Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)

“I don’t see him, either.” Lillie looked at the lake. “We usually feed the ducks.”


“Your mom mentioned that. I brought bread.”

They collected the bag from the bench and walked down to the water. Patience followed, close enough to hear what was going on, but far enough away to give them the illusion of privacy. Justice stayed with her.

“Thoughts?” she asked. “Is it going okay? Is your Spidey sense tingling?”

“I’m tingle free.”

She sighed. “You must think I’m a freakish worrier.”

“No. I think you’re a concerned mom who doesn’t want to trust her kid with a man she barely knows. You’re right to be wary. Steve checked out, but he’s also the man who left his family. Sure, people change, but he has to prove that to you.”

He had a point, she thought, still worried, but now less so. Of course, she had planned to keep her daughter safe from Justice, and that hadn’t happened. He’d been so supportive and kind that she’d just plain forgotten.

The fact that he was buying a warehouse and starting a business in town implied he was sticking around. So it wasn’t as if he would simply disappear from her daughter’s life. She sighed. Was that her being rational or rationalizing? She wished she knew.

She continued to watch her daughter. Lillie was talking about her teacher and her friends at school. Steve listened with what looked like genuine interest.

Patience stepped closer to Justice. “You’ve been great. I’m sorry if I’ve been claiming too much of your time. You moved here to start a business and ended up getting sucked into my crazy world. I have to say, usually my life is really calm. Even boring. But the last few weeks have been wild.”

“I like your crazy world. It’s delightfully normal.”

She laughed. “You’re not the kind of guy who says delightfully.”

“I do now. Fool’s Gold is changing me.”

She wondered if that was true. “In your bodyguard job, do you hang out with other military types?”

“Mostly.”

“So being here means you don’t know quite what to do with us civilians.”

“You’re not as different as you think. Besides, most of my clients are civilians.”

“How disappointing. I was picturing you with ousted dictators who have a price on their heads.”

“Not this week. It’s mostly successful men with a price on their heads.”

She wasn’t sure if he was teasing or telling the truth. She had a feeling it was the latter, which wasn’t the least bit comforting.

“You have that assignment coming up,” she said. “You promise you’ll be safe?”

“Yes.” His dark blue gaze locked with hers. “I will be safe and I will be here for the opening. You have my word.”

“You’re very sexy when you make promises.”

She spoke without thinking, then wanted to call the words back. A quick glance at Lillie and Steve showed her they were deep in their own conversation, which was a relief, but Justice had still heard.

“Sexy?”

She cleared her throat. “You know. Um, well...” She waved her hand. “Oh, look. Ducks. We should feed them.”

She started to walk toward the water, but Justice grabbed her hand and held her in place.

Tension spiraled between them, making her want to step closer. He got to her, and she couldn’t figure out a way to mind.

“Don’t act all surprised,” she told him, her voice low. “You know what you are. Dangerous. Powerful. Plus, the kissing was nice.”

One eyebrow rose. “Just nice. Not great? Not spectacular?”

“I’ve had better,” she said with a sniff.

He drew her close. “Now you’re lying,” he said with a growl.

She smiled. “Maybe a little.”

She glanced at her daughter and saw both Lillie and Steve watching them. She took a quick step back.

“So. Ducks. How are they doing?” she asked.

Lillie gave her a “sometimes you’re really strange” look. “They’re fine, Mom. They like the bread.”

“Then it’s good your grandfather brought some.”

Justice stepped behind her. “That’s the best you can do?” he asked in a whisper. “You’d never make it undercover.”

“Fine. Be critical, but I’d like to see you try to cut hair, mister.”

CHAPTER TEN

PATIENCE WANDERED AROUND the main showroom of Paper Moon Wedding Gowns. Big windows opened up onto the small square of “exclusive shops” in the center of Fool’s Gold. Across the courtyard were the brightly colored windows for da bump Maternity. A humorous connection for those who weren’t getting married or pregnant.

Inside the shop, several wedding dresses were on display, with more racks of them available for browsing. There was a second, smaller room devoted to bridesmaids’ dresses and gowns for the mother of the bride.

“I swear, this place hasn’t changed at all,” Patience said, touching the sleeve of a beautiful, traditional white gown.