Kiss Me (Fool's Gold 17)

“Sure you will,” Reilly said briskly. “I’ll call Finn Andersson. He runs a charter company. Pack your things. I’ll drive you to the airport, and you’ll be in Los Angeles by midnight.”

“You can grab a couple of hours of sleep, then be at the meeting in plenty of time,” Maya told her. “You’ll be fine.”

Phoebe didn’t feel fine. She didn’t feel anything but empty.

She didn’t want to have to fight for her license, not when she hadn’t done anything wrong. Not when fighting meant leaving.

“We have to get going,” Reilly told her. “There’s another storm coming through. You’ll need to be wheels up in less than an hour, and it’s a half an hour’s drive to the airport.”

Phoebe stared at him. “But I have to say goodbye to everyone.”

“You don’t have time,” Maya said. “I’ll give them all hugs and kisses. Come on, Phoebe. This is your real life calling. Now get dressed.”

* * *

THE NEXT FOURTEEN hours passed in a blur. Phoebe managed to scramble into clothes and jump into the car with Reilly. She hadn’t had any time to find Zane and talk to him, not that she was sure what she was going to say. Would he consider her affections important or just an inconvenience? Had she managed to touch him in any way, or would he simply be grateful to have her gone?

A problem she would deal with after she saved her career, she told herself. She’d managed a few hours of sleep, then got up, showered and dressed in her best suit. There was still time before she had to leave for the meeting, so she began to make phone calls.

When this had all started, she’d accepted her fate without a whimper. But not anymore. She wasn’t the same passive, accepting person she’d been in court. Somehow she’d learned she was strong, and that she mattered. Jeff might try to take her down, and he might succeed, but not without a fight. This time there wasn’t a warmhearted steer to save her butt, so she was going to have to do it herself.

She finished her last call at eleven, which didn’t give her much time to get to the noon hearing. She made it to the licensing offices quickly and waited in the foyer. So far no one had shown up, but she told herself they would. They’d always believed in her—now she just had to believe in herself.

When she walked into the conference room, Jeff was already there. One look at his face told her that there was nothing she could say or do to convince him to change his mind. For reasons she didn’t understand, he wanted to destroy her.

He’d been the one to lie and cheat in their relationship. So why was he punishing her? Why—

Who cared why, she told herself. She’d just spent a week on a cattle drive. She’d saved fifty steers from drowning. She’d crossed a raging river and had lived to tell the tale. Jeff was beneath her notice.

If she lost her license, she would find something better to do with her life. Something that made her just as happy. Because she’d learned that she could do anything.

The board entered the room and called the meeting to order. Phoebe was asked to stand and state her name. She rose to her feet, but before she could speak, the rear doors flew open and several dozen people entered.

Phoebe smiled as her former clients began to fill the room. Everyone she’d phoned had been more than willing to speak on her behalf. The Majoys who had three kids and barely got by. Betty Whiles, a single mother and diabetic. The Abbotts, the Tennants. Even Jonny Blaze had come. He gave her a big smile and two thumbs-up. She heard a couple of board members catch their breath when they recognized the movie star. Los Angelenos were not impressed by minor celebrity, but someone of Jonny Blaze’s stature still managed to get them excited.

A clerk entered the room and handed Phoebe a thick sheaf of papers. The emails she’d asked for from the people who couldn’t make the meeting. There were over a dozen glowing testimonials. The last person to enter the room was April, her boss.

Phoebe squared her shoulders and faced the board. There were seven of them, all well dressed and official-looking. She stated her name and gave them a copy of her license.

Jeff waited until she’d finished before standing. “Ms. Kitzke isn’t allowed to bring witnesses to her hearing.”

Phoebe ignored him. “I understand the rules of the hearing. However, as my competency is being questioned, there was no other way to prove myself. These former clients wish to speak on my behalf. I also have letters. They’re not only from clients, but also from financial officers explaining how I always went the extra mile to find the right loan at the best price.”

Jeff glared at her. “It’s all bullshit.”

“No, it’s the truth.”

April cleared her throat. “I brought my signed affidavit, Phoebe. Just like you asked.” She turned to the board. “The mistake with the paperwork was mine. Phoebe caught it and wanted to correct it, but I didn’t listen. I was scared I’d lose my job, so I lied.”

The head of the board, a stern-looking woman in her midfifties, dropped her half-glasses on the desk in front of her and stared at Jeff.

“I’ve investigated Phoebe Kitzke myself. She seems to be a credit to the industry. Why exactly have you brought charges against her to revoke her license?”

Just then the rear doors of the conference room opened. Everyone turned. Phoebe was stunned to see Maya walk in, wearing the elegant designer suit she’d bought for her interview with the network. She was trailed by about a dozen people. C.J. and Thad were there with the kids, along with Eddie and Gladys and Andrea and Martin. And...Mayor Marsha?