His Second Chance

Createspace coverHisSCwebpage                                  Imagine if life gave you a second chance to meet someone for the first time.

Dawson Mitchell lives life to the fullest, juggling the fast paced world of managing his restaurants, bar tending on weekends, and dabbling in casual, low pressure relationships.  He leads the ideal bachelor lifestyle with no regrets. Until the girl who never knew she held a piece of his heart, asks him for a refill of her wine.

Ellie Gardner doesn’t know where her love life is heading, but she knows where she wants it to take her. She is fully committed to making her lukewarm relationship work. At least it’s her intention, until the blue eyed bartender delivers her glass of wine with a smile.

As Dawson finds himself face to face with the girl he once loved from afar, he is handed the ultimate opportunity to start over. If only he can convince the tentative woman sitting in front of him to give a stranger a second chance.  BUY NOW

Chapter 1 header image

The dinner rush hour at Duke’s was in full swing, and as usual, the restaurant exceeded capacity. The crowd, packed shoulder to shoulder at the bar, clamored to be heard above the high level of conversations and raucous laughter. Diners occupied every table in the place, and a hefty line waited patiently. Friday had arrived and everyone wanted to celebrate.

As the evening shift of bartenders took their places, Dawson Mitchell strode through the double doors from the kitchen. Gone was his stiff business suit, replaced with his favorite pair of Levi’s and the requisite black T-shirt with the restaurant’s logo on the shoulder. He stepped behind the bar with the confidence of someone who owned the place. In fact he did, and life couldn’t be sweeter.

He picked up a bar towel and draped it over his shoulder, grinning at the party atmosphere. Reaching for a glass, he shoved it under the tap. He earned himself a cold beer. The sting of a hearty slap on his back jostled the full glass, sloshing the frothy amber liquid almost over the rim. Dawson glared at the man standing next to him. Nick Lowery, his best friend, and restaurant manager.

“Hey Duke!” Nick greeted. “The place is rocking tonight, as usual. I hope you’re here to help, and not to get drunk.”

Dawson sipped his drink as he stared down his friend.

“I don’t know why I put up with you,” he growled.

“We both agree you can run circles around me when it comes to keeping this place operating, but you need me behind the scenes. It lets you work your magic out here.” Nick nodded at the packed bar.

There wasn’t a better bartender, or boss, in the city than Dawson. He loved the social atmosphere. Unless the business side of his other various restaurants occupied his time, he always spent his Friday nights behind the bar at Duke’s, lending a hand.

The inspiration for his nickname growing up, Duke’s originally began as a small pub Dawson’s dad started when Dawson was only a little boy. The neighborhood “watering hole” filled so many of his dad’s hours, and left him with a lifetime of fond memories.

After Dawson earned his MBA, he returned home to the small community of Paramour, and followed in his father’s footsteps. He took over management, then ownership of Duke’s, so his Dad could finally retire.

As Paramour grew, and the population increased, Dawson wanted to draw the new wave of people. Not wanting to lose his Dad’s loyal patrons, whom he had known most of his life, Dawson attempted a compromise. He built a sleek, modern restaurant around the beloved pub. A unique design which garnered large crowds, both old and new, every night.

When it came to the end of a hectic week, there wasn’t anywhere else Dawson would rather be. Working the bar on a Friday night, sharing his father’s legacy, was like coming home after a long day. It felt good. Tonight he planned to relax and enjoy the fruits of his labor. The alcohol flowed easily and he wasted no time jumping into the fray pouring through the front door.

Ellie Gardner scanned the restaurant with mild amazement. The size of the Friday night crowd immediately impressed, yet disappointed her. There to meet her boyfriend Richard for dinner, she hoped he had anticipated the idea of a long wait and made reservations for them. Somehow, she doubted he gave it any thought. He invited her by text after all, rather than picking up the phone to call.

Despite working for the same company, in the same building with Richard, she had seen very little of him in weeks. To smooth things over, he asked her to Duke’s for a romantic evening. More than ready to make up for lost time, she had every intention of helping him forget about his job, at least for a little while.

Obviously early, as punctuality was one of Richard’s expectations, Ellie wandered toward the bar to order a glass of wine. Weaving her way through the sea of people, she found one stool unoccupied. From her lucky spot, she had a decent view of the door.

She crossed her fingers tight, hoping she wouldn’t be alone for long. She wanted Richard to stroll through the door and join her like he promised. Brushing her anxiety aside, she motioned to a bartender and settled down with a glass of white wine.

As the lonely minutes ticked by, Ellie’s bored gaze wandered from the front door, following the crowd’s interest. Her eyes came to rest on the men behind the bar rushing back and forth, encouraging the rowdy atmosphere. One of the men in particular, seemed to be all about the party.

Even from a distance, she couldn’t miss his piercing blue eyes. Something in his easy movement and sultry smile, captivated her attention, stealing it from watching for Richard until a passing elbow and a muttered, ‘I’m sorry’, returned her to cheek warming reality. Her eyes darted from the bar, back to the crowd, resuming the search for her missing boyfriend.

Somewhere between her third glass of wine, and the overwhelming noise surrounding her, she almost missed the ring of her phone. Swallowing the bitter disappointment now tainting the sweet alcohol she had been enjoying, she didn’t bother to glance at the name on the screen. She didn’t need to. After the slightest hesitation, she answered.

“Hello Richard.”

His instant response aimed straight for the point.

“Ellie, I’m sorry. As I planned to leave the office, a list of changes came across my desk for a campaign I thought had been wrapped up. It needed my immediate attention. I tried to get it completed. I looked forward to tonight,” he cleared his throat, “but I’m still here. It’s taking longer than I expected.”

Ellie sighed into the phone pressed tightly against her ear.

“Fine, I’ll finish my wine and head home.”

“I’ll make it up to you. I promise,” he said.

“Yes, you will. Don’t forget about tomorrow night,” she reminded him.

“Oh, sure, sure,” Richard mumbled.

Ellie accepted his distracted cue, and ended the conversation. She refused to let the wine do the talking for her, and say something she couldn’t take back.

“Good night Richard.”

She downed the last of her drink in one swallow. A part of her had expected this to happen tonight, but it didn’t lessen the insult. She motioned to the bartender for a refill. She may have told Richard she was going home, but right now she had every intention of staying.

His Second Chance is available on Amazon in both Kindle and print format.