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  Friends Forever

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  A Front Porch Romance Book

  Friends Forever

  Copyright © 2012 Madison Connors

  Edited by Liana Markel

  Cover Design: Madison Connors

  Formatting: D&D Publishing

  First Copyright e-Publication January 2013

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  Publisher

  Front Porch Romance

  D&D Publishing

  http://frontporchromance.com

  Dedication

  To Front Porch Romance and D&D Publishing

  To the first D in D&D Publishing

  Love You With All My Heart

  Friends Forever

  Chapter One

  Kate Winston watched the steaming water surge from the kitchen faucet. The water mingled with the mild dish soap, creating a bubble haven. As the orbs grew higher to the rim of the washbowl, she sighed. This weekly ritual had started to irritate her. Friday night she had go to the local singles' bar with her friends from work, drink, flirt and go home alone. Always alone.

  She'd arrived at home sexually frustrated and tore into her bedroom, falling onto her bed with teardrops escaping from her eyes. She told herself, prior to walking into the bar last night, that she would not have her evening end this way. But like always, it did.

  Kate reached over, turned off the hot water tap and stared out the window into the evolving sunrise. The break of dawn had arrived and so had her tradition of the morning after. Releasing a long sigh, she rolled up the sleeves of her brother Kurt's old shirt. Wishing the shirt really belonged to another man, and plunged her hands deep into the tepid water. Washing the dishes automatically, her mind drifted to all the other chores she had on her list for the day.

  Kate dried her hands and moved to the coffee pot, mindlessly filling her coffee mug. She sipped the hot brew, burning her lips.

  “Mhmm,” she murmured, raising her fingertips to her lips. The pain soon disappeared but reminded her of the pain deep within her, the way Rome Sterling kept unknowingly breaking her heart.

  She had arrived home the night before downright pissed off at him for ignoring her advances. And not just from last night, but from all the years of turn-downs. Her frustration with Rome went well beyond the norm. Taking another sip of her coffee, she swallowed the steamy liquid, remembering her most recent run-in with him at the bar the previous night.

  She'd been laughing and flirting with another man, a very attractive man, and she hoped ho woul dask her out on a date. Then, from her peripheral vision she caught a glimpse of Rome. His bulk had filled the doorway to the bar.

  His dark hair glistened in the hazy bar lights. Even without seeing his eyes, she knew the obsidian tinge was brooding. His powerful arms were stretching the material of his shirt to its maximum. His brawny thighs filled every inch of the denim encasing them, showing off the muscular legs beneath. He took her breath away.

  As he entered the bar, Kate inhaled sharply. Her insides quivered and her heart raced. The man had such a force over her. She shifted in her seat and squirmed as she watched Rome swagger across the room. Kurt entered moments after Rome crossed the threshold, and immediately made eye contact, warning her off his friend. Kurt knew her true feelings and had always told her to leave Rome alone. She was out of his league, he'd said.

  Kate disagreed with her brother in that aspect. Having loved Rome all these years, she knew he had feelings for her at some point. There was a little glimmer in his eyes every so often, one not detected unless she was specifically looking for it. Or had she been imagining the glances? Maybe it was the alcohol messing with her reasoning.

  Kate curled her lip in irritation and swallowed a large amount of her mixed drink. The flat rum and cola slid over her throat. No taste, no satisfaction added to her alcohol-induced demeanor. Kurt always seemed to squelch her advances toward Rome but she'd been persistent until recently. She'd all but given up hope of ever sharing her feelings with the man. He acted as if she didn't exist half the time. The only times he had ever acknowledged her was when he had the desire to treat her like a teenage girl with a school-girl crush. If he only knew how much his teasing hurt her.

  Uproarious laughter had brought her back to the present. She glanced around the bar. Her friends were laughing, and were hitting on each other. The man she'd been flirting with had moved on. She sighed and stood.

  Strutting to the bar, Kate raised her hand and wiggled her fingers to the bartender, signaling for another round. The male bartender nodded and immediately started mixing her drink order. Kate set her empty glass on the counter and gazed at the bar's attendees through the mirror hanging behind the bar. She watched as Rome and Kurt settled into a table in the corner, just feet away from her seat.

  “Great,” she muttered.

  “What?” The bartender asked, settiung her glass on the bar.

  “Nothing.” Kate waved her hand dismissing him.

  She craned her neck, watching Rome. His eyes sparkled in the hazy bar's lights. He laughed at words her brother had spoken. Halfway through his rip-roaring laughter, his eyes connected with hers. The moment their eyes engaged, all the air in her body escaped with a sharp gasp. His blazing glare paralyzed her. She couldn't have moved her body if an earthquake rattled the ground. His gaze narrowed and Kate swallowed hard, needing to break the connection he held her in.

