Just One Kiss

by Susan Mallery

  She nodded. “A nice steady source of income.” She paused. “Has Ford decided if he’s willing to move back to Fool’s Gold?”

  Justice stared at her. How in hell did she know what Ford was thinking? “Not yet.”

  She nodded. “He’s been gone a long time. The transition to civilian life is bound to be difficult for any soldier. But with what Ford has seen...” She sighed. “He has family here, which he probably considers both a blessing and a curse. I can’t help thinking he’ll need their support. There are other considerations, as well. What about Mr. Whittaker?”

  “You know about Angel?”

  “I’ve heard a few things. We haven’t yet met, although I’m looking forward to that.”

  She moved toward the doorway. He found himself following, although he couldn’t say why.

  “You’ll have some kind of physical-fitness facility?” she asked.

  “Yes. And an outdoor obstacle course.”

  “You’re very close to Josh Golden’s cycling school.” She handed him a business card. “You might want to speak to him about using the facilities. Cycling provides overall conditioning.”

  He took the card. “You came prepared.”

  “I’m always prepared, Justice. This is my town and I take care of my citizens.”

  He got the message and braced himself for the warning. He told himself she was just an old lady who made smart guesses, but he didn’t believe it. She knew things and that meant she could easily have figured out his issues. She was going to warn him off, and he couldn’t blame her for that.

  “You’ll find the city is very supportive of your venture. If you need anything, contact me directly and I’ll get you in touch with the right person. You belong here, Justice—I have a feeling about that.”

  He’d been captured once. On a mission. Held and beaten for a few hours. He’d barely begun to prepare himself for the ordeal when his team had broken in and rescued him. He’d been as shocked by their arrival then as he was by the mayor’s words now.

  “You’ll want to provide some community outreach,” she continued. “Maybe self-defense classes, something for children. You’ll be welcome in the community regardless, but it’s nice to give back. You’ll feel better about yourself, and the transition will be easier for all your staff.”

  She smiled again. “I doubt your employees are just regular folks, are they?”

  “Not really.”

  “I thought not. They’ll need to find their footing, as well. Some of them will believe that’s not possible. You and I know otherwise. It’s up to us to show them what Fool’s Gold has to offer.”

  “I hadn’t thought of classes for the community,” he admitted.

  “That’s why I’m here. To offer possibilities.” She lightly touched his arm. “Welcome home, Justice. I’m glad you found your way.”

  He wanted to tell her he wasn’t sure he was staying, but even as he thought the words, he knew they weren’t true. He had decided the second he’d returned. Seeing Patience had sealed the deal. He might not be able to have what he wanted with her, but he couldn’t seem to walk away, either. An uncomfortable dilemma.

  Mayor Tilson wished him the best and walked out of the warehouse. Justice reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

  “Is it Fool’s Gold?” Felicia asked by way of greeting.

  “It is.”

  “Great. It’s going to take me a couple of weeks to wrap everything up. Maybe three. I’ll let you know when I’m on my way. In the meantime I’ll notify Ford and Angel and get going on the plan. Send me pictures of the building and the outlying area. I’ll coordinate with the lawyer on the purchase and investigate leasing options, as well.”

  Felicia wasn’t one for pleasantries. She got right to the problem and in a matter of seconds, had sixteen solutions. She could list them in order of success ratio, danger or cost. She was the smartest person he knew, and probably one of the ten most intelligent people in the world. At times that made her challenging to work with, but she was never boring.

  “How are you?” he asked, mostly to mess with her.

  She sighed. “Really? We have to do that every time we speak?” There was a pause. “I’m fine, Justice. Thank you so much for asking. How are you enjoying Fool’s Gold?”

  “It’s very nice.” He grinned. “Are you calculating how much work you could have gotten done if we hadn’t wasted time on that exchange?”

  “No. I’m trying to be more social. I’m going to be living in a small town and I want to be like everyone else.”

