Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(38)
“Taking charge?” he asked as he approached.
She gave him a grateful smile. “I think Patience is doing a good job already. I just wanted to stop by and see the town coming through for my girl.”
“There are plenty of people here.”
Patience hurried over. “Hey, Mom. Doing okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Patience didn’t look convinced. Justice nodded toward Ava. “I’m happy to stay here,” he said. “It gets me out of the real work.”
Her gaze lingered for a second. “Thank you,” she mouthed silently. “Okay,” she said aloud. “I’m not even surprised. Typical guy enjoying the act of watching other people work.”
He pulled up a chair and settled next to Ava. The older woman’s gaze was speculative.
“You want to keep an eye on what’s going on and you’re using me to do it.”
“Maybe,” he said easily.
“Not maybe. You’re different, Justice. Time has passed, so of course you’ve grown up, but that’s not the only change, is it?”
He automatically stayed outwardly calm, even as he glanced at Ava. “Are you asking or stating an opinion?”
“Both.” She studied him. “You went into the military after your father was taken into custody.”
He nodded.
“Whatever you did was dangerous. Patience and I have speculated, but I’m sure we won’t be able to guess.”
“Probably not.”
“You’ve seen things.”
More than she could ever know.
“Now you’re going to open your school here.”
He chuckled. “It’s not a school.”
“You know what I mean.” She leaned toward him. “Can you do it? Settle in a small town?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I want to be here.”
It was an honest answer, he thought. As much as the town drew him, he was concerned about fitting in. He could fake his way through any situation for a period of time. But in the end, who he was would come out.
He’d done things no man should be able to live with. Yet, as Ava had said, here he was. There were questions he couldn’t answer. Like how much of his father lived in him? Could he escape Bart’s cruel influence? Would he end up hurting the people he cared about? He’d never taken the risk. It hadn’t been worth it. He’d always been content to move on. But now he was starting to think he wanted to stay.
“Where does Patience fit in your decision?” Ava asked.
“She’s a draw. I never forgot her.”
“You’re both different people now.”
“She’s not so different.” She was older, more beautiful. But the essence of her remained. The sweetness, the humor, the unique worldview that, in her case, came out through her wardrobe of cute T-shirts.
“What are you afraid of?” Ava asked.
He turned to her. “That I’ll hurt her.”
“Then don’t.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Sometimes it is.”
* * *
PATIENCE STUDIED THE to-do list and felt the last of her stress fade away. Everything was getting done and more quickly than she could have imagined. The cleaning was done and all the plates, mugs and glasses had been unpacked. In the back room, a team worked on her shelves. Nevada kept a tight control on her team, ordering the guys around easily.
Charlie walked over. “The trim is painted. Finn, Simon and Tucker are putting up the curtain rods. Tucker has the professional experience, but Simon brings his surgeon’s precision to the experience, so imagine how that’s going. Finn’s egging them both on because it’s fun. I won’t bother telling you the trouble the Stryker brothers are getting into, but know that later, they will be punished.”
Patience laughed. “I’m not worried. Everyone is working really hard and my list is nearly complete.” She hugged Charlie. “I love this town.”
“The town loves you back.” Charlie turned her head and groaned. “Old ladies at ten o’clock.”
Patience followed her gaze and saw that Eddie and Gladys had shown up. No doubt the near octogenarians were hoping to catch sight of good-looking guys in tight jeans. The two were completely shameless. Last year Clay had arranged for some male-model friends to pose for a charity calendar. When Eddie and Gladys had found out, they’d shown up with folding chairs and stayed to watch the show.
Some of the shots had required the guys to get naked, which had delighted the friends. They’d taken pictures with their cell phones. Charlie had been forced to edit out the “frontal” nudity pictures, much to the dismay of Eddie and Gladys.
“I’ll go make sure they behave themselves,” Patience said.
Charlie put her hand on Patience’s arm. “I’ll do it. You need to stay focused on the projects. Plus, you’re too nice. They at least pretend to be scared of me.”
“Thanks.”
“What can I say? I’m an amazing friend and you’re lucky to have me in your life.”
Patience laughed.
She watched Charlie head for the old ladies and saw the two trying to duck away. But Charlie was faster and soon they were corralled. Patience made the rounds, stopping to check on the various projects.