Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(79)

“I want to know, too,” Isabel said. “And is this Angel person a man or a woman?”

“A man. One of his business partners. Along with Ford.”

Isabel tossed her ice cream cup into the trash can by the entrance to Brew-haha. “Don’t start.”

“Who’s Ford?” Noelle asked. “I’m never going to be able to keep these names straight.”

“Ford used to live here. Isabel was insanely in love with him.”

“I was fourteen,” Isabel grumbled. “It was a crush. Get over it.”

“Tell her about the letters,” Patience teased.

“There are—” Noelle’s mouth dropped open. “Oh my.”

The other two turned and saw Justice standing next to a tall man with dark hair. The stranger shifted slightly so they could see his pale gray eyes and a jagged scar on his neck.

Isabel took a step back. “Is that for real? It looks like someone tried to slit his throat.” She shivered. “He’s scary.”

Patience had to agree. Somehow she’d imagined that Angel would look more, well, angelic.

“I agree,” Noelle said. “Way too dark-side for me.”

“He could be a kitten on the inside,” Isabel said, “but he looks like a crazed killer.”

“I take it neither of you wants to be set up with him?” Patience asked with a grin.

“Not brave enough by half,” Isabel admitted. “I wonder what kind of woman would be willing to take him on.”

“An interesting question,” Noelle said, licking chocolate off her finger. “Because you know all that intensity has to mean he’s great in bed.”

* * *

“WHAT THE hell is this?” Angel demanded even as he shook Justice’s hand. “All this town needs are the Munchkins from The Wizard of Oz and some goddamn fairy in a bubble.”

“You don’t like Fool’s Gold?”

Angel gave his friend a slow smile. “I didn’t say that. I can do cheesy, same as you.”

“Then you’re going to like it here. How was your trip in?”

Angel stared at him. “You gonna ask me about the weather next?”

Justice chuckled. “Sorry. I’m getting used to being around regular people. You’re going to have to do the same.”

“I’ve always been able to blend in.” Angel surveyed the crowd. “What’s the parade?”

“Something about Mother’s Day. The Spring Festival, I think. Lillie is in it. She’s ten.”

Angel’s shrewd expression didn’t change. “Let me guess. Her mom is one of those three women across the street. The ones pretending they’re not watching us.”

“Yup.”

Angel turned to stare at the women. They immediately began talking intently to each other, as if they hadn’t noticed him at all.

“The brunette,” Angel said.

“How do you figure?”

“She’s looking at you, not at me. If I were a less cynical man, I would say she’s in love with you.” He raised his eyebrows. “How’d you let that happen?”

“I have no idea.”

Justice waited for the sense of being trapped. For the need to run. But it wasn’t there. He still didn’t know if he could be what Patience needed, but he was willing to admit that having her love him went a long way to healing any lingering wounds. Maybe it was wrong or selfish of him, but if Patience cared, he couldn’t be all bad.

Angel glanced around, then swore under his breath. “We have to stay for the parade, don’t we?”

“I helped Lillie decorate her bike.”

“You couldn’t have arranged the meeting for an hour from now?”

Justice slapped him on the back. “It’ll be good for you.”

Angel shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. “Can we at least talk about business while we’re waiting?”

“Sure. What do you want to know?”

“Why you dragged me here when I had a good thing going where I was.”

Justice wasn’t put off by Angel’s attitude. “If you liked it so much, why did you agree?”

“Hell if I know.”

In the distance, they heard music.

“There’s a marching band?” Angel asked, his voice incredulous.

“Probably.”

Angel shook his head.

“I’ve found a property,” Justice told him. “A warehouse with plenty of grounds. We back up on a wooded area, which is ideal for an obstacle course. I’m also looking to lease us some acreage up in the mountains for any survival training we want to do.”

“We’re in California,” Angel grumbled. “How much survival training could anyone need?”

“The mountains are rugged.”

“Yeah, but no one’s trying to kill you.”

Justice grinned. “You do understand we’re going to be training bodyguards and working with companies on team-building exercises, right? We’re not overthrowing the government.”

Angel’s gray eyes narrowed slightly. “I’m clear on the concept.”

“Just checking.”

The sound of the music got louder as the Fool’s Gold high school marching band rounded the corner.