Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)(85)

With that, she left.

Carter stared up at him. “A dog?”

“No.”

“But a boy needs a dog.”

“Did you two plan this?”

“No. I’ve never met that lady before in my life.”

“You’ll have to make do with a bowling shirt. By the way, they’re pink.”

“She said they’re fuchsia.”

“Do you know what color fuchsia is?” Gideon asked.

“No.”

“It’s pink.”

“About that dog,” Carter began.

Fortunately, they turned the corner and Gideon saw Ford up ahead. He waved to his friend, who headed toward them.

“Have you seen my mother?” Ford asked, looking over his shoulder.

“No. Carter, this is Ford Hendrix. Ford, my son, Carter.”

“Hey,” Ford said, holding out his hand. “Nice to meet you.” He looked around. “She’s here.”

“Who?”

“My mother. She wants to find me a wife.”

Gideon remembered talk of the booth at the Fourth of July festival. “That’s right. She’s taking applications. How’s that working out for you?”

Ford glared at him. “If there wasn’t a young man standing here, I would tell you exactly how it’s working out for me.”

“I don’t mind if you swear,” Carter told him. “I’ve heard it all. Why don’t you want to get married?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Are you in love with someone else? Because if you’re not, Felicia’s awesome. She’s totally hot and she can cook and she’s very organized.”

Now it was Gideon’s turn to glare, but at his son rather than his friend. “What are you doing?”

Carter shrugged. “Felicia wants a family. She told me. If you haven’t made your move yet, Dad, you need to step out of the way and let some other guy have a shot at her. She’s a babe. Not to me, because she’s like a stepmom, but Reese thinks she’s all that.”

Ford patted Gideon on the shoulder. “All right, bro. You have bigger problems than me. I find that comforting. Good luck.” He started to walk away, then turned back. “You should get that kid a dog.”

Carter beamed.

Gideon found himself wanting to pummel his friend and ground Carter for the next year. “Felicia can get her own guy.”

“She won’t go out with anyone else while she’s still with you. Unless you’re in love with her. You don’t have to tell me, of course,” he added. “I’m just a kid.”

He started to say he wasn’t in love with Felicia, that he was never going to love anyone. He couldn’t. To love was to be weak. But Carter wouldn’t understand that.

“You guys are great together,” Carter added. “If you’re worried I’ll be upset because you didn’t marry my mom, I won’t be. I promise.”

“Good to know.”

* * *

SUNDAY AFTERNOON CARTER and Reese lay on the grass in Reese’s front yard.

“I’m not getting anywhere,” Carter admitted, staring up at the blue sky. “Gideon won’t make his move.” Reese already knew about the fight the previous week. Although it hadn’t been part of his plan, afterward he’d realized they’d had to pull together to deal with him. He’d waited for days, hoping for a sign that things had progressed.

“You’re sure he didn’t say he loved her?” Reese asked.

“I’m sure. I practically asked and he didn’t answer.”

“Maybe he doesn’t want to talk about his feelings. My dad never does.”

“I don’t think it’s that simple. He wasn’t happy when I suggested Ford go out with her, but he also didn’t say no.” Carter needed Gideon and Felicia to get together. He needed them to be a family, and he was running out of ways to make that happen.

Reese sat up. “Okay, I have one more idea, but it’s risky. And we could both get in a lot of trouble.”

“Trouble isn’t always bad if it brings Felicia and Gideon together. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

* * *

FELICIA COULDN’T REMEMBER being this tired before, except maybe after the last festival. She had spent the past three days running from around six in the morning until midnight. Now it was close to ten Sunday evening and she could barely keep her eyes open.

“Thanks for picking me up,” she said, trying not to yawn.

“I know how long the days are,” Gideon told her as he drove up the mountain. “We’ll get your car in the morning.”

She leaned against the door and closed her eyes. “I’m not worried. No one is going to steal it.”

“Succumbing to small-town charm?”

“Uh-huh.”

She could feel herself starting to drift off. The sound of the car was soothing, and being around Gideon always made her feel safe. Sleep, she thought drowsily. She needed sleep.

“You know Ford Hendrix, right?”

“What?” She opened her eyes. “Sure. For a long time. He’s friends with Justice. A SEAL, but we don’t hold that against him.”

“You ever date him?”