Serendipity (16 page)

They finished eating in silence, Tess still not in a talkative mood. For now, Ethan let her be. He paid the bill, leaving a nice tip.

Before stopping at the supermarket, Ethan took a detour to Faith's shop. A large truck was outside, indicating the awning and signs were being delivered, filling him with an unfamiliar tug of pride. She was accomplishing her dreams, and he applauded her for it.

“Let's go see what's up,” Ethan said.

“Where are we?” Tess tipped her head up to see.

“Faith's.” He watched Tess for any reaction.

The most positive response she'd had thus far had been to Faith, and if he had a prayer of getting the kid to open up, he had a hunch Faith was the key.

“What does she do?” Tess asked, sounding more intrigued than she'd been by anything except his disposing of her pot.

“Interior design. We need to get your room ordered and make sure you have a bed tonight.” He steered her inside before she could argue.

He didn't see Faith, but Kate was stacking books on newly installed shelving and Nick was talking to the delivery guy. He was also stealing covert looks at Kate's ass as she bent over to retrieve items from boxes on the floor. The other man's interest loosened the hold on Ethan's chest.

“Is Faith around?” Ethan asked.

Kate whirled around, startled. “Oh, hi.” She settled a curious gaze on him. “I'm not sure we've been introduced.”

“Not officially, no. Ethan Barron.” He extended his hand for a shake.

“Kate Andrews.”

As he shook her hand, Ethan felt a distinct male presence come up behind him.

“Relax, Mancini. I have an appointment with Faith.” In actuality, Faith thought Ethan would be stopping by the house later, but details were none of the other man's business.

“She's out. So you have no reason to be here,” Nick said, keeping up the overprotective act, even when Faith wasn't here.

“Don't you have work to do? An awning to help put up?” Kate asked him too sweetly.

“Are you always so pleasant?” Nick studied Kate with the look of a man seeing a woman for the first time.

“Since when do you give me a second thought?” Kate asked. “Go worry about something you can control.” She dismissed Nick with a wave of her hand.

The man let out a low growl. “I'll be right outside if you need me.”

Kate grinned. “I won't,” she assured him.

For some odd reason, Ethan decided Nick was tortured enough and opted not to provoke him further by flirting with Kate. He got his satisfaction in the way Kate bossed the other guy around and did his best not to laugh out loud.

“You just watch yourself around him,” Nick warned, before storming out.

Kate chuckled, then turned her attention to them. “So, this must be Tess? Faith told me she met you last night.”

“Tess is my . . . sister,” Ethan said, testing the word on his tongue for the first time in public.

Kate treated the girl to a big smile. “Hi, Tess. I'm Kate. I'm a friend of Faith's.”

Being Tess, she narrowed her gaze and let out a put-upon sigh. “Big—”

Ethan cut her off with an elbow nudge to the ribs. “We're working on Tess's social skills,” he said tightly.

Kate grinned. “I'm a middle school teacher,” she said, as if that summed up her understanding.

Ethan supposed it did. “Where's Faith?”

“She's out getting coffee, but she should be back any minute. You're welcome to wait.” She gestured to the chairs in front of a small wood desk.

“Have a seat,” he said to Tess.

To his surprise, Tess stomped over to a metal folding chair and lowered herself into it.

“Need help?” he asked Kate.

She shook her head. She returned to her job of stacking and organizing the shelves. “So, what are you going to do with her for the summer?” Kate asked, referring to Tess.

Ethan began handing her books from the floor, speeding up her task. “I'm not sure.” He spoke low, so Tess wouldn't overhear.

A glance over told him he needn't have worried. She'd put her iPod ear buds on. His guess was that she was blasting music, tuning him out along with the rest of the world.

“She's obviously got issues,” Ethan said to Kate.

“Well, I work afternoons at the youth center. They have different programs ranging from regular summer day camp to service programs for troubled teens. Your brother actually works one night a week with a group of kids.”

“Youth center?” Ethan asked. “I don't remember there being one of those.” He'd certainly qualified as a troubled teen, so if there had been programs around, he hoped his parents would have mentioned it.

“The town community center is fairly new. As a matter of fact, every once in a while, budget cuts threaten to shut it down. The existing structure is pretty old, but at least it offers a place for these kids to go.”

Ethan nodded in understanding. “Definitely something to consider.” Since he knew he'd have to keep her busy and out of trouble. Figuring out what was at the root of her acting out and getting her under control were also on the agenda.

A youth center sounded like just the place for a kid like Tess. Assuming he could get her to even walk in the door with him, let alone stay for a couple of hours.

Faith walked in to the coffeehouse, which was empty except for a few people sitting behind computers and headed for the counter, where Lissa waited to greet her.

“Good morning!” Faith said brightly, hoping that Karaoke Night had smoothed things over between them.

“Says you.” The other woman seemed unhappier than usual. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair matted. Even her clothes looked slept in.

If she were anyone else, Faith would ask what was wrong. There was nothing Faith could say to Lissa the other woman wouldn't take the wrong way.

“My ex called last night. He's getting married,” Lissa said, taking Faith off guard. For some reason, she obviously decided to open up. “To a twenty-two-year-old heiress. Did you know there was such a thing as a twenty-two-year-old heiress?” Lissa let out a sudden, harsh laugh. “Look who I'm asking—the princess herself.”

Faith glared at her. “And here I thought we might start getting along. Stupid me.” She leaned across the counter and deliberately got into Lissa's face—the only language the other woman would understand. “Do I look like a princess to you?”

