He rose as she approached. Of course he would. The man was polite.
“How can I help you?” he asked.
“You can’t. That’s what I came to tell you. I’m sorry about what happened at the festival. I did want to go to the concert. I wanted to a lot, but I didn’t know how.”
He frowned slightly. “Concerts aren’t usually tough. You, uh, sit and listen to music. There’s not a lot of interaction. Sometimes during the ballads you hold up your phone like a light. My mom swears that when she was a teenager, people held up lighters and lit matches. Sounds like a fire hazard to me.”
Despite everything, she started to laugh; then the laugh broke off into silence and she was fighting tears.
What the fuck? She didn’t cry. She mocked the criers. She was tough. She was—
Strong arms came around her and pulled her close. She found herself held. Gently, without force. She could have broken free easily. A soft, low voice promised everything would be fine.
Large hands stroked her back, but in a comforting way. He didn’t try to touch her butt or cop a feel. Instead Kent was, once again, the perfect gentleman.
She jerked free and glared at him. “I’m not like other women you’ve dated.”
One eyebrow rose. “Which ones?”
“Anyone. Pick one. I’m not like them, those women out there.” She pointed to the windows. “I’m not from here.”
“Okay,” he said slowly. “By ‘here’ I assume you mean Fool’s Gold. Or the suburbs. As opposed to, say, earth.”
She wiped her cheeks. “I’m not a space alien.”
“Good, because I’m not a fan of interspecies dating.”
“How can you want to go out with me?” she demanded. “I’m a mess. I’m doing it wrong.” She remembered all the reasons men usually wanted to spend time with her. “Unless this is about getting laid.”
“It’s not.”
She stared at him, wanting to believe.
He gave her a rueful smile. “It’s not just about that. Because, hey, what guy wouldn’t want you?”
“Do you know what I did in the military?” she asked, then kept talking because she had to tell him now while she had the courage. “I killed people. I wasn’t a sniper, Kent. There were no long-range rifles. When I did it, it was personal. Up close.” She felt her hands curling into fists.
“You don’t need this mess,” she told him quietly. “I’m sorry. That’s what I wanted to say. I’m sorry. You must know that it’s a good idea for you to stay away from me.”
His dark gaze never strayed from her face. “Have you talked to anyone?” he asked gently. “A counselor?”
Her chin shot up. “You think there’s something wrong with me?”
“I think you’re in a lot of pain.”
Words she’d heard before in the safe confines of a therapist’s office. “I see someone,” she said. “Once a week, in Sacramento.” She managed a slight smile. “I’m getting better. Imagine if we’d met six months ago.”
“I still would have asked you to that concert.”
“I probably would have gutted you like a fish.”
“Police Chief Alice Barns doesn’t take kindly to that sort of thing.”
“I’m more afraid of you.”
Words she hadn’t meant to say, but it was too late to call them back now.
“I don’t scare anyone.”
“You do me. You’re nice.”
He winced. “Great.”
“No, I mean it. You’re kind and funny and a good dad. Jeez, Kent, why are you bothering with me?”
“You have attitude. Reese likes you and he’s a good judge of character. You frighten my brother.” One corner of his mouth turned up. “And yes, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. Guys are visual—I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.” She liked that he found her attractive. At least that was something. “I’d really like to go to a concert with you.”
“Sorry, but the band is gone. Would you settle for dinner?”
She nodded.
“At my house,” he continued. “Reese will be there. It’s not a date. It’s me inviting my son’s martial arts instructor over. We’ll never be alone. How does that sound?”
“Nice,” she said.
He grimaced. “I’m cursed.”
“Don’t say that. You’re the dream.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, right.”
He didn’t believe her, which was okay. She knew it was true.
CHAPTER EIGHT
AS ISABEL UNPACKED dresses and hung them, she thought about what Ford had claimed. That he’d never been in love. The idea seemed impossible. He was so charming and fun—women must have fallen for him. Which was what he’d said. But he’d never reciprocated their feelings.
Not to fall in love. How sad, she thought, only she wasn’t sure she was any different. Look at her disaster of a marriage. Was that romantic love? Certainly not on Eric’s side and she was having doubts about her own feelings.
Isabel shook off the thoughts and finished unpacking the dresses. There were six in all. Two samples and four orders. She would let the dresses hang out overnight, then start pressing them in the morning.
As she worked, she glanced at the phone. She’d left two messages for Sonia and had yet to hear from her.
Isabel threw out the packing material and flattened the boxes for the recycling bin, then returned to the front of the store. A few minutes after one, a woman walked in, carrying a garment bag.
“Hi,” the twentysomething said with a smile. “I don’t know if you remember me, Isabel. We were in school together years ago.”
Isabel stared at the brown-eyed brunette. She was about five-five, with pretty features. Memories flashed through her brain as she remembered a girl with two younger sisters whose parents had died in a car crash.
“Dellina?”
Dellina’s smile broadened. “That’s me. I wasn’t sure you’d remember.”
“Of course I do. How are you?”
Dellina put down the garment bag and they hugged.
“I’m good,” the other woman said. “Busy. My sisters are doing well.”
Isabel remembered that Dellina had younger sisters. Twins, she thought.
“I’ve spent the past few years getting them settled,” Dellina said. “They’re doing great now and I’m focusing on my business. I’m doing party planning and decorating in town.”
Isabel nodded slowly. “I heard about that. You were in charge of Charlie and Clay’s wedding a couple of months ago. It was great. The luau was so much fun and everyone was surprised.”
