Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(51)

That image made her stomach hurt, so she tried not to think about it. She had to get herself together. The dishwasher was going in soon. Once that was done, she would be training staff, then opening her business. That’s what mattered. Moving forward. Living the dream. Possibly running over Felicia if she had the opportunity.

“Hey.”

A hand touched her shoulder at the same time she heard the voice. She screamed and tried to scramble away, only to find herself staring into Justice’s amused gaze.

“How did you get in here?” she demanded, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Through the door.”

“I locked it.”

“I knocked, but I guess you didn’t hear me.” He shrugged, then sat down in front of her. “I wanted to see you.”

“So you picked the lock on my door?”

“Uh-huh.”

A man with a variety of skills wasn’t always a good thing.

She pushed her hair out of her face and wished she’d put on something more classy than old jeans and a T-shirt with a glittery surfboard on the front. Plus, she wasn’t wearing makeup. Not that any of that would make her look like Felicia, whom she hated a lot.

“How are you?” he asked.

“Fine.” A lie, but she was okay with that.

“Seriously?”

“Sure. I’m great.” She tried to smile, but wasn’t sure she succeeded.

He reached for her hand. “About yesterday.”

That was supposed to be her line. “About yesterday. It’s over, skunk-dog.”

Only before she could speak, he brought her fingers to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. Then he gave her his best slow, sexy smile. “Impressive.”

Tinges zigzagged down her arm to her chest and belly. She ignored them and the need to swoon. “Okay,” she said cautiously. Maybe she would wait to hear what he had to say. Then she would end things.

“Just okay?” He studied her, then nodded, as if he’d figured out what was wrong.

She wasn’t sure that was a good thing. “I wasn’t sure what to think. Everything happened so fast.” She glanced around, hoping to find something on fire, or see an alien landing. Anything to distract him from her confused emotional state.

“I’m sorry about the timing of Felicia’s arrival,” Justice told her, his blue gaze steady.

“Me, too.”

He continued to study her. “You know she and I are friends, right? She’s like a sister to me. Always has been. Just friends. There’s never been anything between us.”

Patience felt herself start to lean toward him, then forced herself to pull back. “You mentioned something about it,” she admitted. A long time ago, when the information hadn’t seemed very important. It was much more significant now.

“We worked together and we’re family. I’ll always be there for her—like you’re always there for your mom.”

If he was trying to make her feel better, he was doing a fine job. She gave him a real smile. “Thanks for telling me that.”

“I didn’t want you worrying.” He kissed her hand again. “I’m not very good at this.”

“At what? Sitting on the floor? Because you seem to be a natural.”

He chuckled, then leaned in and kissed her mouth. “Being with someone like you. Someone regular.”

“You usually sleep with superheroes?”

“I usually don’t stick around until morning.”

“You didn’t. Technically you left with a very tall, very beautiful woman.” She sniffed. “I’m just saying.”

He grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, twisting her so she found herself draped across his lap, looking up at him.

“I missed you,” he said, staring into her eyes. “After I left. I thought about you and wondered what you were doing. Part of me wanted you to find some guy and be happy, and part of me...”

Didn’t.

“You never called. You never got in touch,” she said. “If you like me, you should have done something.”

He nodded. “I know.” He looked away, then back at her. “Patience, I’ve been places and seen things. More than seen. You’re light and good and gentle. I worry that by simply being close to you, I’m corrupting your soul.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “Maybe that’s too dramatic, but it’s how I feel. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I don’t want that, either.”

He touched her cheek. “The smartest thing would be for me to stay away from you. Only I don’t think I can. You’ll have to be strong for both of us.”

She wasn’t sure she agreed with that plan. Especially when he lowered his head and kissed her. The pressure of his mouth on hers was soft and caring. There was passion, but it was restrained. If she had to guess, she would say this was more about connecting.

She wrapped her arms around him, hanging on, aware that the man knew how to get to her. Yesterday with how he touched her body and today with how he touched her heart.

Everything was happening so quickly, she thought. She had to step back and think. Make sure she knew what she was doing. And she would...just as soon as he stopped kissing her.

Justice raised his head. “Your mom will be here in a few seconds.”