Faith gestured to her hair, pulled into a ponytail, a denim skirt that April had sewn together from a combination of Levi's jeans and pieces of her other clothing, and her new sneakers to make walking around town easier. “Now, I'd like to get coffee.” She pulled out a piece of paper with her, Nick's, and Kate's orders.

Lissa braced a hand on the counter. “Do you realize how easy it is to hate you? Your old man screws the world, your family loses everything, yet you come back to town and open a goddamn business while I'm writing the obits for the newspaper, wishing I could get a journalistic break and pouring coffee to make ends meet.”

Faith bit the inside of her cheek. She had no idea Lissa was an aspiring journalist. Given how Faith perceived the profession, she shouldn't be surprised this piranha was one of them, Faith thought wryly. Although Faith understood the other woman's frustration, it wasn't her fault that Lissa's life hadn't turned out the way she'd hoped and dreamed.

Faith curled her fingers around the edge of the counter. “Jealousy only hurts you, Lissa. Not me. But for the record, my life isn't exactly peachy keen right now. I caught
my
ex screwing his assistant. He only married me for my father's connections, and when it came to the divorce he tried to hide our assets. I walked away with little but my pride.”

Lissa raised an eyebrow, but Faith sensed she was listening.

“The only reason I have a business is because I have friends who are willing to help me out until I get on my feet. But if I'm going to make a go of it, it'll be on my own hard work and talent.” Faith paused for a breath and straightened her shoulders, deciding to end this bickering once and for all. “Frankly, I'm getting sick and tired of you treating me like I still have a silver spoon in my mouth,” she said, her voice rising. “Now back off and fill my damn coffee orders!”

Then she braced herself for the fallout.

To her never-ending surprise, Lissa snagged the list of coffee orders out of her hand and headed back to work without another word, returning with the three iced coffee drinks.

“Here.” She placed them on the counter.

“Thank you,” Faith said.

Lissa rang up the order and Faith paid, dropping a tip into the jar by the register.

“Maybe I could cut you some slack,” Lissa finally said.

“Gee, thanks,” Faith muttered, smiling because despite all odds, she'd broken the ice with Lissa Gardelli.

Faith picked up the cardboard tray holding the drinks, ready to leave.

“I heard you're seeing Ethan Barron,” Lissa said, her words stopping Faith from turning and walking out.

Faith sighed, damning small-town gossip. “Where'd you hear that?”

“I didn't hear as much as see it for myself. At Karaoke Night.”

Faith frowned, not wanting people to get the wrong impression. “You saw wrong. He just helped me get home.”

“I'm betting he did more than that considering you were wrapped up against him like a bitch in heat.” The satisfaction in Lissa's voice sliced through Faith.

“Just when I thought I might be able to like you.” Faith's head spun from Lissa's constant mood changes. She picked up her coffee and headed for the door.

“Wait.”

Faith paused but didn't turn.

“I'm sorry. I know I'm a bitch.”

Faith pivoted slowly. “I don't know how the hell you have any friends.”

Lissa let out a laugh. “Me neither. Look, I know Ethan from way back. He could charm a girl out of her panties, but he doesn't know the first thing about sticking around.”

Faith narrowed her gaze. “Careful, Lissa. That almost sounds like friendly advice.” Or jealous nastiness.

Too bad there'd been a definite ring of truth to the other woman's words.

Faith left the shop, grateful to get away from Lissa. Even the hot, humid air was preferable.

Temperatures had been over a hundred for the last two days, and the air conditioner in her apartment was on the fritz. Add to that, she hadn't been able to stop thinking of Ethan and her body heat was at an all-time high. She'd barely slept last night, thoughts of what might have been keeping her awake, tossing and turning on top of the covers.

She turned the corner leading to her new store, stopping where Nick and the awning guy worked on installing her sign. The teal-colored writing read FAITH, and a burst of pride and excitement soared through her at the sight.

She handed Nick his coffee and headed inside where it was cooler, only to find her best friend and her—she didn't know what to call Ethan—working side by side and chatting like they were old friends.

In his worn jeans and faded light blue T-shirt, he was sexy as sin. He handed Kate books and she stacked them on the shelves, their heads bent together, whispering as they worked. Faith couldn't hear the conversation, but a stab of jealousy struck her in the heart anyway. Not something she was proud of, but there it was anyway, Lissa's words about his inability to stick reverberating in her head.

Faith knew so little about Ethan and what had happened after he'd left town. What drove him to run? What demons kept his guilt so high? Had he had any relationships in the intervening years? Or was he still the love-'em-and-leave-'em type?

And why did she care? She was just beginning to stand on her own for the first time. And she knew she'd only be a hindrance to his making peace with his brothers, especially Nash. So why was she racking her brain, trying to understand him now?

Because she was drawn to the man. No matter how hard she fought it, she wanted him for herself. Just one time, she wanted to be with him and explore that unfinished business.

Could they have sex and still work together? Could she sleep with him and keep her heart intact? And was it possible to do all that and not come between him and his brothers?

Talk about mood swings, Lissa had nothing on Faith.

Faith didn't know the answers to any of her questions, but now wasn't the time to figure it out. She tore her gaze from Ethan and Kate, noticing Tess for the first time. The teenager sat, head down, at Faith's desk, pencil and paper in hand.

Faith stepped up to the desk. “What are you busy with?” she asked, placing the coffee holder on the wooden surface.