A Fool's Gold Christmas (Fool's Gold #9.5)(41)
They’d both grown up without a father figure in their lives, so she would guess they both knew how important a dad could be. While children weren’t on her immediate radar, should that happen, she would prefer to have a man around. She doubted he was the kind of man who would ever consider walking away from his kids.
Under other circumstances he might be someone she wanted to consider hanging on to. Only Dante wasn’t into forever, and she was planning on moving on. Although right now her reasons for wanting to leave Fool’s Gold seemed a little fuzzy.
“You’d be great,” Evie told him and centered the book on the wrapping paper.
* * *
IN LESS TIME THAN Dante would have thought, the books were wrapped. Evie went off with her cheerleader fans and he stayed after to help load the wrapped books into boxes for delivery.
Gideon joined him, loading the boxes onto a cart.
“Do you know if Evie’s gone over my suggestions for the production?” he asked.
Dante straightened slowly and stared at the other man. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m doing the narration for The Dance of the Winter King. Didn’t she tell you?”
“No. She didn’t mention it.”
Gideon was tall and moved like someone who knew his way around a fight. Dante recognized the subtle signs from his own early years. The scar by Gideon’s eyebrow and the tattoo visible under his rolled-up shirtsleeves were also a clue.
“I had some suggestions to make the transitions smoother,” Gideon said. “The premise of the story is interesting. I like the message.”
“There’s a message?”
“Sure. Every child is special. Unique.” He gave a quick smile. “Like a snowflake.”
A snowflake? Dante did his best to reconcile the dark, dangerous man in front of him with a guy who talked about children being special snowflakes.
“Okay,” he said slowly. “I’ll, ah, tell her you’re looking for her.”
Just then they were joined by a well-dressed, white-haired woman in a suit. It took Dante a moment to put the name with the face.
“Mayor Marsha,” he said. “Nice to see you again.”
“You, too.” The older woman smiled at both of them. “I’m happy to see you’re settling in. And you’ve met Gideon.” She turned to the other man. “I’m delighted by the Christmas music. Very eclectic choices. Some traditional songs, of course, but I’m very much enjoying the international selections.”
“I like to mix it up,” Gideon told her, winking as he spoke. “Keep folks guessing.”
The mayor glanced at Dante. “Gideon has recently purchased the two radio stations in town. One AM, one FM. The FM station is playing all Christmas music.”
“I’ll have to tune in,” Dante said politely.
“I’m getting lots of good feedback,” Gideon said. “A few local rockers have been by, requesting something else.”
“There are local rockers in Fool’s Gold?” Dante tried to imagine them being happy in the quiet, family friendly town and couldn’t.
“Young rockers,” Gideon said, then nodded at the cart. “I need to get these out to the truck. Good to see you, Mayor Marsha.”
“You, too.”
Dante expected the old lady to move on, but she waited until Gideon had left, then turned to him.
“You’re settling in well.”
He stared at her, not sure if she was asking a question or making a statement.
“This town is very special,” she continued. “A lot is expected of our citizens, but then people get so much in return. Do you know very much about Gideon?”
“No. We’ve only met a couple of times.”
“A very interesting man with a violent history. Then he met a couple of men who changed his life forever. Ford and an angel.” She smiled. “Sorry. I couldn’t resist.”
“I don’t get the joke.”
“Ford and Angel are men’s names. Two men who—” She shook her head. “It’s not important. Suffice it to say Ford is the son of one of our founding families. He’s coming back, as soon as he figures out how to embrace his past. As for Angel, he’ll be home soon, too.”
She motioned to the rapidly emptying room. “This is exactly what you need, Mr. Jefferson. You’ve been on your own for too long. I understand why you’ve been reluctant to truly settle and admit you’re ready to make a home. But here in Fool’s Gold we take care of our own. You will always be safe, always welcome.”
He stared at the old woman, telling himself there was no way she could know about his past. That no one but Evie knew about his mother and he was convinced she wouldn’t have said a word. The mayor was talking in generalities. He was reading too much into her words. Or maybe she was really fishing for information.
He ignored the compassion and certainty in her blue eyes and gave her a practiced smile. “I like Fool’s Gold well enough, but I still have my place in San Francisco.”
“You’ll sell it soon. You belong here, Mr. Jefferson. Fool’s Gold has everything you’ve been looking for. We can’t undo the past, but we can heal from it. Oh, and would you please tell May that Priscilla would be more than welcome at the Live Nativity.”