A Lucky Chance (2 page)

“Uhh…”

“Let me guess, it’s been a while, huh?” he asked as he secured her car for towing.

Sure has
. The way Chance looked at her seemed to indicate that he was referring to something more intimate with his question. Amara was willing to admit she was long overdue for maintenance in more ways than one. “I had an oil change a few months ago.” 

“Hmm…maybe something went wrong there. You gotta be so careful of who you take your car to. A lot of shops take advantage when they see a woman coming, even a beautiful one like you.”

Chance was having an uneventful day at his auto repair garage. Business was running smoothly, and there didn’t seem to be any reason to linger. Since it was St. Patrick’s Day, he’d already considered leaving early to stop by Bryer’s bar, Votives, for a drink.

It’d been a while since he’d taken time to just kick back. When he’d received the call from Bryer, he never thought that agreeing to help a friend of a friend would lead to a woman like this. Amara was smoking hot.

One of the first things Chance noticed about her was her eyes. They were a sultry ebony shade that lured him in, enticing him to know more about her. Her black hair hung in layers that framed elegant features. Though she was dressed professionally, her clothes didn’t mask the curves that lay beneath them.

“Hop in.” He held the passenger side door open for Amara. As she was on her way into the truck, Chance was treated to an excellent view of her ass. The firm, round shape of it was showcased by her skirt. Although he could’ve admired her figure all day, he couldn’t help but notice her concerned expression. “Don’t worry. I’ll have my best guys work on it for you.”

“That’s reassuring, but I’m supposed to meet with a client in an hour.”

“If repairing the leak does the trick, we’ll have you up and running in no time. Otherwise, I don’t want to risk giving you a time frame that might not be feasible. Why not sit back and relax? It’s St. Patty’s Day, after all.”

“True, but I still have work to do.”

“I understand, but you know what they say about all work and no play…” He flashed a smile. “So I’ve got a great idea─while my guys are working on your car, we should go to Votives for a drink. We can walk there. It’d be nice to get some fresh air.” Chance could sense her hesitation. “Come on. Be rebellious. Seems to me you’ve got the whole workaholic thing down. Why not blow off all that responsibility just this once?”

Amara looked at Chance for a few moments, considering his words. Maybe there was some truth to what he said. Running the boutique and event-planning business left little room for a day off. Even when she was technically “off” from work, she was still putting together ideas for a new garment design or a client’s party. She pulled out her cell phone and made a call. “Hi, Michelle, it’s me. I’m not going to be able to make my appointment with Valerie Jameson. Would you please call our contact for her to reschedule? Great, thanks.”

“So are you game to hang for a bit?” Chance asked in a hopeful tone.

Amara tilted her head as if even she couldn’t believe that she was agreeing. “To be honest with you, I could use a break.”

He gave her a sexy smile as they pulled into the parking lot of his auto repair shop. As soon as they came through the door, Chance approached one of the mechanics and had a quick discussion about her car. By the time they’d left for their walk, his man had already started working on it.

“I couldn’t help but overhear, but was that
the
Valerie Jameson you were talking about back there─the heiress to the casino fortune?”

“Yes, she’s a friend. We go way back. She and I went to the same elementary school. This was way before her family came into money. She’s getting married later this year and asked me to design her dress and plan the wedding.”

“That’s cool. What’s she like?”

“Well, I shouldn’t say much since she’s such a private person. What I can tell you is she’s a stickler for details. She’s very particular about how she wants things done, and she knows I am too.”

They spent the rest of their walk in a comfortable silence. Here and there, she stole a few glances. Chance seemed to be checking her out as well. Before long, they reached Votives’ double doors.

Bryer greeted them from the bar as soon as they entered. “Murphy, my man! Amara, sorry to hear about your car, but you’re in good hands. What can I get for you guys?”

As they waited for their drink orders, Amara observed the St. Patrick’s Day theme going on. The retro lounge was decked out in festive twirled streamers in green, white, and silver. Shamrock-shaped decorations were suspended from the ceiling. She saw Sabrina talking to patrons across the room and waved.

Once their drinks arrived, Chance turned to her with his glass. “What shall we cheer to, Miss─wait, is it ‘Miss’?”

“Yes.” Amara laughed. “I’m single.”

“Whew! That’s a relief.” He chuckled. “I’d hate to think I’m out carousing with another man’s wife.”

“So what about you, Chance?”

“What about me…let’s see…I had a girlfriend not too long ago. She knew how many hours I put in at the shop and took advantage of it. I came home one night and found her in bed with someone else. I’ve been on my own since then.” He shrugged. “Win some, lose some. I say we toast to a turn of luck,” he ended on a lighter tone. Chance tapped his glass to hers. “So what’s your story, Amara? It’s hard to believe a woman like you could be single.”

“I was married for a short time after high school. He was the one my parents couldn’t stand. You know, kept me out past my curfew and took me to wild parties. When we eloped, my parents had a fit. I think something in me just wanted to prove them wrong, but after all those teenage hormones wore off there wasn’t much to hold onto.” She paused for a moment, noticing how Chance seemed to be hanging on to her every word. “And so after we got divorced I decided to focus more on me and less on romance.”

“Do you think love could happen again?” His eyes seemed to study her intently.

“I wouldn’t rule it out, but it’s not high on my list of priorities. How did we get on this subject anyway?” Amara ended her question with a laugh. Here she was providing him full access to her ex-files, which was a rarity.

“There’s something about sitting at a bar next to a beautiful woman.” Chance leaned close to her, making her feel like she was the only person in the room. “It makes you want to let your guard down in the hopes she’ll do the same. Lucky for me, I’ve succeeded.”

Their gazes collided. Amara felt something awaken inside of her. Desires that had lain dormant for a long time suddenly came to life.

Chance’s cell rang, breaking the spell. “Chris, what’s up? Shit. Really? Okay. Yeah, all right. I’ll let her know.” He glanced over at her as he spoke. “Looks like it’s going to be a while. My guys test drove your car, and it’s still overheating. How about a game of pool while we wait?”

“Okay, but I’ll warn you I’m not very good.”

“That’s okay. I can give you some pointers. I’ll break.”

Amara watched Chance’s expert shots. One by one, he knocked several striped balls into the pockets. When it came time for her turn, the cue ball ricocheted back and forth across the table without connecting with the solid ball she aimed to hit.

“See that. Your aim is off. It’s because you’re not holding the stick to your advantage. Let me show you a way that’ll give you more control.”

From where Amara leaned over the table, she felt Chance come up behind her. He put his hand over hers, guiding her fingers at the tip of the pool stick. It may have been an innocent gesture, but her mind was in the gutter thinking of another “stick” she could be holding.

Amara felt his breath by her ear. As he coached her, the front of his body aligned with the back of hers. She could feel the warmth of his skin, skin that held the scent of a woodsy cologne that made her weak in the knees.

After adjusting her grip on the pool stick, Chance realized how much he liked the feel of Amara’s body against his. Their game of pool was quickly turning into foreplay. Every time Amara bent to make her shot, he felt his jeans get tighter. They played for a while, but soon it seemed as if he’d make a public spectacle if he didn’t get to touch her. He paid their tab.