Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(9)

“I was nervous about seeing you,” he admitted, speaking softly so only she could hear.

She squeezed tighter, then released him. “I have good days and bad days.” She tilted her head.

He followed her gaze and saw the wheelchair folded up in the corner of what was clearly her home office.

“This is a very good day,” she told him, still holding his gaze. “We were so worried about you.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I would have told you if I could have.”

“You came back. That’s what matters.” She turned to her granddaughter. “You’re hungry, aren’t you?”

Lillie danced in place. “Yes. Very. I’m starving.”

Ava held her hand out to the girl. “Then let’s get the salads on the table. Patience, why don’t you have Justice open that bottle of wine he brought?”

Patience waited until they’d walked into the kitchen to lean close. “She’s still running the world, as you can see.”

“She’s great and looks terrific. With her disease...” He wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask.

Patience nodded and led him to a hutch in the formal dining room. She pulled open a drawer and removed a wine opener.

“She’s had a couple of bad episodes, but then she went into remission. It came back, but it’s not aggressive right now. Most days she can’t do stairs. Technically she probably could, but it takes so much out of her. The issues have mostly been in her legs, which means she can still work with no problem.”

Ava was a software designer. She’d started back when computers were novelties. Her job allowed her to work from home—a plus considering that her husband had walked out when she’d been diagnosed. When Patience had told him that, he’d realized that a father didn’t have to pull a gun or use his fists to hurt his family. Pain came in all forms.

He went to work on the wine bottle. Patience collected glasses from the hutch.

“She’s the bravest person I know,” she continued. “She’s always so cheerful and caring. I would want to scream at the unfairness of it all, but she never does.” She smiled. “I want to be like my mom when I grow up.”

“She inspires me, too,” he admitted. “When I was in a tough spot, I would think about Ava and remind myself I had it easy.”

Patience blinked several times, as if fighting emotion. “You’re very slick, Mr. Garrett. You could have flattered me with meaningless compliments, but instead you slip right past my defenses by saying that about my mother.”

“I meant it,” he said, looking into her eyes and inhaling the scent of something clean with a hint of flowers. Not perfume, he thought, remembering. Essence of Patience. “I’m not slick. I’m telling the truth. I’ve seen what it takes to be brave, and your mom has it.” He knew the danger of getting close, but couldn’t help reaching out and lightly touching her cheek. “It’s me, Patience. I know it’s been a long time, but no defenses required.”

Although as soon as he said the words, he realized he should have kept his mouth shut. Patience was right to be wary of him.

Something clattered to the floor in the kitchen. Patience turned toward the sound. Justice used the distraction to pick up the wine, thereby putting distance between them.

Fifteen minutes later they were all seated at the table. Lillie had sniffed her mother’s glass of wine and wrinkled her nose, declaring the smell “icky.” The lasagna was sitting on the counter, ready to be served, and they had their salads in front of them.

Patience raised her glass. “Welcome home, Justice,” she said.

“Thank you.”

They all took sips of their drinks. Lillie put her milk down and turned to her grandmother.

“Mr. Garrett is a bodyguard.” She wrinkled her nose. “Like on TV, right?”

Patience had called him Mr. Garrett to make a point. Lillie was doing it because of how she was raised. “If it’s okay with your mom, you can call me Justice.”

Lillie beamed. “Is it, Mom?”

“Sure.”

Lillie sat a little straighter and cleared her throat. “Justice is a bodyguard, Grandma.”

“I heard.” Ava glanced at him. “That sounds dangerous. Is it?”

“Sometimes. Mostly I protect rich people who travel to hazardous places. I make sure they’re safe.”

“What are you doing in Fool’s Gold, then?” Patience asked. “We’re about as far from hazardous as you can get and still stay on the continent. Is it part of your new business?”

He nodded, then glanced at Ava. “I want to open a business with a couple of buddies of mine. We’ll provide training for security firms.”

Ava looked interested. “A bodyguard school?”

“We think of it as more comprehensive than that. We’ll provide instruction on strategy, weapons and other equipment. Up-to-the-minute reports on various conflicts in different parts of the world. In addition, we want to offer corporate retreats. Team building through activities. Obstacles courses and other physical challenges.”

Patience blinked. “Wow. That puts my idea of a coffeehouse to shame. I mean, I got as far as having a book club and maybe an open-mike comedy night, but that’s it.”

“My partners and I have been working on the plan for a while. We’ve been waiting to find the right place. Ford suggested Fool’s Gold, so when I came here last year, I checked it out.”