Fated by Carly Phillips Read Free Book Online

he’d hurt me as badly as my ex-husband had. Right?”
    Again, Kate forced herself to nod.
    â€œSo now explain to me why, when a man goes so far as to have you kidnapped to get you to his house, wines you, dines you, and then I’m guessing makes mad, passionate love to you—why my educated, usually smart and savvy friend would convince herself he doesn’t mean it?” Faith’s voice rose along with her obvious frustration.
    Kate sat in silence, knowing how crazy her actions had been even before Faith had laid it all out in stark words.
    â€œWho are you running from?” Faith asked, her voice softer now. “Is it from Nick? Or from yourself?”
    Kate expelled a long breath of air and lay her forehead on the cold car window. “I woke up, warm and happy . . .” With her body aligned with Nick’ and sore in all the most delicious places. She’d taken one look at his face, gorgeous even in sleep, and a swell of emotion had hit her hard.
    She knew right then, she loved him. If she were really honest, she’d known it going into the night, and their time together merely reinforced the overwhelming feelings she already felt for him.
    â€œI panicked,” she admitted to Faith. “I’ve never felt that way. I never thought I could feel that way. And if I let myself believe Nick felt the same and he didn’t or if he ever hurt me—”
    â€œLife is about risks,” Faith said, her hand stroking the back of Kate’s hair. “You take them or you live in the state of longing you were in before last night. Was that any better than reaching for love and doing everything in your power to keep it?”
    Kate raised her head and met her best friend’s gaze. “When did you become so smart?”
    Faith grinned. “Oh, about the time I picked you as my best friend back in third grade.”
    Kate shook her head and laughed, grateful for Faith, her friendship, and her ability to talk reason in the face of Kate’s craziness. “I’m not sure what I’d do without you.”
    â€œSame here. Good thing we’ll never have to find out. So what’s your plan now?” Faith asked.
    Kate shrugged. “Go inside, shower, pull myself together and then find a very special man and tell him that I love him.”
    A bright smile lit Faith’s face. “Well then. My job here is done. I can go home to my husband and hope he’s still in bed.”
    Kate laughed, feeling lighter than she could ever remember. Now she just had to hope she hadn’t ticked off Nick so much that he wasn’t willing to listen when she bared her heart and soul.

Eight
    Kate showered and washed her hair, rushing through her routine because every minute that passed gave Nick more time to think about how he’d woken up alone—and more time to decide she wasn’t worth any more effort.
    She swallowed over the lump in her throat and pushed down the case of nerves developing inside her. Faith was right. Nick had gone all out to show her what she meant to him.
    And Kate had thrown it back in his face. The more
she
thought about it, the worse she felt. She dried her hair quickly but before she had a chance to put on a light coating of makeup, her doorbell rang.
    No doubt Faith decided she’d better make sure Kate didn’t chicken out on her plans. “You could have just trusted me,” Kate said at the same time she swung open her door.
    â€œNot until you give me a reason to trust you,” Nick muttered back.
    â€œYou!”
    â€œWho else were you expecting?” he asked with an unhappy scowl on his handsome face. “Unless you don’t think you owe me an explanation for why I woke up alone.” His voice rose and he didn’t bother to contain his anger . . . Or his hurt.
    She blinked at him, still stunned he’d shown up here. “Come inside,” she said, reaching for his hand. She