Hold Me (Fool's Gold #16)(93)

“Thanks for the clarification.” She wrinkled her nose. “I mean it, Kipling. I have to figure this out on my own. Don’t mess in my personal life, okay?”

He nodded slowly. “Sure. Come to me for money but not advice.”

She flashed him a smile. “Exactly.”

* * *

NOT SURE WHAT TO DO with himself, Kipling walked through town. Just his luck, no one was getting lost on a very busy holiday weekend.

Tourists mingled with locals. The smell of barbecue mingled with the scent of lemons and fresh churros. He nodded at people he knew, stepped out of the way of unsteady toddlers and rescued a balloon that nearly got away.

All of which should have made him feel better. Connected, maybe. But it didn’t, and he wasn’t.

He missed Destiny. Without her, he couldn’t seem to think straight. Or sleep. Or know what was going on. He could have gone to see her. He knew that she and Cassidy were out mapping the last parts of the mountain. He could have joined them. But then what?

He crossed the street and headed for the park. Live music played. Music that made him think of Destiny performing at The Man Cave and how she’d lost herself in song.

She was amazing, he thought. Powerful and talented. Beautiful. She’d claimed to love him and then told him she wanted a divorce. What was he supposed to do with that?

The truth was, he wanted her back. He missed her and—

He turned at the sound of teenage boys laughing and saw Carter standing with his friends. The second Kipling spotted him, he knew what he had to do.

He walked toward the teen. Carter saw him approaching and straightened. While the festival spun on around them, Kipling felt the afternoon grow quiet—at least in his head.

“Hey,” he said, when he was in front of Carter. “I wanted to tell you I’m sorry. I don’t approve of you kissing Starr, but I get why it happened. Mills women are tough to resist.” He raised one shoulder. “Yelling at you wasn’t my finest hour.”

Carter grinned. “It’s okay. Felicia explained about the protective instincts of the alpha male in the clan.” The teen chuckled. “Which might not make sense to you, but it’s kind of how she talks. She’s supersmart. Anyway, she’s right. Starr’s almost like your daughter. You have to be protective. I’m glad she has someone looking out for her, you know. Because it wasn’t always like that.”

Kipling stared at the kid. “You’re not a jerk.”

“Thanks, man. Neither are you.”

Kipling shook his head. “No. I mean you’re a good kid.”

“Always have been. Does this mean I can—”

“No,” Kipling told him firmly. “My protective instincts remain intact. But I now have more respect for Starr’s selection process.”

“I think that’s a compliment, so thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Carter turned back to his friends. Kipling looked around and tried to figure out what he should do next. Suddenly, a tall, brown-haired woman stepped in front of him.

“I hear you’ve been looking for me.”

She was close to forty, fit, with just enough attitude to make a guy think she knew how to take care of herself.

Kipling had no idea who she was.

“Ma’am?”

The woman raised her eyebrows. “Not a very good way to start, Kipling. I’ve heard you’re charming. Don’t disappoint me.”

Was it him, or had it gotten a little hot in here?

“I’m Jo Trellis,” the woman said. “Of Jo’s Bar.”

“You,” he said loudly. “Finally. I’ve been trying to talk to you for days. You won’t take my calls or return them. You’re never around when I stop by.”

She looked more amused than chagrined. “What can I say? I’m elusive.”

“You’re putting me out of business.”

“Back at you.”

They stared at each other.

Kipling figured it had been her town first. “I’m sure we can find a solution to this problem.”

“I’ve heard you like fixing things. So sure. Fix this one. We all take care of each other. If you wanted to open a bar that competed directly with me, you should have talked to me first. Or someone. But you didn’t. You stomped in and did your thing without considering anyone else.”

“Hey, wait. It wasn’t like that. The guys around here don’t have anywhere to go. Your place caters to women.”

Her chin rose. “Tell me how that’s bad.”

Oops. “It’s, ah, not. Women should have a bar where they can be comfortable. But so should guys. That’s all I was doing.” He thought about the town and how involved everyone was. “I didn’t think about talking to you. I’m not from here.”

“Not much of an excuse. You should learn how to have a conversation. Words matter.”

He was starting to see that. They’d mattered with Carter, they mattered with Jo. Didn’t it make sense they would matter with Destiny, too? She’d told him she loved him, and what had he said in return? Not a thing.

He thought about everything that was wrong right now. “I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you first. I should have. For what it’s worth, you’ve won. My partners have pulled out, and Nick says we can’t make it solely on tourist dollars.”