Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)(24)

He was sure the chagrin showed on his face. “Sorry, no.”

Her grin stayed in place. “Don’t worry. I’m used to it. It’s a size thing. I’m small and cute so people assume I’m still a child. The occasional tantrum doesn’t help the maturity meter, that’s for sure.”

He glanced to his left and thought about sliding a few seats over.

“The thing is,” she said in a conspiratorial whisper, “I’m not supposed to be here. Technically I haven’t started a new business.”

“You find city meetings compelling?”

“I’m thinking of opening a business. A street food cart. What you would call a trailer. I’m still renovating.” She paused, as if waiting for a reaction.

“Like a taco truck?”

She winced. “Okay, sort of. Slightly more gourmet than that, although I do love a good taco. Street food is very big these days. There are fairs in L.A. and San Francisco celebrating street food.”

“Good to know.”

“I’m Ana Raquel Hopkins, by the way.”

“Gideon.”

She tilted her head. “You’re the radio guy. You play that old ’60s music, right? My best friend’s grandmother loves you.”

Good to know he was popular with the seniors, he thought grimly.

“She says that bedroom eyes are what everybody talks about, but a bedroom voice is much better.” Ana Raquel grinned. “She’s going to be so excited I met you. I’m going to tell her you’re really hot. You know, for an older guy.”

He was thirty-six. Not exactly ready for his AARP card. But to a twenty-four year old, he was on the far side of interesting.

He looked toward the front where Mayor Marsha had stepped up to the podium.

“Thank you all for coming,” she began. “I thought it would be a good idea for those of you starting a new business in town to get to know each other. This isn’t going to be a formal presentation. I wanted a chance to welcome all of you to our community and answer any questions you might have. Also, I’ll be bringing in members of the city government you’re most likely to have contact with. I’m going to start with Felicia Swift. She recently took over our festivals, and we’re delighted to have her expertise and energy.”

There was more talking, but Gideon didn’t bother to listen. Instead he studied the leggy redhead and let his mind drift back to the feel of her mouth on his. She made love without inhibition. There was only the moment and the pleasure.

He liked that she didn’t play games. She was brutally honest. A man would always know where he stood with her. Not that he was looking to get involved, but she was a temptation.

“Wow!”

He turned to Ana Raquel and saw her staring at him.

She swung to face Felicia. “So you two are together.”

He stiffened. “Why do you say that?”

“Because of how you were looking at her. Jeez, if a guy ever looked at me with that combination of passion and need, I’d probably go up in flames.” She flopped back in her seat. “Is it hot in here, or is it me?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She grinned. “Right. I get it. You don’t want everyone to know. I can be discreet. Trust me, I know how sensitive guys can be.”

“I’m not sensitive. Don’t you have a trailer to remodel?”

“Yes, but that can wait. This is way more interesting.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Felicia and I are dating.”

“For how long?”

“Our first date is in a couple of weeks. A party.”

“Seriously? You’re going to wait that long for your first date? I don’t think you’ll last. Besides, look at her. You think someone else isn’t going to make a move?”

“It’s not like that.”

Ana Raquel patted his shoulder. “Sorry to tell you, but when a man looks at a woman the way you looked at her, it’s always like that.”

Gideon shifted his attention back to the presentation. Felicia was done speaking, and someone else from the mayor’s office had taken her place. He found himself glancing toward the woman in question, studying the curve of her cheek and how she was listening attentively, no doubt committing every word to memory.

She looked at him and smiled. Beside him, Ana Raquel muttered what sounded like a very smug “See?”

He ignored her.

But after the meeting, he found himself walking to the front of the room. He paused by Felicia, clueless as to what to say or do.

“Hi,” she said. “Wasn’t this great? I think Mayor Marsha is wise to help the new business owners create a social bond. We do better as a society when we have an emotional connection with each other. There’s strength in community.”

If he asked, she could probably write down the mathematical formula for the origin of the universe. He would guess she knew more than most engineers about flight and strength tolerances and everything else learnable. She spoke close to a dozen languages. But, as she’d admitted very recently, she’d never been on a date.

They were going to that party, he thought. It should be enough. But it wasn’t. He’d been her first lover—a fact that still made him break out in a cold sweat. Still, he couldn’t help thinking that he didn’t want some ass**le taking advantage of her.