Perfect Fling

by Carly Phillips

  Sam wasn’t jealous, but he could admit that his own life and the routines he’d always enjoyed had grown stale around him. But that didn’t mean he was open to escorting the female from hell, even for a good cause.

  Cara rolled a pencil between her palms. “Do you already have a date?” she asked.

  “Hell, no,” Mike said, before Sam could answer. “He hasn’t dated anyone in longer than I can remember. In fact, the last woman who remotely interested him since—”

  No, he would not let his brother go there. “Don’t you have an office to get back to?” Sam pointed to the police chief’s workroom at the back of the station house.

  Mike grinned. “Not when this is so much more fun.”

  Cara elbowed him in the stomach. “Go. I’ll have more luck if you aren’t here poking fun at him and making this worse.”

  Mike shrugged. “Hey, it’s not my fault he’s such an easy target.”

  “Now that you’re happily married, you’re an even bigger pain in the ass,” Sam said to his sibling.

  Mike smirked and kissed his wife on the lips, lingering way too long before he finally walked—make that swaggered—away.

  “Get a room.”

  “You, too, could find true love,” Cara said, leaning closer. “We all want that for you.”

  But Sam didn’t want that for himself. He’d tried, come close, and failed in the biggest possible way. As a cop, he trusted his instincts, but when it came to women? To relationships? To personal choices? Not so much.

  His so-called gut instinct had hurt one good friend and his gullibility led to him being betrayed by his fiancée and best friend. His family only knew part of the reason he remained wary. He’d never tell them everything. But with his siblings settled, Erin with a husband and a baby, they’d all turned up the pressure on him.

  Cara leveled him with a serious stare. “I’m not asking you to marry Margie, just accompany her to the benefit. Make nice and go home. Can you do that for me? For Mike and the police station? Please?” Cara batted her eyelashes over her big green eyes.

  She’d been his best friend long before she became family, and he’d have thought he was immune—except now she was his friend and his family and he didn’t like turning her down. Besides, as she’d pointed out, the fund-raiser was for a good cause and he’d be representing the police force.

  He blew out a disgusted breath. “You’re only doing this because I can’t say no to you,” Sam muttered, shuddering at the thought of accompanying the one woman in town who sent fear into any single man’s heart.

  “Is that a yes?” Cara tapped her pencil against the blotter on the desk, her expression almost gleeful.

  “Yeah,” he muttered, knowing he would absolutely live to regret the decision.

  “Yay!” She jumped up and hugged him tight before resettling herself into the chair behind her desk. “Okay, one huge problem taken care of. I promise Mike and I will stick by you all night. I won’t leave you alone with that leech.”

  Sam narrowed is gaze. “So now you admit she’s a leech.”

  Cara didn’t look up or meet his gaze but the red flush in her cheeks gave her away. Yeah, he was a patsy for his sister-in-law and a good cause.

  “You know,” Cara said, peering out from beneath her long fringe of lashes. “You could avoid this whole kind of thing if you’d just—”

  Find a woman of his own. “Let it go,” he said to her unspoken words.

  “Okay, but Mike’s right. The last woman who interested you was—”

  “Let. It. Go.” Sam set his jaw.

  “Fine. I won’t say her name.” Cara buried herself in work at her desk, but she’d accomplished her mission.

  She’d brought up the one female in over a decade who’d made Sam want to drop his guard and rethink his vow not to get emotionally involved with any woman ever again. But Nicole Farnsworth, the raven-haired beauty who’d triggered his current state of discontent, had left town months ago. And she wasn’t coming back.

  • • •

  “No sane woman breaks off her engagement to a handsome, extremely wealthy, politically connected man,” Marian Farnsworth said by way of greeting. She stood in the doorway of Nicole’s apartment.

  The same door Nicole hadn’t bothered to lock because she was loading her car for her move.

  “Nicole. I’m speaking to you.”

  She raised herself up from the box she’d been taping shut and glanced at her mother, perfectly dressed—as always—in her Chanel jacket and wool slacks. “I heard you, Mother.”

