Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)(77)

“Go out with them,” she said.

“What?”

“Go out with them. How bad could it be?”

“Bad.”

“You don’t know that. Your mom knows you pretty well. She put up with you for years.”

“I was a kid. I’ve changed.”

She was about to make a smart-ass remark when she realized he was telling the truth. Ford had become a SEAL. He’d been around the world, seeing and doing things that very few people could understand. That had a way of changing a man...or a woman.

“So, distract her,” she said. “She’s also looking for a wife for Kent. Tell her you need more time to settle into civilian life, that you’ll be difficult to date. She should understand that. Say she can practice on Kent.”

Ford’s worried expression relaxed. He circled around the punching bag, heading toward her. Consuelo started backing away.

As she’d feared, he was both stronger and faster, and apparently more determined, she thought grimly as he grabbed her in his arms and swung her around.

“That’s perfect!” he crowed, squeezing tight. “I’ll get my mom to focus on Kent.” He put her down and released her. “He can be her practice case.”

She took a deep breath, just to make sure there weren’t any bruised ribs, and told herself she didn’t care if Ford’s brother started dating other women. It’s not like she knew the man. “So much for brotherly love.”

“Lorraine left Kent years ago. He’s got a kid. He needs to get married.”

“I’m sure he’ll appreciate your professional assessment.” She cleared her throat, then did her best to sound casual. “Do you know why she left?”

He shrugged. “She was a bitch.” He held up both hands. “My mom’s exact words. I’m not being critical of a woman. Don’t hurt me.”

“I won’t.”

Ford dropped his arms to his sides. “Kent was crazy about her for years, and they had Reese together. He’s a stable kind of guy. A math teacher. As far as I know, he never cheated. When we spoke right after the divorce, he was pretty broken up about it. I felt kind of bad.”

“Do you think he’s looking to get involved again?”

A stupid question, she thought angrily. It wasn’t as if she was right for him. Even if he found her attractive, he would only want her for sex. Normal men wanted normal women to marry. He was an intelligent single father with kind eyes. Whether he wanted to or not, he wouldn’t stay single for long.

“He told Mom he was. At least he’s not disinterested, which is pretty much the same thing.” He started toward her, but she shook her head.

“No more hugging?” he asked.

“No. But I understand you’re grateful. You’ve bought yourself some time. But once Kent is happily involved, your mother is going to go looking for a woman for you.”

“I’ll figure out something,” he said.

“Great. Problem solved.” She started out of the gym.

“Wait.” He walked alongside her. “Where are you going?”

“For a run.”

“Want some company?”

She rolled her eyes. For all their toughness and attitude, she would swear the guys she worked with were like puppies. Annoying and underfoot, but ultimately kind of adorable.

“Fine, but you have to keep up.”

He winked. “I’ll leave you in the dust.”

“In your dreams.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

MORNINGS WERE GIDEON’S favorite time of the day. He liked the quiet when he was alone in the house, the coolness before the sun had completely cleared the mountain. He stood on the widest part of the deck, his elbows bent, his arms moving as he completed the movements. He focused on his breath and flow, feeling the energy in his body.

The slow-paced exercise, a kind of moving meditation, kept him grounded. When he was faithful in his adherence, the nights were less long, the dreams less violent. He’d been distracted, with Carter’s arrival and having Felicia around, and he’d paid the price. Now he inhaled to a slow count of ten and reminded himself he would never be able to forgo the simple practices. They kept him able to function.

He pivoted on his back foot and tightened his muscles as he shifted his weight. Carefully he—

“Yoo-hoo, Gideon? Are you home?”

He brought down his right foot and turned, able to see through the house to the two women peering through the big front window. The old ladies, he thought grimly. Eddie and Gladys. They’d followed him home.

He shook his head and went in through the sliding door on the deck. He was halfway across the living room when he remembered he was wearing nothing more than sweatpants. Sweatpants that sat very low on his hips.

“Goddamn sonofabitch,” he grumbled, detouring into the kitchen where he’d left his T-shirt. He jerked it over his head and pulled it down as he continued walking toward the front door.

“What?” he barked as he jerked it open.

Eddie and Gladys both stared at him. Eddie’s mouth curved up in a smile.

“Were you in the shower?” she asked hopefully.

“No. I was exercising.”

“Naked?”

“Not naked.”

The first shiver of fear replaced annoyance. He shook off the sensation. They were old ladies. They weren’t going to hurt him...were they?