Yes, he likely would have. God knew the brothers loved a bet. Well, let them deal with a little reality.
Studiously avoiding looking at the check, Marcus sat back in his seat. "Actually, I haven't seen Fallon in a while. Mrs. Rothschild Wade arranged the fund-raising meetings away from the home." He didn't mention that Mr. Wade had also told him to stay away.
"So?" Kern barked. "Her daughter hasn't been around her house much anyway."
Marcus went still. How would Kern know that? A dozen concerns tripped through his brain before he found the composure to hide his surprise and distrust. Trying for a note of mere curiosity, he murmured, "Oh?" as if he wasn't all that interested in the answer.
He even opened the folder to the paperwork that would finalize their donation.
York cast a worried look at Kern, then pasted on a smile. "I told my brother that I'd seen her out and about with the bodyguard. Quite a few times, in fact. It appears he, at least, is on game."
"Meaning?" Marcus stared at the papers as if searching for a necessary notation, when in reality, the text blurred together as the ramifications of anyone spying on Fallon slowly sank in.
"Meaning he's beating you, man." Kern pushed back his chair and stood. "I thought that nice donation would give you a fighting chance, but you haven't even tried to use it to your advantage."
Ah, and since he hadn't produced the results they wanted, Kern now might pull the donation? Not if I can help it. Collecting his thoughts, Marcus tapped his fingertips together. "It still could help. Once it's presented, there's no way Fallon won't notice." Because he would tell her-about the donation and about his concern. "I'm flattered that you're both taking such an interest in my personal life, but is there a reason why?" Pretending amusement, he half smiled. "Perhaps a bet as to who wins the girl?"
Kern looked struck, then turned to York. "Hell of an idea."
Great, so he'd just encouraged them. Yet, Marcus knew that wasn't the only bet.
"One at a time," York said with some sly meaning.
Interrupting their debate on the odds, he asked, "Why, specifically, does it matter to either of you?"
They held silent, but not for long. The brothers were too cocky, too arrogant concerning their own wealth and influence, to understand his suspicions. They considered themselves beyond the reach of social boundaries. "The bodyguard keeps dodging Tomahawk."
Marcus gave a short laugh. "I seriously doubt that he dodges anyone. If he doesn't take the fight, it's because he has no interest in it."
Wearing his most charming grin, York added, "Do your part and we'll figure out the rest."
"The rest of what?"
Pushing the check toward Marcus, Kern added, "But do it soon." His smile looked like a threat. "Honest to God, I don't give a shit about literacy." He stormed out, his laughing brother behind him.
That check began to look like a bribe, and finally, Marcus knew what he had to do.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
INSTEAD OF LOOKING at apartments as she'd intended, Fallon ended up visiting with Justice's mother and grandmother nearly every day.
The women were absolutely delightful, very different from her relatives...and oh-so-similar to Justice, like tinier, female versions of his humor, warmth, caring and integrity.
Never, not once, had Fallon ever doubted the love of her parents. In a million ways, they'd shown her the depth of their feelings for her. Their love was quiet and fierce, an unwavering comfort.
For Justice's family, the love was bold and in your face, hilariously demonstrative and heart-meltingly unashamed.
From the start, they included her in those tight hugs, outrageous jokes and happy welcomes.
During the times that Justice did routine repairs to Iris's property, Fallon learned to make bean soup and braid a rug. She got a tour of Justice's old room, saw his many sporting trophies, heard stories of past girlfriends and watched all the DVDs of his fight career.
In some ways, she felt like an insider with the women, especially when they ganged up to tease Justice.
"Eugene" never seemed to mind, though. In fact, he would smile in an indulgent way, as if pleased to see them growing closer.
On the eighth day after her parents left, Fallon and Justice were finally going to check out the only apartment that was still available. Later they'd take his mother and grandmother out to dinner and she already looked forward to it. She wanted to go by her house first to get a change of clothes, and when they were five minutes away, she got a call.
She pulled out her cell, glanced at the screen and saw it was Marcus.
