had enough money to hire the best. Darrin’s the best.”

  “I get that, but I’m not you. Logically, I know that Darrin was not responsible for what Todd Marks did to Grace. Emotionally, I can’t help resenting him.”

  “Are you sure you’re not using this case as an excuse to keep Darrin at a safe distance? He makes you feel things.”

  ”You’re wrong.”

  “Well, there’s enough blame to go around. The prosecutor lost her case. She didn’t do enough.”

  “You’re wrong.”

  “Trenna, I’m sorry but I have to run. My client is here…”

  Trenna quickly hung up. She didn’t have the answer. She certainly did not feel things for Darrin Morgan, but Maureen was right about one thing. There was enough blame to spread around. But that didn’t change the fact that the female prosecutor didn’t raise Trenna’s blood pressure just by walking into a room.

  It was close to eleven when the four friends walked out of the movie theater together. They had loved the movie and were discussing Hidden Figures until they reached Vanessa’s car. She and Grace had driven together. They hugged each other and waved goodbye.

  Maureen and Trenna linked arms as they continued on across the parking lot.

  “That was fun,” Maureen said. “I really enjoyed the movie. I haven’t seen a really good one, not since Belle. And you know how much I loved that one.”

  “I agree. Did you download the book?”

  “Not yet. Have you read it?” Maureen quizzed.

  Trenna nodded. “Loved it.”

  “What’s the title again?

  “Belle: The Slave Daughter and the Lord Chief Justice by Paula Byrne.”

  “Thanks. Grace mentioned a new author that she has been reading, but I can’t remember the name. Everyone knows it’s always better to read the book first…” Maureen stopped suddenly, “Are you listening to me?”

  Since Maureen was taller with a long stride, Trenna had no choice but to stop. Not only had she not been listening, she had also been oblivious to their surroundings. Her cheeks were hot with embarrassment when she said, “Sorry. You caught me.”

  “On top of not listening, you weren’t looking around either! Coach says”—Maureen referred to the self-defense instructor, Michael Jameson, who taught at the Women’s Crisis Center—“a woman walking at night, talking on the phone or unaware of her surroundings has set herself up for disaster.”

  “I said I was sorry. What? Are you gonna sue me because I was lost in thought?”

  “It’s Friday night and the parking lot is well lit and busy or your behind would be toast.” Tugging her along, Maureen warned, “Beside, if I was going to sue you, it wouldn’t take you three guesses to figure out whom I would hire…the best, Darrin Morgan.”

  “Don’t start!”

  “Trenna, admit it! You’re still annoyed with me for pointing out the truth.”

  “The truth? That’s not how I see it.”

  Maureen quirked a beautifully arched brow before she said, “It’s not nice to hang up on your very best friend.”

  ”Stop! I said goodbye before I hung up.”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  “Uh-oh. Are you having problems with that ‘having the last word’ thing again?”

  “Again?”

  They both laughed. They reached Trenna’s car first. Maureen’s was parked several rows over.


  “Get in. I’ll drive you over,” Trenna said as she activated the keyless entry. When she eased the car to a stop, instead of getting out, Maureen caught Trenna’s arm. “I’ll follow you home.”

  “Why?”

  Maureen said, “It’s time to talk.”

  Trenna instantly understood. Firmly, shaking her head, she said, “There’s nothing to discuss. We made a pact to leave the mistakes we made in the past. Why bring it up now? And why don’t you admit, you’re no more comfortable talking about this than I am?”

  “True,” Maureen acknowledged, “But if it will help you recognize that all men are not cut from the same cloth, then I’m willing to go there.”

  “I’m not! Look, I will say this and then we’re done with this subject. It happened when we were young and foolish. We fell in love for the first time with the wrong guys. Just be grateful that you realized it was a mistake and you didn’t compound the matter by marrying, like I did.”