  He didn’t have the heart to tell her that would never happen. She was many things, but “just like everyone else” wasn’t one of them.

  “Did you see her?” Felicia asked. “Your friend?”

  He’d told her a little about Patience—that they’d known each other back in high school. But not that she’d haunted him and that the memories of her had kept him anchored and strong.

  “I have.”

  “Is she how you remember?”

  He thought about the feel of her in his arms. How she’d kissed. He remembered her laughter and her spinning in the middle of an empty storefront.

  “She’s better.”

  * * *

  JULIA HELD OUT her arms. “Congratulations, Patience. This is everything you’ve wanted.”

  Patience hugged her boss. “I know. I’m so excited.” She’d gotten the lease from Josh and had taken it over to an attorney that morning for a quick review. The next order of business was telling the woman she worked for that she would be leaving.

  “What’s your time frame?” Julia asked, releasing her.

  “Six weeks,” Patience said. “Maybe eight. I thought I could work part-time for a while, if that’s okay with you.” She held up her hands. “I feel like I’m leaving you in a lurch.”

  “You are, but so what? This is like winning the lotto. You can’t turn your back on opportunity. We’ll talk about who would do best with each of your clients. After we do that, you can call all your regulars and let them know what’s happening.” Julia’s good humor faded slightly. “Just don’t let them go over to Bella’s place.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Patience murmured, eager to avoid that particular conversation.

  Bella and Julia were sisters. Estranged sisters. They owned competing salons in town, which required the good citizens of Fool’s Gold to be careful if they wanted to keep the peace.

  Patience promised to contact her clients within a couple of days and left the office. She’d come in on her day off to tell Julia what had happened. Now she had a thousand things to do and no idea of where to start.

  As promised, Great-Aunt Becky’s lawyer had sent the check overnight. The money was currently sitting in her checking account. Ava had already researched where to put the money for Lillie’s college fund, and they would pay off the mortgage at the end of the week. Once the lease was signed, they would start ordering the equipment and talking to a contractor about remodeling the store.

  Patience stepped into the salon, prepared to get her purse and move to the next item on her list. She was stopped by a tall blonde waiting by her station.

  “Your mom said I’d find you here.”

  Patience saw her friend Isabel and laughed. “No way. When did you get back?”

  “Yesterday.”

  They hugged.

  “Did I know you were scheduled for a visit?” Patience asked, excited to see her friend.

  “No. It was kind of unexpected.”

  Isabel lived in New York and worked in marketing. Like Patience, she’d grown up in Fool’s Gold and still had family here.

  Patience glanced at the clock on the wall. It was nearly eleven-thirty. “Want to get an early lunch and catch up?”

  “I was hoping you were going to say that,” Isabel admitted. “I have so much to tell you.”

  “I can’t wait to hear it.”

  They took the short walk to Margaritaville and were shown to a quiet boot
h by the window. After ordering diet soda and guacamole, they pushed aside the menus and looked at each other.

  “You first,” Patience said.

  Isabel tucked her long blond hair behind her ear and shrugged. “I’m not sure where to start.”

  Patience had known the other woman all her life. Isabel was a couple of years younger, so they’d never hung out in school, but shortly after Ned had walked out on Patience, leaving her with a newborn, Isabel had flunked out of UCLA and returned to Fool’s Gold. They liked to joke that their moments of disgrace had brought them together. They’d been friends ever since.

  “Before I tell you my sad tale,” Isabel said, “I want to see pictures.”

  Patience laughed and handed over her phone. Isabel flipped through the photos. “She’s getting bigger by the minute. She’s so pretty. Tell Lillie I can’t wait to see her.”

  “I will.”

  Isabel passed the phone back. Their server appeared with drinks, chips, salsa and guacamole. Isabel waited until they were alone to put her left hand on the table and wiggle her fingers.

  “I’m getting a divorce.”

