Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)(64)

“Yup.”

Her skills only made her more amazing, he thought.

Consuelo sighed. “You’re going to be stubborn about this, aren’t you?”

If that meant he would love her forever, then the answer was yes.

* * *

GIDEON STOOD IN the middle of the street, across from Brew-haha, and wondered how the hell he was going to get through the day. The annual book fair had turned much of the city into a giant bookstore with signings, readings and booths everywhere. Because Felicia was in charge of the festivals, she was working from dawn until eight or nine at night. Today was Saturday, which meant no camp, no classes, no way to keep Carter busy. Worse, tomorrow was Sunday. Gideon had two days with his kid and no idea what he was supposed to do to fill the time.

“You want to walk around?” Gideon asked.

“Sure.”

“You read much?”

“Some.”

Gideon wandered past a booth with a display of books on how to make furniture out of twigs. Next to that, a lady was demonstrating various quilting techniques. The day stretched out in endless minutes to be filled.

“There was a festival when I showed up, too,” Carter said. “Does the town have them a lot?”

“Every couple of weeks in the summer. A little less the rest of the year, but at least once a month. Tourists are a big part of the economy. The festivals bring them in.”

Carter looked around, then frowned. “I don’t get it. Felicia runs this?”

“She organizes the events.” He pointed to the list of signings and arrows pointing to the different venues. “She says where all the booths go and makes sure there are plenty of bathrooms. All the advertising runs through her, along with the permits. The Fourth of July Festival was her first one. She just started the job.”

Carter’s eyes widened. “She’s good,” he said. “I can’t believe she’s the boss of all these people.”

“She’s made some changes.” Despite his apprehension at being with his son, he grinned. “There was some pushback last time, but she won everyone over to her way of thinking. Now they’re all excited about the new setup. Want a lemonade?”

“Sure.”

They walked over to the booth and Gideon ordered for them. People moved all around them. Families, couples. There were strollers and toddlers and teenagers. He’d never paid much attention to the ages of all the children before. Not that he spent a lot of time at the festivals. He preferred to stay in the background. Like narrating the Dance of the Winter King last Christmas. That was more his speed. But he’d always liked kids from a distance at least. Thought they deserved a fair shot—a chance to be special. But that was an idea born of generic concepts. He’d never thought he would be dealing with his own kid.

“How long have you lived in town?” Carter asked.

“About a year.”

“Before that?”

“Here and there.”

Carter sucked on his straw. “You don’t want to talk about it.”

No, he didn’t. But what he wanted didn’t seem to be an option. “When I got out of the military, I had some healing to do. That took a while.”

He braced himself for more questions, but Carter only shrugged. “Makes sense. What about Felicia? How long has she lived in Fool’s Gold?”

“A few months. She came in with CDS. Not to work for them. More to get the business up and running. But she was looking for a different kind of job, and when she was offered a chance to run the festivals, she was excited.”

Which was almost true. She’d also been nervous about not getting it right. She had a strong sense of duty and wanted to fit in. A woman with principles.

“And before that?” Carter asked.

“She was in the military, too. She handled logistics for a Special Forces unit. She got them and their supplies where they needed to go and made sure they had a way out.”

“They let girls do that?”

Gideon chuckled. “I suggest you avoid asking Felicia that question directly.”

Carter grinned. “You’re right. She’s really smart, but nice, you know? She cares about people.”

“She does have a big heart.” And an amazing body, which wasn’t anything he was going to discuss with a thirteen-year-old boy.

“She always has an answer,” Carter said, then drank more of his lemonade. “I think my mom would have liked her.”

“I’m sure she would have.”

“Do you know Consuelo Ly?”

“I’ve met her a couple of times. Why?”

“She’s teaching the class I go to at CDS.” The teen grinned. “She’s hot.”

Crap, Gideon thought. Was he going to have to deal with hormones in addition to everything else?

“She’s a little old for you, isn’t she?”

Carter sighed. “Yeah. I asked her to wait, but I don’t think she will. I wonder if she has a boyfriend.”

“You know she could totally kick your ass, right?”

Carter grinned. “I know. She’s already flipped me on my back. It hurt, but it was cool, too. You know? When I grow up, I’m going to get every girl I want, no matter what.”

“It’s not always that simple.”