Hard Justice(20)

Relieved, Rebecca nodded. "I can't imagine that he would."

"Bodyguards," Fallon added in an incriminating tone, "are apparently prone to melodrama."

Rebecca murmured, "I see," while attempting to hide her smile.

Justice snorted. "It's called doing my job." Then he ate the tiny sandwich in one big bite.

Bemused, Fallon watched him chew and swallow, looked at her own sandwich, and offered him half.

He grinned. "Nah, thanks. Even we melodramatic types know not to take other people's share."

"Fallon usually only eats half anyway," Rebecca offered, while ushering them to the dining room.

Each lady ended up putting half a sandwich on his plate. And true enough, he'd finished every bite while they were still nibbling on theirs. "So what do you say? I can grab what I need and get here in the afternoon. We won't need to leave for the fights until five."

Fallon hesitated with a chip almost to her mouth. "I thought the first fight started at eight."

"Prelims start at eight. Stack will be with the main event starting at ten. But I always get there early when someone from the same camp is fighting. Moral support and all that." It'd be interesting to see how Fallon fared in the loud, testosterone-laden atmosphere. Half hoping she'd decline, but also anxious to introduce her to his world, he asked, "That work for you?"

"Oh, sure. Whatever you want."

So accommodating, he mused, knowing she had no idea of everything he wanted. Not that he should be thinking about that, especially not with her mother watching him as if she, at least, knew exactly where his mind had gone.

The beeping of his cell saved him. He answered the call from the cleaning company, replied that he'd be right out and pushed back his chair.

"I'll stick around until they're done with the mess, but you two can go on to bed." Yeah, shouldn't be thinking about Fallon curling up in that cozy-looking bed either. "I'll bring you the invoice for the work tomorrow when I come by to add to the security."

"It's too much," Rebecca protested. "I can see to the-"

"No, ma'am. I'd rather you didn't." Melodramatic or not, at this point Justice chose to trust very few people. "Let me handle it, okay?"

She subsided. "If you wish. But, Justice?"

He lifted a brow.

"Thank you."

"Thank me by locking up behind me. And try not to let Marcus in until I've cleared him."

Rolling her eyes, Fallon abandoned her plate and stood to join him.

"He's persistent," her mother said, smiling at Justice as if she didn't mind.

"Seems so."

Folding his arms, Justice held his ground. "Promise me."

"Fine by me," Fallon grumbled. "I don't particularly want to see him anyway."         

     



 

He'd noticed. What scar could she possibly have?

From what Justice could tell, she was physically perfect. Curved in all the right places, sleek in others. For sure her boobs were real; they didn't appear large, but the way they bounced when she walked nearly made him nuts.

Marcus was an idiot. Did she have an appendectomy scar?

He snorted again, gaining added attention from both women. Going for some cover, he said, "Your mom is working with the man." A fact Justice hated. "You're bound to see him."

"Going forward," Rebecca promised, "Marcus and I will hold our meetings elsewhere."

Better than nothing. Justice nodded. "Just be careful around him."

She treated him to an indulgent smile. "Yes, Justice."

Fallon grabbed his arm and practically dragged him from the room. Of course, he allowed the dragging. She looked extra cute when she got all riled up.

As soon as they were out of earshot, he asked, "Was your ma patronizing me?"

Releasing him at the door, she faced him with hands on her hips. "Yes, with good reason."

Justice frowned. He'd kind of liked having her hands on him. "How's that?"

"Oh, no, you don't. You're not going to divert me. I have something important I want to explain to you."

Her grave tone put his chin in the air with wary defiance. "What?"

She glanced back toward where they'd left her mother, then lowered her voice. "I'm trying to break away from insanely overprotective people."

"Your parents?" he asked, wanting to make sure.

She threw up her hands. "Yes, my parents. They love me-"

"But they smother you. Yeah, I get that."

"Then get that you're doing the same thing!"

"Shhh," he cautioned. "Your ma will hear and you'll hurt her feelings." Justice knew instinctively that Fallon wouldn't want to do that.

