Taking Chances (The Chances and Choices Duology - Book 1 of 2 - Contemporary Romance) by Ann Omasta Page B

clothes.

Chapter 12

 
    When I showed him the kitchen, he grabbed a
half-empty package of Nutter Butters. “I’m starving,” he admitted. “We snuck
out of the auction before they served the rubber chicken.”

 
    I had seen the menu and knew it entailed filet
mignon and other fancy- schmancy cuisine, but was
happier to be sharing stale cookies with Seth. As I poured us each a glass of
milk, I decided that this was a great time to ask about his family. “So, Seth
Davis, are you a part of the Davis family who put on that fabulous shin dig
tonight?”

 
    He seemed almost embarrassed, but he nodded and
answered. “Yes, it’s my mom’s pet project. My grandmother died of breast cancer
when I was young, and my grandfather lost his battle with throat cancer a few
years ago.” He sighed but continued. “It really took a toll on mom. She became
depressed, to the point that we were concerned that we were going to lose her
too. Then one day, she decided to fight back. She came downstairs to breakfast
dressed and enthused about stamping out cancer. She started planning the first
fund-raiser that morning. It was a huge success and since then, she makes sure
it gets bigger and better every year.”

 
    It was the most he’d shared with me about his
family, and I was impressed by his mother’s perseverance. “What a way to turn things
around. You’re mother must be quite a lady.”

 
    He smiled with pride. “She is. My whole family
is amazing. You met Jessie and Sam. They are the best siblings anyone could ask
for, and Jessie’s little girl, Katie is the light of my life. I call her Katiedid . I can’t wait for you to meet her.”

 
    Thoughts were flying through my head as he
spoke. I was surprised to learn that Jessie was a single parent. The way Seth
spoke of his niece made me fall for him even more. I was touched that he wanted
me to meet her, and thrilled by the confirmation that he assumed we would keep
seeing each other. I noticed that he didn’t mention his father. That seemed a
little odd; but I was even more curious about Sam, and I thought this might be
a good time to fess up about my risqué incident with him in the restroom.

 
    “I’d love to meet Katie,” I answered honestly. I
paused for a few seconds, and then I dove in. “I can’t imagine having an
identical twin.”

 
    Seth smiled. “I can’t imagine not having one.
Sam and I give each other a hard time, but he’s my other half.” He shook his
head. “That sounded weird. We’re not soul mates or anything.” He grinned before
continuing. “I don’t know how to explain it, but there isn’t anyone who is
there for me or understands me like Sam does. He even saved my life once.
That’s how he got the scar on his shoulder.”

 
    I was completely intrigued and wanted to know
more. “Go on,” I encouraged him when he stopped.

 
    “When we were in college, we were partying with
a group of friends on a boat by a little island out on the lake. The waves were
really starting to kick up, so we decided to head in. The anchor was stuck and
we couldn’t get it to come up, so I dove in to swim down and loosen it. I
didn’t realize the place where I dove was a shallow ridge, and I hit my head
hard enough to knock me out. The rest of the people on the boat were too wasted
to realize I didn’t come right back up, but Sam knew something was wrong. I
don’t know if it was twin intuition or what, but he jumped in and grabbed me.
When we surfaced, a big wave was rolling in. Sam put himself between me and the boat, and he was body-slammed into the ladder. If
he hadn’t sensed that something was wrong that day, I wouldn’t be alive. I feel
like I owe him everything.”

 
    The conversation had taken a serious turn, so he
lightened the mood by adding, “Doesn’t stop me from teasing him about being
younger, though. He hates that,” he chuckled.

 
    I smiled, but couldn’t get the picture of that
pig of a man jumping in to