Second Chances (The Extinct Race Series) by Michelle Farrell Page A

the barracks and the small town they made their way back to the house. Everyone must have been asleep already and the entire house was so quiet you could hear a mouse. Mary wasn’t tired yet though and she wanted to look around the house some more. She knew the kitchen already and was quite in love with everything that was inside of it. She decided to make a cup of sleepy time tea to see if that would help her get on a schedule.
    “Mateo would you like to join me for a cup of sleepy time tea. I am not tired at all and well it is night time and I should be asleep. So would you care to join me?”
    “I would love to Mary. Actually I could use the help getting to sleep too. I am still on Wyoming time.”
    They made their way to the kitchen and Mary put a pot of water on the stove and prepped to mugs with the tea bags. Mateo sat on a stool at the oversized island in the middle of the kitchen.
    “Did you ever think life would bring you to this?” Mateo asked her
    “No I can’t say I ever thought there would be a happy ending. I knew the job they asked me to do by taking Gabriel as my own. But after not hearing from them for so long I thought them dead and so did he. We lived day to day and then one day he was old enough to go search for Justine. He never called to check in and after a year I worried that they found him. I knew you had taught him well in the fighting area, but still I worried as a mother would.”
    “Well , I tell you that boy has real talent and discipline. He never lost his temper in sparring and knew what he was doing. He was and is my best student yet. You did very well in raising him and you are a damn good secret keeper, woman.” Mateo smiled at her
    “Yes well when your life and that of a boy you love is on the line, well what more motivation do you need than that?” She smirked
    “I guess you are right . Mary how old are you may I ask?”
    “I look older than I really am for all the worry I have done over the last four years, but I am only thirty four.”
    “You do not look old Mary. I never wanted to guess your age before because I thought you must have had Gabe in your teens. Now it makes sense. Why did you never marry?”
    “I had Gabe . I couldn’t risk his life with my selfishness. Even after he left I still held hope that the boy I raised would return to me.”
    “Mary I think you are a beautiful woman and a self-less woman. You are so very strong and you can cook a mean meal. Any man would be lucky to have you.”
    Mary blushed and the tea pot screamed at just the right time in her opinion. She grabbed the pot and poured the hot water into the two mugs she had placed on the counter. She handed one to Mateo and took the other into her hands. She blew on the top and took a sip. “Thank you Mateo, that means a lot to me coming from you.”
    “What do you mean by that?” He teased
    “Well let me be bold for a moment. I have always found you attractive, but I could never act on my school girl whims.” Mary confessed
    “School girl whims huh? Well how about we act as adults and get to know each other a bit better while we are here? I know I would love to get to know you better and spend time with you.”
    “Really? I think I would love that as well. For now though this tea is doing its magic and I am getting sleepy. Care to walk me to my room?” Mary felt bold as Mateo has never shown an interest, more so than his professional side, every time he came to the house.
    “ Of course I will, after you my lady.” Mateo stood and scooted in his stool. He took the mug from her hands and his from the counter setting them in the sink. He placed his hand on her lower back and walked next to her. They took the stairs to the landing area and then took the hallway on the left to the back stairs. They made it to the second floor landing and he opened the door to the suite. There were four bedrooms in this suite with a small sitting area in the middle. The room was done in rich burgundy and