  Patience stared at the bare ring finger. “No. What happened?”

  “Nothing dramatic,” Isabel said, her wide blue eyes filled with sadness, but no tears. “Eric and I are still friends, which is pretty sad. I think the truth is we were always friends. We got along so well we wanted to believe friendship was enough, but it wasn’t.”

  “I’m sorry,” Patience said, studying the other woman. There was more, she thought. Something Isabel wasn’t telling her. Not that she was going to push. When her friend was ready, she would get to it.

  “Me, too. I feel stupid and lost. My parents have been married something like a hundred and fifty years.” She gave a rueful smile. “Okay, more like thirty-five, but still. Maeve has been married twelve years and keeps popping out babies. I’m the family failure.”

  Patience pushed the guacamole toward her. “Is that why you’re visiting? Because of the divorce?”

  “Some of it. My parents have decided it’s time for them to follow their dreams. Maeve and I are grown and they don’t want to wait until they’re too old to travel. So they took their ‘rainy day’ fund and bought themselves tickets on a cruise around the world.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “No. They leave in a couple of weeks. They also want to sell Paper Moon.”

  Patience stared at her, a chip raised halfway to her mouth. “No way.” Paper Moon was the local bridal shop in town. It was an institution. Isabel’s great-grandmother had opened the store.

  “I know,” Isabel said. “I was shocked, too. But my mom is tired of running it and Maeve isn’t interested. She has too many babies even if she was.”

  “I can’t picture the square without Paper Moon Wedding Gowns.”

  “It will still be there. I’m sure we’ll find a buyer.”

  “But it won’t be the same.”

  Isabel glanced out the window. “Everything changes, even when we don’t want it to.” She grabbed a chip. “Anyway, that’s why I’m back. I’m going to work in the store for the next eight months and get it ready to sell. In return I get a cut of the sales price. Good news for me because I’m going to need the money.”

  She leaned forward, her expression more animated. “I have a friend in New York. Sonia. She’s a brilliant designer. We’re going to go into business together. Working in my folks’ store for a few months will give me the retail experience I’ll need and some extra cash for start-up costs.”

  “You sound excited.”

  “I am. My plans mean I can stand living here for a little while.”

  “It’s not so bad here. You’ll do fine,” Patience told her.

  “I can’t believe you never left.”

  “I didn’t want to. I like the town.”

  “I do, too, but come on. There’s a whole world out there.”

  Patience knew that was true, but she’d never been all that interested in it.

  The server returned and they placed their orders. When she was gone, Isabel looked at her friend. “So, I’ve done all the talking. What’s new with you?”

  “For once, I have actual news.” Patience told her about Great-Aunt Becky and the money and the coffeehouse she and her mom were going to open.

  Isabel laughed. “That’s fantastic.” She raised her glass of diet soda. “To all your dreams coming true.”

  They clinked glasses.

  “I’m terrified,” Patience admitted. “I don’t know anything about retail. I’ve taken some classes, but it’s not the same.”

  “I know what you mean. I worked in the bridal shop when I was in high school and college, but that was just for the money. I wasn’t paying attention to how things were run. If I don’t do well, we can’t sell it for as much and there goes my nest egg.”

  “We’ll be learning together,” Patience said.

  “I like the sound of that. We’ll support each other.” Isabel picked up another chip. “Have you heard anything about Ford Hendrix lately?”

  The question was casual enough. To someone who didn’t know Isabel’s past, it would be seen as a thoughtful inquiry. But Patience did know her friend’s history. Instead of answering, she raised her eyebrows.

  “Really?”

  Isabel rolled her eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m just curious.”

  “Because you’re getting a divorce?”

  “No. Of course not. I’m back and that’s making me think about the past.”

  “And how he was your ‘one true love’?”

  Isabel winced. “Please don’t say it like that. It makes me sound like a crazy stalker.”

  “You were a fourteen-year-old with a crush. I’m not sure there’s a difference.” Patience grinned. “You were wild about him.”

