A Fool's Gold Wedding

by Susan Mallery

  Partway through their main course, Montana asked, “Are you ready for the school year to start?”

  Abby laughed. “You know it’s still six weeks away, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but I also know you. Tell me you’re ready.”

  Abby smiled. “You’re right. I am.” She turned to Joaquin. “I officially start teaching the Tuesday after Labor Day, but the teachers begin a week early. And the week before that, I have a couple of meetings with my mentor.”

  She paused to sip her wine. “They assign new teachers a mentor to help us through the first year.”

  “It’s not just about having more people want to be teachers,” Montana told him. “It’s about making sure they have a positive experience and stay in the profession.”

  “I have my lesson plans done and my sub-tub.” Abby sighed. “It makes me so happy.”

  “Sub-tub?” Simon asked.

  “A tub full of information for a substitute teacher. There’s a lesson plan that details what the kids are doing. Suggested activities, even movies if you want to do that. I’ll update it as I go. Put in notes and give ideas. That sort of thing.”

  “You’re going to be an excellent teacher,” Joaquin told her.

  “I hope so. There’s a difference between student teaching and actually being responsible.”

  His gaze was steady. “You’re going to be excellent,” he repeated softly.

  “Tell us about yourself, Joaquin,” Simon said briskly. “Where are you from? Where did you go to school?” His gaze sharpened. “Have you ever been married?”

  Abby resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She knew Simon was looking out for her, and while she appreciated the gesture, she wished she’d thought to tell him she’d already vetted Joaquin. Still, a little family pressure probably wasn’t a bad thing. She liked feeling loved and having a guy know she had backup was good.

  Not that she and Joaquin were dating or anything. Well, they were something, but she was having a little trouble defining what they were. Friends, she thought. Friends who had kissed.

  While Joaquin detailed his background, Montana leaned close and whispered, “I like your young man.”

  Abby glanced at Joaquin before whispering back, “I do, too.”

  * * *

  “THANK YOU FOR setting that up,” Joaquin said as he drove Abby back to her house. “They were both very interesting people.”

  Abby leaned back in her seat and smiled. “They’re lovely. I was afraid you and Simon were going to talk shop all night and spoil my appetite, but you didn’t.”

  “Surgical procedures are not something to be discussed over dinner.”

  “A man with standards. I like that.”

  The evening had gone really well, she thought. She’d been sure it would, but it was nice that they all got along. “I’m glad you’re going to get a chance to talk shop with Simon tomorrow. You’ll enjoy that.”

  Joaquin glanced at her before returning his attention to the road. “I appreciate the opportunity.”

  “Maybe you can dissect a frog together or something.”

  He chuckled. “Is that what you think we do in our free time?”

  “I hope not.”

  He parked in front of her house and turned to her. “Your uncle is very approachable. I wasn’t sure he would be.”

  “Because of the famous surgeon stuff? He used to be all grumpy and stuffy.” She unfastened her seat belt. “Back when he first got to Fool’s Gold.” She smiled. “Then he met Montana and fell madly in love. He was transformed.”

  She paused. “I thought you’d be like he was before.”

  “Grumpy?”

  She hesitated. “Maybe grumpy is the wrong word, but you know, stuffy and difficult to talk to. But you’re not. You’re funny and easy to be with.”

  She almost said “handsome” but stopped herself in time. Not that he wasn’t but because he might misunderstand. “You’re also really good with your hands,” she added without thinking, then groaned.

  “I was thinking of the way you put beads on the place cards,” she said quickly. “It came out way more dirty than I expected.”

  He leaned toward her. “I like to think I am good with my hands, but it seems a little soon. You strike me as the kind of woman who wants to get to know someone first.”

  Whoa! Were they talking about what she thought they were talking about? He was just so out there with it. Just saying it. Most of the guys she knew were more suggestive and less straightforward. Although she liked Joaquin’s way better.

  “Abby?”

  “Yes, waiting is good.”

  His gaze locked with hers. “What about kissing?”

  She shifted toward him, anticipation making her feel all tingly inside. “Kissing is nice.”

  “I’m glad you think so.”

  He pressed his mouth to hers. The feel of his lips against hers was the perfect ending to a perfect evening. She rested her hands on his shoulders. He stroked her back.

  She wanted to get closer but the stupid console was in the way. Whoever designed car interiors did not take kissing into account—that was for sure.

  Still, this was nice, and when she parted her lips, he swept inside, deepening the kiss and cranking up the intensity. She went from worrying about not being close enough to getting lost in how it felt to be really, really kissed by him.

  Every stroke of his tongue increased her need. Heat swept through her, stealing her will and her breath. In less than five seconds she went from “sure I want to get to know the guy first” to “let’s go back to your hotel.”

  She drew back a little and stared at him. He looked as stunned as she felt.

  “Did you feel that?” she asked.

  “The jolt that had me wondering if we were too old to do it in the back of a car?” he asked, his voice thick with passion.

  “I was leaning toward your hotel room.”

  “That’s an option, too.”