  He broke the contact, looked at Kurt and responded to whatever was said seconds earlier. Kate's lower lip quivered and she didn't understand why Rome treated her so negatively. She never gave him a reason to be ill-mannered or hostile. She never comprehended his antagonistic manners.

  Anytime they were together, he made his feelings obvious. Rome would scowl at her, glowered and almost seemed to spit her name out when they had to converse. He seemed to have a deep imbedded dislike, or disapproval, of her.

  Kate sucked in a whimper that threatened to originate from her soul. She raised her fresh drink to her lips hoping to hide the tremor in her lip. Her alcohol buzz disappeared, but she needed the distraction. The alcohol burned her throat, but she ignored the sensation. She had to get her mind off Rome.

  Moistening her lips with the tip of her tongue,
she held her glass to her chest. The condensation spread onto her emerald silk blouse and seeped into her lace bra beneath, chilling against her overheated skin.

  Kate nibbled on her lower lip, and fought the urge to let tears fall from her eyes. Her heart ached and her head was spinning, but not from the alcohol. It came from being belittled and ridiculed by Rome's accusative glare. She had caught a few glimpses from him within the last few moments. His disapproving scowl was unmistakable.

  To occupy her mind and thoughts, she sipped more of her drink but acid churned in her stomach and bile rose in her throat. She swallowed it down, now was not the time to get sick. She had to maintain civility and demonstrate to him that he didn't bother her.

  I'll show him.

  Kate stood, smoothed her hands down her black mini-skirt and swaggered across the bar, drawing attention from men as she went. She hoped their eyes were boring into her behind as she strutted her way to her seat. Smirking inwardly, Kate slid into her chair, satisfied with her performance. She glanced at Rome's table and noticed that he hadn't seen nor paid attention to her dramatic display and that angered her. He faced the opposite direction now and there was no way he could have seen her presentation.

  She'd purposefully strutted her firm ass in front of the men in the room for his viewing and he hadn't even seen it. The skirt hugged her ass like a glove and she knew anyone looking could see that there were no panty lines. Perfect for enticing Rome, that is, if he'd even noticed… Which he hadn't.

  “God,” she muttered between clenched teeth.

  “What?” Her friend Hannah yelled over the jukebox that was blaring a hideous country song about lost love.

  “Huh? Nothing.” Kate scowled.

  “Oh, okay,” Hannah returned her attention to the conversation.

  Kate squinted her eyes, zeroing in on Rome. How dare he ignore me!

  She wasn't hurt anymore. How could he blatantly dismiss her actions? How could he not see her strutting across the room? The audacity!

  “Damn!” She glowered, drinking her beverage in one gulp.

  Hiking her left leg over her right one, she crossed her legs. She then had pouted, folded her arms tight over her large breasts, and huffed with irritation.

  The ticking of the clock on the wall brought Kate back to the present. Her coffee had grown cold so she washed it down the basin. Instead of pouring herself a fresh cup she decided to take her shower and wake up. She’d wash away the images of last night and all the other moments of humiliation inflicted by Rome.

  Kate entered the bathroom, adjusted the shower water and slipped off the tee-shirt. She flung back the shower curtain and slipped into the steamy water spray. The water sluiced over her body, warming her but not banishing her thoughts. The scalding water burned her skin but nothing would singe her heart the way Rome had all these years. His harsh words, rude manners and accusative glares implied less than friendly feelings, definitely not love.

  Tears escaped and spilled down her cheeks. The water washed them away but the hurt remained. It always would. Almost two decades of the pain she'd been eluding rolled down her cheeks. Her heavy heart threatened to burst with emotional anguish. Her chest heaved, while her stomach wretched in distress. Breathing became burdensome and all the sorrow she'd been holding in raced out of her with the velocity of a rocket on a destructive course. Tears fell and her body revolted. Slumping to the shower stall floor, Kate let her emotions take control, crying like she'd never cried before.

  Chapter Two

  Rome became frustrated, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel and staring at the front door of her townhouse. He'd been sitting outside in his truck for ten minutes. Waiting for her to either text him back or answer her damn phone. When she did neither, he slammed out of his pickup truck and stomped to her front door. Then he pounded. After waiting ten seconds, he pounded again, vowing to ram his body through the wooden barrier if she didn't open it in...

  Three...two...one

  He turned the doorknob at the last minute, thinking this would help his entry. As his bulk smashed into the solid door, his body was flung forward with a force greater than any he'd ever experienced before. Grunting, he landed on the ceramic tile of the small foyer, his shoulder taking the brunt of his weight. He shook his head in either embarrassment or stupidity, he wasn't sure. He had a hard time fathoming his actions.

