The Second Time Around (Kimani Romance) - Softcover

Jabarie Beaumont had a feeling that something was about to happen.

He had felt it last night and again earlier this morning. Even now while on his way to work, the strong sensation still hadn't gone away. As he turned his silver Lincoln Navigator onto Main Street, he scowled. Whatever it was, he hoped it hurried up and happened.

While obeying the twenty–mile–an–hour speed limit, his eyes traveled up and down the wide cobblestone street that was lined with single story buildings and mom and pop stores. Summer was a busy time for the merchants of Sheraton Beach. Inside, store clerks were waiting anxiously for tourists to arrive. The Main Street Café was already crowded with people dying to taste Carla's infamous pecan waffles.

At the end of the block, Jabarie eased to a complete stop and waited for the light to change. Tapping his fingers lightly against the steering wheel, he gazed over at the Cornerstone Bookstore. The quaint little store had been a prominent fixture on the busy corner for over two decades. Dozens of books of all genres were proudly displayed on one side of the window and at the other end...was a woman. Pursing his lips thoughtfully, Jabarie wondered who she was. He knew she wasn't the owner. Ever since she had twisted her ankle three days ago, Ms. Nellie had been at home with strict instructions to stay off her feet. The store had been closed ever since.

Jabarie lowered his sunglasses and rolled down the window so he could get a closer look. The woman turned slightly and removed a book from the display shelf. Her honey brown hair tumbled across her shoulders, glistening in the sunlight. White shorts that were barely legal clung to her hips and showed off shapely long legs.

Every muscle in his body froze. He knew her. Even from the distance he could see her pouty raised lips and those large hazel eyes, or was it because he had them embedded to memory? After the way his pride had been badly stomped, he wasn't likely to ever forget.

The driver behind him blew his horn. Startled, Jabarie put his foot on the gas and moved through the light then eased to a complete stop directly across from the bookstore. As he tried to reclaim his breathing, he continued to watch the woman rearrange the front display.

She was barely five–four yet packed a lot of curves onto that small frame. Curves he remembered holding in his arms all too well. Open at the top, her clinging pink blouse revealed smooth caramel skin and cleavage that sent his libido into overdrive. Damn, it had been a long time since any woman had gotten to him like this. Why'd it have to be Brenna Gathers? Jabarie let out a deep sigh. It took a lot of guts for her to come back to Sheraton Beach after what she had done.

"Don't even go there," he told himself firmly, but it was too late, his mind had already delivered detailed memories he'd rather forget. Details of the night she'd walked out on him.

Shaking his head, he still couldn't believe she was back. After she skipped town the night before their wedding, he never thought he'd see her again. The recollection brought along with it a flash of anger he quickly pushed aside. It no longer mattered, he told himself. That was five long years ago.

"So what are you going to do?" he heard himself say. If he had any sense, he would have put his Navigator into Drive and sped towards work. But he'd never been able to think straight when Brenna was involved. After a long thoughtful moment, Jabarie decided he couldn't sit outside forever. He climbed out of the SUV and moved across the cobblestone street. But instead of going straight to the door, he stopped on the sidewalk, directly in front of the window.

After all these years, what did he possibly have to say to her? Brenna walked out on him, not the other way around. His hand stilled over his heart, the one she'd torn to shreds years ago. he'd gone on to build a life without her and regretted the feelings that just looking at her could still bring forth. Gazing through the window, he scowled. It wasn't fair that she still looked amazing. Her curvy body was exactly the same as he remembered. It just wasn't fair. Their reunion would be so much easier if she had gained weight. Instead, she looked better than ever.

Brenna Gathers was still nothing short of gorgeous. She was the kind of woman that with a single smile could get a man to do anything she wanted. He always wondered if she knew she had that type of effect on people. Obviously, she had. Otherwise she would have never had the guts to ask his mother for one–hundred–thousand dollars.

He sighed deeply, and as if she'd heard, Brenna shifted in the window and her gaze came up to meet his. He knew the moment she recognized him. Her jaw dropped and her body went slack and a half a dozen books fell from her cradled arms. Her cheeks were flushed and she blinked rapidly. His surprise at seeing her again was nothing compared to her reaction.

Good.

Turning on his heels, Jabarie headed toward the door.

Brenna had known it was only a matter of time. There was no way she could have returned to a small town like Sheraton Beach and not run into Jabarie Beaumont, although she had prayed for a miracle.

In the meantime, she had tried to prepare for this exact moment. She had even memorized what she would say. The tilt of her head even practiced a mechanical smile. But now that the moment had finally arrived, she scrambled her brain, and for the life of her she couldn't remember any of it. Instead she closed her eyes and in her throat. They were so inshe had been hit over the head. She to speak. "Jabarie," she said breath–"You did?" Brenna found it equally strange that her aunt had forgotten to mention that Jabarie had brought her home. Then again, the way she cut her aunt off at any mention of her former fiancé, she couldn't blame her.

"I even called and checked on her this morning and Ms. Nellie never mentioned you were back."

"Someone has to run the store," Brenna replied as she continued to look across at the man she had loved since the fourth grade and gave him her full attention. Good Lord. He was still fine as ever. His large dark eyes were still mesmerizing, his dimples irresistible, and his mouth still just as delectable looking as ever. It had been five years yet right now it felt like she had just left. The pain had resurrected and panged her heart. She had hoped with time and distance she would have gotten over him. But sadly she hadn't. She had never forgotten a single detail. Realizing her thoughts were heading down the wrong road, she busied herself straightening a stack of bookmarks. Next thing she knew, Jabarie had moved behind the counter. Goodness, she hadn't even heard him move.

"How long are you staying?" Jabarie asked, leaning in closer, caging her in behind the counter.

"Uh...until Aunt Nellie's back on her feet." She took a deep breath. His cologne hadn't changed in five years, or was that just his natural scent?

"Then what?" he asked silkily.

"I go back to my life," she replied barely above a whisper.

Brenna noticed his eyes darkened dangerously before he stepped away and moved over to gaze out the large floor–to–ceiling window. She took that moment to try and pull herself together as she stared at his strong profile.

After doing a complete sweep of his body, she noticed Jabarie had packed on the muscles over the years. He had always taken care of himself and the solid body standing before her was definitely proof of that. Jabarie still wore his thick curly hair low on top and faded on the sides. Above his right brow was a scar that he'd gotten while the two were skateboarding. She had to have been ten. Jabarie hadn't noticed the rock that jammed one of the wheels of his board and had sent him landing face first onto the hot asphalt. She had never seen so much blood in her life. Yet, thirteen stitches later, they were back racing up and down the street.

"How have you been?" She knew that question sounded stupid but at the moment she didn't know what else to say.

Jabarie turned away from the window, hands buried in the pockets of his pleated slacks and nodded. "I've been well, and what about you?"

Still trying to get over you. She swallowed. "I've been busy."

"So I've heard," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she countered. He raked a hand across his face. As she stared up at his intense gaze she realized one thing hadn't changed. He still managed to make her heart flutter with a single look.

"That means I heard you opened your own bookstore." His voice had softened considerably.

Brenna simply nodded. "I'm glad to hear your dream finally came true." Her dream had been to be his wife and have a couple of babies. Just thinking about it caused anger to brew to the surface, but she wasn't about to go there. "Thank you." She didn't know what else to say.

"Have dinner with me tonight?"

Brenna gasped. Sharing time together was the last thing she had expected to hear from him. Jabarie moved toward her then lifted one hand and caressed the side of her face. She tried to stay still and fought the urge to close her eyes and lean into his hand.

"Why would you want to have dinner?"

He cocked his head to the side and frowned. "Why not?"