Her mother shook her head. "He didn't, but he looks different and very determined, and he was insistent that he had to talk to Clayton first before I came to get you."
Dejection made her chest tight. Justice was here to quit. Sinking back to sit on the side of the bed, Fallon folded her hands and concentrated on not looking lost. "I can't interrupt them."
"Why not?"
She sighed, searched for an out, but finally decided that she'd have to tell the truth. "I showed Justice my scars."
Her mother's eyes widened, then immediately softened. "And?"
"I don't know."
Her mother quickly sat beside her and took her hand. "Tell me everything that happened."
It was beyond embarrassing, but Fallon needed someone to talk to, so she shared it all without admitting that Marcus had seen them first, or his reaction.
"Justice was silent all the way home." Fallon drew a breath. "I think...I think he's probably quitting."
Her mother pushed to her feet. "Go down there and confront him. Tell him you deserve to know what he's doing."
"Mom! I can't do that."
"Oh, yes, you can, young lady!" She tugged Fallon to her feet, quickly smoothed her hair, straightened her now wrinkled clothing and stepped back. "There. Much better."
Fallon knew that was a lie. She looked horrible. "Mom-"
"You will get yourself downstairs this instant, young lady. Rebecca Rothschild Wade's daughter does not cower in her bedroom."
Hearing her mom reprimand her like a schoolgirl, Fallon half smiled. "I'm not a child any longer."
"Exactly. Now let's go."
Before Fallon could think of a way to dissuade her mother, she had the door open and was prodding Fallon into the hall. She was so emotionally distraught, it seemed easier to give in than to fight her mother.
In the end, what difference would it make if she heard from Justice face-to-face, or if her father had to explain things to her?
Halfway down the steps, raised voices caused Fallon and her mother both to pause. Justice and her father were arguing!
The men were in the dining room. Through the open archway, Fallon could see Justice's profile-and his appearance further shocked her.
He'd shaved! Gone was the sexy scruff she liked so much; his goatee was now neatly trimmed. And...and his hair was cut short to the same length all over, eliminating his messy fauxhawk!
She blinked twice trying to take it in.
In his usual jeans, but with a black polo shirt that hugged his massive shoulders, he still looked gorgeous, yet also very, very different.
What did it mean?
And then she heard him say, "Quitting is the only option."
Even though she'd expected it, the truth hit her so hard, she had to slap a hand to her mouth to keep from making a sound.
How had he come to mean so much to her in such a short time? Why had she so stupidly let that happen?
"I'm paying you," her father insisted.
Above her hurt, Fallon's pride rebelled. She would not let her father beg for Justice's service.
"This is pointless," Justice replied, just as irate. "Whether you pay me or not, I'm not budging. I'd be looking out for her anyway. It's personal now, not business."
Wait...what?
Trying to understand, Fallon gulped in air. How could he be her bodyguard if he quit? She glanced at her mother, and found her smiling. Even more confused now, Fallon turned back to stare at Justice.
"You say that like it's your decision," her father barked. "Fallon has some say in this, too, you know."
"I'll convince her." Justice folded his arms in what she now recognized as an arrogant and determined stance. "And since I'll be dating her, it'd be ludicrous for you to pay me as a bodyguard."
Dating her?
Before she fell down the steps in an ignominious heap, Fallon hurried down the rest of the way. "What's going on? Justice, what are you talking about? Why are the two of you shouting?"
Justice turned fast, saw her face and scowled. "What happened to you?"
Her father pushed rudely past him. "You've been crying."
"Crying?" Justice repeated. Then he glared at her father. "You made her cry?"
"Me?" He glowered right back. "I've only just gotten home!"
Her mother said, "I believe it was you, Justice, who did the damage."
"Mother!" Fallon knew a blush would add nothing to her ravaged appearance. She was such an ugly crier. With the very first tear her nose turned red, her eyes got puffy and blotches marred her cheeks.
