Fated by Carly Phillips Page B

turning more insistent.
    Kate swallowed hard. The last thing she wanted was to be alone in a car with Nick. “Faith doesn’t mind driving me.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. Tess is hungry, so let them go straight home and I’ll drive you wherever you want to go.”
    “You’re the man,” Tess said with a big grin.
    “Thanks,” Faith said to Nick, then leaned in to kiss Kate good-bye. “Take advantage of the opportunity,” Faith whispered in her ear.
    “Not happening,” Kate said right back. Every logical cell in Kate’s brain warned her to be careful around Nick. His dating history rivaled a who’s who of Serendipity and his one and only long-term relationship had been with Kate’s best friend. Maybe if he hadn’t tried again so recently, Kate might believe he was over her. But he had.
    Faith and Tess took off, walking across the field to the lot where the cars were parked, leaving Kate alone with Nick.
    “I just need to grab my duffel and I’m ready. You?” Nick asked.
    “Sure. And thank you,” she said, not wanting to seem like an ingrate.
    He returned a few minutes later and they strode side by side to the car, Nick placing a hand on the small of her back. Pleasure rushed through her at his touch and her skin tingled in approval. Instead of letting herself enjoy it, Kate stepped out of reach.
    Nick’s low chuckle echoed around her.
    “Good game,” she said, hoping conversation would help distract him. “You pitched great.”
    “Thanks.” He grinned, showing her the sexy dimples in his cheeks. “I’ll miss playing during the winter months.”
    “But you have basketball,” she said, knowing the guys played every Sunday.
    “True. But I prefer softball and the hot sun to the indoor stuffiness in St. Anthony’s basement.” He reached his truck and tossed his bag into the back before walking around and opening her door.
    She climbed in and soon he’d done the same on his side and they were on their way to Joe’s. Nick behaved on the short ride over, asking her about her new crop of students at the middle school where she taught English. He seemed genuinely interested, and Kate loved talking about her kids. In fact, she often thought they were the closest she might ever come to having children of her own.
    After all, what were the chances of her finding true love the way Faith had? Although she was just twenty-seven years old, Serendipity was a small town and Kate knew almost everyone. Added to that, she’d never had any desire to leave or travel, which meant meeting new people was rare.
    She bit down on the inside of her cheek. God, when had she become so darned morose? Maudlin? She was still young. She had plenty of time to find the right man. Of course, her gaze drifted to Nick and she covertly studied his chiseled features, tanned skin, and gorgeous muscles as he concentrated on turning into the lot behind Joe’s. It was his fault she was thinking like this, she decided.
    Sometime in the last few months, she’d become hyperaware of him as a man, not just as an old friend. His flirtatious passes that she kept turning down didn’t help, either. But she couldn’t bring herself to believe that he wanted her for anything real or serious. His past cemented his intentions now, just as her old experiences made her extra wary. That was the way of things, wasn’t it?
    “Here we are!” Nick said, as he parked in a spot behind the bar on Main Street.
    They walked into the Joe’s together, but Kate pulled her armor around herself and proceeded to act friendly yet find other people to hang out with for the rest of the night. Though she was aware of Nick watching her, she told herself it was just the challenge that had his hot gaze following her everywhere she went.
    And when it was time to go home, she let one of the other teachers she worked with give her a lift instead of taking Nick up on his offer.

Two
    Nick Mancini hammered the last nail into the wall of Faith’s Interior Designs, securing