It was her own fault, she acknowledged, walking into the grocery store and grabbing a basket. She knew better than to let some guy into her world. While the situation with Ronnie had been disastrous for completely different reasons, the results were the same. She and men simply didn’t mix well.
She’d been doing so great, too, she thought grimly, heading to the display of fresh pasta. Making a life for herself, fitting in. She loved living here, loved everything about the town. Now she wondered if she’d gone and screwed it all up. Everyone would know what she’d done now. The girls had seemed so understanding when she’d told them, but once the truth about her past sank in, would it change how everyone felt about her?
She moved down the aisle. Up ahead she saw a familiar older woman with styled white hair.
Jo came to a stop, knowing she didn’t have it in her to face Mayor Marsha right now. The older woman had been supportive from the moment Jo had moved to Fool’s Gold. She’d trusted Jo. No doubt now Jo felt she had broken the mayor’s trust.
Jo started to turn around, but she was a second too late. The mayor saw her. Their eyes locked, then Mayor Marsha pushed her cart toward Jo.
She had nowhere to go, she thought. Nowhere to run. Besides, why bother putting off the inevitable. The mayor was a direct sort of person. She would make it clear if Jo wasn’t welcome in town anymore.
“Jo,” Mayor Marsha said as she approached. “I’m so sorry about you and Will. He seemed like a nice young man. Obviously I was wrong about him.”
Jo nodded and braced herself for the inevitable “but.” Instead the mayor walked around her cart and held out her arms, inviting a hug.
Jo stood in place, her basket hanging at her side.
Mayor Marsha didn’t hesitate. She crossed the last few feet and pulled Jo close.
“It’s all right,” she said quietly. “You’ll get over him. It may take a long time, but you’ll heal. We all do.”
Jo nodded, telling herself she wasn’t going to start crying again.
The mayor stepped back. “Is there anything I can do?”
“You mean like helping me pack?” Jo asked before she could stop herself.
“Oh, child.” The other woman reached for her again. This time the hug was stronger, as if she would never let go. When she straightened, her blue eyes were filled with tears.
“Don’t you think I have things I regret in my life?” Marsha asked. “Horrible deeds, bad decisions? I lost my own child because I was too proud and stubborn. She ran away and never came back, all because of me. We each have shameful acts in our past. You were punished for yours. Don’t you think I wish someone would punish me and then say I was done? At least I would know the debt had been paid in a way that was significant to someone.”
“I don’t understand,” Jo whispered.
“No one wants you to leave. You’re one of us. An important member of this community. We love you, Jo. You are as much a part of the fabric of Fool’s Gold as any other person. I’m sorry your young man couldn’t accept your past. In time I hope you’ll see that’s his loss, rather than yours. He could have won you. What a prize. He’s too proud or too foolish to see that, but we’re not.”
Jo felt the tears on her cheeks. “Thank you.”
“You’re more than welcome. Now, put that basket away. I’m making you dinner tonight.”
“I DON’T WANT to fight with you,” Tucker said.
Nevada faced him across her threshold, torn between wanting to slam the door in his face and a desperate need to be in his arms.
“Will hurt my friend.”
“You don’t think he’s hurting, too?”
She knew there was an argument to be had, but not one either of them was going to win.
“Nevada, I miss you.”
Words that weakened her resolve. She stepped back and let him in.
“WERE YOU TEMPTED?” Tucker asked.
Nevada dug her spoon into her bowl of pistachio ice cream. Dressed only in a robe and socks, sprawled out on her sofa with a hunky, barely dressed guy after amazing sex, she felt good. Better than good. Ice cream simply moved the moment from a ten to a ten and a half.
Tucker nudged her with his foot. “I asked you a question.”
“I heard.”
“You’re not going to answer it?”
“You think you’re being funny, but you’re not. You already know the answer. You just want me to say I’d rather have sex with you than Cat.”
His grin was unrepentant. “I was hoping for more than that.”
“What? That I’d rather have sex with you than with anyone else?”
“That works.”
“It’s amazing you and your ego can both fit in the construction trailer,” she told him.
“I mostly leave it outside.”
She licked her spoon. “You know, now that you mention it, my parents always told me to try something before making up my mind about it. Maybe I should have taken Cat up on her offer. She must be great in bed. You were mesmerized by her.”
Tucker moved with lightning speed. One second she was holding her bowl, then next it was on the table and he was diving toward her, tickling her sides with his nimble fingers.