Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(66)

“Remind me not to invite you to my next party,” he grumbled, studying the scrambled eggs and bacon next to buttered toast. While he wasn’t hungry, he knew the value of eating. The nutrition was necessary to heal.

“You don’t have parties. Besides, you wouldn’t invite me. You’d want me to plan it. I would attend by default.”

He paused, the fork halfway to his mouth. “Felicia?”

She dragged over the chair Patience had sat in earlier, then settled herself on the seat and sighed.

“I’m emotionally unsettled and therefore prone to outbursts,” she told him. “Ignore me.”

“Hard to do when you’re the only other person in the room.” He stared at her. “Look at me.”

She turned her green eyes in his direction.

“I’m sorry,” he told her.

“You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I’m sorry I made you feel as if I don’t value your company. I would want you at my party.”

“You’re saying that because you think I’m upset and you don’t want to have to manage my feelings and because you feel guilty.”

He chuckled. “Never give a guy a break.”

“I’m just telling the truth.”

“Fine. If I were to have a party, I would ask you to help, but I would still want you there. You’re all I have, kid.”

She smiled. “That’s not true, either, but it’s nice that you said it.”

“Thanks for bringing me breakfast.”

“You’re welcome.”

He took a bite and chewed. “Don’t take this wrong, but why are you here?”

“Patience called and asked for my help. She’s at work, Ava can’t climb the stairs and there was some concern that Lillie couldn’t manage a heavy tray.”

“I’m a problem,” he said, knowing he had to leave as soon as possible.

“You’re not a problem. They like you. They want to take care of you. I suggest you not try leaving. Patience was very angry with you yesterday. She was also upset about you bleeding. You should stay here while you can.”

She spoke in her usual matter-of-fact tone. In his experience most women were ruled by their hearts more than their heads, but Felicia couldn’t ignore something as powerful as her brain. It wasn’t that she was especially logical; it was that she knew everything, in every situation.

Which made her comment all the more curious. “While I can?”

Felicia sighed. “They’re not like us. Patience, her family. This town. They’re so...”

“Ordinary?”

“Yes. This is exactly what I wanted. I said I wanted to live with regular people. To belong. But now that I’m here, I’m confused.”

“I’m confused, too.”

“You are?”

He nodded. “It’s easier when the bullets are flying.”

“Right. Because there’s no planning. You react and either live or die. But this place is all about ritual and nuance.” She opened, then closed her hands. “I want to fall in love.”

He continued eating his breakfast.

“You’re not reacting,” she said.

“I know you don’t mean with me.”

“I don’t. While you’re very physically attractive, I don’t have an internal, chemical reaction when you’re around. There are several possible explanations, if you want to hear them.”

“No, thanks.”

She nodded. “Do you remember Gideon?”

He’d just taken a bite of toast. He forced himself to keep chewing. “Uh-huh.”

“He’s here, isn’t he?”

Justice swallowed. No point in avoiding the inevitable. “You’ve seen him?”

“I heard him on the radio. I haven’t seen him. You know he’s the one I—”

Justice wanted to put his hands on his ears and hum. “Yes, I know,” he said quickly, interrupting her, then swore. “You’re like a sister to me, Felicia. I don’t want to hear about you having sex with some guy.”

“Despite being my first time, it was a very satisfying encounter.”

He glared at her. “What part of ‘I don’t want to hear’ was unclear?”

“I need to talk to someone about it.”

“That’s what girlfriends are for.”

She winced.

He swore again. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. You’re stating the obvious. That is what girlfriends are for.”

But she didn’t have any here. At least not yet. It wasn’t ever easy for Felicia to make friends.

“Consuelo will be here soon,” he said, knowing it wasn’t enough.

Consuelo was going to be one of the instructors. She was small but a great fighter. He never wanted her to know, but he was pretty sure Consuelo could seriously kick his ass.

“We can talk,” he said, trying not to grit his teeth. “Until she gets here. You know, about Gideon.”

“And my feelings?” she asked, her eyes bright with amusement.

“Sure. Feelings are good.”

She touched the back of his hand. “You’re very sweet to me.”