Excerpt of Fated by Carly Phillips

Fated
A Serendipity Short (short) Story

Chapter Three

"Do you believe in love at first sight?"

"What?" Surprised by the question, Kate glanced at the teenager she'd just finished tutoring. Tess needed help on an English paper on Romeo and Juliet, after which, Kate, Tess and Faith were supposed to go to the mall for shopping and dinner.

"You heard me. Do you believe in love at first sight?"

Kate glanced at the clock on the classroom wall. "Umm, Faith is waiting for us outside," Kate reminded Tess.

Tess shrugged. "That's okay. She won't mind. She's used to you being late. She says so all the time." Tess looked up at Kate from a fringe of light brown hair.

"Nice," Kate muttered, even though her best friend only spoke the truth.

"So can you answer me?" Tess asked. "Because Ethan says if he were smarter, he'd have known Faith was it for him back when he was in high school. And I can't imagine taking one look at any guy and falling in love. But I hope it's true for Ethan and Faith because they need to stay together."

Kate glanced at Tess and her heart softened in understanding. She might not be the tough kid who'd arrived in Serendipity with a chip on her shoulder, but she still possessed a personality roughened by the life she led before her older half brother had taken her in. Beneath the exterior lived a young girl afraid no one cared enough to stick around, and she counted on Ethan and Faith, and the home they provided.

"You gonna answer me?" Tess asked, nudging Kate in the arm.

"I'll answer you." As soon as Kate figured out how to reply without disillusioning the teenager further. "I do believe in love at first sight," she said carefully. "The problem is both people have to feel it for it to work." Something Kate had never had any luck with. Ever. "As for Ethan and Faith, I promise you they're solid."

Tess blew out a breath and fiddled with the ragged hem of her tee shirt. "Yeah, since they came back from their honeymoon they're still all lovey dovey but what about when the sex stuff gets old?"

Kate tried not to choke on her own saliva. "Umm ... the sex stuff is none of your business and love has to do with a lot more than just ... umm ... sex." Uncomfortable with the subject, she dug into her purse for gum, unwrapping it and popping the mint stick in her mouth. "Want some?" She offered some to the teen.

"No. I want to know more about sex and love."

Ack! You had to adore Tess, her endless questions and the mouth with no filter. What could Kate tell her? Sex was easy. Love wasn't.

Love, when not reciprocated, hurt. Badly. Kate's thoughts went to Nick and his sexy swagger, intense brown eyes and easy charm. Too easy.

In the months since the softball game, she'd run into him around town and he'd always been friendly. Always stopped to talk. And always asked her out. She was so tempted to give in but she still vividly remembered her college boyfriend who she'd been in love with, telling her she'd been nothing more than a poor substitute for his girl back home. She'd do everything in her power to protect herself from feeling that kind of betrayal and pain ever again. No matter how much Nick Mancini tempted her.

So if Tess wanted to know about sex and love ... "I think you should ask Faith about that," Kate said, carefully. "Or Kelly," Kate said of Tess's sister on her mother's side.

"Chicken," Tess muttered.

Kate groaned at the same time her phone buzzed and she glanced at the screen. A reprieve, she thought gratefully.

"Ready to go? Faith's getting antsy," Kate asked Tess.

The girl nodded.

"Did you get all the help you needed on Shakespeare?"

"Yeah, thanks. I am so ready to hit the mall." Tess grinned, already on to the next subject.

Thank God.

"Okay I'll tell Faith we're coming out." Kate texted Faith back, then gathered her book bag and jacket, ready to brave both the November chill and the mall.

A few minutes later, both Kate and Tess were seated in Faith's warm, brand new, Cadillac Escalade truck, courtesy of her husband. Ethan, once the town bad boy on a motorcycle, had returned, determined to make good. He'd also gotten his girl. If Kate didn't know how much Faith had suffered in the past, she'd almost be jealous of her best friend and the love she'd found.

"Sorry we're late," Kate said, settling into the seat.

Faith glanced heavenward "Save it. You're always late." She softened the words with an understanding laugh. "Buckle up." She glanced at Tess via the rear view mirror.

Kate did the same and Faith pulled out of the school parking lot.

"Listen, I have to make a quick stop on the way to the mall," Faith said apologetically.

From the back seat, Tess groaned.

"Hey I waited for you. It'll just take a minute. I have to drop something off for a client." Faith adjusted her sunglasses as she drove.

"For who? And why can't it wait till tomorrow?" Tess was nothing if not persistent.

"Customers come first. The only way a startup business works is if you keep your word," Faith patiently explained.

Tess muttered something under her breath.

"Give Faith a break," Kate said to the still grumbling teen. "Text your friends or something until we get there."

"Thanks," Faith said to her.

"No problem. So who is this person? A new customer?" Kate swiveled to face the driver's seat.

"You could say that."

Kate shrugged, not too concerned with her friend's customer base.

They settled into silence and Kate looked out the window, watching the town of Serendipity as they passed through. To her surprise, they drove almost to the edge of town, arriving at Serendipity Lake, where some of residents had summer cabins. Kate's parents were one of them until they decided they'd rather have a second home down south, and sold the cabin where they'd spent many summers while Kate was growing up. She hadn't thought of the place in years but she'd always loved the freedom of her time there.

But suddenly Kate realized just who they were going to see. "We're going to Nick's?" she asked, her stomach flipping uncomfortably.

Faith didn't answer, merely drove past the well–spaced houses and pulled into the driveway of a completely remodeled cabin set off from the others.

The driveway was fully paved, not gravel like the older homes had. Though the structure itself retained a rustic feel, the outside possessed a completely modern, newer look, and sat on more land than the other houses were allotted. The house was obviously new, charming, and very–Nick.

"Faith?" Kate asked again.

"One sec." Faith turned around and reached for a small shopping bag behind her seat. "Do me a favor and leave this on the porch? I need to call Ethan before we get lost in the mall for hours."

Kate narrowed her gaze. "I really don't want to run into Nick."

Faith waved away her concern. "He's not home. That's why you can just leave it on the porch." She dangled the bag. "Please?"

Kate let out a sigh. "Fine. As long as he's not here," she muttered.

"Thanks." Faith reached for her phone. Tess remained quiet in the back seat. A quick glance showed she'd put her iPod and headphones on, so she'd be satisfied until they arrived at the mall.

Kate opened the car door and hopped out, the cold wind hitting her in the face. "You owe me," she called out to her friend.

Faith met her gaze and shot her a smile before Kate slammed the door shut. No sooner had she reached the front porch when she heard the roar of the engine and turned to see Faith's truck backing out of the driveway.

"What the –" Kate waved and started down the steps. "Faith!" she called out, panic mixed with confusion.

Faith rolled down her window. "It's for your own good!"

"What is? Get back here!"

"Calm down," a deep, familiar masculine voice said from behind her. "I can explain everything."

Her heart beating rapidly, Kate turned to see the man who haunted her dreams – day dreams and night ones too – standing in the entryway of the cabin.

He leaned against the doorframe, arms folded over his chest, a look of sheer determination and masculinity on his face. "Welcome, Kate."