  “I am grateful.” Maureen was worrying her bottom lip when she asked, “Why can’t we talk? What are you afraid of? There’s nothing wrong with me telling you that I think Darrin is a decent man. Who knows? He might be good for you. Please, I might be able to help you work through...”

  “I’m not one of your clients!”

  “Martin may be gone but that doesn’t mean…”

  “Stop!” Trenna shouted. She had been over this hundreds of times in her head and couldn’t bear to talk about it. From the first, it was a mistake. Martin had been a family friend and their attorney. When her parents passed Martin had been appointed as her legal guardian. She was eighteen. He had gone from being her guardian, to her friend, and then her husband and tormentor.

  “Trenna…”

  She took a deep, calming breath. “I don’t want to talk about Martin anymore than you want to talk about …”

  “Okay! Okay! I get it. But you need to remember that Darrin is not like either of them. You must see that Darrin …”

  Trenna finished the sentence, “...is a good-looking womanizer, who has never had to work for anything in his entire life. It’s disgusting the way the women in the building practically fall at his feet when he looks their way. Even the married ones don’t attempt to hide their fascination with him. They act as if he’s God’s gift to womankind. Why would I want to join that group?”

  “You should ignore the rumors. They don’t matter. But what if he really cares for you? Can you ignore that?”

  “Maureen, I get it. He’s an old family friend. You and your grandmother adore him and his whole family. I agree they are wonderful people, but that does not mean Darrin Morgan is right for me. He’s not! What about our pact?”

  “Trenna, you have always wanted babies. You would make a wonderful mother. This may be your chance.”

  “At one time I wanted a family,” Trenna said candidly. “But so did

  you. It’s not going to happen for me, not unless it’s a miracle birth like the baby Jesus, or I adopted a couple of the foster care teen girls from the mentoring program.”

  3

  The late autumn air was crisp, and the temperature had dropped sharply at night. The sun had not yet risen in the cloud-covered sky when Trenna parked her car. After dinner with her friends and brain-storming ideas to raise money for her foundation, she had been restless and unable to sleep.

  The foundation was a scholarship fund she had developed for low-income children, who could not otherwise afford the high cost of her school. It was her pet project. Having learned the value and rewards of giving back from her parents, she’d heavily invested in both time and money.

  Around four, she gave up trying and got ready for work. After a quick stop at a nearby drive-through for breakfast, she parked in a slot close to the back entrance of the Morgan Building. Maureen would probably classify it as nothing more than a crisp morning, but Trenna shivered from the bitter cold as she hurried along. Even after four years, she had not gotten used to the harsh Michigan climate. It was barely November and she was freezing.

  Juggling a heavy briefcase and her shoulder bag while balancing a cardboard tray that held her breakfast sandwich and a cup of steaming hot chocolate, she struggled to get to the keys deep in her coat pocket.

  “Morning! Let me get that door for you,” Darrin said from over her right shoulder.

  Although startled, she refused show how much he rattled her. She said calmly, “Good morning.” Despite the pre-dawn gloom, she would recognize him anywhere.

  He reached past her to insert a key into the door’s brass tumbler. For a moment, she was cocooned by his large frame. Immaculate in a navy blue suit, his only concession to the weather was the scarf around his neck. The clean, male scent of his skin was mixed with the citrus fragrance of his aftershave. Keenly aware of the warmth of his breath on her nape, she tried valiantly to control the tremors but failed. Her senses were on high alert.

  “You’re shivering,” Darrin said huskily.

  Even though they weren’t actually touching, he was too close for her to ignore. She asked impatiently, “Did you get it?”

  ”Nope, I dropped my keys.”

  “Use mine!” she volunteered, desperate to make it inside quickly and put some distance between them. “They’re in my right coat pocket.”

  Even through the layers of a long, wool coat, pantsuit, and turtleneck sweater, she felt the heat of his hand near her hip. Feeling light-headed, as if she couldn’t get enough air into her lungs, she was relieved when he said, “Got them!” He cupped her elbow to steady her. “You okay?”

