Serendipity (25 page)

“No, the machine can pick it up.” But Faith waited to hear if it was anything important before heading out.

“Faith? It's your mother.” Lanie's voice sounded shrill through the machine.

April shot her an
I pity you
look.

“How many years do you want to take off of my life?” Her mother continued. “First, I find you at Target with that
man
, then you open a shop in town, and now you're
working
for Caroline Bretton? You're a Harrington! We hire, we don't—” Thankfully the answering machine let out a long beep and cut her mother off before she could go on berating her.

As if I'm sixteen again,
Faith thought, and shook her head.

“See you soon!” Faith called to April and headed out before the other woman could open a conversation about Faith's mother.

Outside and alone, Faith decided it was time to deal with her own demons. She opened her cell and dialed her mother, who answered on the first ring.

“Hello, Mother.”

“Faith!”

“I'm in a rush, so I only have a minute.” Unwilling to be subjected to a lecture by a woman who'd yet to accept the fact that she was not, and had never been, in a position to judge others, Faith spoke quickly. Before her mother could. “Since I can't talk now, come by my shop tomorrow morning at ten. Thanks, Mom. Have to run. I have an appointment with Ethan Barron. Bye,” she said, and clicked off, the little devil on her shoulder compelling her to torture her mother a bit in return.

Tomorrow was soon enough to begin dealing with her own family drama. Right now she was headed to Ethan's, where she was certain another kind of drama awaited her.

 

 

Rosalita answered the door to Ethan's house. An eerie feeling of déjà vu settled over her, but she reminded herself this was the bright light of day and she was here to meet Nick on business, not Ethan.

“Is Nick here yet?” Faith asked Rosalita.

“No, he called and said to tell you he can't make it. He's busy on another project,” Rosalita said.

Faith frowned. “Why didn't he call me before I came here?”

Swell,
Faith thought.

“Come in anyway. You look skinny. I give you a piece of cake I just finished making.” Rosalita placed her firm arm around Faith's shoulders, reminding her of when she'd come home from school and the older woman would lead her to the kitchen for milk and cookies.

Faith smiled at the memory. “Thanks, but it's not my house anymore, remember? I can't just come to your kitchen for meals and snacks.”

“Bah.” Rosalita waved away that notion. “You said it yourself.
My
kitchen. You eat.”

Maybe she would gauge the lay of the land first. “Is Tess here?” Faith wanted to see how the teenager was doing.

“She in the den with Mr. Ethan. They playing.”

“Playing?”
She had to have heard wrong.

“
Sí
. Come.”

Faith followed Rosalita to the large den in the back of the house. The closer she got, the louder the rock music sounded. Hard rock and guitar sounds.

Faith paused in the entry to the room, stunned to see Ethan and Tess standing in front of a huge flat-screen TV that would wreak havoc with her plans for this room. Ethan held an electric guitar in his hands, playing to the music and beats on the screen, Tess shouting distracting words at him trying to get him to mess up. Apparently they had some kind of competition going.

Faith wasn't sure if she was more shocked by their interaction, the fact that they were having fun, or that both Ethan and Tess were smiling and laughing. For real. The sound came from the depths of their being and they were enjoying themselves and each other. Faith's heart soared at the sight. She realized Rosalita had quietly slipped away, leaving her alone to watch.

Faith couldn't tear her gaze away.

The teenager wasn't wearing her army jacket. Instead, her thin arms stood out beneath her short sleeves and cargo pants. She hopped up and down, more animated and excited than Faith had ever seen her. The transformation permeated Tess both inside and out. She glowed, her eyes sparkling with delight, and a lump settled in Faith's throat at the amazing change.

Like his sister, Ethan looked different too. His careful control had been stripped away, revealing a younger-looking man, more impossibly handsome and carefree in a way he'd obviously never been. If she'd been drawn to his darker intensity before, his charm and magnetism were impossible to resist now.

Both were so engrossed in the game, neither noticed her. When the song finally ended, Faith couldn't stop herself. She clapped her hands, applauding his efforts.

Both Ethan and Tess turned her way.

“Faith!” Tess acknowledged her first, excitement in her flushed cheeks, her guard completely down. “Want to play? I've been kicking Ethan's butt!”

Ethan's dark gaze met Faith's. “I just showed you up, Twerp,” he said to Tess, but he never broke eye contact with Faith.

“Ha! That's because I haven't taken my next turn yet. Hand over the guitar and I'll show you both what I can do.”

Ethan handed the guitar over and Tess grabbed the instrument and swung the strap over her head and shoulder.

“If I win this round, you have to take me to the beach tomorrow,” Tess said.

Ethan narrowed his gaze. “And if I win this round, you have to ditch the heavy dark clothes and let Faith take you shopping.”

He met Faith's gaze and she gave him an imperceptible nod. Of course she'd take the teenager shopping. She didn't blame him for offering up her services. Who else could he ask?

Tess stopped her fidgeting and paused, obviously thinking over his end of the deal.

No way will she agree,
Faith thought.

A mischievous smile lifted the corners of Tess's mouth. “You're on,” she said at last.

Faith swallowed hard. Something was going on here, some major change between these two she didn't understand or fathom.

“Ready?” Tess asked.

“Do me a favor and practice, okay? I need to talk to Faith for a few minutes. I'll be right back and the competition is
on
.”

As soon as Tess nodded and started the music, Ethan grabbed Faith's hand and pulled her toward his office, not giving her the chance to think or argue.

“What are you doing?” Faith asked, stunned by his actions.

“Talking to you.” He reached out and stroked her cheek, the caress sending delicious shivers through her body. “What I did last night was unforgivable,” he said, taking her off guard.

“Excuse me?” She felt as if she'd been slapped. “You're sorry we slept together?”