“Thanks. Charlie had to be sold on that idea, but it turned out well.”
“Come on,” Isabel said, motioning for her to follow her. “Let’s grab a seat and catch up.”
They sat in the plush chairs by the mirrors the brides used. Isabel was able to see if anyone walked in the store while she chatted with her friend.
“You’ve been in New York,” Dellina said. “Impressive.”
“Less impressive than you’d think,” Isabel admitted. She briefly explained about her divorce. “So this is a bit of a change.”
“It would be. I keep telling myself I have to pick. Either party planning or interior decorating. In a way, they’re both about staging, which I like. But I can’t decide and there’s not enough business in town for me to give up one. So for now, it’s both.” She grinned. “And possibly a third challenge. Let me show you what I’ve brought.”
She picked up the garment bag, then unzipped the sides. Two dresses hung from hangers. The first was black and royal-blue, with a scoop neck. The sleeves and sides were black, while the center of the dress was blue. Gathers pulled in the garment around the waist.
Isabel saw right away how the style would create the illusion of being smaller than you were in any size. The fabric was substantial without being heavy, and the dress itself was ageless. It could be accessorized to go from day to night easily.
The other dress was just as intriguing. There was also a jacket with a pair of black pants.
“I love them,” she admitted, seeing possibilities for both using them in a display and wearing them herself. She mentally ran through her shoe collection and found at least three pairs that would work with each outfit.
“A friend of mine designs them,” Dellina told her. “She’s too shy to sell them herself and I couldn’t stand to see them just hanging in her spare room, so I took them. These are samples of her work. I thought maybe you could display them here.”
How could she? Paper Moon sold wedding gowns and dresses for bridesmaids and mothers of the bride. Not clothes a woman could wear to work.
She started to say no, only she couldn’t seem to form the word. Her gaze drifted to the display window on the north side of the store. It was too small for a wedding gown, so they’d always used it for prom dresses or accessories.
If she pulled out the fabric background, the walls were stark white. Usually too harsh for her purposes, but the plain backdrop would highlight the clothes.
“Over here,” she said impulsively. “In this window.”
Dellina draped the clothes over a chair and followed her.
They quickly removed the shoes and veils. Isabel unhooked the pale pink, fabric-covered board that covered the back of the display window and the two of them wrestled it out into the storeroom.
“I have two spare mannequins,” Isabel said, then pointed. There was a slim brass coatrack in the corner. “We could hang the third dress from that.”
“It’s perfect.” Dellina studied the two mannequins. “Can we take their heads off? The look would be cleaner.”
“And slightly creepier,” Isabel said with a laugh. But she saw what the other woman meant. “Let’s try it.”
She reached for the mannequin, then stopped. “Wait a minute. I can’t do this. I’m not staying.”
Dellina stared at her. “I don’t understand. Am I keeping you from an appointment? I can come back.”
“No. It’s the store. We’re selling it. After the first of the year.”
Dellina’s eyes widened with shock. “You’re selling Paper Moon? But it’s been in Fool’s Gold forever.”
Not the first time Isabel had heard that statement, she thought grimly.
“What are these?” Madeline asked, walking into the back room. “Did you go shopping? Where did you get the jacket? I love it. And this dress.”
She held up the purple one.
“Dellina’s friend designed them,” Isabel said. “Do you two know each other?”
“Sure,” Dellina said. “Those are Margo’s designs.”
Madeline sighed. “You said she was great, but I’ve only heard about the designs.” Her expression brightened. “Are you going to carry them here at the store? Will you offer an employee discount?”
“I was telling her about the family selling Paper Moon after the first of the year,” Isabel said.
Madeline shook her head. “Don’t talk about that. I finally found a job I love.”
“I’m sure the new owners will want to keep you on,” Isabel told her, determined to put in a good word for her employee. “Besides, that’s months away.”
She looked from the clothes Madeline held, back to the window. “I’m not going to worry about the fate of the store right now. Dellina, if you want to put your friend’s clothes in the window, you can. If someone wants to buy them, we’ll figure out what we’re doing then.”
Dellina grinned. “I agree.”
She and Madeline started dressing the two mannequins. Isabel left them to it and went to the front of the store. When they were ready, she would go out and check the display from the sidewalk.
This was good experience, she told herself. For when she and Sonia opened their own business. Retail was a different world, and selling original designs was even more specialized than wedding gowns.
Isabel picked up the price sheet Dellina had brought with her. It listed the inventory Margo had in her house and how long it would take to make a dress in a size other than what she had on hand. She could—
The front door to Paper Moon opened. Isabel looked up and smiled automatically. It was only when she recognized the other woman that her smile became a little forced and her throat got dry and tight.
Denise Hendrix looked around the store, spotted her and headed directly over.
Ford’s mother didn’t bother with a lot of chitchat, but instead went right to the heart of the matter.
“Are you really dating my son?”
* * *
FORD OPENED THE REFRIGERATOR, then handed Isabel a diet soda. She took the can but didn’t open it.
“You don’t understand,” she repeated, glaring at him. “I had to lie to your mother.”
“I know. You’ve told me.” More than once. “You knew what we were doing when you agreed.”
She slapped his upper arm. “Knowing and experiencing are two different things. She was there, in my store, looking at me. I had to stare into her trusting eyes and lie. Do you know what that was like?”
“Yes,” he admitted, ignoring the sensation of his collar getting tight. After all, he was in a T-shirt. He didn’t have a collar.
Isabel shook her head. “It was so horrible. The way she watched me. It’s like she knew I was lying.”