Just Another Chance Read online

  Just Another Chance

  Katy Kaylee

  Contents

  Description

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Epilogue

  Excerpt (Best Friend’s Li’l Sis)

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  Also by Katy Kaylee

  Description

  Rafe Buchanan – 6’3’’. Hard muscle. Marine MP. My brother’s best friend. And the guy who took my innocence five years ago!

  Also the guy who gave me the most precious gift ever – my daughter (well, our daughter I should be saying).

  Did I tell you he kinda left me, asking me to move on?

  So, that’s what I did.

  I moved on to study further, to raise my child and to work with the Marines.

  Everything is going great until…

  Rafe shows up at my clinic.

  He’s seeking a cure for PTSD, and I’m his counselor.

  It’s totally f*ck*d up, right?

  Once again, our attraction is instant, the chemistry undeniable and don’t even get me started how good he is in bed.

  I want him so bad, but can’t let him know about our daughter.

  There’s no way our relationship could work.

  They say war is hell, but isn’t love a torture!

  Prologue

  Summer

  I sat on the porch of our tired-looking, but love-filled home, as all our friends and family mingled in our front yard, enjoying barbecue, beer, and the huge sheet cake Mrs. Mason made with the words ‘Congratulations Summer’ and little plastic graduation caps on it. I was feeling extremely content. I’d achieved a big milestone; college graduate. I was the first in my family to achieve that distinction.

  “Look at you my pretty baby girl.” My father looked gruff with his buzz cut and ruddy facial features, but he was a big softy inside. “All grown up and now a college graduate. You must have been switched at the hospital because neither your mother nor I are smart enough to have bred the likes of you.”

  I smiled. “Don’t sell yourself short.”

  My father said he barely had an eighth-grade education, but I know he graduated from high school because I had the same guidance counselor as he did. Granted the counselor didn’t think much of my daddy or my brother, Gavin, but still, they both had a high school diploma.

  My father went to vocational school to learn about heating and air, and now, years later, he owned his own HVAC business. He wasn’t rich, but me and Gavin always had what we needed. I don’t know much about my momma. She ran off with some rich city guy when I was five and Gavin was nine. We talked to her a few times right after that, but within a year, she stopped calling, and we hadn’t heard from her since.

  “I’m just so proud of you, Summer, it makes my heart want to burst from my chest.”

  “Aw, dad.” I stood and gave him a hug.

  “There’s my brilliant sister.” Gavin’s voice cut through the din of noise of the guests. He walked with a limp, the result of losing his lower left leg while serving in Iraq. But the swaying was the result of drinking.

  I looked up at my father, who’s brows furrowed in a mixture of anger and pity. Since coming home from Iraq last year, Gavin had struggled to acclimate back to civilian life. He was bitter and angry a lot, and I suspected he suffered from PTSD, all of which he seemed to cope with by drinking.

  “Hey, Summer, congratulations.” Lainey Spalding, Gavin’s high school sweetheart, walked next to him. As he maneuvered the steps, he started to lose his balance. Lainey reached out to help him.

  “I can do it!” He jerked away, causing himself to nearly topple over the other way.

  “I can’t watch this,” my father murmured as he turned and headed into the house.

  “Thank you guys so much for coming,” I said to Gavin and Lainey.

  “Are you kidding? We wouldn’t miss it.” Lainey handed me a wrapped present.

  “Yeah, free beer.” Gavin grabbed a can of the brew from the cooler.

  I wanted to call my brother out, but we were at a party. He’d suffered so much in serving his country, it didn’t seem right to add insult to injury by embarrassing him in front of our friends and family.

  “Hey, Gavin!” John Lister strode to the bottom of the steps. “Hey, Summer, congrats,” he said to me before turning his attention back to Gavin. “Did you hear Rafe’s back in town?”

  “I heard his Memaw died,” Lainey said referring to Rafe Buchanan’s grandmother.

  The mention of Rafe’s name sent all sorts of feelings through me. He’d been my brother’s best friend and teammate in every sport offered at the high school and rec center, and sometimes partners in crime when they were up to mischief. They’d both enlisted in the Marines right after high school, but ended up in different places at the end of boot camp.

  For me, Rafe was the embodiment of perfection. From the moment I started puberty, he’d gone from ‘annoying friend of my irritating brother’ to the prince charming of every fairy tale dream I ever had. He was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. He was charming, mischievous, and while I didn’t know for sure, I suspected he was a great kisser because he had wonderfully full lips. Not that he ever noticed me.

  Rafe was raised by his grandmother because his parents couldn’t ever get off drugs and alcohol. I looked at my brother and wondered if he was heading down that same path. His drinking seemed worse every time I saw him.

  “Hard to believe God could get that woman up into heaven,” my father said returning to the porch. “Emmaline was probably dragged up there kicking and screaming.”

