Hold Me (Fool's Gold #16)(88)

“No. I was seeing someone who was seeing a bunch of other women at the same time, and now he’s gone. It’s for the best. I’ll move on. I’ll find the right guy.”

Kipling was at her side in a heartbeat. “Did he—”

The sadness fled as tenderness filled her eyes. She hugged him.

“No,” she whispered. “He never hit me.” She straightened and touched his face. “Kipling, not all guys are like our dad. Some are jerks with their words and actions, not their fists. You can’t protect me from everything. I appreciate that you try, but please, let this go. I’m okay. Or I will be. It’s a good lesson. I need to stop falling for flashy, charming men. I need to find someone solid, who will love me for me.”

“Someone sensible?” he asked, thinking of Destiny and her ridiculous plan. She didn’t want love. She’d been clear on that. No strong emotions for her. So she should be happy that he wasn’t in love with her. Only she hadn’t looked happy, and in the past two days, she hadn’t taken any of his calls.

“Not exactly sensible,” Shelby admitted with a smile. “I want something more romantic than that. But someone steady. Someone I can depend on.” Her smile widened. “Who isn’t my brother. This isn’t something you can—or should—fix. Not every problem has a solution. Just let me heal and get on with my life.”

“That’s a clear message.”

“Good. What’s going on with you?”

“Not much.”

“How’s Destiny?”

“Great.”

“I’m glad you two are together. She’s so right for you.”

An unexpected statement. “How do you figure?”

“Because she’s caring, and you need someone to look out for you. Her family is a little wild, which means there will always be a crisis, and you like to take care of people. You have the same world view.” She laughed. “I don’t know. You fit. I like seeing the two of you together.”

Kipling kissed her forehead. “Thanks, kid. I’ll see you soon. Let me know if you need my help.”

“Always.”

He left. Shelby’s words echoed in his head.

He’d thought he’d slept with Destiny because she was hot and that he’d married her because she got pregnant. Was there more to it than that? Shelby’s description of their relationship made him wonder if there was more going on than he’d realized. But first he had to see a woman about her bar.

* * *

“LET ME KNOW when you want to hike in, and I’ll come with you,” Cassidy said.

“It’s not your responsibility,” Destiny told her then looked back at the screen.

“We’re in this together. Besides, I like hiking.”

“Thanks.”

The last session with the volunteers had shown her there were blank areas in several of the search grids. While she and Miles had mapped as much as they could from the air, there were still several areas she had to cover on foot. She’d thought she’d gotten them all, but apparently not. Which was why she stayed on-site as long as she did.

She logged off her computer and collected her bag.

“You’re working late?” she asked Cassidy.

Her friend shook her head. “Nope. I have a date with Jeff over Skype in an hour. The lighting is better here than at my place.” She grinned. “I know, I know. After nearly twenty years of marriage, why on earth would I care about how I look, and yet I do.”

“Young love,” Destiny teased.

“Exactly.” Cassidy sighed. “I hope you and Kipling stay as in love as Jeff and me. Sure there are ups and downs in every marriage, but I would be lost without that man. And not in a way your fancy program could find me. Have a good night.”

“You, too.”

Destiny left the office and started home. As she walked toward home, she wondered how long she would be in love with Kipling. It had been two days since their last conversation. He’d tried to call her a couple of times, but she’d let him go to voice mail. When he’d texted, she’d asked for time. So far he was giving it to her.

She breathed in the warm air and wondered how she’d made such a mess of things. She’d fallen in love with a man who saw her as a project. Even more of a complication, she was pregnant with his child. It wasn’t as if she and Kipling could simply break up. They were going to be connected for the rest of their lives.

The idea of that was both wonderful and terrifying. If she had to stay in touch with him, how could she ever stop loving him? Because she had to stop. She saw that now.

All her life she’d been running from exactly what she found herself in now. An emotional mess. She’d been so sure she’d made all the right choices, but she hadn’t made any choices at all. She’d been hiding. From life. From herself. From her heart.

She arrived at the house just as Starr was walking up to the front door. They waved at each other.

“How was your day?” Destiny asked.

“Good.”

“Any more kissing?”

Her sister rolled her eyes. “You’re never letting that go, are you?”

“Probably not.”

They stepped into the living room and flopped onto the sofa.

“You’re not the type to kiss just any guy,” Destiny added. “So you must really like Carter.”