Fated Read Online Free PDF

he paid attention to me almost from day one. He was persistent. Kind of like you.” She wrinkled her nose at him and he refrained from leaning across the table and kissing the tiny lines.
    “Somehow I doubt we have anything in common,” he muttered.
    “He pursued me pretty relentlessly, also like you. He met me after class, walked me to my car, took me on dates. He even met my parents.” She wiped her mouth with napkin, facing him head on. “You’d figure a guy who is willing to pick you up at home and meet your folks is a good guy, right?”
    “Obviously not.”
    “Exactly. We went out all senior year. It got pretty serious, at least for me. He was my first,” she admitted softly.
    Oh, hell. Faith had been his first and he knew how long he’d held onto hope when there was none. He reached for Kate’s hand and she didn’t pull away.
    “Where was he from?” Nick asked.
    “Massachusetts. He lived on campus. Went home for holidays and stuff. I should’ve realized I wasn’t getting the same things in return. I hadn’t met his folks and he never invited me there, but he always had what sounded like a legitimate reason. I figured I’d meet them come graduation.” She pulled in a deep breath. “Except he broke up with me a couple of days before commencement.”
    Nick studied her expressive features. Clearly the pain of that hadn’t gone away after all these years and he doubted it was because she still had feelings for the guy. “Did he say why he ended it?”
    Her harsh laugh took him by surprise. “He sure did. He had a girlfriend at home. One he was serious about. I was his hookup on the side, someone who kept his bed warm while he was away at school.”
    “That bastard.” Nick’s blood boiled at the story. That anyone could treat a woman so badly galled him. He had a sister, and he’d kill any guy who used her that way. And for Kate to have gone through something like that? He clenched his fists in his lap.
    Kate eyed Nick in surprise. The vehemence and disgust in his tone shocked her. “It was a long time ago,” she said.
    “Not so long that it didn’t leave scars,” he reminded her, his gentle tone in stark contrast to the obvious anger pulsing through him on her behalf.
    “I don’t know about scars. It made me wiser, though.”
    “And way too skeptical.”
    Kate shrugged.
    Nick didn’t take things so lightly. “Are you finished?” He gestured to her plate and she nodded.
    She started to pick up place settings to help him clean.
    “Leave it. I’ll get it later.”
    She must have read the seriousness in his voice because she listened without arguing. He rose from his seat and she did the same. Without a word, he walked into the living area and turned the stereo on, his iPod playing a mix he’d created, and yeah, he’d put a lot of thought into this too.
    As Adele crooned around them, singing of breakups but also providing the right mood music for Kate to sway in his arms, he held out his hand. She tipped her head, obviously understanding what he wanted because she came easily. He clasped her smaller fingers in his and drew her against him, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close, so there was no mistaking his intent.
    Or his need.
    He waited in silence, their bodies gliding in place, until she finally relaxed in his arms. That’s when he sprung his next offensive. “Give me a chance, Kate. I want you. Tonight.”
    Kate sighed. She felt so much smaller in Nick’s arms, protected but also cherished, a dangerous feeling when want was very different from the emotional need he effortlessly aroused inside her.
    Still, as their dance continued and he waited for her answer, she grew ever more aroused. He wanted her. She desired him. Two adults who knew the score. He rocked against her, all sensual seriousness and she melted.
    Give him what he was asking for or walk away and never know what could be.
    “Don’t let some asshole from five years ago keep you from opening your