"Dear God." Slowly, her father stepped closer, his gaze examining her face. With blood in his eyes, he pivoted to face Justice. "How did she get bruised?"
Fallon couldn't believe the level of accusation in her father's tone. "I fell down some steps, Dad, that's all."
"You fell?" he asked, incredulous.
"Yes, and it's absurd for you to act like Justice had anything to do with it."
"It is partially my fault," Justice said, willingly taking blame. "I should have had hold of her-"
Her father gaped at him, maybe because he didn't want Justice holding her.
Before this debacle could get any worse, Fallon redirected a frown at Justice. "We should talk privately."
He shook his head, refusing her, then wagged a finger from her to himself and back again. "Something's going on between us. You know it as well as I do. I'm trying to be upfront with your folks about it."
Furious, her father said to her, "He took advantage of you, made you cry, allowed you to get hurt and now he wants to quit."
Her mother said, "Hush, Clayton. Let them talk."
"He wants to talk about dating her!"
"Yes, I know." Unlike her father, her mother sounded pleased.
"He is completely unsuitable-"
"That's enough!" Not about to let her dad interfere, Fallon huffed out a breath. "Justice did not take advantage of me, falling was my own fault and if he wants to quit, well-" It would break her heart, but she didn't want to guilt him into staying.
Justice took a step toward Fallon. "I know it shouldn't have happened, honey. On every level it was wrong. But I'm already more than a bodyguard and we both know it. I'm tired of being hampered by ethics."
"Of all the-"
"Clayton," her mother snapped, her voice shrill, "I told you to hush!"
He clamped his mouth shut and settled on an evil scowl.
Justice and Fallon both ignored her parents.
"I'll talk to my boss tomorrow, tell her how I screwed up and accept the consequences there. But understand, Fallon, regardless of anything else, you're stuck with me."
"Stuck with you?" She had a hard time taking it in.
"Yeah." He came closer still. "Whether Sahara blackballs me out of the industry, or your dad kicks my butt to the curb, even if you don't want to see me on a more personal level, there's no way in hell I'm going to let anything happen to you."
Her mother sighed happily.
"You can't just shadow her," her father barked. "It's absurd."
Justice touched her face, skimming his fingers over her bruise. "Why were you crying?"
No way would she explain it to him now, not with her parents both watching so avidly. "Would you step outside with me?"
He nodded. "After you tell me I can quit our business association and move on to a personal relationship."
Her teeth locked. She did not appreciate the forced confrontation.
"I want you protecting her," her mother said, smoothing over the moment. "Especially with that confusion the other night."
"Confusion?" Her dad jumped on that. "What confusion?"
"I'll explain in a minute," her mom said to soothe him before turning back to Justice. "However, I agree with Clayton. We must continue to pay."
Justice took a hard stance. "I'm not accepting your money."
"You," her father snapped, "signed a contract!" Then he stomped away.
"There, that's settled." Fallon's mother hugged her, and surprised Justice by hugging him, too. "I'm so pleased." She turned and went after her husband, already detailing the issue with the paint, the added camera on the driveway and Justice's concerns.
Justice cursed low, his demeanor rife with frustration. "Your parents are going to be really disappointed when things don't go their way."
Fallon's heart tripped with uncertainty and with...hope. "Meaning?"
"I won't take money to be with you. It wouldn't be right." He stared at her intently, his voice going gruff. "Ah, babe, I can't bear to see you cry."
"I'm not." Not anymore, though she knew she still looked hideous.
His fingers brushed over her cheek. "It hurts that much?"
"I'm not a wimp." Insulted, she attempted to explain. "It wasn't the fall. It's just that I thought...the way you brought me home, and you were so silent, I wasn't sure..." She sighed. How could she find out what was going on if she couldn't even finish a coherent sentence? Everything felt so awkward. She detested making a fool of herself. She detested the idea of not seeing Justice.
She detested being a coward.