  “Like you’re one to talk. You had a serious thing for that guy who left. What was his name?”

  “Justice.”

  “Right. It was all so mysterious. Did you ever find out what happened to him?”

  “Yes.”

  “Really? When?”

  “A few days ago. He’s back.”

  Isabel glared at her. “You didn’t tell me? You let me go on and on about my boring life when you have that kind of news? Have you talked to him? What’s he like? Where did he go? Why is he here?”

  Patience sipped her soda. “As unbelievable as it sounds, he was in the witness protection program.” She quickly outlined the details. “He was here last year as a bodyguard and decided he wanted to return. So he and a couple of other guys are opening a business. They’re calling it something different, but it’s basically a bodyguard school.”

  “A dangerous man. Is he good-looking?”

  Patience did her best not to blush. “Yes.”

  “So you’ve seen him.”

  “He, uh, came over to dinner the other night. You know, to see my mom and stuff.”

  Isabel pressed her lips together. “It’s the ‘stuff’ that’s so interesting. You still like him.”

  “No. Maybe.” She squirmed on her seat. “Okay, yes. I do. He’s that guy and now he’s all grown up and when I’m with him, I have trouble breathing.”

  Something flickered in Isabel’s eyes, then faded away. “That’s an impressive description. And I’m sensing a but.”

  Patience nodded. “But why now? While he was in the witness protection program, he couldn’t tell me who he was. Then his dad was captured and sent back to prison. Which meant Justice could do whatever he wanted. Obviously he didn’t want to get in touch with me.”

  “Oh.” Isabel straightened. “That’s an excellent point.”

  “He did find Ford. They’re friends. Now he’s back and my hormones are singing praises, but I’m telling myself I need to be careful.”

  “Yeah, you do. Men aren’t always who they seem.” Isabel reached for another chip. “It’s never easy, is it?”

  “No. I’m trying to be cal
m and adult about the whole thing.” She thought about the kiss and how it had left her weak in the knees. “If he’s opening a business, it’s not like he’s going to disappear again, right?” Because that’s what she couldn’t get past. Him leaving. Every man she’d ever cared about had left.

  “It’s a very good sign.”

  Patience drew in a breath. “I hope so. And while we’re on the subject of hope, I do have something to tell you about Ford.”

  Isabel looked at her. “Which is?”

  “He’s going to be here soon. Apparently he’s leaving the military and coming back to Fool’s Gold.”

  Isabel opened her mouth, then closed it. “He’ll be in town?”

  “That’s the rumor. I don’t have any details or dates.”

  “Oh God. No. I can’t face him. I wrote him for years. Not that I’m sure he got my letters or if he did, if he read them, but still.”

  “He would have liked your letters.”

  “You can’t know that. He probably does think I’m a stalker.” She covered her face with her hands. “I knew coming home would be complicated, but I didn’t think I would have to face Ford.” She dropped her hands to the table. “Is he married?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “He’s probably married. With six kids, right? And a dog. So I don’t have to worry. He won’t even remember me.”

  Patience reached for another chip. “I want to make fun of you, but I can’t, because I know exactly what you’re going through.”

  “That makes me feel better. You’ll tell me if you learn anything?”

  “Every detail.”

  “I’ll do the same for you. Not that I’m expecting to be in the middle of gossip central. When people come to the bridal shop, they tend to be past the dramatic stage of their relationship.” She picked up her soda. “You really think Ford’s married?” She sounded both horrified and hopeful.

  “He could be. And I’m sure he’s not nearly as good-looking as he was.”

  “Right. He’s old now and uninteresting.” She paused. “You said Justice is hunky.”

  Patience held in a sigh. “The hunkiest.”

  “Good. One of us should get the great guy.”

  “It’s too soon to know if he’s great or not,” Patience said. She wanted to believe he was, of course, but she had no actual evidence.