Fool's Gold Collection Volume 4: Halfway There / Just One Kiss / Two of a Kind / Three Little Words. Susan Mallery
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spent a year or so here when I was a kid,” Justice said. “Ford kept reminding me about it, and one day I decided to come back.” He pulled a business card out of his shirt pocket and passed it over.
Gideon took it. “CDS. Cerberus Defense Sector.” The smile returned. “The three-headed dog that guards hell? Talk about delusions of grandeur.”
Justice chuckled. “It seemed appropriate. It’s me, Ford and Angel.”
“Angel’s moving here, too? Seriously? Do you think he’ll fit in?”
“I think Fool’s Gold can handle him.”
“We’ll see.” Gideon started to return the card.
“Keep it,” Justice told him. “Maybe you want to join us.”
“I have my gig.”
“You could teach a couple of classes. Keep your hand in, so to speak.”
Gideon shoved the card into his jeans pocket. “I don’t think so. Keep my hand in for what? Have you seen this place? We’re all pretty safe here.”
That might be true, but Justice knew the danger never went away. That for the rest of his life, Gideon would be on guard against the dark, if nothing else.
“You might change your mind,” Justice said. “If you do, call me. We could use a guy like you.”
Gideon held up both hands. “I’m a civilian now. Just doing my thing.”
“Married?” Justice asked.
Gideon dropped his arms to his sides. “No. I haven’t settled in that much.”
Which might be a problem, Justice thought.
Gideon’s gaze sharpened. “I saw that,” he said. “Why do you care if I’m—” He swore. “No way. She’s coming here?”
They both knew who the “she” was. Felicia.
“She is and you’ll stay away from her.”
Gideon’s posture tensed. “You’re going to make me?”
“She’s important to me. Like a sister.”
Gideon winced. “That makes it worse.”
“Yes, it does. It means I’ll always care about her. She’s family, Gideon, and if you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”
They both knew Justice meant what he said. They also both knew that Gideon wouldn’t go easily. Which left them at an impasse.
“I’m sure she’s forgotten about me,” Gideon said. “It was a long time ago.”
“I’m sure, too.”
But as the two men walked away from each other, Justice found himself wondering if both of them were lying or only him. Because Felicia was family to him, which meant he knew she’d never forgotten anything. Not about Gideon or their night together. And when she found out he was in town, there was no telling what was going to happen.
PATIENCESAT ON the sofa in her living room and ignored the folder Justice had set in front of her. “Are you sure?”
“You sound disappointed.”
“I was hoping you’d tell me that Lillie’s grandfather is a known felon, wanted in fifteen states. That would make my decision easier.”
“Sorry. He has no criminal record. A couple of traffic tickets over the years. He doesn’t seem to be very successful with his personal relationships, but other than that, he’s paid his taxes on time and runs a fairly successful business. He sold that a year ago, put the proceeds into safe investments and moved here about four months ago.”
Patience grimaced. “He’s really close?”
“Renting a house on the outskirts of town.” Justice sat on the sofa and faced her. “I can’t speak for his character, but for the rest of it, he’s a regular guy.”
“Which means I have no real reason to keep him from Lillie.”
“Not the answer you wanted.”
She shrugged. “I know that makes me sound like a terrible person, but I’m willing to live with the judgment.”
“You’re trying to keep your daughter safe.”
Patience wished she could accept the compliment, but she wasn’t being completely truthful. “I might have other motives. I’ll admit there’s a part of me that doesn’t want my relationship with my daughter to change. I don’t want to share her with Steve. I’m also scared that if he gets involved, Ned might find out and have a spiritual awakening or something.”
Justice shifted a little closer and took her hand in his.
She let him, liking the physical contact and sign of support. He had big hands, she thought idly, then had to clear her throat when the slutty part of her mind whispered that old wives’ tale about men and the size of their hands.
Foolishness, she told herself. And not the point.
“I checked out Ned, too,” he told her. “He’s a jerk. For what it’s worth, I don’t think you have to worry about him suddenly having a guilty conscience. From what I can tell, he doesn’t have much of a conscience to begin with.”
“Which makes me really stupid for getting involved with him.” She held up her free hand. “I’m being scattered. The point is Steve isn’t a bad guy and I should probably give him a chance.”
“What does your mom say about him?”
“She’s on his side, which surprises me. I would have thought she would be more concerned about him. But she’s all in favor of Lillie getting to know her grandfather.” Patience bit her lower lip. “That worries me, too. Her agreeing. She’s been odd lately. Getting calls and taking them in private. Not saying what they’re about. I don’t expect her to share every detail of her life, but there’s something going on.”
Justice’s gaze was steady. “Do you think it’s about her health?”
He’d voiced her greatest fear. “I hope not, but I do worry. What if she’s sicker than she’s letting on? She could be eager for Lillie to have more family because she’s not going to be around as long as she would like.”
Pressure built up in the back of her throat and her eyes began to burn. Patience blinked and swallowed, not wanting to break into hysterical sobs just now.
Justice grabbed her other hand. “Hey, look at me.”
She did as he requested.
“Your mom isn’t dying. You’ve seen her around here. She’s moving great. She’s doing as much as she used to and she’s completely involved with Brew-haha. Right?”
“Yes.”
“So whatever she has going on, it’s unlikely to be her health. But if you’re still concerned, ask her.”
“That’s so sensible.”
“Not your thing?”
“Not on purpose.”
He laced his fingers with hers. “Ask her.”
“I will. After the opening. I don’t want her to feel I’m spying on her, and we’re both stressed right now.”
Plus, his observations about how Ava was dealing with her activities were right. There hadn’t been any changes, except for the mysterious phone calls. Ava was still going out with her friends and working regular hours.
She drew in a breath. “I guess I have to call Steve