Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)(67)

“Don’t answer that,” the mayor instructed. “Either question.”

“I’d like to know,” Eddie said. “I’d like to judge for myself. Why should she get all the fun?”

“I’m so sorry,” Charity whispered with a grin. “But now I have to know. Have you seen their butts?”

“Yes,” Felicia said primly. “But only in a professional capacity.”

Charity blinked at her. “That sounds interesting.”

“I didn’t mean it to. Sometimes they needed to get cleaned up, and we were still having a discussion. I went into the locker room. It wasn’t romantic or sexual, if that’s what you’re curious about.”

Charity fanned herself. “Oh, my. You had the most interesting job.”

“They’re whispering,” Eddie complained. “She’s sharing secrets, and I’m the one who deserves to know. This is my idea.”

“Mine, too,” Gladys said.

“Her, too.”

Mayor Marsha groaned softly. “Stop, I beg you. There isn’t going to be a calendar. Stop asking about it or talking about it.”

Eddie and Gladys both sat down. They weren’t smiling now, and although Felicia couldn’t explain it, she was sure they looked smaller somehow.

The mayor looked at them for several seconds, then sighed. “All right,” she said. “I was going to save this information for later, but I’ll share it now. We’re going to have another new business coming to Fool’s Gold.”

Gladys and Eddie perked up. “Are there good-looking men?”

“Several. Three former football players have a PR firm called Score. Raoul Moreno knows them. They came to visit him and liked the town.”

“Football players work,” Eddie said. “Maybe we can see their butts.”

“If we ask nicely,” Gladys said.

“One of the principles is a woman,” the mayor added. “Will you want to see her butt, as well?”

“Probably not,” Eddie said.

Felicia turned to Charity. “Are they always like this?”

“Pretty much. You get used to it.”

The mayor passed out the agenda. “We’ll ignore the added items,” she said.

There was a fifteen-minute discussion on a parking garage for the local community college, a report by Police Chief Alice Barns on how the usual summer tourist season was affecting crime, followed by an overview of the year-to-date budget.

Finally the council turned to the matter of the festivals.

“I see attendance was up,” the mayor said, smiling at Felicia. “The lines were very long at the book festival.”

Felicia stood and prepared to give her report. She mentioned the changes she’d made, along with some of the complaints she’d received. She talked briefly about the increased revenues and how next year they could support more vendors if that was what the city wanted.

“I heard most of those who complained at the Fourth of July festival were converts by the end of the long weekend,” the mayor said.

“Ignore the whiners,” Eddie called out. “You obviously know what you’re doing. Stick to your guns.”

Gladys nodded. “She’s right.”

“Thank you,” Felicia said, gratified by their support.

“While I don’t like to encourage them,” the mayor said, “I have to agree. We’re all very pleased with the changes you’re making. Stay the course, dear. This town is lucky to have you.”

Felicia nodded, her throat too tight for her to speak.

* * *

GIDEON CHECKED HIS watch again, then wondered if he’d made a mistake. He’d been in town earlier when he’d seen the display of mountain bikes outside the sporting goods store. He had the idea that it was something the three of them could do together. Not only would it help to fill the weekends, but the days were still long enough that they could go riding when Carter got back from camp.

But from the second he’d unloaded the bikes, he’d started to think he’d made a mistake. Carter might be too old, or think the idea was boring. What if Felicia didn’t know how to ride a bike? He didn’t like the worry, and he sure didn’t like not knowing if he’d done the right thing.

Before he could pack everything up, Felicia and Carter drove up the mountain and pulled into the driveway. He was stuck standing by the garage, the bikes right in front of him.

Carter climbed out of the car and hurried over.

“You got these?”

Gideon nodded.

“Wicked. I’ve seen bikes like this in a magazine, but I never thought I’d have one.” He went over the bike, calling out details. “Can we try them out now?” he asked eagerly.

“Sure.”

“Did you get helmets?” Felicia asked.

“Killjoy.”

She walked over to him and put her hands on her hips. “If you like, I can provide you with the statistics on bike safety and brain damage that results from bike accidents.”

“With a breakdown by age group?” he asked.

“If it’s important to you.”

If Gideon hadn’t already been climbing on his bike, he would have pulled her close and kissed her.

“I got helmets,” he said instead.