A Fool's Gold Christmas (Fool's Gold #9.5)(28)

Over the next hour, each of the sets was completed. Evie thanked the teams as they finished. She introduced herself to the mayor, who was a very pleasant woman. From what Evie could tell, no one else had shared Patience’s reaction to the mayor wearing pants.

“Thank you,” Evie told a blonde woman and her husband. “I’m sorry, I know you said your name, but I…” The woman was one of the triplets, but Evie had no idea which one.

“Don’t worry. You’ve met way too many people today. You can’t keep us all straight. I’m Nevada Janack and this is my husband, Tucker.”

Evie shook hands with both of them, telling herself Nevada was pregnant. That information would help her keep the name with the face, at least until Nevada gave birth. “You were both wonderful. You didn’t need to rebuild that whole section.”

“It needed it,” Tucker said. “Not to worry. Nevada and I are both in construction. So’s Will.” He pointed to the man who had been assisting them.

The three of them had taken apart the last set and basically created a new version from scratch. Now it was painted, and the pulley system for the falling snow gleamed with new hardware.

“Good luck with the show,” Tucker said, then turned to his wife. “I’m going to help Will load the truck.”

“Sure,” Nevada said, then she looked at Evie. “My two sisters said to say they’re sorry they couldn’t make it. They both have kids on the tail end of colds.”

“That’s fine. We had plenty of people.”

Nevada leaned toward her and lowered her voice. “Be grateful they didn’t come. One of my brothers is in the military. He just told us he’s not reenlisting, which means he’s coming home next year.”

Evie wasn’t sure what that had to do with her sets. “Okay. You must all be happy.”

“We are. We haven’t spent any time with Ford in years. But the thing is, my sisters are determined to get him married off as quickly as possible. They’re making a list of potential women and you’re on it.”

“Oh.” Evie took a step back. “While I’m flattered, I, ah…”

“Can get your own guy? That’s what I told them. Not that they’ll listen. Ford’s great. Don’t get me wrong, but matchmaking is a slick road to disaster.”

“I appreciate the warning.”

“Anytime.”

Technically, it wouldn’t ever be an issue, Evie thought. She wasn’t planning to be here a year from now. Although it made her kind of sad to think she wouldn’t be working on the dance again.

Nevada, Tucker and Will gathered their tools and left. Evie’s brothers had finished with the throne and were now checking to see which sets were dry and ready to be put away.

The nearly empty hallway smelled of paint and glue. The coffee and cupcakes had disappeared, and sometime when she hadn’t been looking, someone had cleaned up the brushes and neatly stacked the cans of paint.

Shane and Rafe wheeled the throne back into the storage locker while Clay crossed to Evie.

“Five of the sets need to dry a little more before we store them,” he told her. “I talked to the manager, and he said we can leave the sets out as long as they’re not in the way. I’ll swing by later and put them back into storage.”

“I can do it,” she said, surprised he would offer.

“Some of them are heavy. I’ll take care of it.” He draped his arm over her shoulder. “Then you’ll owe me and I like the sound of that.”

“Thanks,” she told him.

“No problem.”

Clay joined his brothers. A few minutes later, Dante and Evie were left alone in the warehouse. She pulled out her phone and glanced at the time.

“It’s not even noon.”

“Told you,” Dante said. “You have to have a little faith in people.”

“Oh, please. You’re a lawyer. Faith is hardly your strong suit.”

“I have my moments.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “The tree lighting ceremony is tonight. Want to go with me?”

The sense of anticipation that had been so obviously quiet when she’d been speaking to Gideon fluttered to life in her tummy. She felt herself smiling up at Dante and hoped she didn’t look as foolish as she felt.

“I’d like that.”

“Pick you up at six. We’ll eat on the way.”

Chapter Nine

“You were right,” Evie said, sipping the tea Charlie had made for them.

Charlie sat across from her in the kitchen at the fire station and smiled. “That never gets old. Maybe you could say it again.”

Evie laughed. “I’m happy to. You were right. People showed up to help me with the sets. Lots of people. I didn’t know most of them and yet there they were. Everything was done by noon. I never expected anything like that to happen. And yes, I know. I need to have faith in people. I’ve been told.”

“Then my work here is done.” Charlie leaned back in her chair.

“I met Gideon.”

“What’s he like? I’ve heard him on the radio. Sexy voice.”

“Tell me about it. He’s attractive, in a dangerous sort of way.”

“That should make him irresistible.” Charlie arched her eyebrows. “Any interest?” She held up a hand. “Never mind. I apologize for asking. I can’t believe I’m turning into one of those women who falls in love and then wants to see everyone around her paired up as well. It’s horrible.”