  She quickly nodded. Flustered, she nearly asked what he was doing here, but it was a silly question. Like her, he worked in the building and put in long hours. It was just her bad luck to come in early, only to run into him.

  “You’re early today. Trouble sleeping?” He was close, so close that his big body provided a barrier that blocked the wind coming off the river.

  She lied, “I slept fine, thank you. What’s taking so long?”

  “The lock’s stiff, must be frozen. You’re shaking.”

  She didn’t know whether she was shivering from the cold or nerves. He was too darn close. “It’s freezing. Evidently four years hasn’t been long enough to adjust to your Michigan winters. It’s not even November. Darrin, hurry!”

  “Thank you,” his voice was deep, gravelly and incredibly sexy.

  Although unsure why he was thanking her, the instant he held the door open, she hurried into the dimly lit interior. She passed the empty reception desk, aware that the security team could be anywhere in the building. Even though it took a moment to retrieve his own keys, Darrin had no trouble keeping up with her.

  They passed the bakeshop, which had not yet opened for business, but the scent of vanilla and cinnamon filled the air. They were approaching the doors to Little Hearts Nursery School when curiosity got the better of her.

  “Why did you thank me?” After glancing at him, she accused, “You’re grinning.”

  His lips were full, almost lush, making her curious about things she had no business considering, such as how his lips might feel…how they tasted. Tingles raced up and down her spine. Goodness! What was wrong with her?

  Darrin explained, “You used my name,” then shrugged his incredibly broad shoulders. “I like the way you say it.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  He smiled, “Southern belle, you have a charming accent.” Before she could protest, Darrin took her heavy leather briefcase and the food carrier, then dropped her keys into her small gloved palm.

  “Thank you.” The good manners that had been drummed into her since childhood were impossible to ignore. Unlocking the heavy glass double doors, she hurried to the covered panel on the wall and punched in the numbers to the alarm’s security code. When she turned back he was still there.

  Looking around, he admired the bulletin board covered with children’s paintings of fall trees and jack-o’-lanterns. “You show be proud of what you
’ve done here, I like how warm and welcoming it is, even to adults. The kids seem to love you and love coming here.”

  She was shocked that he had noticed and by the warmth that stole over her from his compliment. She managed to repeat, “Thank you.” But this time, she actually meant it.

  Before she could ask why he was still there, Darrin said, “One of my fraternity brothers Jackson Murray and his wife are in town. He’s a real estate developer and investor. He’s here on business for a few days, looking for new investments. He’s contributed handsomely to several charter schools in Baltimore, two in Boston and one in D.C. All are very successful. I told him about your school and foundation.”

  “Really?” Her eyes went wide, and she couldn’t contain her smile.

  Darrin stared at her mouth but then looked away. ”Yes.”

  “But why would you…” her voice trailed away.

  “Help you?” he finished for her.

  Trenna nodded.

  “Because I hope we can start over, as friends.”

  She frowned wondering what kind of game he was playing this time. Friends! Did he think that she hadn’t heard that one before? “Don’t you think it’s a bit late for that?”

  “No, I don’t.” After a glance at the wall clock, he said, “I’d better get moving. There’s plenty to do before I’m due in court.” He placed her things on top of one of the child-size tables. “Trenna, I admit I can be aggressive, even ruthless in the courtroom, but that has nothing to do with my personal life. You made an immediate impression on me. Maybe I came on a bit strong? I can admit when I’ve made a mistake.”

  It was a struggle not to respond to the warmth in his voice. Made a mistake? Was this some kind of maneuver to disguise his true agenda? The man was a master at seduction.

  He was really lathering on that smoothly male charm this morning. How easy it would be to weaken toward him. She would be foolish to underestimate him. She must not confuse his so-called interest in her foundation with a true willingness to help. They could be tools to get what he wanted from her. Would he sink that low?