  “What do you have to say to me?”

  “You know as well as I do, sanity doesn’t run in our family.”

  “Don’t talk that way about your sister,” her mother chided.

  Nicole opted not to tell her mother she hadn’t been talking solely about her bipolar, mentally unstable twin.

  “You need to call Tyler and beg him to forgive you.”

  This, Nicole had heard before. It was still not happening. “Mother, I don’t love him.”

  “So?!” her mother practically shrieked.

  Nicole did not want an explanation for that bit of ridiculousness. It meant she’d have to look more deeply than she cared to into her parents’ marriage.

  Instead she forged ahead with her own train of thought. “I’ll be out of here in another hour.” On her way to a new life very soon.

  “No! Your broken engagement is humiliating for your father and me. Not to mention that Tyler’s mother is running for borough president and your father can use the connection!”

  Nicole’s father, Robert, owned department stores all over the city. Having political connections to smooth away inspectors and the like mattered to him. Not to Nicole, and she blew out a frustrated breath.

  The irony was clear. Growing up, she’d sought her parents’ approval and attention by being good and kind and perfect—without success. But now, when she no longer cared what her family thought of her choices, she’d accomplished her goal. Unfortunately she’d done it by acting out of character and regrettably hurting Tyler, leaving her feeling even emptier than before.

  “Nicole, stop ignoring me.”

  She hadn’t been. Instead, Nicole had been trying to avoid an argument. “Mom! I told you before. I am not going back to Tyler. I don’t love him. I should have realized it long before now.” But he’d been kind and caring. He’d given her everything she’d yearned for in her emotionally deprived life, and Nicole had mistaken her gratitude for love.

  It had taken her sister’s downward spiral and the resulting meeting with a sexy small-town cop to point out exactly what she didn’t feel for her then fiancé. Desire, excitement, the pounding of her heart every time he was near. She’d settled for less every minute of her childhood. She couldn’t bring herself to do it in marriage.

  She realized her mother was still staring at her with confusion and frustration in her gaze. “It’s better I made the decision now than after the wedding,” Nicole told her.

  “Just when did I teach you that fairy tales come true?” Marion asked in disgust.

  “Don’t worry,” she reassured her mother. “You never did.” Not that Nicole was looking for some improbable happy ending now, either.

  But she was looking for a life of her own, one that fulfilled her own dreams and desires, and not those of her impossible-to-please family. So she was heading to the one place where she’d found a sense of peacefulness despite the insanity—no pun intended—that had brought her to the sleepy upstate town.

  Nicole was ready for Serendipity. She just hoped the people in Serendipity were ready for her.

  • • •

  One of the things Nicole liked about Serendipity was the old-fashioned charm. Where else could you find a restaurant named The Family Restaurant? After spending the morning moving into her new apartment over Joe’s Bar, she decided to eat dinner out and go food shopping tomorrow.

  She’d just finished a delicious plate of meat loaf and mashed pota
toes, when a dark-haired woman approached her from behind the counter. “Wait. I know you,” the other female said, her gaze narrowing.

  Nicole met the woman’s concerned stare. She didn’t have to wonder at the worry in her eyes. The one thing she’d feared in moving here was being mistaken for her twin. But the pull of the small town had been strong, and despite Victoria’s actions, people here hadn’t judged Nicole.

  Of course, it helped that she’d been willing to aid in finding her sister, who had been stalking a woman she believed stood in her way of getting the man she claimed was hers. When Victoria went off her medication, anything could happen—and had—and now her sister was in a criminal mental health facility, living with the consequences. Waiting for the disposition of her case to hear her fate.

  But Nicole didn’t want to assume she was being mistaken for her twin. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” she said to the woman behind the counter.

  “I’m Macy Donovan. Occasional hostess, waitress, you name it. My family owns the restaurant. Aren’t you—”

  “Nicole Farnsworth,” she chimed in quickly.

