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She couldn’t have walked, he was too far from her house or town. But how had he missed the sound of an engine pulling into the driveway? Easy. Sleeping beside Kate had lulled him into a false sense of security. Now, the morning after, he recognized his mistake in not talking things through with her before he took her to bed.
Did he go talk to her immediately or give her time to think? Nick was at a loss, so he opted for a shower before dealing with the stubborn woman who’d snuck out of his bed.
***
Kate called Faith,who picked her up from Nick’s. But her friend hadn’t spoken a word to Kate the entire ride home, clearly unhappy. Kate wasn’t thrilled with herself at the moment, but she hadn’t been able to help prevent the full-blown panic attack that sent her running from Nick’s bed.
Faith stopped the car in front of the garden apartment where Kate lived.
“Thanks,” Kate said, not meeting her friend’s gaze.
“We need to talk.” Faith finally broke the silence.
Kate turned in her seat. “I just need some time alone to think. I’m not ready to talk about it yet.” Not when last night was so fresh—and beautiful—in her mind.
That was exactly why she’d run. She couldn’t let herself believe in the magic of what she and Nick had shared. The pain of what awaited her on the other side was too big and scary.
Faith blew out a breath of air. “If I’d run from Ethan instead of embracing the scary, would I be as happy as I am today?”
Kate shook her head. “That’s not the same thing. Ethan always loved you, even when he didn’t know it.” He’d even told Tess as much.
“Whether or not that’s true is irrelevant.” Faith braced her arms on the steering wheel. “What’s important is that when I came back here, nothing in life was going my way, remember?”
Kate nodded, unable to dispute that statement.
“And if I’d let my past dictate my future, I’d never have opened my heart to Ethan because I’d have been sure he’d hurt me as badly as my ex-husband had. Right?”
Again, Kate forced a nod.
“So 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 would 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.
“Who 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…” Her body aligned with Nick’s 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 hit her hard.
In that moment, she knew she loved him. If she were really honest, she’d known it going into the night. Their together merely reinforced the overwhelming feelings she already felt for him.
“I panicked,” she admitted to Faith. “I’ve never felt that way. I never thought I could feel so much. And if Nick wasn’t in as deep, or he was but hurt me one day–” She didn’t finish the sentence.
“Life is about risks,” Faith said, her hand stroking the back of Kate’s hair. “You take them, or you live in the sad state of longing and limbo that you’ve been in most of your life. Is that 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.”
“Same 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 pissed Nick off so badly, he wasn’t willing to listen when she bared her heart and soul.
Chapter Eight
