Thrill Me (Fool's Gold #18)(26)

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MAYA LOOKED THROUGH the camera lens at the couple seated at a bench. Del had suggested the location for their second interview of the day and she had to admit it looked good. From the various props they’d dragged along in the back of his truck they’d pulled out an old chair for Del to sit in. He looked delightfully masculine on the small seat supported by spindly legs.

He was obviously older than the teenagers he was interviewing, but in the best way possible. Talk about appealing, she thought, her mind trying to drift back to their brief kiss. She had to remind herself she was here to do a job and not daydream about her close encounter with a yummy man’s mouth.

“Okay, let’s start,” she said. “You two ready?”

Melissa, a pretty redhead, leaned into her boyfriend. “Are you ready?”

“I was born ready.”

The young couple looked good together. Percy had medium brown skin and short, dark hair. His broad shoulders contrasted with Melissa’s more delicate build. They were obviously comfortable with each other, which was part of their appeal. Sometimes when she looked at a couple she had the feeling there was nothing beyond the sexual tension. But with Percy and Melissa, she had the sense they really got along.

“How did you meet?” Del asked.

“He came up and talked to me at a festival,” Melissa said with a laugh. “It was last summer. I was home from college. Here was this skinny boy who thought he was all that.”

Percy looked at her. “I wasn’t a boy.”

“You’re younger than me.”

“Only in years, babe. Only in years.”

They stared at each other for a second. There was a flash of silent communication, of something significant shared. The moment was so personal, Maya felt she should look away, but knew that didn’t matter. The camera would capture the glance and turn it into viewing gold.

Two hours later, they completed the interview. The young couple had explained how they met and that they both believed that without the magic that was Fool’s Gold, they never would have fallen in love. While Melissa was going away to college, Percy had stayed in Fool’s Gold to get his GED. He was now registered in community college. Despite the distance, they’d stayed close.

They were charming, articulate, sensible and completely in love.

“They were perfect,” Maya said with a sigh as she and Del packed up after the interview. “I really liked them. They know what they want and they’re making it happen. I’m about a decade older and not nearly that together. It’s intimidating.”

“You’re doing just fine,” Del told her.

“I wish, but no. Did you see how they looked at each other?”

“Yeah. They’re in it for the long haul.”

“So in seventy-five years, they’ll be Elizabeth and Albert, out in the woods.”

He grinned as he closed the truck gate. “I don’t see those two living out in the wilderness, but otherwise, they’ll be the same.”

His gaze lingered on her and she wondered what he was thinking. That if they’d stayed together, they could have been the little old couple?

She wanted to say yes, but she wasn’t sure. As a teenager, she hadn’t been willing to trust Del. Lessons learned early were difficult to overcome. Maya had grown up with the sense of being in the way. Of never being loved or even vaguely important to anyone. She’d vowed she would never wait to be rescued, that she would take care of herself. A promise that made it difficult to give her heart to a young man she’d known for two months.

“They’re going to be a great segment,” she said.

“I agree.”

He walked around to the passenger side of the truck and held open the door. When she went to step inside, he placed his hand on her arm.

“It’s okay that we didn’t make it.”

The unexpected comment caught her by surprise. She felt a quick jab of pain. Or maybe just loss. “I never gave us a chance. We can’t know what would have happened, although I have to admit, I don’t think our odds were great.”

“Because you didn’t love me enough?”

“No. You were never the problem. It was me. Until I moved to Fool’s Gold, I’d never seen a successful marriage. Except for the ones on TV and those weren’t real.”

He shook his head. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?”

Of course he would have questions, she thought. Because as a teenager, she’d never told anyone the truth. Being honest came at too high a price. So she’d glossed over the ugly details, mentioning only that her dad was gone and her mother enjoyed having a kid.

“My dad took off before I was born. My mom had a string of boyfriends, but none of them lasted. She didn’t have girlfriends she hung out with.” Her mouth twisted. “I had friends at school, but I wasn’t exactly the girl you invited home for a sleepover. I think I made the other parents nervous. So I didn’t get to see what normal was like until we moved here.”

She squared her shoulders as she spoke, prepared to defend herself if necessary. Because you never knew.

Instead of speaking, Del pulled her close for a brief hug. When he released her, he said lightly, “So you’re lucky I came along, huh? Learn from the best.”

She groaned. “You have such an ego.”