She drew a breath, then managed a thin smile. "This is important to me, Justice. For once I want to be free, not treated like an infant."

One of these days he'd understand her...maybe after he figured out why her folks were so watchful-and why she'd allowed it. "Trust me, honey, I know you're not a child."

The way her eyes flared, Justice knew he definitely shouldn't have said that.

Annoyed with himself, he started to explain. "I mean-"

"Thank you." Her expression softened. "I appreciate the sentiment and I'm glad that someone realizes I can take care of myself."

He hadn't said that, but he was glad she'd let him off the hook, so he muttered, "No problem."

"How about instead of worrying about me, you head home to get some much-needed rest?"

Rest? At least this time she hadn't insulted him in front of her mother. "Do I look frail to you?"

"No."

"Weak?"

"Of course not."

"Then why would you think I need to rest?"

She barely muffled a laugh. "You say it like a slur. Everyone needs to rest sometimes. You've had several busy days and-"

Thinking she needed to understand just how energetic he felt, he took a step closer-but caught himself before he did anything stupid. Like touch her. Or kiss her.

God, he wanted to kiss her.

Instead, he waffled. He'd never been this uncertain with a woman, but damn it, Fallon wasn't just a woman.

She was a client.

He needed to remember that.

Eyes big and dark, Fallon stared up at him, unsure of herself, her gaze searching his. "Justice?" she whispered, sounding a little breathless and completely on board for whatever he might want to do in that moment.

"Shit."

She blinked, the fog of interest clearing. "What?"

"Just...shit." He laughed at himself and ran both hands over his face. "I gotta roll. Lock this door behind me, and don't let anyone else in. I'll see you tomorrow."

He didn't wait to learn if she had anything else to say. Instead, he strode down the drive, which now felt a mile long, though he knew it wasn't. And with every step he felt her gaze on his back. He'd confused her.         

     



 

But hell, she couldn't be more confused than him.

It took nearly two hours to clean up the paint. Luckily, it was a cheap, water-based paint and they were able to get it completely removed from the concrete drive. The lawn, however, looked like hell. The crew promised the paint wouldn't actually kill anything and that after mowing two more times, it wouldn't even be noticeable.

With the spring rains, even the grass should look good as new very soon.

By the time Justice got to the small house he'd recently purchased, he really was dragging. Thanks to Fallon feeding him, he needed only a quick shower and then he could fall into bed.

Soon as his headlights hit the front of the house, he realized he'd had a visitor.

Some asshole had stomped on all the new flowers he'd planted in the beds around the front porch.

Son of a bitch. The Wades weren't the only ones to be vandalized. Could that mean someone didn't like his connection to them? Probably, and as far as Justice was concerned, Marcus was his number-one suspect.



SITTING IN THE Body Armor Agency, ensconced in his boss's office with the requisite coffee and treats, Justice updated Leese and Sahara. Knowing they'd be curious, he'd even taken photos with his cell phone to better show the damage done to the houses.

They both frowned over the red paint and sympathized with him over his squished flowers.

"Sucks," Leese said. "But it still surprises me that you'd plant all those flowers."

"My granny and mom bought them for me. I didn't have much choice. They're both going to be pissed when they see the mess."

Sahara looked at him over her coffee cup, and when she finished her drink, she suggested, "Replant. Don't tell them."

"Maybe." The idea had merit, though he knew how disappointed his mom always got whenever he'd told her even the smallest lie. Still, she'd start in worrying if he didn't.

Absolutely no one could worry like his mom. She'd cornered the market. If Fallon wanted to see melodrama, he should introduce the two of them-No. What the hell was he thinking?

All kinds of crazy connotations went along with a girl meeting a guy's mom. He definitely couldn't go there.

"What?" Leese asked. "Did you think of something else?"

"No." Nothing that he could share with anyone.

Leese said, "I think more research is in order. There's probably a connection somewhere that we're missing."

"Fallon and her family swear there isn't any real threat. They just want her protected against anything that might come up."