  “So you’re not Victoria? The psychopath who—”

  Nicole shook her head. “No, but she’s my twin.”

  Macy’s cheeks turned red in embarrassment. “Sorry, but she hurt a friend of mine and . . . Never mind.”

  Nicole winced. “I expected to deal with the fallout if I moved here.”

  “You moved here?” Macy raised her eyebrows.

  “Yes, I did.” Nicole squared her shoulders, intending to communicate to Macy Donovan that not only was she sure of her decision, but she wasn’t about to be bullied because of her sister.

  “Listen, I’m blunt but I’m not judging you. Erin Marsden’s my best friend and your sister stalked her for months.”

  Nicole winced at the reminder.

  “But Erin told me you helped them find where your sister was hiding out, and she said you came to town in the first place to warn her and Cole. So . . . truce?” Macy held out her hand.

  Letting out a deep breath, Nicole accepted the other woman’s peace offering. “Thanks.”

  Nicole’s cell phone chimed from where she’d set it down beside her. A quick look told her it was her ex-fiancé, Tyler Stanton. She blew out a breath and hit decline. She’d broken up with Tyler in person and there was no reason to rehash things over the phone.

  Macy had picked up a towel and was wiping down the counter. When she realized Nicole wasn’t about to answer the call, she continued their conversation. “So what brings you to Serendipity?”

  Easy answer. “A fresh start.”

  Macy grinned. “Because you liked it so much your first time around?”

  Nicole laughed. “That too. Seriously. Considering the reason I was here, the place and the people made an impact.”

  “Anyone in particular?” Macy asked.

  None that Nicole would admit to out loud. She shook her head.

  “No worries. It just so happens that there’s a fund-raiser this weekend to raise money for women’s heart health.”

  “In July?”

  “I know, right? You’d think they would do it in February, but the first year, there was such a bad storm, they moved it to July. You should come to the dance.”

  Nicole hesitated, the thought of walking into a big event all alone not something she was ready to do. “I don’t know. I mean, I’m new in town—”

  “All the more reason to go so you can meet people! Dates aren’t required. I’m not going with anyone, so we can hang out. Come on, what do you say?”

  Nicole figured Macy was right, as far as it being a good way to get to know people. Before Nicole could answer, her new friend chimed in once more.

  “It’s for a good cause. The police department is co-sponsoring the event, and since this place is basically like a donut shop for Serendipity’s Finest, I agreed to pimp tickets for them. So please?” Macy was nothing if not persistent and her enthusiasm was infectious.

  So was the fact that the police sponsorship guaranteed Sam Marsden would be at the event. And she’d like to see him again . . . “Okay.”

  “Yay!” Macy’s smile dimmed. “But it’s expensive since it’s a fund-raiser.

  “How much?”

  “Seventy-five dollars.”

  Nicole nodded. She had a plan for her life that included opening up her own bake shop, but not right away. She needed to research the area, see if it could sustain what she had in mind. Which meant she needed a job while she plotted her future. In the meantime, she had the trust fund her grandparents had left her, something which irked her parents to no end, since it meant they couldn’t control what she or Victoria did.

  Nicole didn’t plan to blow through the money frivolously, and she’d need it for her business venture, but it did enable her to rent the apartment and cover cost of living until she got on her feet. As far as she was concerned, getting to know people in her new town and supporting a worthwhile cause certainly fell under that header.

  “No problem.” She met Macy’s gaze, and the other woman smiled wide.

  “Great! Oh. Another thing.”

  Nicole leaned forward on her arms and waited. Clearly she’d met someone in the know.

  “Cocktail attire.”

  “Not a problem. I used to need dresses like that in my old life.”

  Macy raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”

  She shrugged. “It’s a long story.” Between her own parents and their causes, and Tyler and his mother’s events, Nicole had an entire wardrobe of formal and cocktail dresses. She hadn’t kept them all, just a few favorites.

  “That was surprisingly easy,” Macy said.

  Nicole laughed.

  “So are you interested in a primer on your new hometown?” the other woman asked.

