Hold Me (Fool's Gold #16)(42)

It was, he realized, a problem that needed fixing.

“There are a few flaws in your master strategy,” he told her.

“I know, and I’m still working out the details.”

“Like finding a willing partner.”

She smiled. “Yes, that is one of the bigger details.”

“And the sex thing.”

She groaned. “What is it about men and sex?”

“We like it.”

“So I’ve heard. Over and over again.” She stared at him then narrowed her gaze. “You’re not going to change my mind on any of this. I don’t want you to try.”

“Me? Try to change you? Why would you suggest that?”

“There’s nothing wrong with me. I don’t need to be fixed or healed or anything.”

“Uh-huh. What I find interesting is how you think you know what you’re talking about, and you don’t. I can’t wait to see you fall on your ass.”

She looked away. “If you had your way, I wouldn’t be falling on my ass, now would I?”

Kipling laughed. “And the first point goes to Ms. Mills.”

She stood and walked to her computer. “I’ll get enough points to win. Just you wait and see.”

He knew she was wrong, but it was going to be fun letting her find that out for herself. Because he’d gone from a man who was interested to a man on a mission.

For a second he considered the fact that they were kind of on the same side of the love issue. They’d both seen people who claimed to love each other do awful things, and had decided not to trust the feelings. They both wanted a rational response to a potential intangible. With one big exception. He was a firm believer in the power of passion, while she was convinced passion was the problem. She was wrong about that. Which meant he was going to be the one to show her exactly what it was she’d been missing.

* * *

DESTINY HURRIED TOWARD Ambrosia Bakery. She’d planned on making a pie for dessert, but hadn’t been able to leave work on time. And while it was true that neither she nor Starr needed pie in their life, she’d thought it would be nice to have. She would’ve had time to make one herself if she hadn’t stayed so long talking to Kipling. Which explained her visit to the bakery. This was guilt pie.

He was fun to talk to. Fun to hang out with. Fun to kiss. Just as interesting, she’d told him about what she wanted from life, and he hadn’t said no. He hadn’t been thrilled, but he’d seen the conversation through. Which made her wonder if he would consider what she was interested in. Because the more time she spent with Kipling, the more she wanted to spend time with him.

That had to be a sign or something. While it was too soon to know enough about his character or her feelings, for the first time she felt a sense of...maybe. Just maybe she could find what she was looking for. A good man who wanted a family and wasn’t going to get all weird about the sex thing.

Because he’d already had a bunch. He’d admitted it to her. So maybe that could be enough. It wasn’t like anyone needed to keep doing it.

She paused just outside the bakery as a little music video played in her head. The song was one she’d written, and the images were all of her and Kipling. Talking together, walking through the woods, holding hands. At the end, she imagined them kissing. Because that had been really nice. Maybe she wasn’t interested in doing the deed, but she wouldn’t mind daily kissing. And hugging. A married couple should hug. It established connection.

She shook off the daydream and stepped into the bakery. Shelby smiled.

“Hey, I didn’t expect to see you so late in the day. You’re one of my morning customers.”

“I was hoping you had a pie I could take home for Starr.” Destiny walked to the counter. “You’re working late. Don’t you get in at four in the morning?”

Shelby laughed. “Yeah, it’s been a long day. Amber had a bunch of appointments so I said I’d work a double shift. She’s hired more part-time help for the summer, but they haven’t started yet.” She covered a yawn. “I’ll be in bed early tonight.”

“You’d have to be.”

“Until then, pie. So cold or hot? We have a few cream pies left, or double-crusted fruit pies.”

“Cream pie,” Destiny said, thinking she would have made a fruit pie, so a cream pie would be a nice change.

Shelby pointed out various options, and Destiny went with the double chocolate mousse pie that included a layer of both light and dark chocolate along with plenty of whipped cream.

Shelby rang up the purchase. “I know you probably don’t want to talk about this, but I have to tell you, you have an amazing voice.”

Destiny did her best to keep smiling. She’d brought the attention on herself, and now she had to deal with it.

“Thanks.”

“You really don’t like singing in public?”

“No.”

“But you looked so comfortable. Totally at ease. I figured you’d sound amazing, but I had no idea what you could do.” She handed Destiny change and then placed the pie box in a bag and passed it across the counter. “You and Miles must have known each other awhile.”

“We’ve been working together a couple of years.” Destiny shifted the bag to her other hand. “My mom visits me a few times a year, and she happened to come while I was working with Miles. He was completely smitten with her, as most men are.”