Hold Me (Fool's Gold #16)(57)

She shook hands with both of them. She wore a plain gold band on the ring finger of her left hand. As the cuff of her sleeve moved with the motion, he caught sight of a rose tattoo on the inside of her wrist.

“Mrs. Modene. Thank you so much for coming to see us here in Fool’s Gold,” Mayor Marsha said, leading the way to the sofas in the corner.

“My pleasure. It’s a nice little town.”

They all sat. Kipling respected how the mayor had maneuvered them. He was next to her on the sofa, with Cassidy perched on the edge of a club chair. Two against one? He was comfortable with his expertise, but hiring wasn’t it. He’d learned a lot from each of the interviews he’d participated in and knew this one would be no exception.

The good mayor lulled with seemingly idle chitchat before effortlessly shifting into more meaty conversation. Often with no warning. She’d gotten one apparently excellent candidate to admit he was more interested in time on the slopes than doing his job. Kipling wondered if Cassidy had any similar secrets to spill.

“You grew up in Wyoming,” Mayor Marsha said.

“Yes. So I’m used to small towns.” Cassidy flashed a smile. “I’m not sure what I would do in a big city. I like the outdoors.”

“I noticed the rose on your wrist. Any emotional significance?”

Cassidy’s eyes darkened. “It’s in honor of my mother.”

Mayor Marsha didn’t say anything. Kipling thought Cassidy would keep talking to fill the silence, but she didn’t. Score one for the recruit, he thought.

“Is your husband willing to relocate?” the mayor asked.

“Jeff’s in his last year of twenty with the navy. He told me he wanted me to find him a nice place for his second act. We’re thinking Fool’s Gold might be it.”

Mayor Marsha nodded. “Well, then, tell us about your search and rescue dogs.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

KIPLING’S KNOWLEDGE ABOUT what went on in a gynecologist’s office could easily fit on a three-by-five card and leave room for a recipe. But he’d made the appointment and now found himself in the offices of Cecilia Galloway, MD.

The good doctor was probably close to seventy, with short, steel-gray hair and glasses. She was tall, large-boned and when she raised both eyebrows as if asking why he was here, Kipling had no idea what to say.

“It’s not about me,” he told her.

“I’m relieved. The last time I examined a man, I was in medical school. While I’m sure none of the parts have changed, I doubt I remember how to take care of them.” Dr. Galloway nodded encouragingly. “How can I help you, Mr. Gilmore?”

“Kipling. And, ah, I’m here about a friend of mine. She, ah...” He wondered how much he should say. While he was part of the problem, technically Destiny didn’t know he was here, and he had a feeling she wouldn’t approve.

“I doubt there’s anything you can say that I haven’t heard a dozen times before,” Dr. Galloway assured him. “Just take a deep breath and blurt it out. That’s usually the best way.”

“Right. I have a friend. And we—” No, that wasn’t right. “The virgin thing,” he began, then wished he hadn’t. “After sex...”

He cleared his throat and started again. “If you can deflower a virgin, can she be reflowered?”

The woman sitting across from him blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Can she be made a virgin again?”

He had to give her credit. The doctor’s expression barely moved, although he thought he saw the corners of her mouth shift down, as if she didn’t approve of their conversation.

“How old are you, Mr. Gilmore?”

“Thirty-two.”

“Perhaps if you were with more age-appropriate women, this wouldn’t be a problem.”

“What? No. Shit. Is that what you’re thinking? No. She’s not young. She’s in her late...” He realized he shouldn’t be talking about Destiny in specifics. “She’s not a teenager at all. Not for several years. I’m not into young girls.”

He stood and walked to the window, then turned back. “Look, it’s not what you think. I didn’t know, okay? She talked about not being interested in sex, and I thought she’d been with a bunch of jerks who never gave her an orgasm. But it turns out she was a virgin. And I hadn’t been with anyone in months. Like almost a year, so it was quick, and there was this barrier, and I tried to stop because I kind of guessed what it was but it was too late and then it was over and...”

He swallowed. “Can you put it back?”

Dr. Galloway’s lips were moving for sure, but they didn’t look disapproving anymore. If anything he would say she was trying not to laugh.

“I see,” she said slowly. “I’m pleased to know you’re not preying on young women.”

“I’m not. Ever. That’s awful.”

“Yes, it is. So about your friend. That barrier you felt is the hymen, and while it can be sewn back, I don’t recommend it. From what you said, she hadn’t been avoiding sex for religious reasons. There’s no disapproving family to punish her?”

“No.”

“Then let it be. Did you run out on her? Leave her crying?”

Kipling flinched. “You really hate men, don’t you?”