Serendipity by Carly Phillips

across the room to find Ethan, leaning against a wall, arms folded across his broad chest.
    Watching her every move.

Four
    Faith’s hips shook, her body moved in time to the music, and Ethan couldn’t tear his gaze away.
    He’d had no intention of leaving the house, let alone coming out to Joe’s Bar. But Mike Ferraro, the brother of one of Ethan’s old high school buddies, had heard Ethan had bought the house on the hill and stopped by to see for himself. Ethan and Mike’s older brother, Carl, had gotten into more than their share of trouble together, and Mike had often tagged along.
    Ethan had invited Mike in and they’d shared a beer and caught up. Apparently, Carl had knocked up his high school girlfriend and they’d gotten married the summer after graduation. These days, Carl was an electrician like his father, with two sons and a baby daughter. It was hard to imagine his friend settled down, but apparently Carl had discovered he liked his married life, a far cry from Ethan’s tour of duty and solitary path. Mike, meanwhile, two years younger than Ethan and Carl, had cleaned up his act too, no longer getting into fights or trouble. Instead, he used his hands working construction, and like Ethan, he was still single.
    When Mike suggested they head on over to Joe’s, Ethan had said yes immediately. At home, the walls were closing in on him, the echo of silence mixing with the memory of his brother’s disdain and Faith witnessing his humiliation. The sheer emptiness of the large house was driving him mad. To the point that even showing his face in downtown Serendipity held some sort of perverse appeal.
    He hadn’t expected to find Faith here. She lived above the bar, but even with her change in circumstance, he still considered her above a place like this. But not only was she here, she was on stage, singing.
    Suddenly, she locked eyes with his and awareness shot through him, as hot and heavy as the beat of the music. He remembered the song from his high school days, the words washing over him as Faith mouthed the lyrics.
    To him.
    So kiss me.
So kiss me.
    Â 
    And he wanted to. Badly. An ache settled low in his stomach, making him want in ways he barely recognized. Without warning, the music stopped and the entire bar treated the women to a round of applause. Ethan and Mike included.
    â€œThey’re hot, huh?” Mike asked, tilting his head toward the women on stage. “So which one’s got you so worked up?”
    Ethan didn’t answer. Didn’t want anyone to know Faith Harrington could get past the aloof exterior he intended to project to the town.
    â€œNo answer?” Mike shrugged. “Then you won’t mind if I try my luck with Faith Harrington. She’s back, she’s hot, and considering the way her family fortune’s turned, she’ll probably want someone to console her.” He grinned. “And I’m just the man for the job.”
    The words twisted in Ethan’s gut. “I mind,” he muttered. No way would he let Mike near her.
    His friend’s laughter rumbled in Ethan’s ear. “That’s what I thought. I was kidding. I saw how she was looking at you. I just didn’t know if you were interested too.”
    â€œI just want to convince her to do my house,” Ethan said, his voice lacking conviction.
    â€œI thought you wanted her to do you.” Mike chuckled.
    Ethan had had enough of his friend. He decided to see if he could, in fact, convince Faith to take the job. “Go get yourself a beer. I’ll meet you at the bar.”
    â€œLooks like you’re too late.” Mike pointed toward the women who had returned to their table.
    A man Ethan didn’t recognize stood behind Faith’s chair, his hand on her shoulder.
    She looked up at him and smiled.
    Ethan’s shoulders stiffened. “Who the hell is that?”
    â€œNick Mancini. He owns the construction company I