Second Look (A New Beginning Book 3) by Connie Stephany Page B

problem? You aren’t even listening to us.”
    Looking back at the guys, rubbing his shoulder, he shrugged. “Sorry, I think I know someone at the bar.”
    “Who?”
    Adam shook his head in answer and looked back up to the bar.
    Could it possibly be her?
    Afterdebating internally for several more minutes and seriously pissing off his friends, Adam couldn’t stop himself. He made his way to the bar just as the bartender handed the woman a to-go box of food.
    As he got closer, his stomach dropped.
    Holy shit.
    “Jennifer.”
    Her head jerked towards him and she met his eyes. Jennifer’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped slightly open.
    “Is this seat taken?”
    Adam didn’t wait for her to answer, sitting in the bar stool next to hers.
    Her voice was so soft he could barely hear her reply. “I…no.”
    I can’t believe she’s in front of me. After four years.
    He took a breath to get his emotions under control. He turned towards the bartender and motioned for another beer before looking back her way and he tried to hide his smile.
    Jennifer’s eyes were travelling back up his body and he raised his eyebrow at her by the time she met his eyes. He could see a faint blush rising in her cheeks at being caught checking him out.
    “So, what are you doing here? Visiting?”
    “I, uh…moved back a few weeks ago?”
    Say what? “Was that a question?”
    She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
    “You seriously moved back? For good?”
    Jennifer shrugged, looking away and then back again to stare directly into his eyes.
    Adam smiled wide. “You are one tough person to find. I’ve been trying for several months now. My sister wouldn’t give me any information about you.”
    “For several months?”
    “Yeah.”
    Adam stared right into her eyes searching for a clue as to how she was feeling but her face didn’t give anything away.
    “Why? What did you need?”
    What did I need again? Oh yeah. Closure. Right?
    Adam looked around the crowded bar. It wasn’t the best place to have their conversation.
    “Do you have a minute? Could we talk?”
    Jennifer looked at her watch and he could see her take a deep breath.
    Please say yes.
    “Sure. I guess I have a little bit of time.”
    Adam let out the breath he was holding. “Follow me.”
    He led her to the other side of the restaurant, which was completely empty. There was one light on in the back of the room, so he headed back to that very last table, hoping they’d be able to sit back there for at least a little while.
    They sat down opposite each other and he took several seconds to just stare for a few seconds. God, she was beautiful. She looked older, but her honey-colored eyes were exactly how he remembered. Her hair was a little longer and was so shiny he wanted to reach out and touch it. He could smell the faint scent of cherry almond and he wasn’t sure if it was from her hair or her skin, but it was distracting.
    “So…” Jennifer folded her hands together and met his gaze. “Now that you have me alone, what did you want to talk about?”
    “I…well…”
    Deep breath. Start over.
    “Did you hear my dad passed away?”
    Jennifer’s face softened and she nodded. “Yes, and I’m so sorry.”
    That’s what Mandi and his mom were hiding. Those jerks!
    “My dad told me he saw you. In the hospital? I thought he was just delirious.”
    Jennifer’s eyes filled with tears. “No, he wasn’t. I saw him shortly before he passed away.”
    “You were at his funeral, too.”
    Jennifer nodded.
    “I just told myself it was grief that made me see crazy things.”
    “I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you. I just, well, I didn’t want to cause you any more stress that day.”
    “Well, as sad as I was to lose my dad, his death has forced me to look at things differently. Life is too short to have so many regrets and I don’t like where we left things.”
    Jennifer remained silent.
    “When I found out I wasn’t Amber’s father I didn’t know what to do or how