Kiss Me (Fool's Gold #17)(93)

“How?” she mouthed to Maya. How had she convinced these people to come to LA on her behalf? How had they made it here so soon? Maya shrugged and smiled.

Phoebe returned her attention to the board. “I don’t know why Jeff’s doing this. We had a relationship and it ended badly. So maybe this is personal.” She shook her head. “That doesn’t matter. What you need to know about me is that I love my job. I’ve always given a hundred and ten percent because that’s who I am. My clients mattered more than anything. Even more than myself.”

She glanced at the people behind her, at her friends...in a way, her family. “Not that I didn’t love every minute.”

She turned back to the board. “I’m here because I’m not going down without a fight. I do good work. I make a difference. I care and I’m honest. I matter.”

There was more to say, but suddenly it wasn’t important. She crossed to stand next to Maya.

“That really is a great suit,” she murmured.

Her friend stared at her. “Great speech. You’re a new and improved version.”

“A cattle drive can work miracles.”

“So I’ve heard.”

Phoebe waited while the board deliberated. A calm had settled over her, and she felt that there wasn’t one thing they could say that would upset her. If they allowed her to keep her license, she would transfer it to the Fool’s Gold area. If not, she would move there and find another way to earn a living. She had no doubt that the small community would help her get on her feet. Maybe this was why she had never purchased a home for herself, because in her heart, she had always sensed that Los Angeles wasn’t her home. The home she’d been looking for was a small town with a heart big enough to welcome any wounded soul in need.

It took less than five minutes for them to dismiss all charges. She was relieved but not particularly excited, even when the woman in charge called Jeff into her office for an explanation. Phoebe greeted her friends, thanked everyone for coming and promised to join them for a late lunch to celebrate.

When her clients had gone, Eddie and Gladys rushed forward to congratulate her. C.J. and Thad followed.

“I’m so happy for you,” C.J. said. “You’re an amazing person. I wanted to thank you for what you said to me at the beginning of the cattle drive. About Lucy and Tommy needing a home.” Her smile broadened. “Thad and I are going to adopt them. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Phoebe clutched her hand. “You’re going to be a terrific mother.”

C.J. shook her head. “I’m sure I’ll make a lot of mistakes, but the kids have promised to be patient with me. We’re going to take them as foster children while we work on all the forms and everything.”

Thad winked. “I know a few people in high places. We’ll pull some strings.”

“Good for you.”

Phoebe walked with the group to the underground parking garage.

“Aren’t you going to ask about him?” Maya paused by her car and grinned. “You know you’re dying to.”

Phoebe shook her head. If she talked about Zane, she would start to miss him. And if she missed him too much, she wasn’t sure she could go on.

“Not yet,” she whispered. “This is a happy time, and I don’t want to cry.”

Maya’s smile faded. “Oh, Phoebe, I knew you had it, but I didn’t know it was bad.”

Phoebe swallowed. “I love him and I don’t know if he loves me back.”

“You need a drink. Follow me to the restaurant. After we have lunch and celebrate, you and I will hang out and get drunk.”

The last thing she wanted to do was celebrate, but Phoebe knew she should be very grateful for all that had happened to her today. Not only had she retained her license, but she’d found out that people cared about what she’d done. Her helping had really mattered. It should be more than enough.

And it would be, she told herself. In time. It was just that right now she wanted to be with Zane more than she wanted anything else.

Would he call, she wondered as she drove the two blocks to the restaurant. Would they stay in touch? Would they date when she moved to Fool’s Gold? Had their time together meant anything to him? Was she wishing for the moon?

She pulled her car behind Maya’s and waited for the valet to hand her a ticket. But instead of a young man in a red jacket stepping up to open her door, a tall, handsome cowboy reached for the door handle.

Phoebe didn’t know what to think. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe. She could only stare unbelievingly.

The door opened, and Zane held out his hand.

She took it and stood.

“What are you doing here? You hate LA.”

“I’m here because you’re here.”

God, he looked great. She wanted to stare at him for hours. She wanted to run her hands up and down his powerful arms. She wanted to laugh, to cry, to beg, to plead.

“I heard what you did,” he said. “How those folks came through for you. I’m not surprised.”

She smiled. “I was a little scared when I made the first call,” she admitted, “but then it was okay.”

“You always lead with your heart.”

“I don’t know any other way.”

He smiled. “Not a surprise.” The smile faded. “I love you, Phoebe. You’re crazy and beautiful and you make me feel things I didn’t know existed. You’ve shown me possibilities. For the first time in my life I want to do more than just get by.”