Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(59)

“Thank you,” Felicia said. “I wasn’t born this way.”

Charlie chuckled. “It’s her way of saying not to hate her.”

“I’m more likely to make people uncomfortable than generate hatred,” Felicia said. “I am hoping you’ll like me, though.”

“Honesty,” Heidi said. “Impressive.”

“You’re not the only new girl in town,” Charity Golden said. “I heard a rumor that a woman was looking at retail space right next to the sporting-goods store.”

Charity would know, Patience thought. She was the city planner.

“Do you know what kind of store she’s opening?” Isabel asked.

“Afraid you’ll have gown competition?” Heidi sipped her herbal tea.

“No. Just curious.”

“I don’t think she said,” Charity admitted. “I didn’t see the paperwork for her business license.”

Charlie looked at Charity. “Tell your husband he needs to name his damn store.”

“It’s the sporting-goods store.”

“That’s what it is, not what it’s called.”

Charity laughed. “It’s what the sign says.”

“Right. Like there’s a big sign that says library in town, too, but it has a name.”

“I’ll tell him you’re concerned.”

Isabel got up and walked over to the sound-system controls tucked into the bookcase. She turned it on and quickly dialed in one of the local radio stations. An oldies song started to play.

“Tell us about the hunky bodyguards coming to Fool’s Gold,” Dakota said to Felicia. “With my brother being one of them, you’d think we’d know something, but he’s barely been in touch.”

Nevada nodded at her triplet. “I sent him an email the other day. I swear, his reply was the written equivalent of a grunt.”

“He’s okay, isn’t he?” Montana asked.

Felicia looked at the three sisters. “Last time I saw Ford, he was fine. I’m sure he’s busy wrapping up his time in the army. There’s a lot of paperwork and a process for soldiers to acclimate to civilian life.”

“He’s not emailing you, either, then,” Dakota said.

“Not very much. Justice corresponds with him regularly.”

“Did you want to go out with him?” Montana asked. “I’m only mentioning it because our mom is determined to get him married to someone local. So he’ll stay. We think it’s a good idea.”

“We do not,” Nevada said. She glared at her sisters. “You think it’s a good idea. I think we should leave the man alone. He’s plenty capable of getting his own girl. If you get in his face, he might just leave.”

Felicia stared at them with undisguised interest. “You disagree about what to do about Ford.”

Dakota nodded. “We disagree a lot. I’ve explained their lives would be better if they would simply listen to me, but what can I say? They only look smart.”

Montana rolled her eyes. “Oh, please.” She turned to Felicia. “She thinks she’s all that because she has a psychology degree.”

“Yet you’re genetically identical.”

Dakota shifted toward her. “I know. It’s fascinating, isn’t it? That when the cell divided in utero we were identical in every way possible. But over time, through random events, experiences, even minute biological differences, we’ve become completely different people.”

Nevada groaned. “Oh, please. We’re not that interesting.”

“Has anyone ever studied the three of you?” Felicia asked.

“No,” Montana said loudly. “And we’re not going to be studied now.” She softened her words with a quick pat on Felicia’s hand. “Maybe you should get some mice or something. You know, to keep you busy.”

Felicia nodded. “I had thought of getting a dog.”

Patience leaned back in her chair and sipped her champagne. This moment was exactly what she loved about her hometown. She was surrounded by her friends, having a great time, feeling supported and listening to some very bizarre conversation. Whatever people might say about small towns, life in Fool’s Gold was never boring.

Annabelle picked up her tea. “You never told us if there were any other guys coming.”

“Interested?” Heidi asked with a grin.

“You know my heart will always belong to Shane. And our baby. But now I’m curious.”

“There is a third partner,” Felicia said. “Angel.”

“Ooh,” the triplets said together.

“Angel, huh?” Charlie sniffed. “That means he’s nothing but trouble.”

“He’s a former sniper who went to work for a private company. I’ve known him for a while, but we’re not especially close.” Felicia paused. “There’s something about his eyes. With Justice and Ford, you know they’ve seen things. That they’re strong and capable. But with Angel...” She shrugged. “I don’t want to be fanciful.”

“Be fanciful,” Isabel said.

Felicia looked uncomfortable. “It’s like he’s been to the depths of hell. He’s very nice,” she added quickly.