Fool's Gold Collection Volume 4: Halfway There / Just One Kiss / Two of a Kind / Three Little Words. Susan Mallery
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been much choice. Either they would get strong and survive or be sucked under by grief.
Ryan handed her an elephant ear. The confection was still warm and covered with powdered sugar. She juggled the paper plate and napkin, then led the way to a bench in the sun. Although it was sunny, the temperatures were still cool in the shade.
“We probably should have started with something more nutritious,” she said before taking a bite.
“So says the Jelly Belly queen.”
She grinned. “I’m not their queen. It’s more about worship.”
He chuckled. “Tell you what. We’ll have salad later.”
“You’re lying. Guys don’t eat salad on purpose.”
“Yeah, but saying it sounds good and, with luck, you’ll forget.”
“So you’re playing me.”
His humor faded. “I’d never do that, Fayrene.”
She wanted to believe him. So far Ryan had shown himself to be one of the good guys, and she didn’t want that to change. He was smart, handsome and single. Why wasn’t he married? Or at least in a committed relationship?
“Did you have a girlfriend back home?” she asked.
He finished chewing and swallowed. “No. I dated in high school but nothing serious. I did have someone in college.”
Fayrene would guess Ryan was only a couple of years older than her, which meant college hadn’t been all that long ago.
“What happened?”
“We were engaged.” He shrugged. “She cheated.”
“I’m sorry,” she said automatically. “How did you find out?”
“I was friends with the guy. One afternoon I went to go see him. It was strange because we didn’t hang out all that often. I just wanted to go to his dorm room. Maybe subconsciously I sensed what was going on. I don’t know. When I walked toward his door, she stepped out. They were kissing, and it was pretty obvious what they’d been doing.”
She winced. “That’s awful.”
“I was heartbroken. She apologized and said it had been a onetime thing, but I didn’t believe her.”
Fayrene touched his arm. “I don’t get it. Why cheat? Why not just break up?”
“That’s what I said. She kept telling me I was the one. But we both knew she was lying. I ended things.”
“Ever tempted to get back together with her?”
“No. I don’t revisit the past. I graduated and moved on. I was recruited to work for a large alternative energy company in Kansas. I was there about three years. But it wasn’t a good fit. I quit and went back home to think about what I wanted. I had a lot of interviews. Now there’s a job waiting for me in Texas when I’m done here.”
Because he was moving, she thought. That was the point of this. Ryan was safe because he wasn’t permanent.
“You move around a lot,” she said. “I haven’t lived out of the state.”
“I think I’m looking for where I want to settle down,” he admitted.
They finished their elephant ears, then went and explored what was new at Morgan’s Books. While the rest of the world had embraced e-readers, in Fool’s Gold, Morgan’s store was going strong.
Fayrene pointed out the display of books by local mystery author Liz Sutton, who was married to their mutual boss, Ethan. With Ryan’s hand still holding hers, they made their way to the parade route.
The sidewalks were crowded with locals and tourists. People were setting up chairs and settling on curbs, waiting for the parade to start.
“The best place is back by the library,” Fayrene told him as they walked back up Fourth. “You can sit on the stairs until it’s time, then stand up and have a great view because of the elevation.”
“Always with the plan.”
She laughed. “My parents used to bring us here when we were kids. It’s kind of a tradition.”
“Are your sisters going to join us?” he asked.
“No. Ana Raquel is in San Francisco, and Dellina is working today.”
They wouldn’t be together long enough for him to meet her sisters, which was kind of too bad. She had a feeling both of them would like him.
He tugged her to a stop. People moved past them as Ryan stared into her eyes.
“Thank you for trusting me with the Hopkins family parade spot,” he said, before lightly kissing her.
She leaned into him as she felt the warmth of his skin against herself. The touch was brief—just enough to get her tingling all over. Then he stepped back and they were walking again.
* * *
AS FAYRENE HAD promised, from the library steps they could see the whole street. There were bunting and flags. Religious symbols comfortably shared space with images of rabbits and eggs. Fool’s Gold welcomed all, Ryan thought, sitting next to her as more people filled in around them.
The scent of barbecue mingled with the sweetness of spring flowers. Everywhere he looked there were families or groups of friends, all anticipating the parade to come.
“Which is first?” he asked. “The rabbits or the hats?”
“The rabbits. There are more kids in that part of the parade, and they don’t wait well.” She turned to him, her hazel eyes bright with amusement. “One year my parents rented bunny costumes for all of us and we were in the parade.”
“I’d love to see the pictures.”
“I could show them to you.”
Her mouth tempted him, but he knew he couldn’t indulge again. Every time he kissed Fayrene, he wanted to take things a little further. This was a family event, he thought with a grin. Having sex on the steps of Fool’s Gold Public Library was out of the question.
“Where does a family of five rent rabbit costumes?” he asked.
“There’s a costume and party store in town. They have a big storage facility filled with rabbit costumes. One year there was a fire in the warehouse, and everyone panicked. For a while we thought the costumes had been ruined. But they were fine. All they needed was a little airing out.”
“I have this vision of the parade route being lined with clothes racks filled with rabbit costumes.”
“It was the parking lot.”
“I’m glad they were saved,” he told her.
He still had her hand in his. He looked down and took in the sensible short nails and the absence of any rings. Fayrene wore earrings most days but didn’t seem to feel the need to jingle and clink when she walked. There were no half-dozen bracelets or necklaces. For work she dressed professionally and for play...
He tried not to picture her heart-shaped butt in the tight jeans she wore today.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
A question he couldn’t answer, he told himself. Not honestly. “What happens in three or four years?” he asked instead. “When you have your business where you want it and you’re ready to settle down. Are you planning on getting married?”
“I hope to,” she told him. “I want the usual things. A husband, a couple of kids.”
“Interesting, because I have no interest in a husband.”
She laughed and leaned against him. “You know what I mean. I like the idea of being part of a family.”
“Renting