Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)

Patience’s expression turned knowing. “Someone is worried about her past.”


“I’m not,” Isabel said firmly. “I refuse to be. I was a child and he can’t hold that against me.”

From what Felicia had heard, years ago Isabel had had a crush on Ford and been devastated by his departure. There were also rumors that Isabel had written to him regularly, but Felicia wasn’t sure about that.

“I don’t think Consuelo is interested in Ford,” Felicia said. “Or Angel. She’s known both of them for years. She says they’re not her type.”

“Too bad,” Patience said. “I’m so into this being in love thing. I need one of you to join me. I want to be able to talk about how wonderful Justice is and how my heart beats faster when he walks in the room.”

“You can talk about it all you want,” Noelle told her.

“It’s not the same.” Patience glanced at each of them. “I want one of you to fall in love. I mean it.”

“I’m leaving town in March,” Isabel said. “This is a bad time for a relationship. I refuse to fall for some guy and then have to decide between him and my career. It’s not going to happen.”

Noelle shrugged. “Sorry, but I’m getting over a bad breakup.”

Patience pressed her lips together. “You’re sure you don’t find Ford or Angel attractive?”

“They’re very sexy, but not my type.”

Patience turned to Felicia. “What about you? You like both Ford and Angel.”

“Kind of how I like Justice,” she said. “Biologically speaking, humans aren’t generally attracted to family members. It keeps the gene pool healthier if we’re not.”

“I’m very disappointed,” Patience told them. “You’re all letting me down.”

Felicia knew her friend was just kidding, but she still felt guilty. An odd phenomenon and not one she was comfortable with.

“I slept with Gideon,” she blurted, unable to stop the words.

All three of them turned to stare at her.

Isabel raised her eyebrows. “It’s always the quiet types. Have you noticed that?”

“Gideon?” Noelle asked. “Radio Gideon of the dreamy voice? OMG, I love listening to him.”

Patience stared at Noelle. “You didn’t just say OMG.”

Noelle laughed. “Sorry. I love to read teen fiction. It’s a flaw, but one I can live with.”

Isabel leaned toward the center of the table. “Patience, honey? You’re missing the point. Felicia had sex with the mysterious Gideon.”

Patience turned to Felicia. “How did that happen?”

“In the usual way. We were outside on his deck and...” Felicia stopped and cleared her throat. The three of them were staring at her with identical expressions of confusion.

“You mean you’re curious about the order of events that led up to our encounter. Not where and in what position.”

Isabel leaned back in her chair. “You know, I’m going to have to think about that. No one has ever given me a choice like that before.”

Noelle patted Felicia’s arm. “You’re one of my favorite people, you know that?”

“Because I’m a freak?”

“You’re not a freak. You’re honest. There aren’t enough honest people in the world. How do you know Gideon? You must know him because I can’t see you jumping into bed with a perfect stranger.”

A lovely assessment of her character, Felicia thought, however false. Because that’s exactly what she’d done. Twice.

“We met four years ago, in Thailand. It was a brief, um, encounter. When I got here, I heard him on the radio and realized it was the same man. I didn’t know what to think or do, so I’ve been avoiding him for the past couple of months.”

A plan that had been going really well, until spiders had worked their arachnid mojo and changed everything. Although she couldn’t really say she objected to the ultimate outcome.

“I wanted to talk to someone about the job offer,” she continued. “So last night I drove to his house to speak with him.”

“You drove to his house?” Patience repeated. “Just like that? You’re so brave. I wish I was like that. Direct and fearless. I overthink everything.”

Felicia thought about explaining why she’d picked Gideon, then stopped herself. It was possible her friends wouldn’t understand her reticence in speaking with them about the job.

“What’s his house like?” Noelle asked. “Is it fabulous? I bet it’s fabulous.”

“The part I saw was nice.”

“They did it on the deck,” Isabel said, reaching for her drink. “I’m guessing there wasn’t a tour.”

“Oh, right. The deck. That’s pretty hot.” Noelle smiled. “You two make a cute couple. Ooh, I wonder if he’s going to dedicate a song to you tonight. I’ll have to listen.”