  She wanted him, that much was clear. She liked him. A lot. But... But...

  “So here’s the thing,” she said with a quick shrug. “I’ve had boyfriends and we done a lot of playing around and stuff, but I’ve never actually gone all the way.”

  Joaquin stared at her. “You’re a virgin?” He sounded comically surprised.

  “Mostly. I’ve had orgasms. Like I said, I’ve gotten close but I’ve never...” She internally rolled her eyes. Made love was an option. Had intercourse. The man was a doctor—she doubted she could say anything about the human body that would shock him.

  “I want it to be special,” she told him. Which translated to she wanted it to be love. One without the other seemed stupid and wasteful. “Not marriage, but in an important relationship.”

  He looked at her for a long time before nodding. “I understand.”

  “I hope so.” Many guys didn’t. They thought she was playing a game or was too weird. A few had been fine with her limitation and had been happy to explore other options. There was a lot of fun to be had that wasn’t going all the way.

  He kissed her again. “So no hotel room.” A statement, not a question.

  “Not tonight.”

  He touched her face, then ran his thumb across her bottom lip. “Good for you. I’m glad you think you’re worth waiting for.”

  He got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side and helped her out. When they were standing on the sidewalk, he pulled her close and kissed her again. The wanting flared to life, leaving her weak at the knees.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow after my meeting with Simon,” he promised as they walked to her front door. “I believe the votives will be ready for their second coat.”

  “You’re getting into the craft thing, aren’t you?”

  He flashed her a grin. “I have to continue to earn my reputation with my
hands.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  JOAQUIN HAD A restless night. His time with Abby had left him uncomfortably aroused, but more disturbing to his sleep had been her confession.

  A virgin. She was twenty-two—not ancient, but still surprising. Knowing her the little that he did, her decision made sense. She was secure, happy and had a solid sense of herself. She wanted more than just a night with someone. He respected that and found her even more appealing because of it. He was a little surprised to find himself fighting a primal urge to claim what no man had and keep her for his own.

  What did that even mean? That he wanted to marry her? He barely knew her. He liked her—how could he not—but marriage?

  Fortunately the morning brought with it a different kind of distraction. He was meeting with Simon at eleven and he wanted to spend the time between now and then brushing up on Simon’s work history and the fellowship opportunity.

  He arrived at Simon’s office right on time and was shown in to him immediately.

  “Joaquin.” Simon rose and shook hands. “We enjoyed dinner last night.”

  “As did I. Thank you for the invitation.”

  They sat across from each other, the large desk between them. Joaquin found himself not sure what to say. Normally in a social setting, he was uncomfortable, but this was different. He had to figure out a way to bring up the program. Maybe he should have brought Abby along with him. She made things go more easily.

  Simon leaned back in his chair. “Before you arrived, Abby came to see me. She wanted advice on how to deal with you.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Simon smiled wryly. “I think she assumed because we were both surgeons, I would have some insight. She’s a very sweet young woman. She babysits for us, and our kids love her. She’s part of our family.”

  Joaquin sensed there was a message in the words but he had no idea what it was.

  “I did a little research,” Simon said unexpectedly. “I thought it was surprising that a man with your talents would take off three weeks to come to a place like Fool’s Gold. Abby thinks it’s because of your brother’s wedding, but I wasn’t so sure. You could have flown in the day before, attended the wedding and then gone home.”

  He pulled a folder out of a drawer. “You applied for the fellowship.”

  Joaquin sensed the conversation had taken a dangerous turn but he wasn’t sure why that might be true. He’d wanted to better himself—get more training. Why was that bad? Still, he decided to be cautious.

  “Yes, I did.”

  “You were turned down.”

  “Yes.”

  Simon flipped open the folder. “You have excellent qualifications but the director of the program thought you lacked heart. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To convince me you should have been accepted? Abby and the wedding were...what? A means to an end? A lucky break?”

  “The convergence of events seemed to favor making a personal connection,” he said carefully. “I did want to attend my brother’s wedding.”

  “And Abby?”

  Joaquin stiffened. “She has nothing to do with this. I didn’t know about Abby until I met her. I’d heard of her, but I had no idea I’d be spending time with her.” He stared at Simon. “Abby is separate from this.”

  “You’re spending a lot of time with her.”

  “I am. She’s very enjoyable company. I’m helping with the wedding.”

  “I heard. You’re going to paint votives today.”

  Joaquin knew Simon was trying to get a point across, but he had no idea what it was.

  “And you still want in the program?”

  “Yes.”

  Simon closed the folder. “Let me be clear. Abby is family. I love her as if she were my own daughter. Don’t hurt her.”

  “I would never do that.”

  Simon studied him. “I recognize a bit of myself in you, Joaquin, and because of that, I’m going to give you some free advice. It’s easy to overlook things when they turn up without warning. Especially when they’re not part of your plan. Be careful not to dismiss something simply because it’s not what you were looking for.”

  Joaquin had no idea what he was talking about. “Thank you for telling me that. May I reapply to the program?”

