Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(57)

When she didn’t, Patience spoke. “Justice really broke down the door?”

“Yes. He’s quite strong. All the Special Forces guys are. If we were in a pack, Justice would be the alpha male. There’s both status and safety in belonging to him, you know.”

“And here I thought all the good news was about the orgasms.”

Felicia laughed. “That, too.” Her smile faded. “I want to ask you a question and I’d appreciate you being honest with me.”

“Sure.”

“Do you think it’s possible for me to fit in here? In Fool’s Gold? I’m going to help Justice and Ford get their business started, but after that’s done, I want to get out of the security business. I want normal.”

“Normal can be boring.”

“That’s okay. I’m so tired of not belonging.”

Patience leaned toward her. “I hope you decide to stay here, Felicia. Fool’s Gold would be lucky to have you.”

Felicia flashed her a dazzling smile. “Thank you. I was thinking I could be a teacher. Maybe kindergarten.”

“An interesting idea.” Patience had a feeling Felicia would bring her unique brand of brilliance to whatever it was she decided to do.

“You don’t think I’d frighten the children?”

“No, but you’d terrify their parents, and that’s not a bad thing.”

Felicia drew in a breath. “Thanks for talking to me today. I feel better. I know I’m a little awkward and you’ve made me think I can do all right here.”

“You’ll be fine. You’ve already started making friends.”

“I have. Justice said I’d do well here. He said everyone was very welcoming when he was here before. When he was a teenager.”

“Right. That was the strangest thing.” She still couldn’t believe she’d known someone who had been a protected witness. “One day Justice was here and the next he was gone.”

“You know his father had been sighted in the area?”

“Uh-huh. Now. But back then all I knew was that I’d lost a close friend.” And the first boy she’d ever liked. “I guess his dad was really scary.”

“Bart Hanson was a sociopath,” Felicia said flatly. “Justice worries he has too much of his father in him. I’ve told him that pathologically, they’re nothing alike, but he won’t listen. His concerns aren’t rooted in fact.”

“That doesn’t make them any less real.”

“I know. The human mind is a constant surprise. All the logic and facts available can be meaningless when put up against a visceral emotion. Like my fear of spiders. I try to stay focused on reality rather than feelings, but I’m not always successful.”

“Welcome to my world,” Patience told her. She hesitated, then asked, “Do you think Justice will stay?”

“He’s said he will.” Felicia nodded. “You’re attracted to him.”

“Very much so. But I don’t want to get my heart broken.”

Felicia tucked her long, wavy hair behind her ears. “You know the heart doesn’t really break.”

Patience laughed. “Yes, I know.”

“Although there have been studies that show the sadness of losing a loved one can physically damage...” She cleared her throat. “Never mind. No one finds that sort of thing noteworthy except me. Justice keeps a lot of his emotions to himself. He doesn’t trust easily. He would die for someone he cares about, but I’m not sure he’s ever admitted to loving anyone. He wants to settle here. He’s never wanted to put down roots before. I realize these are disjointed facts, but I believe they point to a logical conclusion.”

“That while Justice might be staying, he’s also a risky man to fall for.”

Felicia sighed. “Yes. I need to learn to be more succinct and colloquial.”

“I like you just as you are.”

“You’re very kind.”

“Not really. Ask anyone.”

Felicia laughed. Patience joined in and knew that whatever happened with Justice, she’d just made a friend. And that meant today was a very good day.

* * *

THE TOWN OF Fool’s Gold relied on tourists for a steady stream of income. There was skiing in the winter, the wineries and lakes in the summer. Hiking, biking and all the adorable shops in town. But what drew the really big crowds were the festivals. They were well-known and much loved.

The town didn’t just celebrate traditional events like the Fourth of July or Christmas. There was the Great Casserole Cook-off and the Sierra Nevada Balloon Festival.

Patience knew that being a part of the town’s festivals would mean more tourists in her store. To make sure that happened, she’d set up an appointment with Pia Moreno, who was in charge of all things festival.

She climbed the stairs to Pia’s office two minutes before the time of their appointment and knocked on the half-open door.

“Hi,” she said as she entered.

Pia, a pretty woman in her early thirties, looked up. Her curly hair was mussed and her hazel eyes seemed slightly glazed.

“Hi, Patience. Did we have a meeting today?”

“Yes. My store opens tomorrow and I wanted to talk about how I could support the festivals. You know, advertise in my windows and be a part of things. Tulip-shaped cookies for the Tulip Festival and a special Fourth of July iced coffee drink. That sort of thing.”