Never Say Never, Part Two (Second Chance Romance, Book 2) by Melissa Shaw Page A

cheeks warmed again – no way had she imagined that.  
    “She’s an extrovert, and I’m more reserved. Camille‘s a journalist and she doesn’t take guff from anyone, anytime. Whereas I…”
    “Whereas you,” finished up Jonathan, reaching out to stroke her wrist “do your best to get along with those around you. An admirable trait.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Sometimes, yes. Sometimes not so much.”  
    “Yes, I can understand how that works. It’s okay to be a people-pleaser, but you don’t want to be a jellyfish, either. You need to stand up for yourself. As for me, I’ve had a couple of roommates—female…but it hasn’t worked out.”
    A stab of jealousy assaulted her. Idiot. Of course he’d been with other women over the years. Just as she’d been with other men.
    “Camille is my whole support system,” Chloe said staunchly. “She’s there whenever I need backup. She’s my best buddy.”
    “So she knows you?”
    No one knows me! She murmured into the silence, over the clinking of Jonathan’s fork against his saucer of pie, “When you come right down to it, how much do you know about anyone, really?”
    Conversation lagged after that.
    Chloe was out of practice with prolonged contact with the male gender. No dates, no hanging out, no social interaction meant a very narrow existence. Up until now, she’d preferred it that way.
    Curled up like a snail inside its shell was safer. Much safer.
    Jonathan asked for the check and then rose, escorting Chloe with a hand on her waist.
    “Do you have a car?” he asked, once they emerged into the fresh spring air.  
    The air held a slight chill. A clock chimed ten in the distance, peering between the skyscrapers. Headlights glared and cab horns blared as vehicles bumbled their way from intersection to intersection.
    “Yes. I drive depending on what I have planned. Today I took the subway.”
    “Oh, no, no, no,” he objected, sternly. “I’m not letting you ride the subway alone at this hour. I’ll be happy to take you home.”
    How could she refuse? Especially when his silver Porsche was parked a few blocks away. It twinkled and dared her not to fall in love with it – much like it’s owner.
    The ride, once Chloe was securely buckled into her seat and the engine purred warmly, was even better.
    Jonathan followed her directions north and east toward the interstate, driving carelessly. He whooshed in and around traffic with abandon, skirting delivery trucks with inches to spare, squeaking through yellow caution lights. Chloe hung on for dear life and muttered a prayer. Did the man have a death wish? Was he taking her with him to the afterlife?
    She didn’t utter a word of complaint, only sighing an almost silent relief when they pulled into her drive.
    He grinned at her. “Scared?”
    “A little,” she admitted with a nervous laugh. Danger wasn’t her middle name and never would be again.  
    “Sorry. I’ve just gotten used to tootling around Manhattan without much regard for anyone else on the road. A car like this is proof of power. Ready to go in?”
    A broad half-flight of stairs led up to a converted brownstone. Jonathan glanced around with appreciation, waiting while she unlocked the hand-carved and finished front door. “Nice neighborhood, and very nicely rehabbed. Expensive area, though.”
    “Having a roommate helps pay the bills,” she responded. He wasn’t being nosy on purpose; maybe she was just a little sensitive. She led him into the bright-lit foyer, the wooden floors polished to perfection. Chloe paused and indicated to another door to the left. “This is mine.”
    “And this,” said Jonathan, on an indrawn breath, “is mine.” He pulled her into a close embrace, bent his head, and took possession of her.  
    Ambushed!
    She didn’t have time to protest. For one dizzying, weakened moment, she merely submitted. Then the warmth and passion of his kiss undermined her reservation. She kissed him back, pressing