Free Just One Kiss by Susan Mallery Page A

looked at him, blushed, then turned away. “I meant your business.”
    “I know what you meant. I’m going to be doing different things here. We’ll need the space.”
    She walked around the open area. “I guess the good news is you can do anything you want.”
    “That’s what I thought. Frame in the walls, build some offices and meeting rooms.”
    “A bathroom,” she added. “If your clients are going to be working out, you might want to think about showers.”
    He did want to think about showers, but not in the way she meant.
    He followed her as she walked around. She wore jeans and another of her decorated T-shirts. This one was pink with rhinestone flamingos sitting at a table, sipping martinis. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but it was pure Patience.
    She turned to face him. “You’ve decided? You’re staying?”
    He wondered if the truth was that since seeing her, leaving wasn’t an option. “I’m staying.”
    “And you’re opening this business with your partners?”
    “Ford and Angel.”
    “Angel?”
    “You haven’t met him yet.”
    She raised her eyebrows. “Have you warned him what he’s getting into, coming to a town like this one?”
    “He’ll be fine.”
    She walked toward him. “You’ve obviously stayed in touch with Ford.”
    He nodded, then wondered if her interest was personal rather than general. They’d all been friends together. Ford had spent years in town after he had left. Had they dated? Ford had never said anything, but he didn’t share all that much. Tension tightened the muscles across the back of his shoulders.
    “You looking forward to seeing him?” Justice asked.
    “Sure.” She paused. “Is he married?”
    He didn’t like the question and liked the answer even less. “No. Is that good news?”
    She smiled. “It’s always fun when a hometown hero returns. I think his mother and sisters will be more excited.” Her smile turned mischievous. “As for the married thing, you can’t tell anyone, but my friend Isabel is totally freaked out about Ford coming back.”
    His muscles relaxed. “She had a thing for him?”
    “Big-time. Ford was engaged to her sister. Maeve cheated on him with his best friend and Ford was understandably pissed. He took off and joined the army. Maeve married the best friend. They’re still together. But Ford almost never comes back to visit. When he sees his family, he meets them somewhere else and not very often. Isabel was only fourteen when Ford left and she wrote him for years. Now they’re all grown up and she’s moved back to town. She’s very nervous about seeing him again.” Patience paused. “Is this too much information?”
    “No. It’s confusing, but not too much.”
    She looked around at the warehouse. “Are you scared?”
    “About?”
    “Starting a business. I’m terrified. If I think about it too much, I start to doubt myself.” She looked back at him. “My dad took off when I was only a couple of years older than Lillie. He never bothered to stay in touch with me. After he left, it was my mom and me. Then I met Ned and that was a disaster. I was alone and I had Lillie, and my mom invited me back home.”
    She folded her arms across her chest. “She was always there for me. The inheritance will help pay the mortgage off. That’s security for both of us. But I have Lillie, and if the coffee shop fails, I will have wasted all that money. Am I being irresponsible, taking on the risk?”
    He moved toward her and put his hands on her shoulders. “No. You get to be happy, too.”
    “I’m happy working at Chez Julia.”
    “Is being a hairstylist your dream?”
    “No, but...”
    “Is Brew-haha?”
    The corners of her mouth turned up. “Yes, but—”
    “No buts. You get to have your dream, Patience. You’ve taken care of your mom’s house and your daughter’s college. You get to have a little something for yourself, too.”
    “Opening a business isn’t a little thing.”
    “You deserve to have one of