Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)

The party went quiet as everyone paused to listen. The opening sounds of “Good Vibrations” spilled into the room. Patience laughed.

“I hope he’s right,” she said. “I need all the help I can get.” She glanced at Charlie. “Did you tell him about the party?”

“I might have mentioned it.”

Felicia leaned toward Patience. “That man on the radio. Who is he?”

“Gideon? Have you met him? He moved here last year and bought a couple of radio stations.”

“Gideon Boylan?”

“Yes.”

Felicia went pale. “Excuse me,” she said as she stood.

Patience half rose. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. My stomach’s been bothering me a little lately. I shouldn’t have had the champagne.”

“The bathrooms are back there,” Patience said as she pointed.

Felicia hurried off.

Patience wondered if she should go after her. She decided that some events should occur in private and that if Felicia wasn’t back in a few minutes, she would check on her.

Unless the problem wasn’t her stomach at all. Did Felicia have a past with Gideon?

The tall, dark-haired man was plenty appealing, she thought absently. He had the same dangerous aura about him as Justice, but with a couple of tattoos and an attitude that was far more Wolverine than James Bond. Patience would say that Justice fell into the James Bond category. She would bet he looked spectacular in a tux. Or without one.

She sipped her champagne and sighed. If he kept his word and returned for the opening, she would see him sometime in the next twenty-four hours. The thought of that got her nerves dancing nearly as much as the thought of opening her business.

* * *

“I WOULD die without you,” Patience told Melissa. “Seriously. I owe you.”

The teenager grinned. “You owe my mom. She said I could take the day off school. She thinks that being a part of a business from the first day is a good experience. You know how she gets.”

“As far as I’m concerned, Liz gets an award of some kind.” Patience took the latte Melissa had finished making and slid the mug across the counter. She smiled at the waiting customer. “Thanks so much for coming in today.”

Coach Green smiled back at her. “We’re all excited about your new store,” he told her. “Good luck.”

“Thank you.”

The coach turned away and joined the huge crowd filling her store. Her business had officially been open five hours and had been busy from 6:01 until right this second.

A steady stream of customers had flowed in, and many of them didn’t seem to want to leave. Her plan had been to offer samples as a way to entice people, but so far everyone was insisting on buying their drinks. She’d run out of pastries by eight, and they were working their way through a cookie supply she thought would last three days.

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony was at noon. If the people already hanging out didn’t leave, they would have to hold the speeches outside.

A great problem to have, Patience thought as she worked her way through the crowd, greeting friends and keeping an eye out for tourists who might not understand why there was such a crush to get coffee.

She spotted a pretty blonde standing by the window. At first Patience thought she was staring out at the park, but as she got closer, she realized the woman was studying the window casings.

“Hi,” she said as she approached. “I’m Patience.”

“Noelle,” the blonde said with a warm smile. She was on the thin side, but tall, with delicate features and blue eyes. “Your store is beautiful. I love the old building, how you’ve retained some of the original features of construction while updating the look.”

“You sound like you know what you’re talking about.”

Noelle smiled. “I wish I did. I’m faking it.”

“You’re doing an excellent job.” Patience paused. “I haven’t seen you around town before. Are you visiting friends or family?”

“No. I don’t know a soul in the area. But I’m moving here.” Noelle squared her shoulders. “That sounded convincing, didn’t it? Hi, I’m Noelle, and I’m moving to a strange town where I don’t know anyone and opening a store when I’ve never worked in retail.” She flashed another smile. “Crazy, huh?”

“Maybe a little. But it also sounds exciting.”

“I’m ready for exciting,” Noelle told her. “Adventure. Grabbing at life with both hands. I’m looking at renting that store over there.” She pointed through the window to the space next to the sporting-goods store.

“For what it’s worth, I’m jumping in the deep end, too,” Patience said. “Last week I was doing hair at a salon. Now I’m opening this.”

“Good for you,” Noelle said. “You’re brave.”

“Right now I feel stressed rather than brave, but I appreciate the compliment.”