Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 13826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 69(@200wpm)___ 55(@250wpm)___ 46(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 69(@200wpm)___ 55(@250wpm)___ 46(@300wpm)
He flexed his cold fingers and rose, tossing his tools into the metal case. Alone at Faith’s Interior Design store, he glanced around, remembering back to this past summer, when he, Kate, and Faith had been working on setting up the store from scratch. He recalled the exact moment he looked up and really saw Kate for the first time. They’d bickered over her not getting him a coffee when she’d brought one for Faith. He’d taken one look into her sparkling green eyes, really focused on her wit, and he was a goner.
That day had set the tone for all future meetings. Sexual tension, intense chemistry, and a yearning neither one of them would admit to. Until he started asking her out in earnest, and she’d consistently declined.
Two months had passed since the softball game when they’d been alone in his truck. Since then, she’d kept him at arm’s length and avoided being alone with him, which frustrated him to no end. Because beneath the rejections, Nick sensed a longing that matched his own. It wasn’t just desire for him, either. Nick was attracted to more than her looks. She was smart as well as beautiful, witty, easily distracted and always late, and definitely interested in him—if her soulful looks when she thought his attention strayed was any indication.
Yet he couldn’t figure out how to break through the wall she’d erected. Or why she’d put up barriers between them.
“Nick! You’re here already!” Faith’s voice startled him, bringing him back to the present, and he turned to the front door. “I wanted to fit you in before I get to my first job.”
“You should have told me you were coming so early. I’d have met you,” she chided, her blue eyes flashing as she scolded him.
At one time, he’d have sold his soul for this woman, but he’d been young then and he’d thought his world had ended in high school when she broke up with him. When she’d returned a few months ago, he’d stupidly attempted another shot with her, but she wasn’t interested. If he’d been honest with himself ahead of time, neither was he. Ego had him seeing if he could tempt her.
Now they were just good friends with a business relationship thrown in on the side. “There was no reason for you to get up early. I’m the landlord. I have a key,” he said.
“Don’t remind me,” a familiar male voice muttered, as Faith’s new husband walked in.
“Ethan,” Nick said, sticking his hand out to shake his hand.
Ethan Barron didn’t like Nick all that much, and though the feeling had been mutual, Nick was forced to admit to having developed a wary respect for the man. Ten years had passed since Ethan’s parents died and he’d left his brothers to foster care. He’d recently returned to town, incredibly wealthy and as much of a puzzle as he’d been as a troubled kid.
However, he was trying to fix things with his siblings, and he’d definitely won over Faith. For her sake, Nick was trying to give him a chance.
“Thanks for getting things fixed right away,” Ethan said, shaking Nick’s hand.
“Not a problem. The heating company will be here soon. You’re their first stop.”
Faith glanced between the two men and beamed, her smile bright.
“What?” Nick asked her.
“You two. Getting along so well.” She tossed her large bag onto her desk and looked at her husband. “Don’t you have to drive to Manhattan for a meeting?”
Ethan nodded, his eyes dark and hooded, and focused on Nick. “I’ll leave when he does.”
Faith rolled her eyes. “And I spoke too soon. Nick isn’t interested in anyone but Kate. Isn’t that right, Nick?”
“Jesus,” Nick muttered. “Is nothing private?”
“In this town or between those two women?” Ethan asked of Faith and her best friend.
Nick managed a laugh, though he wasn’t thrilled to know he’d been their subject of conversation.
“Get used to it,” Ethan said. He stepped up to his wife, slid his hand behind her neck, and pulled her in for a long kiss.
One that made Nick uncomfortable to witness but not because he was jealous. At all. He meant it when he said any old feelings were long gone.
Nick cleared his throat, and Ethan turned his head and glared. “You have someplace to be,” Nick reminded Ethan just to annoy him.
Ethan scowled, kissed Faith once more, and started for the door. “You sure you have a ride home?”
She nodded. “Kate’s picking me up after school and taking me home. I’ll see you tonight.” She placed a hand on his shoulder.
While the newlyweds said their final goodbyes and Faith walked Ethan out, Nick’s thoughts turned back to Kate and how to get the schoolteacher to take him more seriously.
“I’m back,” Faith said, breaking into his thoughts when she returned. “You and Ethan really need to learn to get along.”