  I laughed. Rafe’s grandmother was known to be a handful, especially when it came to Rafe. Since she was his last living relative that he had anything to do with, I had no doubt she didn’t want to leave him behind all alone in the world.

  “Someone should invite him over,” Gavin said. “I can show him mine and he can show me his.” Gavin lifted his pant leg revealing his prosthetic leg. “Of course, knowing him, he’s unscathed.” There was bitterness in his voice that broke my heart.

  “His Memaw just died,” I said. “He’s not going to be in a party mood.”

  “Just as well. More beer for me.”

  I shook my head, wishing there was something I could do to help my brother. The military had made him hard, and war had made him angry and bitter.

  The party was in full swing, with everyone talking, a few people were dancing to the music, and a couple was necking out by the old oak tree. They were all occupied, which meant I could sneak off to visit Rafe.

  The idea that he was alone in his grandmother’s house made me sad. In the old days, Gavin would have gone, but he was nearly passed out with poor Lainey watching over him.

  Without telling anyone, I headed to the side of the house, which sat on a large corner lot, and then turned up the block toward Rafe’s grandmother's house.

  Hope, Virginia was a small, rural, country town sitting on the James River. It felt like the middle of nowhere, but in fact, was only about thirty miles from the c
apital, Richmond. In recent years, city folks had discovered the area, and some were moving down for the slower life and cheaper cost of living, while others had weekend homes here. It was both good and bad for residents. Good because these people brought money and improvements. The bad part was that it was driving up the cost of housing making it harder for us regular folks to live here.

  Rafe’s grandmother owned a bungalow on the river, which, when built in the 1940s, was probably considered spacious. Most of the homes around Emmaline’s house had been bought by rich folks, who tore them down and replaced them with giant three-thousand square foot homes. Fortunately, she had an acre of land, so they didn’t tower over her little piece of heaven.

  As I made my way toward the river, I wondered what Rafe was going to do with the house. While he’d been gone for nearly the entire six years he’d been enlisted, it always felt like he lived here. But now with his grandma gone, there was nothing to keep him in Hope. The idea that I might never see him again was depressing.

  As I approached the house, I saw the front door was open behind the screened door. It was May in Virginia, so it wasn’t too hot and humid yet, making it a good time of year to let fresh air in the home.

  I walked up the steps to the front porch and peered through the screen door. My heart skipped a beat as Rafe’s tall body stood with its back to me. He wore faded jeans that accentuated his fantastic back side, and a white t-shirt pulled tight across broad shoulders. He appeared to have one forearm resting on the mantel over the fireplace as if was studying the pictures there.

  For a moment, I second-guessed my visit. Perhaps he wanted to be alone. However, Southerners weren’t known for being neighborly for no reason. I just wished I thought to bring him something, like a casserole.

  “Knock, knock,” I said.

  He whipped around, almost as if startled. He stepped back, hitting the mantle and knocking over a picture frame.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Rafe.”

  “Summer.”

  In high school, Rafe had a pretty boy handsomeness to him. The man before me was still as handsome, but it was rugged, almost dangerous looking. His hair was shorter than I’d ever seen. It was buzzed along the sides, with just a little bit more length on the top. His eyes were still dark and his lips still perfectly full. But his face seemed thinner and harder like it had been chiseled from granite.

  “Hi. I hope I’m not interrupting. I just wanted to come by and tell you how sorry I was to hear about Emmaline.”

  His body appeared to be coiled up like it was ready for a fight. But with a breath, he relaxed and even managed a small smile. “That pack a day finally caught up to her.”

  I wanted to hug him. In fact, I felt compelled to pull him into an embrace. Not just because I’d been lusting after him for eight years, but because it looked like he needed one. Rafe was a big, strong marine, but even alpha males needed support.

  I walked toward him, holding my hands up so he’d know my intentions. His eyes showed surprise, but he didn’t step away or ward me off. It was hard to hug him because he was huge, nearly 6’3” to my 5’4”. Even if our height wasn’t a problem, his width would be. He was massive through the shoulders and chest.

  But I managed to get my arms around him, and rested my head against his chest. He seemed a little stiff at first but then relaxed, holding me and even dipping his head next to mine.

  “Thank you.” He said when I reluctantly pulled away. Then he cocked his head. “Aren’t you having a party or something today?”

  I nodded. “It’s my graduation party. I earned my bachelor’s degree.”

  He smiled, and it was magnificent. “Congratulations, Summer. That’s awesome. Is Gavin there?”

  “Yes.”

  He must have noticed a change in my expression because he faltered. “I heard he lost his leg. How’s he doing?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it will take time.”

  He nodded as if he knew. Of course, he would. He was with people in Gavin’s situation all the time. I studied him to see if he had any signs of injury.

