Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(78)

“What?” Patience asked.

“It’s horrible. It sucks you in with its niceness. All friendly and caring, like they want people to stay.”

Patience laughed. “You’d prefer a town that was hostile?”

“No, but I don’t want to like it here.”

“Because you don’t want to stay.”

“Right. But people are stopping in the bridal shop to say hi and make me feel welcome.”

“The bastards!”

Isabel laughed. “I get your point. I shouldn’t complain that I like where I’m living. But I want to be clear. I don’t care how good the cookies are—I’m not staying.”

“Which is too bad. I’d like having you stick around.”

Isabel sighed. “I’d like that part, too. It’s been fun to go to lunch and hang out. But I have a plan and it’s not going to happen here.”

Patience smiled. “Not even for Ford Hendrix?”

Isabel rolled her eyes. “He was so fifteen years ago. I’m completely over him.”

“You say that now, but you haven’t seen him. What if there’s chemistry?”

“There won’t be. Too much time has passed. We’re different people.”

Patience didn’t say anything, but she was less sure. She hadn’t seen Justice in fifteen years, and there had still been plenty of chemistry between them.

Noelle joined them, a large dish of ice cream in her hands. “I never thought I would say this out loud, but OMG! Have you tried the ice cream? It’s the most delicious thing ever.”

“No way,” Isabel said. “The cookies are spectacular.”

“As if.” Noelle held out a plastic spoon with some ice cream on it.

Isabel broke off a piece of cookie and handed it over. They each tasted the other’s offering, and then both moaned.

“That’s better,” Isabel said, pointing to the ice cream. “I didn’t think it was possible, but it is.”

“No, yours is better,” Noelle said.

They stared at each other for a second, then exchanged treats.

“So good,” Isabel said, scooping ice cream.

“You’re both weird,” Patience said. “And blonde. As a natural brunette, I’m offended by that.”

“She might be a natural blonde,” Isabel told her friend. “I pay to have my hair this color. I was thinking of going red, but then I saw Felicia and frankly she’s too beautiful. I don’t want to compete.”

Noelle smiled smugly. “I am a natural blonde. My mother and grandmother were, as well.”

“And you’re pretty,” Isabel said with a sigh. “Why do I like you?”

Patience laughed.

“Is Lillie in the parade?” Isabel asked.

“Yes, she has her bike all decorated. She’s riding with her friends. Apparently they’ve been working on a little routine together.”

Isabel finished her ice cream. “Kids were one of the perks of marriage I was really looking forward to.” She glanced at Noelle. “Did you know I’m recently divorced?”

“No. I’m sorry.”

“It happens. I wish I could say I hate him, but I don’t. We’re still friends. It’s all very civilized, which tells you how bad things had gotten.”

“It’s better than the alternative,” Noelle said. “Breakups are never easy.”

The way she said it made Patience wonder about her friend’s past. Not that the middle of a parade route was the place to get into it.

“Ladies.”

She turned and saw Justice had joined them. He moved to her and put his arm around her.

“Hi,” he murmured.

The feel of his body against hers was warm and made her tingle all over. Just being around Justice brightened her day. She had it bad, she thought, accepting the inevitable. That she had totally and completely fallen for him. Foolish, perhaps, but it was done now.

“Hi, yourself.” She smiled at him, then turned to her friends. “Has everyone met Justice?” She glanced back at him. “You know Isabel and Noelle?”

“Sure. Are you enjoying the festival?” he asked.

“Every part of it,” Noelle told him.

“You remember that I’m meeting someone?” he asked.

“Yes,” Patience told him. “And it’s fine. Just make sure you see Lillie in the parade. Otherwise, she’ll be crushed.”

“She wouldn’t be the only one. Of course I want to see her.” He looked past her and then kissed the top of her head. “Angel’s here. I’ll see you later?”

She nodded as he stepped away. Justice was still staying at the house. He was well enough that they were running out of excuses, but she really didn’t want to let him go. Once everyone was asleep, he usually slipped into her room and they made love. Everything about being with him was perfect, she thought dreamily as he cut across the parade route to the other side of the street.

“He’s good,” Isabel said, watching him go. “The right combination of kick-ass and sweet.”

“I know,” Patience said with a sigh. “He’s dreamy.”

Her friends laughed.

“Who’s he meeting?” Noelle asked.