Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)(72)
Felicia laughed. “I’m not perfect and I don’t really get people. I wish I did. I’m better than I was, but I still feel awkward in unfamiliar situations and I’m not sure what to say.”
Noelle raised her can of soda. “We can be imperfect together.”
Just then, a tall, dark-haired woman with blue eyes walked into the store. She had on a black suit and elegant pumps with four-inch heels that were so beautiful Felicia wondered if she could ever learn to walk in such ridiculous footwear.
“Hello,” the woman said. “I’m...” She paused and looked around. “I’m apparently lost and in the wrong place.” She frowned. “That’s repetitious, isn’t it? If I’m lost I can’t be in the right place. I need coffee and sleep and very possibly a way to kill my business partners.”
She gave them a weary smile. “Sorry. I’m exhausted and rambling. I’m Taryn Crawford with Score.”
“What’s Score?” Isabel asked.
“A new business in town. Or it’s going to be. Assuming there’s no partner death in the near future.” Taryn gave a little shrug. “For the record, I’m kidding about killing him. Sort of. I wouldn’t know how to go about it. Jack is friends with Raoul Moreno who, apparently, lives here. Jack came to visit, loved the town, talked to the other partners, convinced them we had to relocate, and here the hell I am.”
Felicia put the pieces together and remembered her recent city council meeting. “You’re with the football players.”
“Don’t remind me,” Taryn grumbled. “What’s that expression? It’s like trying to herd cats. I was supposed to meet a real estate agent about some property. I don’t have time to be looking, but I can’t trust one of the guys with it. We’d end up with a corner in a sports bar. There are days...” She drew in a deep breath. “You know the kicker in all this? They’re great with the clients.”
“Which is why you haven’t killed them yet?” Noelle offered helpfully.
“Pretty much. That and prison. I wouldn’t enjoy prison.” She glanced around. “Great space. Like the light. What’s it going to be?”
“A Christmas store,” Noelle told her. “The Christmas Attic.”
“Nice.” Taryn looked up. “You should put in some framing to make it look like a real attic. The ceilings are high enough. It wouldn’t be expensive, just a few beams to give the look. Then you could add shelving at the base of the framing for displays. A Christmas store.” She paused for a second. “What about a train set? It could circle the store, do that toot-toot thing they do. Kids would love it. The noise might make you want to run screaming into the night, but retail comes at a price. So, where did I go wrong? I was looking for Frank Lane and Fifth.”
Isabel pointed to the door. “That’s Frank. Take a left and go a block and a half. You’ll be there.”
“Thanks. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
Taryn waved and left.
“I love her,” Noelle said reverently. “She’s brilliant. I can make my store look like an attic. I can’t believe I never thought of that myself. It makes sense. Did you see her shoes?”
“Beautiful,” Isabel said, watching her walk away. “I’m so with you on the shoes.”
“That’s because you have a shoe thing, too. I’d fall and break an ankle if I tried to wear them,” Noelle said. “But it might be worth it.”
“I liked her, too,” Felicia admitted. Taryn had been extremely straightforward in her speech. And she had attitude.
“She’s very beautiful,” Noelle added. “I wonder if Denise Hendrix would like her for Kent.”
“Or Ford,” Felicia added, then laughed. “The danger with that match is Ford really would know how to kill her business partners.”
“Hey,” Isabel said. “Not Ford. We’re not finding a woman for Ford.”
Noelle raised her eyebrows. “You said you weren’t interested in him.”
“I’m not. I’m sure of it.” She clutched her can of soda. “At least I’m pretty sure.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
REESE HELD OUT the bowl of popcorn to Carter. It was raining, and they were at Reese’s place, watching movies. In the past couple of days, Carter had started to feel a little better. Maybe it was okay for him to be happy here, in Fool’s Gold. He knew his mom wouldn’t have wanted him to forget her, but she also wouldn’t expect him to be unhappy all the time. And she would have liked Felicia a lot.
“You think about your mom?” he asked.
Reese paused the movie. “Not so much anymore. I did when she left. More than I wanted my dad to know. For a while I was afraid he’d take off, too. But he kept telling me he would always be there for me. Moving here helped. Being close to family.” He shrugged. “I know that’s kind of lame, but it makes a difference.”
“I know what you mean. Without Felicia around, things with my dad would suck. I think he likes me, and we have fun and stuff, but it’s not the same. We don’t talk the way Felicia and I talk.” He didn’t mention the hugs because that would make him sound like a baby. But having her hug him was important. He just felt better when she did.