Hard Justice(16)

It was only ten, a little earlier than usual, and bright sunshine poured over the steps and surrounding landscape, reflecting off the black SUV Justice drove. A perfect day for the river walk she'd planned, but Fallon was ready to call it quits. Justice, she decided, looked like he needed a nice long nap.

She was about to tell him the change in plans when her mother stepped up behind her and invited him in.

"Join us for a cup of tea."

He quickly removed the dark sunglasses, saying, "No thank you, ma'am. Not a tea drinker."

"Coffee then."

"I brought my own. It's in the car."

Her mother, unfortunately, wasn't taking no for an answer. "Fallon needs to get her sunscreen. Please, come in." Her mother held the door open and waited.

Hooking his glasses on the front of his T-shirt, Justice reluctantly stepped in, and immediately looked ill at ease.

"My husband is gone for the weekend or I'm certain he'd enjoy saying hello, as well."

Justice didn't look convinced. "Off on business?"

"Yes." She indicated a chair, leaving Justice no choice but to sit. "Fallon, honey, would you make some coffee?"

She didn't want to, but the kitchen was close enough to the sitting room that she'd be able to listen in. "All right." She rushed off to do the prep so she could rejoin them while it perked.

From a distance, she heard her mother say, "May I ask you something, Justice?"

"Shoot."

"Is that hairstyle popular among fighters?"

Fallon almost choked.

Justice just laughed. "Not sure I'd say it's popular anywhere, especially right now. I haven't trimmed it in a while. When I was fighting, though, I'd dye it orange."

"Orange? Somewhat like a...rooster?"

"Somewhat," he agreed, his tone teasing. "But there are a lot of words for rooster, ya know?"

Oh, dear Lord. Fallon dumped water into the coffeemaker and rushed back to the room. She got there in time to see her mother laughing.

Justice smiled at her, then ran a hand over his head. "Now that I'm not fighting, I've kinda lost interest. Guess I should either shape it up or shave it off."

"Well," her mother said, "I find it interesting. So please don't bother on my account."

His mouth quirked. "No, ma'am."

Horrified over the subject for several reasons, Fallon bit her lip. Luckily, he mother didn't seem scandalized, and Justice didn't look offended.

"The coffee will be ready in a minute." She studied Justice's face and saw the tiredness there. "We can reschedule for another day if you'd like to rest."

He clutched his heart and groaned. "Don't unman me in front of your ma. What would she think of me if you're all bushytailed and I'm pooped out when we've been doing the same thing?"

"Her ma," Mrs. Wade quipped, "would think you're hilarious."

For some reason, Fallon's face went hot. Probably from the way he spoke so casually in front of her very formal mother-and how her mother teased back. "We haven't been. You leave earlier each day to inspect the route and venue and...whatever else it is bodyguards do."         

     



 

Justice gave her a level, very intense look. "I ensure your safety. That's everything I do."

She had no reply for that, but it didn't matter because Justice wasn't done yet anyway.

"And I go where you go. This is your time, so don't worry about me." He stretched. "Besides, I'm tired because of my grandma."

"Your grandma?" she asked.

"That coffee ready yet?"

"Oh, yes." With haste so she wouldn't miss the story, Fallon filled a cup and brought it to him. Creamer and sugar were already on the table. "So," she said as she handed him the cup, "what was that about your grandma?"

"She had to go into the hospital last night." He dropped a spoonful of sugar into the coffee and sipped appreciatively. "I spent the night there with her. My mother came up this morning, so I was able to leave."

Fallon and her mother both stared at him. He'd spent the night with his grandmother at the hospital?

"I hope she's okay," Fallon finally thought to say.

"Yeah, she's a tough old bird. Insists on living alone and for the most part, she gets around okay. But even though her eyesight is bad, she refuses to wear glasses, so it's no surprise that she tripped over the stoop. We thought she might have broken a hip in the fall. Since she gives the docs a really hard time, it's always better if my mom or I are with her to sort of smooth things over." He grinned. "Otherwise she might've gotten herself shoved out the door just for being so ornery."

