Second Chance Lovers

Second Chance Lovers Mila Appleford Vibenize Press Copyright Copyright@ 2022 by Vibenize All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or dead), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. All brand names and/or products used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders, and the author and the publisher are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned or implied in this book. Published December 2022 Contents Preface 1. Chapter One 2. Chapter Two 3. Chapter Three 4. Chapter Four 5. Chapter Five 6. Chapter Six 7. Chapter Seven 8. Chapter Eight 9. Chapter Nine 10. Chapter Ten 11. Chapter Eleven 12. Chapter Twelve 13. Chapter Thirteen 14. Chapter Fourteen 15. Chapter Fifteen 16. Chapter Sixteen 17. Chapter Seventeen 18. Chapter Eighteen 19. Chapter Nineteen 20. Chapter Twenty 21. Chapter Twenty-One 22. Chapter Twenty-Two 23. Chapter Twenty-Three 24. Chapter Twenty-Four Epilogue About Author Also By Mila Appleford Preface Lovely reader, I hope you enjoy this second chance love story as much as I enjoyed creating it for you. My goal is to make you go "Awwwww" and “woooooow” because Elena and Josh were meant for each other, truly and completely. But that didn’t come so easily. It reminds my personal love story LOL. Get a FREE ebook by joining our elite mailing list today! Plus, receive recommendations and exclusive offers on all of our favorite books and authors. Click here to get your free book now. Chapter One “The only Portuguese he knew was one phrase: menina linda.” Elena glanced around the restaurant table at the rapt expressions on her friends’ faces. “It means beautiful girl.” A mischievous smile curved her lips. “And he said it quite a lot that night.” The women at the table, all local members of the Boston Young Moms club, hung on Elena’s every word. “Oh my God,” one of them squealed with excitement. “Was he gorgeous? I bet he was!” “Super gorgeous.” Just the memory of the man was enough to give Elena butterflies in her stomach, even ten years later. “He was tall, dark hair. Very blue eyes. A little bit like an American football player, you know?” “Yes, girl!” The whole group whooped and clapped, ignoring the amused glances of the other patrons at nearby tables. “Tell us about it!” “Well, I can’t say we had much of a conversation.” Elena chuckled. She lowered her voice. “Our bodies did most of the talking. It was like—” She entwined her fingers together. “A communion of skin and delicious new sensations that I had never felt before.” Her rapt audience gasped. “Was he your first?” “He was.” Elena grinned widely. “And maybe he was also my best. That was one of the greatest days—and nights—of my life so far. So, of course, I wanted a way to remember it forever.” She gazed at her friends, who waited for her to continue with bated breath. “We got matching tattoos, he and I.” “Elena! You didn’t!” Samantha stared across the table, eyebrows arched high, left hand poised over her mouth. Amid a chorus of barely stifled giggles from the other moms, Elena smiled and replied, “Of course I did! You don’t think I’m telling the truth?” “All I know is, it must have been his idea, right?” “Yes.” Elena nodded. “But I went along with it happily.” She looked away for a moment, lost in recollection. “The shop was this tiny little place near the beach where you could look out the open door and see the sun sinking down into the water.” Elena shook her head. “Now it feels like a lifetime ago, and yet… it really happened.” “I’m not believing a word of it until I have proof.” Sam tapped the table impatiently. “Come on, girl. Let’s see it.” “Yes!” The circle of mothers tightened as they all leaned in eagerly. Elena gazed around at each excited, expectant face. “Oh, all right.” Elena laid her arm down on the table, wrist facing upward. The moment they saw the tattoo inked into her skin just like she said, the ladies burst into gleeful laughter. “See? I told you I wasn’t kidding.” She traced the curving dark line with her finger. “Is that an S?” They were all intensely focused on her arm as if the ink contained a secret. “What does it stand for?” “Oh, I don’t remember,” Elena laughed. “We were young and stupid. It was probably an inside joke.” She hoped no one at the table could tell that she was lying. In truth, she had never forgotten what it meant. Serendipity. Sam threw up her hands, grinning. “This is what I like about you, El. You’re so sweet and pretty, and a supermom for sure… but deep down, you’ve got some mysteries. Hidden depths, some might say.” Elena laughed, but the moment that statement hit her ears, her surroundings faded for just a moment. Maybe I shouldn’t have told that story. I shouldn’t have let my guard down. Because— Because now they know I have things to hide. Even as she thought it, Elena knew she was probably being a little too paranoid. Her stream of consciousness was interrupted by their waiter standing beside her, a full tray of glasses balanced on his palm. “I’ve got a surprise for you ladies,” he announced, winking. “This round comes compliments of the gentlemen at table eleven.” A flurry of gasps and exclamations went up. “Ooh!” One of the ladies waggled her eyebrows and chortled. “You know, they’re not half bad. Wait until they find out we’re all married with kids!” “Well…” interjected another, “not all