  Leaning her elbows on the counter, Nicole leaned in and said, “I’m all ears.”

  “Well, Wednesday night is Ladies’ Night at Joe’s. You should join us—the us depends on who is free because there’s been way too many marriages and babies lately, so the single women and guys are dwindling. But since you’re new in town, they’ll all be new to you. So you’ll come?”

  Nicole nodded, pleased to have plans. “Happy to do that too.”

  “Great.” She looked toward the front door. “Looks like there are customers. I have to go seat people. If I don’t have time to talk more today, I’ll see you Wednesday? Seven P.M.” She grabbed a few menus from behind the counter.

  Nicole smiled as the other woman headed off to do her job. She liked Macy Donovan and it seemed like Macy had already accepted Nicole. She hoped everyone else in Serendipity felt the same way.

  • • •

  On Wednesday night, Sam met up with some guys from the station at Joe’s Bar. Josh Mercer had bought the current round and the jokes were flowing freely. Mike and Cara walked in, followed by his sister, Erin, and her husband, Cole.

  “Looks like it’s family night,” Sam said, calling them over. “How did you two get away?” Erin had given birth to her daughter recently and they rarely left her side.

  Erin greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. “Mom showed up and practically shoved us out the door. She said we needed a break and she needed time with Angel.” The hazel eyes she shared with Sam lit up when she mentioned her baby daughter.

  Cole slipped an arm around Erin’s waist, greeting Sam with a nod of his head. “She’s already called home twice to remind your mother about the time of her next bottle and what to do if she cries.”

  “Like she didn’t raise three of us?” Sam teased his sister.

  “Funny. Ask Cole who called to make sure she had our cell phones on speed dial.” Erin laughed as she nudged her husband with her elbow.

  Sam still couldn’t believe how quickly his sister had gone from getting pregnant after a one-night stand with Cole Sanders, undercover cop with no intention of remaining in town, to part of a happily married couple and overly concerned parents.

&n
bsp; “All my favorite people are here!”

  Sam turned at the sound of Macy’s voice. Erin smiled and gave her best friend a hug.

  “How is that adorable goddaughter of mine?” Macy asked.

  “Cute as ever.” Erin beamed, as she always did when speaking of her baby.

  “Hon, want to go get a drink?” Cole asked her.

  Erin nodded.

  “Anyone else want anything?” Cole asked.

  “I’m good,” Macy said.

  “Me too,” Sam added.

  Erin and Cole walked toward the bar, leaving Sam alone with Macy. As his sister’s best friend, he was used to her being around. “Hi, Macy. How are you?”

  “Hi yourself.” Her smile, as usual, was infectious. “I’m good. Busy as usual. You?”

  He shrugged. “Same old.”

  She shook her head, her long dark hair falling over one shoulder, and sighed. “You so need to get laid.”

  Sam rolled his eyes, used to her blunt manner. She was saved from being a complete pain in the ass by being beautiful in an exotic way, her Italian heritage showing through. If she wasn’t like family, he might have looked twice—until she started busting his balls, that is. She wasn’t for him, but no doubt she’d give some guy a run for his money.

  She glanced around, a frown furrowing her eyebrows. “Where’s Nicole?”

  Sam whipped his head around to meet her gaze. “Who?” He had to have heard wrong. That or it could be another Nicole. It was a common enough name.

  Macy scanned the crowds before refocusing on Sam. “You probably know her? Nicole Farnsworth, the stalker’s sister? She’s new in town and renting the room over Joe’s. I invited her to meet me here tonight.” Macy glanced at her watch and her concerned expression turned to a frown. “She’s late. You haven’t seen her, have you?” Macy asked.

  Sam expelled a harsh breath. Nicole had moved here? Months of thinking about her and she was now as close as upstairs?

  “Maybe she’s uncomfortable, not knowing anyone . . . and considering I mistook her for her crazy sister at first . . . I should go check on her.” She shoved her glass at Sam. “Hold this for me?”