“No!” His jaw tightened. “Never that.”

Her heartbeat slowed to a more normal rhythm. The more she tried to distance herself from this man, the more she seemed to be drawn deeper.

To care. “Then what?”

“I took my mood out on you. I was rough with you and—”

“It wasn't like that for me.” Her cheeks burned at the admission. “It was good. Can we just leave it at that?”

A very male smile worked its way onto his face. “Just good?”

“Beyond good. Amazing. Speaking of, what in the world is going on with you and Tess?” She deliberately changed the subject.

He let her. “We found something we have in common.”

“Music?” she guessed.

“And television and computer games. I needed a distraction and I figured she'd appreciate it.” He shrugged. “I'm just glad it worked.”

“You also found a way to reach her.”

He grinned, the impact devastating as usual. “It's called bribery.”

Faith laughed. “Well, whatever you're doing, it's working. She looks more . . . human. Vulnerable. Not to mention happy.” She paused. “So did you. Does that mean you're over what happened with your brothers?”

Ethan didn't want to spend another minute overthinking something he couldn't control. Not when he had Faith back in his house and he could make up for acting like an unfeeling ass last night. No matter what she said, he could have handled himself better.

“As far as my brothers are concerned, I'm moving forward. I have no choice.”

She nodded in understanding. “I've been there myself,” she murmured.

“So you have.” He stepped closer, backing her up to the desk. Undeniable sexual tension arced between them. He threaded his fingers through the back of her hair, cupped her head, and pulled her toward him. “I meant it when I said I'm sorry,” he said gruffly.

She swallowed hard. “And I meant it when I said there's no need to be.”

He gently brushed his lips over hers, gliding his mouth back and forth in the most delicate way imaginable.

“Mmm.” She sighed into him. “You make it so damn hard.”

“What?” he asked.

“Keeping my distance.”

He couldn't suppress a laugh. “Then don't.”

Ethan tugged on her hair and she bent her head, the long strands of her hair falling to one side. Acting on instinct, he pressed a kiss to her soft skin, nuzzling her silken flesh. She smelled like peaches and sunshine and he wanted a taste, so he took one, nibbling lightly, stopping before he marked her. No need to give Tess something to talk about.

“Ethan.” Faith tried to reprimand him, he knew, but her voice trembled along with her body, making her point moot.

Especially since all that held her upright was the pressure of his body leaning into hers.

“Why fight what feels good?” he asked.

“I can't let myself get so lost in you that I lose sight of me.”

“Eew! Not again!” Tess's voice interrupted anything he might have said.

“Would you stop sneaking up on people?” Ethan muttered, stepping away from Faith but keeping his back to his sister. At least until he could turn around and not give himself away.

“I thought you said this is my house too,” Tess remarked,
teasing
him.

Wow. “Wiseass,” he muttered. “Okay, who's up for a round of Guitar Hero?” He looked from Tess to Faith.

She shook her head. “I came to meet Nick, but he told Rosalita to tell me he couldn't make it. I should get going.”

But she wouldn't. He saw the yearning in her eyes, the desire to stay.

“Come on, play with us, Faith!”

“Well . . .”

“I bet I can beat you,” Tess said, urging her.

And just like that, Ethan didn't have to say a word. There was no way she'd turn down this suddenly happy Tess.

Faith smiled. “Well, who can resist a challenge like that?”

“Yes!” Tess bolted for the other room, leaving Ethan to grin at Faith and follow her into the family room for Guitar Hero.

Ethan won the original round he'd bet Tess. Not by much. He had to admit, the kid was good. But he had more at stake than her. He wanted her out of those awful Goth clothes, and so he'd concentrated like mad. And he won.

He didn't mention the bet or the clothes, deciding to trust Tess to come to him when she was ready. The kid had honor. He bet she would. If not, he wasn't above reminding her in a couple of days. He didn't want to ruin the progress they'd made today.

And to ensure they didn't, he turned to his new sister. She'd asked for the beach, knowing that meant she'd need to wear a bathing suit. That had to have been a huge request. “We're still going to the beach tomorrow,” he said.

Tess's eyes glittered with something unique. Gratitude.

While Faith's beaming approval caused something deep and meaningful to unfurl in his chest. No wonder she was afraid of losing herself. He was afraid he was halfway gone himself.

They spent another half hour including Faith in the fun. He wasn't surprised when she found her groove and was able to compete with them. By the time they finished playing, they each collapsed on the floor laughing from the heckling and insults they'd tossed one another's way.

Ethan couldn't remember the last time he'd had so much fun. Hell, he couldn't remember the last time he'd had
any
real laughter and fun. These two people, who'd come into his life at the same time, gave him that. He knew better than most that good times didn't last, but he planned to enjoy it while it did.

“Dinnertime!” Rosalita strode into the room. “I set a place for Miss Faith,” she said before turning her back and walking out.

Faith pushed herself up from the floor. “I think I've overstayed my welcome. I should get going.”

“Why? So you can go home and eat alone?” Ethan asked her point-blank.

She shot daggers at him with her eyes.

Tess, as if sensing this didn't involve her, remarkably stayed silent.

He knew he was pushing her. Based on what she'd said earlier, she was afraid of losing her sense of self, like she had in her marriage. Well, he wasn't thinking that far ahead. He wasn't a long-term planner, not in the emotional sense anyway. He just knew that right now, being with her felt good. And he'd spent too much time feeling bad.

“Dinner,” she agreed. “And then I need to get going.”

“Fair enough.”

They settled into the kitchen and indulged in a delicious meal. Rosalita still might not be his supporter or ally, but she knew how to cook.

He'd just put his napkin on the table when the phone rang. A glance at the number told him he couldn't ignore it. “Franklin. What do you have for me?”