Second chance romance, p.34
Second Chance Romance, page 34
Shit, now he was getting blurry-eyed too. “Every day for the rest of our lives, Molly. Swear it on my fucking grave.”
“Not necessary.” She shook her head. “I believe you. What you tell me, I always believe.”
That simple statement somehow made him feel like an all-powerful god, even as it weakened his stupid aging knees. In fervent gratitude for everything she was, he pressed a kiss to her temple, where she’d gotten a few silver hairs lately.
“Anyway, my point is that you’re my home, Karl. Just you. I should have thanked you for that before, but at least I’m doing it now.” Her mouth quirked. “And I know it’s not what you meant, but—knowing you, yes, you will definitely swear on your grave. At least one fuck, and maybe a shit or two. Your headstone will need to be freaking redacted.”
He laughed. Knuckled away the wetness escaping under his sunglasses’ frames.
“I love you.” She got up on tiptoe to claim one more quick kiss. “So much.”
His wife calmly started walking again. As if she hadn’t just knocked his world out from under him in the most gorgeous way possible, for the billionth time in the last decade.
Her hair gleamed copper and silver. Her lips were soft with her smile and his kisses.
Looking at her was like staring at a goddamn supernova. Even with his shades on.
Using their entwined hands to hitch her closer, he told her, “Love you more.”
Then, hip to hip, they walked to see the flowers waiting for them in the autumn sun.
Acknowledgments
Some stories spring from my brain and my keyboard almost fully formed, demanding time and effort but not much struggle in their writing. Others . . . well, they’re more like this one, which required a lot of extra care and support to gel into a final, satisfying shape. Luckily, I couldn’t have asked for more or better support while I was grappling with my draft of Second Chance Romance, and I want to make sure I acknowledge everyone who assisted me along the way and helped make my book shine.
As always, my family offered me unending love as I worked, and their patience and pride in me bring joy to every day of my life. I love you right back, more than I can say.
I also owe enormous gratitude to my dear friend Emma Barry, who read at least two iterations of this story and gave her usual brilliant feedback in response. Liza Street, another wonderful friend, read my draft too and couldn’t have been more helpful or kind in her commentary. Thank you to both of you—and thank you to everyone who kept me company during the many months I wrote this book!
Sarah Younger, my stalwart, indefatigable agent, encouraged me the whole way and made sure I had the time and space I needed to write this story. I appreciate and adore her so very much.
I am very grateful to have Joy Nash as my uber-talented audiobook narrator once more. And yet again, Leni Kauffman created the most tender, lovely cover illustration imaginable for my story. I am incredibly lucky to work with her, and I know it. She’s amazing.
At Avon, Shannon Plackis and Tessa Woodward simply couldn’t have been more patient with my slow, halting progress on the manuscript. And once I finally got the story to her, Shannon gave me such thoughtful, incisive feedback! I’m so very grateful for her guidance and support.
I also want to acknowledge and express my gratitude to everyone else at Avon who shepherded my book from its inception to its final printing, and this is my best attempt at doing so:
Shannon Plackis Editor
Yeon Kim Designer, Cover
Diahann Sturge-Campbell Designer, Interior
Beatrice Jason Marketing Director
Laura Baez Publicity
Hannah Dirgins Publicist
Rachel Weinick Production Editor
Brittani DiMare Production Editorial Manager
Marie Rossi Production Manager
Hope Ellis Managing Editor
Kim Lewis Copyeditor
Abigail Marks Audio Producer
Liate Stehlik Publisher
Jen Hart Deputy Publisher
Alexander Potter Proofreader
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you!
And finally, to my readers: I owe you the world. Thank you for trusting me with your time and letting me share a small corner of my heart with you. ♥
About the Author
OLIVIA DADE grew up an undeniable nerd, prone to ignoring the world around her as she read any book she could find. Her favorites, though, were always, always romances. As an adult, she earned an MA in American history and worked in a variety of jobs that required the donning of actual pants: Colonial Williamsburg interpreter, high school teacher, academic tutor, and (of course) librarian. Now, however, she has finally achieved her lifelong goal of wearing pajamas all day as a hermit-like writer and enthusiastic hag. She currently lives outside Stockholm with her delightful family and their ever-burgeoning collection of books.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Praise for Olivia Dade
At First Spite
“Olivia Dade shows once again why she’s a favorite. Charming, witty, and heartfelt, At First Spite is not to be missed!”
—Kylie Scott, New York Times bestselling author
“Olivia Dade gives us another remarkable, essential addition to the modern romance canon. A slow burn that delivers in spades.”
—Rosie Danan, author of The Roommate
“Olivia Dade never fails to make me laugh, blush, and feel like I’m being wrapped in a warm blanket. Cannot recommend enough!”