  Why was he plowing into Kate's haven, disrupting her life? Was it to scold her for having dozens of men drooling over her last night? Or to tell her how he really felt and why it had taken him so long to confess his feelings.

  “Yes dammit, all of the above plus some.”

  Rome pushed up from the floor, and stood, ready to concede. Tell Kate he loved her and that his arrogant manner concealed his true feelings. He loved her and had for years. The ire he directed at her disguised his love. He hated to treat her like that all the time but he had to, to protect his heart and his sanity.

  How could he be in love with his best friend's little sister? How could he allow that to happen?

  It was easy and loving Kate came effortlessly. It was her sweet disposition, her melodic laughter and the way her blonde hair swung side to side as she talked animatedly. It was also the way she used her hands to talk and express herself. The sparkle in her turquoise eyes when she laughed. It was all intoxicating. He lost himself in her gaze. The sultry gander she tossed his way over the years left him panting for more.

  “Damn.” Rome pushed his body up and listened for movement from Kate… Nothing.

  Focusing his hearing better, he caught the sound of the shower running. Nodding his head he realized that's why she hadn't answered his text or calls.

  Blowing a sigh from his lips, he smiled. Maybe I can surprise her.

  He strolled through the living room. His eyes rolled back, his heart skipping a few beats as the shower splashed and hissed in the background. His thoughts instantly returned to the present, Kate in the shower and her sweet body beckoning to him. With every rhythmic beat of the water, Rome's body pulsed with anticipation. The idea of slipping into the shower with Kate was like a fantasy come true.

  A soft moan coming from the bathroom brought Rome back from his reverie. Turning, he headed towards the feminine sound. As he approached the bathroom, the shower water stopped and he heard Kate softly talking.

  Wasn’t she alone? Who the hell was with her?

  Rome's blood started to boil. After the way he had treated her last night, she must have found a male partner to bring back to her place. They had probably stayed awake into the wee hours of the morning and here he was disturbing their rendezvous. The thought of another man in the shower with Kate burned Rome.

  It could’ve been him. He could be the one in there right now washing away soapy bubbles from her full breasts. He could be the one towel drying her curvy hips, kneeling down to dry off her long legs.

  But instead he was standing in the hallway, not twenty feet from her, the odd man out. Feeling like an idiot, Rome smacked his palm to his forehead.

  “Dumb ass,” he shook his head. He tried to banish the thoughts of her in bed with another man fulfilling her fantasies. “Cripes! Stop it!”

  As he was about turn and disappear from witnessing any further embarrassment, he heard a soft sob coming from the bathroom. Kate still spoke in a hushed tone but the unmistakable weeping stopped Rome in his tracks. Had the man in there made her cry? Rome's free hand balled into a fist as his eyes squinted ready for a confrontation.

  He stepped towards the slightly ajar door. Steam escaped from the hot shower and the scent of lavender stung his nose. Glancing in the mirror, he could see Kate, alone. No one was with her in the bathroom. She'd showered alone.

  He leaned in closer, watching her wrap a lush bath towel around her voluptuous body. She tucked one corner between her significant bosoms, preventing the towel from falling. God what he'd give to tug at that towel, dropping it to the floor and reveal Kate's full breasts!

  A second lat
er Kate's hand slid over the steamy mirror, clearing a spot for her to view her face. With the back of her hand, she wiped away tears and then gently touched the puffiness under her eyes with her fingertips. The delicate way she nursed herself broke Rome's heart. He'd kill the bastard who'd done this to her.

  His nostrils flared at thinking a man had slinked out of Kate's house recently. Leaving her high and dry after a hit and run sexual encounter.

  A movement in the mirror caught Rome's attention. Kate was smoothing lotion over her neck and shoulders. Cocking his head to the side, he watched as she lavishly spread the creamy white liquid over her soft skin. Swallowing hard, Rome shifted his stance.

  Rome imagined his hands gliding over her soft skin, smoothing the lotion in places she couldn't reach. She'd moan when his hands slid over her tense muscles. Relieving stress from the workday and letting out little groans of delight and relinquished pleasure.

  He would lean her against the counter and pull her body close to his, while she placed her hands on the back of his head guiding him to her mouth. He imagined her velvety lips hungrily accepting his advances. A gasp found its way out of his throat and escaped.

  “Oh my God!” Kate's voice squealed. “How long have you been there?”

  “Umm,” Rome's voice caught in his throat. “I-I...”

  “Oh my God!” Kate tugged the towel around her tighter. “What the hell! How did you get in here?”

  Her anger exploded. Her turquoise eyes flared with a wrath ready to destroy. Rome had never seen Kate so enraged, and he appeared to be the cause of her fury.

  “Oh, man.” Rome released a sigh, opened his mouth to try and explain.

  “How did you get in here? Why the hell are you here? Oh my God!”