Thrill Me (Fool's Gold #18)(72)

Maya strolled up to them. She moved close to Mathias and kissed his cheek in greeting.

“So many handsome Mitchell men. Whatever is a girl to do?”

Mathias grinned. “It’s overwhelming.”

She pretended to fan herself, then linked arms with Del. “I’m sticking with this old guy. He’s more my speed.”

Del frowned. “I’m searching for a compliment buried in there.”

“There isn’t one, bro. Let it go.” Mathias turned to Maya. “I heard you’re doing commercials these days.”

“It was a onetime thing, but very fun. How are you doing? Happily, Inc.? Is that the name of the town for real?”

“Yeah. It’s got a great history. Back in the 1880s, a couple of stagecoaches of women were heading to gold rush country to find husbands. The stagecoaches broke down outside of our little town and the women were stuck. By the time new parts arrived, they’d all fallen in love with local guys. They decided to stay and lived happily ever after. One of their sons suggested the name change and it’s been Happily ever since. Then in the 1950s, they changed it to Happily, Inc. No idea why.”

“I love it,” Maya told him. “I’ve heard it’s beautiful. Desert, but with mountains. Aren’t there rumors of some kind of mystical convergence? Like in Sedona?”

“We have the crazies,” Mathias said easily. “And we like them. Lots of weddings.” He winked. “It’s a destination wedding town so if you ever get tired of Fool’s Gold, come see us. You’ll make a killing with your skills.”

“You’re sweet to offer. I’ll let you know.”

Mathias excused himself and moved away. Del looked at Maya.

“I thought you were settled here in Fool’s Gold.”

“I am. Mostly.” She stepped away from him, then shifted to face him. “I’m wrestling with my future.” Her gaze skittered away from him. “It’s kind of your fault. All your talk of your world travels is making me restless.”

He was surprised and pleased at the same time. “What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea. Nothing for now. When I didn’t get the network job, I knew I had to make a change. Now I want to think about what’s next. In the meantime, I like what I’m doing here.” She smiled. “Maybe you’ll hire me to do your editing.”

“I’d like that.” He would like her with him more, but wasn’t sure about asking. He’d never considered it before because he’d assumed Maya wanted to stay in Fool’s Gold. But if she didn’t, they had options. Options he would have to consider.

His mother hurried toward him.

“Ceallach is ready to make his speech,” she said. “We have to round up all the guests.” She sighed. “He’s having a wonderful time. This is everything he wanted.”

Maya touched Elaine’s arm. “How are you feeling?”

“Wonderful. Ceallach deserves to be celebrated. I’m so thrilled to have been a small part of this.”

Del started to point out that his mother was the reason there was a party, but Maya shook her head. He wasn’t surprised she could read him—she’d always been good at that.

“Come on,” she told Elaine. “I’ll walk you to the microphone and you can call everyone in.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll round up the stragglers,” Del promised.

He watched them walk away. Maya seemed protective of his mother, which he appreciated. He started guiding guests toward the front tent, where there was a stage set up. Aidan joined him. When the five hundred people were facing the stage, Ceallach appeared.

His father was a handsome man, Del thought. Aging gracefully. Probably more than the old man deserved. At least Del knew he came from a strong gene pool.

As his father began talking about his life and his work, Del thought about how things had been so many years ago. When he’d been a kid and his father had been so disappointed by his lack of artistic ability.

Del had keenly felt his father’s dissatisfaction. He’d cried himself to sleep hundreds of times, had prayed to wake up with some small ability to draw or paint or sculpt. Eventually he’d decided he didn’t care anymore. He would find success in other ways—just not in his father’s eyes.

Perhaps that was what growing up was about. Being proud of himself. Finding peace with his past while moving into his future.

Maya stood beside the stage. She looked at him and smiled.

Wanting kicked him in the gut. Wanting and maybe something more. But was he willing to take another chance on her? She wasn’t Hyacinth, but that didn’t mean he shouldn’t remember the lesson learned there. To walk that road again would be trouble.

He thought about his father, how everyone was here to celebrate a man who had made his family’s life hell for decades. Del remembered the old couple they’d interviewed in the woods. The ones who were still in love after years and years together. He would guess nearly no one attending his father’s party had heard about them or would take the time to know them.

Who was to be more admired? Ceallach or the old couple? Who did he want to be like? There were lessons to be learned from both, and if he were smart, he would be careful to learn the right ones.

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