  “How are you? I mean besides losing your grandma? Have you been injured?”

  His featured darkened. “I haven’t lost a limb.” The hardness in his tone told me this wasn’t a topic we needed to cover.

  I smiled, wanting to change the subject. “Have you been down to the river?”

  The tension in him relaxed slightly. “Not yet. I just got back this morning.”

  It felt presumptuous to invite him to his own riverside, so I stood there feeling like a goof.

  “I could use a break.” He said. “I don’t have anything to bring down there, food or drink wise though.”

  “That’s okay. It will be nice just to sit.”

  The area around the house and river was heavily wooded, making it feel private. Rafe grabbed a blanket from the back porch and we sat on it as we looked out over the river. The ripples of water and occasional fish jumping was hypnotic.

  “What are you going to do with the house?” I asked, taking a stick and drawing in the sand.

  “I guess I’ll sell it. I don’t see myself having the need for a house. Uncle Sam provides me with everything I need.”

  “You don’t think you’ll come back to Hope?” My heart clenched at the idea he wouldn’t ever come home.

  “There’s nothing here for me, now.”

  Those words stung, but it was stupid. I wasn’t important to him. I was his best friend’s annoying little sister.

  “You could rent it out. Lainey, you remember, Gavin’s girlfriend? She works for a company that manages rentals.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “They say that rental property is a good investment.”

  He shrugged. “So, what’s your next move, Summer?”

  “Graduate school. I’m going to get my masters in social work, and hopefully get a job working with children.” Although, seeing my brother’s difficulties, I was beginning to rethink my plans, and was considering working with vets instead.

  He grinned at me. “You’d be perfect for that.”

  His reaction surprised me, and at the same time, made me feel like I’d won a prize. “You think so?”

  “You have a great spirit. Your name fits you because you’re warm and bright.”

  I felt warm and bright. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

  His smile faltered a little and turned to look out over the water, making me regret the comment.

  He picked up a rock and threw it in the water. “How about you? Are Gavin and your dad having to beat the guys off with a stick?”

  I embarrassed myself by snorting. “Hardly.”

  He looked at me and frowned. “Why hardly?”

  “First, I’ve been busy. I’m lucky that I can live at home and go to school saving me money, but college is expensive so I have to work and go to school. There’s no time for guys. Plus, have you looked at me?”

  “I’m looking at you now.”

  There was something in his tone and the flash of heat in his eyes that made all my girly parts come alive. I cleared my throat because all of a sudden my mouth was dry. “I’m not what boys want.”

  “Well, maybe you should try men instead. What are you now, Summer? Twenty-one?”

  I nodded.

  “Men like smart, kind women.”

  “Not overweight ones.” My weight had been a source of pain for me in high school, but over time, I learned not to care that much. It’s not like I’ve never dated, but you can’t grow up in America and not know that boys like small bodies and big boobs. The boobs I had, and I even had an hourglass shape, it was just rounder than most.

  “Men like curves.”

  I scoffed. I wanted to tell him he was being mean, but maybe that was his goal. Maybe he was teasing me like my brother would have done if he were sober enough. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.

  “I like curves,” he added.

  My head whipped ar
ound to look at him, and that was when I realized how close we were sitting. My nose was inches from his. His dark eyes were intense as they gazed into mine. They drifted down, taking in my face and roaming lower. His gaze stopped at my breasts, the cleavage of which peaked through the tulip pink sundress I wore.

  An ache grew in my breasts and lower between my legs. It was all I could do to keep from throwing myself at him, but deep inside, I knew this wasn’t real. For a moment, I wondered if I was in bed asleep because this is just the type of dream I’d have had of Rafe.

  His gaze lifted back to my eyes and held. Sparks sizzled and the air grew thick with anticipation, of what, I wasn’t sure. But I hoped to God he was going to kiss me.

  “Gavin would kill me if he knew what was going through my head right now.”

  I swallowed. “Why? What are you thinking?”

  He moved closer. “Naughty, dirty thoughts that involve you, Summer.”

  Boy, was it hot. “Gavin isn’t here.” And the chances of him showing up were slim since he was probably passed out by now.

  Something flashed in his eyes. “Do you like naughty and dirty, Summer?”

  I wasn’t sure, but I liked what I was feeling so far. “I think I’d like them from you.”

  He jerked back slightly. “Summer…have you ever…are you a virgin?”

  I wanted to lie, but it wasn’t in my nature. Then I remembered that Lainey once told me men liked the idea of sleeping with virgins. She rolled her eyes as if it was stupid, but I wondered if it was true.

  “Only until you do naughty things to me.”

  “Fuck.”

  I thought he meant the word to express disappointment, like ‘fuck, I would have slept with you except you’re a virgin’. But instead, his lips captured mine in a hard, desperate kiss. Maybe Lainey was right.