—Katee Robert, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
“Wielding a devilishly wicked sense of wit . . . Dade deftly demonstrates her mastery of love and laughter.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“This swoony contemporary romance is well-written and paced, but what really makes it shine are the intricate characters that Dade has brought to life. Readers will connect emotionally with Athena and Matthew, laughing at their witty banter and tearing up when they’re vulnerable. Buy multiple copies of this title, because it won’t stay on the shelf.”
—Library Journal (starred review)
Ship Wrecked
“[A] smart, stellar contemporary. . . . A banger of a finish, and an absolute joy.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“[A] superbly entertaining, boldly sensual love story. . . . Combine this with wit-infused writing and some love scenes hot enough to keep any Viking couple warm during those cold winter nights, and the result is another impactful romantic triumph from Dade.”
—Booklist
“A sexy, funny, heartwarming enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance. . . . The story pulls readers in with well-developed, likable characters, and an unputdownable plot.”
—Library Journal (starred review)
“We need more representation like this. . . . Filled with banter and tons of pining . . . this emotional romance will fill readers with hope for their own happily ever after.”
—The Nerd Daily
“Dade challenges love story norms in Ship Wrecked with a wonderfully complex relationship that’s years in the making. Sexy and delicious from page one!”
—Nisha Sharma, author of Dating Dr. Dil
All the Feels
“Weaves in sharp wit and dry humor even as it tugs at the reader’s heartstrings. . . . A consistently entertaining and often insightful romance.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“[A] charming, sexy contemporary . . . friends-to-lovers, opposites-attract romance. The writing is excellent, with witty, banter-filled dialogue.”
—Library Journal (starred review)
“After wowing readers with Spoiler Alert, Dade returns with another stunning contemporary romance that brilliantly celebrates the redemptive power of love. With a deliciously acerbic sense of humor and endless measures of grace and insight, Dade . . . skillfully develops both the sweet emotional connection and the searingly sensual attraction.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“An absolutely witty, swoon-worthy behind-the-scenes romp! Delightful from beginning to end!”
—Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’
“Joyful, clever, and full of heart, with two irresistible characters whose connection is both gorgeously sweet and wildly hot. Mixing riotous humor and aching tenderness, All the Feels is all the things I love about romance. Olivia Dade has jumped to the top of my auto-buy list!”
—Rachel Lynn Solomon, nationally bestselling author of The Ex Talk
Spoiler Alert
“Dade delivers and then some. This book frolics through fields of fannish allusion and metatext. . . . It takes a skillful writer to juggle so many elements, yet the emotional through-line shines clear and strong at every point.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“Dade’s book is a sparkling jolt of fangirling, body-positive swoons.”
—Entertainment Weekly
“It’s a path of self-discovery, healing, and growth, punctuated by scorching chemistry, whip-smart dialogue, and sidesplitting humor.”
—The Washington Post
“With richly drawn characters you’ll love to root for, Olivia Dade’s books are a gem of the genre—full of humor, heart, and heat.”
—Kate Clayborn, author of Georgie, All Along
Also by Olivia Dade
Harlot’s Bay Series
At First Spite
Spoiler Alert Series
Spoiler Alert
All the Feels
Ship Wrecked
Supernatural Entanglements Series
Zomromcom
Love Unscripted Series
Desire and the Deep Blue Sea
Tiny House, Big Love
There’s Something about Marysburg Series
Teach Me
40-Love
Sweetest in the Gale: A Marysburg Story Collection
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Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
second chance romance. Copyright © 2025 by Olivia Dade. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
Without limiting the exclusive rights of any author, contributor or the publisher of this publication, any unauthorized use of this publication to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is expressly prohibited. HarperCollins also exercise their rights under Article 4(3) of the Digital Single Market Directive 2019/790 and expressly reserve this publication from the text and data mining exception.
Avon, Avon & logo, and Avon Books & logo are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
hc.com
first edition
Cover design by Yeon Kim
Cover illustration by Leni Kauffman
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Dade, Olivia author
Title: Second chance romance / Olivia Dade.
Description: New York, NY : Avon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2025. | Series: Harlot's Bay
Identifiers: LCCN 2025020235 | ISBN 9780063215979 trade paperback | ISBN 9780063215986 ebook
Subjects: LCGFT: Fiction | Romance fiction | Novels
Classification: LCC PS3604.A29 S43 2025 | DDC 813/.6—dc23/eng/20250604
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2025020235
Digital Edition NOVEMBER 2025 ISBN: 978-0-06-321598-6
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-321597-9
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Olivia Dade, Second Chance Romance