  Simon sighed. “We’ll discuss that after the wedding. Between now and then, tell Abby the truth. All of it. If you don’t, I will, and I will not make you look like a hero if I do so.”

  Tell Abby what? His shoulders slumped. “You mean tell her that I came here under false pretenses.”

  “And that you used her to get to me.”

  He started to protest it hadn’t been like that, only he knew it had been. He’d used her because he had assumed she wouldn’t matter. But he’d been wrong about that, just like he’d been wrong about so many things.

  “Everything is different now. I like her. I want to be with her and get to know her.”

  Simon’s sharp gaze never wavered. “Tell her or I will,” he repeated.

  Joaquin nodded. “I’ll do it.”

  He rose and let himself out. Once he was by his car, he looked back at the building, then around at the town. He would tell Abby. All of it. She would understand. Maybe not at first, but when he explained himself, she would get it and everything would be fine. She was the kind of person who understood, who accepted. He was counting on that and her.

  * * *

  FRIDAY AFTERNOON JOAQUIN left to spend the weekend with his brother in San Francisco. Abby knew it was good for them to have time together. They would go to a Giants game Saturday night and hang out in the city. Sibling bonding was important. She was superexcited that Melissa was coming home, so it was an excellent plan. Only she couldn’t seem to shake the sense that she was going to miss him.

  “It’s just two days,” she pointed out to herself as she tried to get interested in the book she was reading. Or not reading.

  She glanced at her watch. He had been gone all of two hours. Why was she feeling so restless?

  She had no answer. Rather than sit staring at words that didn’t make sense, she went back inside and headed to her room. She’d been meaning to go through her clothes and figure out what she would need for school. She wanted a simple wardrobe of easy-to-clean outfits that allowed her to sit on the floor with the kids without flashing anyone anything. So longer, full skirts and lots of tailored pants with fun tops. She’d been collecting seasonally printed shirts and sweaters, but she would need more than that.

  Three hours later, she had sorted, cataloged and made a couple of lists. She was feeling pretty smug about the whole thing when she heard her sister’s voice.

  “Where are you hiding, Abby?”

  She raced out of her bedroom and met her sister in the kitchen. They hugged.

  “You’re back!” Abby said. “How was traffic?”

  “Not too bad.” Melissa shrugged out of her suit jacket and kicked off her heels. “I’ve been so busy all week,” she said. “Trying to get ahead so I won’t feel guilty when we’re on our honeymoon.”

  “No feeling guilty,” Abby told her, collecting her sister’s small suitcase. “You’re getting married. You’re allowed to go away.”

  “I know, but work is important. I’m nearly where I wanted to be, so that’s good.” She smiled. “Now I have to shift gears and get into wedding mode. How have you been?”

  “Great. Busy. The place cards are done, the birdseed holders are done and the votives are painted.” She didn’t mention her special project, but it was done, too. The graphics company had finished printing all the giant cards. Abby had picked them up that morning and was stashing them in Joaquin’s hotel room so no one would see them.

  Melissa led the way to her bedroom. “You have been busy. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to spend your summer working on my wedding.”


  “It’s been fun. Joaquin helped a lot. The man can paint. And glue on beads.”

  Melissa put her handbag on her desk and unzipped her skirt. “Really? So you’ve been spending a lot of time with him?”

  “Yes.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “And?”

  Abby threw herself on the bed. “He’s great. Why didn’t you tell me he was so good-looking? I was unprepared.”

  “Is he? I don’t know. I think Davis is the handsome brother.”

  Abby didn’t point out that was probably the love talking. Davis was cute and all, but Joaquin could stop traffic. At least the female part of it.

  Melissa pulled on shorts, then unfastened her blouse and dug a T-shirt out of the drawer. “So looking after him hasn’t been awful?”

  “Not at all. We get along great.”

  Melissa stared at her. “Wow. So you like him?”

  “Yes. Don’t be surprised. You just didn’t spend enough time with him. He’s not stuffy at all. He’s got a good sense of humor and he’s willing to do anything.”

  “Really?” Melissa drew out the word to several syllables. “Do tell.”

  Abby sat up and laughed. “There’s nothing to tell. We’re having fun.”

  “Naked fun?”

  “Hardly. It’s been a week.”

  “But you like him?”

  Abby shook her head. “Don’t get all speculative on me. We’re not marrying brothers. I’m just saying it’s been nice to get to know him.” And kiss him, but she didn’t say that.

  “I’m glad. One less thing to feel guilty about.”

  “Absolutely.” Abby stood up and waved for Melissa to follow her. “Come on. Let’s go tell Mom you’re back. She has the master wedding list. We’ll figure out what we have to do over the next day and a half, then go get Mexican food tonight.”

  Melissa linked arms with her. “You’re my favorite sister.”

  “I know. Isn’t it great?”

  * * *

  JOAQUIN FOUND HIMSELF oddly excited to return to Fool’s Gold. He left a couple of hours earlier than he’d planned, simply to return to the town. No, he amended as he drove east on Interstate 80, not the town. Abby.