"You say that with a great deal of affection," her mother noted.

"Yeah. Granny's a keeper." Justice drank more of his coffee, then sat back. Muscles rolled in his shoulders as he relaxed, and yet his abdomen stayed firm and flat beneath the T-shirt. "The doc came in to see her this morning right before my mom got there. She's bruised up real good, but no breaks, thank goodness. She and my mom were arguing when I left." He grinned.

"Arguing?" Fallon asked.

"Yeah, see, Mom says Granny has to come home with her until she's fit again, but Granny said she wasn't a baby and didn't need a sitter. Still, I'd put my money on Mom. She can be stubborn as a goat when the mood strikes her. Not stubborn enough to get Granny to wear her glasses, but otherwise, she usually wins."

"Why won't she wear her glasses?" her mom asked.

Justice shrugged. "Says it makes her look old."

Fascinated by this glimpse into his life, Fallon pulled out a chair. "How old is your grandmother?"

Justice rubbed his jaw. "Let's see. Mom's sixty now, so Granny must be eighty-five or thereabouts. It's hard to believe, with me being such a lug, but they're both itty-bitty things. Mom's maybe five-one, and now that she doesn't stand so straight, Granny's barely five feet."

"Amazing." Fallon's mother sat forward. "So your father is a large man?"

"Was. He died when I was real young. An accident at the factory where he worked. I was only three so I don't remember much about him, but Mom has the house full of photos and between her and Granny, I've heard every story there is about Dad, twice."

Sympathy left a knot in Fallon's chest. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

He shrugged. "It's okay."

"So..." Her mother faltered, cleared her throat, and continued with "Granny is your father's mother?"

"Nope. But she loved my dad, too, said he really made my mom shine." Justice smiled with some memory. "Dad and Granny liked to play poker. To hear my mom tell it, they had some serious competition going. Knowing my grandma, I can imagine it got loud and rowdy on occasion."

"Your mother never remarried?"

He laughed. "No. She said she started with the best and wasn't taking second pick for anyone. I think she's been content." After finishing off his coffee, he pushed back his chair and looked toward Fallon. "You ready to go?"

Lost to thoughts of Justice as a little boy, she jumped. "Oh, yes. Of course." She quickly gathered up their cups and carried them to the dishwasher.         

     



 

Her mother protested. "You don't have to fool with that, honey. Lindsey will be in later today."

"I don't mind."

Minutes later, she and Justice got into the SUV. She noticed the shirts in the backseat and was going to ask him about it, but Justice diverted her.

"Who's Lindsey?"

Because she liked the woman a lot, Fallon smiled. "She helps out around the house."

"Helps out how?"

"During the first part of the week she only does light housekeeping, but on Friday she does the bigger stuff, like laundry and changing the sheets on the beds and grocery shopping. That's why I don't like to leave little messes for her to contend with. She's got enough to do today."

"I'm guessing in a house that size, you have other staff?"

"Yes." Fallon tipped her head, watching him drive. "We have a landscaper who takes care of the property. Lindsey's there every day except the weekends, and once a month a cleaning crew comes in to do the heavier work, like washing down all the walls, polishing the floors, things like that." Now that she said it, it sounded extravagant when she'd never really thought of it like that before. "Why do you ask?"

"Seems like there are a lot of people coming and going. I don't like it." His brows pulled together. "Mind giving me some names and their contact info?"

Unbelievable. The man looked exhausted, but he wanted to take on more work? Crazy.

Folding her arms across her chest, Fallon said, "Actually, yes. I mind." She didn't want things to get out of hand. "I promise you, my father is extremely diligent in ensuring all personal employees are vetted. You don't need to worry about it."

"But he's out of town for the weekend."

"That happens a lot, Justice. Dad travels often for business, plus he takes a lot of golfing trips."

She could see that Justice didn't want to let it go.

Sighing, Fallon added, "We have a top-of-the-line security system. You should realize that. I mean, look at how overboard Dad is about me going out anywhere."