Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)

“Of course not.” Charlie picked up her beer. “I am never getting pregnant.”


“Or married,” Isabel said cheerfully. She grinned. “No matter how many times I’ve invited Charlie over to my store, she won’t come in and try on the latest styles.”

Charlie glared. “I could so kill you and hide the body. You know that, right?”

Patience leaned back in the booth and sighed with contentment. Isabel had only been in town a few weeks, but she was already fitting in. Patience liked that all her friends got along.

“I have a new dress with French lace,” Isabel said, her voice teasing.

Charlie glared.

Heidi giggled and turned to Patience. “We should change the subject. How are you doing? Are you having sex with Justice yet?”

Patience nearly choked on her chip. “Excuse me? What kind of question is that?”

“A nosy one.”

“She’s not today,” Charlie said. “He’s gone.” She shrugged. “He worked out next to me at the gym yesterday.” She turned to Patience. “The guy’s strong. Seriously strong. If he offers to carry you anywhere, let him.”

Patience reached for her margarita and took a hasty sip. She hoped the girl-flattering lighting in the bar would hide her blush as she thought about how easily Justice had supported her when they’d had their wild encounter.

“How did you working out next to him lead you to this information?” Heidi asked.

“He and I walked out of the locker rooms at the same time. He had a suitcase with him. Said he was heading out of town.” Charlie reached for a chip. “So, do you like him?”

Isabel leaned toward her. “Yes, please tell us. My personal life is still in recovery. I need a distraction.”

“I like him,” Patience admitted. “He’s been great with the store and my mom and Lillie.”

“I respect a man who runs a good background check,” Charlie said.

Patience had already told them about Steve.

“It’s an intriguing quality,” Patience said, then glanced toward the door as it opened. A tall, beautiful redhead stepped inside. Despite Justice explaining his relationship with Felicia, Patience felt her good mood fade away.

“The only flaw seems to be his business partner. I’m not a fan. She’s so beautiful and apparently smart. I’m sure tiny forest animals come and dress her every morning while singing about how glorious she is.”

Heidi grinned. “You’re not kidding about not being a fan.”

“I hate her. Okay, maybe not hate her, but I don’t like her much and I wish she hadn’t moved to town.”

Charlie groaned. “I wish you’d mentioned this sooner,” she said, holding up an arm and waving. “I met her earlier and invited her to join us.”

Felicia spotted Charlie and waved back.

Patience sank back in the booth. “You didn’t.”

“I try to be friendly from time to time. I figure I need to balance out my karma.”

Isabel scooted over to make room for Felicia. “This is going to be so great. Like a flash mob or something.”

“You need more than four or five people for a flash mob,” Heidi said helpfully.

“Good point.”

Patience shifted. “No one say anything,” she said in a low whisper.

Heidi gave her a quick hug. “I swear we’ll always like you best.”

“You’d better.”

Felicia reached the table and gave them all a warm smile. “Hi. I’m Felicia Swift. It’s nice to meet all of you.”

“You know me,” Charlie said. “This is Heidi Stryker, Patience McGraw and Isabel Beebe.”

Felicia’s gaze settled on Patience. “Oh, hi. We’ve met. I’m Justice’s friend.”

“Uh-huh,” Patience murmured. “Nice to see you again.”

Felicia slid in next to Isabel. Her long red hair was still perfectly layered and curled. She had on a bit of makeup, but with her features, she didn’t need the help. Her pale yellow sweater clung to perfect curves. Patience thought about the rips in her jeans and how her hands were a wreck from all the work she’d done at the store and the fact that her T-shirt featured a grinning possum. Not exactly sophisticated.

“How do you like Fool’s Gold?” Charlie asked.

“It’s wonderful.” Felicia’s large green eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ve never lived in a small town before. I’ve lived on a university campus, which has some similarities in size and sense of community but the demographics are totally different.”

Jo hurried by. “What’ll you have?” she asked, barely slowing.

“A margarita,” Felicia called after her.

Heidi turned to Felicia. “Your parents were professors?”

Felicia hesitated. She reached for a chip, then pulled back her hands and rested them on her lap. She seemed to be making a decision. “I was raised by several professors and scientists, but they weren’t my parents.”