Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)

“No. I’m sorry.”


“It happens. I wish I could say I hate him, but I don’t. We’re still friends. It’s all very civilized, which tells you how bad things had gotten.”

“It’s better than the alternative,” Noelle said. “Breakups are never easy.”

The way she said it made Patience wonder about her friend’s past. Not that the middle of a parade route was the place to get into it.

“Ladies.”

She turned and saw Justice had joined them. He moved to her and put his arm around her.

“Hi,” he murmured.

The feel of his body against hers was warm and made her tingle all over. Just being around Justice brightened her day. She had it bad, she thought, accepting the inevitable. That she had totally and completely fallen for him. Foolish, perhaps, but it was done now.

“Hi, yourself.” She smiled at him, then turned to her friends. “Has everyone met Justice?” She glanced back at him. “You know Isabel and Noelle?”

“Sure. Are you enjoying the festival?” he asked.

“Every part of it,” Noelle told him.

“You remember that I’m meeting someone?” he asked.

“Yes,” Patience told him. “And it’s fine. Just make sure you see Lillie in the parade. Otherwise, she’ll be crushed.”

“She wouldn’t be the only one. Of course I want to see her.” He looked past her and then kissed the top of her head. “Angel’s here. I’ll see you later?”

She nodded as he stepped away. Justice was still staying at the house. He was well enough that they were running out of excuses, but she really didn’t want to let him go. Once everyone was asleep, he usually slipped into her room and they made love. Everything about being with him was perfect, she thought dreamily as he cut across the parade route to the other side of the street.

“He’s good,” Isabel said, watching him go. “The right combination of kick-ass and sweet.”

“I know,” Patience said with a sigh. “He’s dreamy.”

Her friends laughed.

“Who’s he meeting?” Noelle asked.

“I want to know, too,” Isabel said. “And is this Angel person a man or a woman?”

“A man. One of his business partners. Along with Ford.”

Isabel tossed her ice cream cup into the trash can by the entrance to Brew-haha. “Don’t start.”

“Who’s Ford?” Noelle asked. “I’m never going to be able to keep these names straight.”

“Ford used to live here. Isabel was insanely in love with him.”

“I was fourteen,” Isabel grumbled. “It was a crush. Get over it.”

“Tell her about the letters,” Patience teased.

“There are—” Noelle’s mouth dropped open. “Oh my.”

The other two turned and saw Justice standing next to a tall man with dark hair. The stranger shifted slightly so they could see his pale gray eyes and a jagged scar on his neck.

Isabel took a step back. “Is that for real? It looks like someone tried to slit his throat.” She shivered. “He’s scary.”

Patience had to agree. Somehow she’d imagined that Angel would look more, well, angelic.

“I agree,” Noelle said. “Way too dark-side for me.”

“He could be a kitten on the inside,” Isabel said, “but he looks like a crazed killer.”

“I take it neither of you wants to be set up with him?” Patience asked with a grin.

“Not brave enough by half,” Isabel admitted. “I wonder what kind of woman would be willing to take him on.”

“An interesting question,” Noelle said, licking chocolate off her finger. “Because you know all that intensity has to mean he’s great in bed.”

* * *

“WHAT THE hell is this?” Angel demanded even as he shook Justice’s hand. “All this town needs are the Munchkins from The Wizard of Oz and some goddamn fairy in a bubble.”

“You don’t like Fool’s Gold?”

Angel gave his friend a slow smile. “I didn’t say that. I can do cheesy, same as you.”

“Then you’re going to like it here. How was your trip in?”

Angel stared at him. “You gonna ask me about the weather next?”

Justice chuckled. “Sorry. I’m getting used to being around regular people. You’re going to have to do the same.”

“I’ve always been able to blend in.” Angel surveyed the crowd. “What’s the parade?”

“Something about Mother’s Day. The Spring Festival, I think. Lillie is in it. She’s ten.”

Angel’s shrewd expression didn’t change. “Let me guess. Her mom is one of those three women across the street. The ones pretending they’re not watching us.”

“Yup.”

Angel turned to stare at the women. They immediately began talking intently to each other, as if they hadn’t noticed him at all.

“The brunette,” Angel said.

“How do you figure?”

“She’s looking at you, not at me. If I were a less cynical man, I would say she’s in love with you.” He raised his eyebrows. “How’d you let that happen?”