Justice said, "Ignore it."
He'd been in a sullen mood ever since she'd insisted on seeing the apartment. It wasn't as if she wanted to give up staying with him. Now that he'd involved her in his life and his family, losing either would be like losing a piece of her heart.
But it wouldn't be fair to him. Being her bodyguard had pulled him into her problems, and now she feared he was as overprotective as her parents. She couldn't burden him.
He needed choices. He needed to know that she'd be fine on her own. If their relationship grew after that, then and only then could she entirely trust in his feelings, accepting them for what she wanted them to be rather than what they might be-worry, or worse, sympathy.
"Of course I have to answer," she said, and put the phone to her ear. He needed to understand that Marcus was not a threat. "Hello, Marcus."
"Fallon. I haven't seen you in a while."
She watched Justice's profile. "There's no reason that you would."
Genuine sadness came through his reply. "I'd like to think we're still friends."
He'd humiliated her so badly that, before Justice, seeing Marcus only reinforced her insecurity. Now, however, she felt more than capable of being around him without a single twinge. "Of course we are."
"I'm sorry, Fallon. You don't know how many times I've regretted my reaction-"
Unwilling to rehash what had been a most mortifying situation for them both, she cut him off. "I'm over it, Marcus, I promise." Just as quickly, she asked, "Is there a reason for your call?"
She heard his sigh before he said, "Yes. I need to see you. And no, it's not to rekindle anything. There's something you need to know."
What could Marcus possibly have to tell her? Whatever it was, she didn't care. "Just tell me now."
He suddenly growled, "Is your bodyguard with you?"
She looked again at Justice. "Yes."
"I assumed," he said with resigned annoyance. "Let me speak with him, please."
Fallon didn't like the sound of that at all.
"Why do you want to talk to Justice?"
Brows shooting up, Justice glanced at her.
"It's important. Since he's with you and I'm not, I'm sure he can explain better than me."
Annoyance rising, Fallon scowled. "I'd prefer that you explain."
Justice held out his hand. "Give over, Fallon."
"No." Then to Marcus, she demanded, "Tell me right now or I'll hang up."
"If you do, I'll just have to call the agency where he works and hunt him down that way. And honestly, Fallon, that might take too long. Now please, put him on."
Marcus said nothing else, damn him. She didn't know what to do.
Wiggling his fingers, Justice asked, "Do you trust the putz or not?"
"Fine." Fallon put the phone on speaker and then slapped it into his hand, unwilling to mask her irritation with manners.
"Marcus," Justice said with malicious humor. "How's it shaking?"
"Rather than be harassed, I'll get right to it."
"Yeah, why don't you?"
"We need to get together to talk, and before you turn obnoxious again, you should know, I think it's possible that Fallon is in danger."
Justice glanced at her, frowned, and said, "Yeah, let's meet."
"No," Fallon insisted, wanting to ensure that they both heard her loud and clear. "This concerns me and I want to know what's going on. Right now, Marcus."
After a heavy pause, Marcus muttered, "You didn't tell me I was on speaker."
Justice shrugged. "Didn't know you'd have anything worthwhile to say."
"This is difficult to explain, especially over the phone. I'm free now if we can meet."
"All of us," Fallon said.
"Of course."
They agreed to meet at her parents' house, in the driveway near the road.
Justice didn't want him any closer than that and Fallon didn't care enough to debate it.
For the rest of the short drive, her thoughts whirled. What could Marcus possibly know about a threat?
Justice reached over and squeezed her knee. "You know I won't let anyone hurt you, right?"
Snorting, she said, "No one is trying to. Marcus is up to something. It's ridiculous."
"I thought you trusted him."
Why did Justice have to decide now to defend her ex? "It infuriates me that he would attempt to bypass me to talk to you."
Justice pulled into the driveway, drove all the way up to the house, turned around, then went back to the entrance, now facing the street. "I think he's trying to be considerate."
She gaped at him.
"He could be really concerned about something and doesn't want to alarm you."