Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)

“Felicia. Hi.”


Felicia gave her a tentative smile. “I know you’re not officially open, so don’t worry. I won’t try to buy anything. I just wanted to talk to you. Or check with you. Check in would be more accurate, of course.” Long, slender fingers twisted together. “It’s about the dinner the other night when I shared far too much information. When I get nervous, I talk too much. Overexplaining and babbling are a way to show a person isn’t dangerous or trying to obtain higher social status. Animals do that all the time, in their own ways.” She pressed her lips together. “And I’m doing it right now.”

Patience pointed to one of the chairs. “Have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

Felicia sat down gracefully. Patience settled across from her.

“You’re unique,” Patience said. “I’m now picturing you as a very elegant dog, maybe a poodle, showing your belly to us.”

“That’s a good description. Not the poodle part. I like to think I’m more like a pit bull.”

“Sorry, no. You’re all poodle. Besides, they’re considered very intelligent.”

Felicia nodded, her expression resigned. “Yes, there is that. But I would like to be intimidating and tough.”

“If it helps, you’re intimidating.”

“But only because I’m freakishly smart, right?”

“Isn’t that enough? I’m not intimidating at all.” Patience wasn’t sure how they’d gotten into this line of conversation, but she found herself having a good time. Apparently she really did like Felicia.

“You’re very warm and welcoming,” Felicia told her. “I can see why Justice likes you so much.”

“He does?”

“Yes. I can see it in the way he looks at you.” She leaned forward. “He never looked at me that way at all. He sees me as his baby sister. I like it. He’s my family. But back when I was younger, I desperately wanted to belong in a more romantic way. I thought my virginity was the problem. I was twenty-four years old and I’d never even been kissed. So one night I begged Justice to get drunk enough that we could have sex and...”

Her voice trailed off and her eyes widened. “I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”

“Yes, you are,” Patience said, not sure if she was more stunned or amused. She supposed that because they were discussing Felicia trying to sleep with Justice, stunned won. “And you’re going to tell me what happened.”

Felicia seemed to crumble in her seat. “Nothing. Nothing happened. He wouldn’t even consider it. He put his arm around me and told me one day I would find a man who would appreciate all of me. Then he walked away. I was crushed.”

“I’m sorry,” Patience said, and found she actually was. She wouldn’t have liked knowing Justice and Felicia had been intimate, but she could understand the other woman’s pain. No one liked being rejected, no matter the circumstances.

“I got over it.” Felicia shrugged. “I went to the local bar where the security guys hung out and got one to buy me a drink. He took me back to his room and...”

This time when she paused, it was to smile. “Let me say I discovered I was very fond of orgasms.”

“Virginity cured.”

“It was.”

“And the guy?”

“That was an unhappy ending. Justice and one of his friends broke down the hotel room door the next morning. Justice thought he was saving me, but he wasn’t. I never saw the man again.” She hesitated, as if she was going to say more.

When she didn’t, Patience spoke. “Justice really broke down the door?”

“Yes. He’s quite strong. All the Special Forces guys are. If we were in a pack, Justice would be the alpha male. There’s both status and safety in belonging to him, you know.”

“And here I thought all the good news was about the orgasms.”

Felicia laughed. “That, too.” Her smile faded. “I want to ask you a question and I’d appreciate you being honest with me.”

“Sure.”

“Do you think it’s possible for me to fit in here? In Fool’s Gold? I’m going to help Justice and Ford get their business started, but after that’s done, I want to get out of the security business. I want normal.”

“Normal can be boring.”

“That’s okay. I’m so tired of not belonging.”

Patience leaned toward her. “I hope you decide to stay here, Felicia. Fool’s Gold would be lucky to have you.”

Felicia flashed her a dazzling smile. “Thank you. I was thinking I could be a teacher. Maybe kindergarten.”

“An interesting idea.” Patience had a feeling Felicia would bring her unique brand of brilliance to whatever it was she decided to do.

“You don’t think I’d frighten the children?”

“No, but you’d terrify their parents, and that’s not a bad thing.”

Felicia drew in a breath. “Thanks for talking to me today. I feel better. I know I’m a little awkward and you’ve made me think I can do all right here.”