"I think it's a little late for that."
"No." He refused to believe that. "Your dad would have my head if, after everything he's done to save you from the press, I put you smack dab in the spotlight."
Slowly, Fallon stood to face him, her gaze direct and her expression tight. "We've already agreed, numerous times, that my parents are overprotective."
"No argument from me." He understood them, but he also knew they hadn't done Fallon any favors by smothering her and, unintentionally, filling her with guilt whenever they worried.
"Since I met you, I've wanted you to know I'm independent."
"And you are, except when two psychos are plotting against you, willing to do whatever it takes to get their way."
She gave a sheepish grin. "Justice." Putting a small, warm palm to his jaw, she said, "I've wanted to keep you around, but not like this."
Keep him around? He wasn't going anywhere. "This," he emphasized, "isn't your doing. How do you think I feel? I'm supposed to protect you and instead you're being used because of me and a career I've already given up."
Frustration stiffened her shoulders. "I need you to be different, Justice. I need you to see that I'm capable of-"
He snatched her onto his lap and kissed away her gasp. "Now," he whispered, when she fell silent, "let me explain, okay?"
Gaze fastened on his mouth, she nodded.
Damn, but it was nice being wanted by Fallon Wade. "I'm not giving you special treatment, not like you think, anyway. If this was happening to my mom or my granny or any of my friends' wives, I'd be the exact same way." Did Fallon understand that for any woman he cared about-any woman he loved-he would do everything in his power to protect her?
"You would?"
"I'd be as bad as the brothers if I didn't."
After giving it some thought, she nodded. "All right. But you have to understand me, too. If busting those creeps lands my name in the press, I'm okay with that. I can handle it. It falls on me, Justice, not you."
He looped his hands around her waist. "You're pretty amazing. You know that, right?"
Laughing at his praise, she rolled her eyes.
"Hopefully it all goes off without a hitch." He glanced at his watch and knew Tom would be calling Kern right about now. This time, Kern and York would be the targets. "I've talked it over with Leese and my boss, Sahara. I've got Miles and even Brand on board to help." Thinking about Miles's willingness to jump in, he said, "Did I tell you Miles might be joining us at the agency? I don't understand why. He's at the top of his game."
"Maybe he just needs a change."
Justice shook his head. "The sport is in his blood. Something else is driving him, I just don't know what it is."
Fallon jumped when his cell rang. Justice knew she was nervous about everything and wouldn't be reassured until it was over. He spoke with Tom, got the confirmation and, stepping out of the storage room to snag a bustling waitress, asked for Miles.
Before his friend could join him, he cupped Fallon's face. "I need you again. Soon."
Nervously, she nodded. "Tonight?"
"One way or another." Seeing Marcus pretend to be with her had been hell. Still, Justice had to give the guy props for playing his role so convincingly. Any fool could see that Marcus still had strong feelings for her but he had set those aside to help.
Miles stuck his head into the cramped room. "Everything set?"
"Yeah. I'm meeting Tom there in a few minutes."
"Good. Best to get it over with." Miles glanced at Fallon while saying, "I'll let the others know and be right back."
"Thanks."
Hands clasped behind her, breath uneven, Fallon watched him. Justice could damn near feel her nervousness.
He couldn't take it. Without planning the words, with no conscious decision to share them, he heard himself say, "I'm in love with you."
Her eyes flared and her hands dropped to her sides. "What?"
She needed to hear it again? Yeah, he sort of did, too. "I'm in love with you. I don't mean to put you on the spot, and you're under no obligation-"
"Justice."
"I'd planned on talking to you about it-" It. What a stupid way to refer to something so overpowering, so all consuming. "After this was all settled. But, I dunno, I needed to share, I guess."
She put a trembling hand over her mouth.
Miles stepped back in. "Everyone's ready. I can take Fallon out the back after you're gone. Cannon and Armie are going to follow, not that they don't trust Marcus, and not that I can't handle it, but you know how they are."
Still watching Fallon, Justice smiled. "Yeah, I do." He cupped her chin. "I'll let you know as soon as I wrap it up."
She flung herself at him, her arms tight around his neck, her breath choppy. "Please be careful."
"Hey," Miles said. "He'll be all right, honey. Honestly. It's covered."
Justice laughed, saying close to Fallon's ear, "I'm encouraged." He gave her a squeeze, kissed her temple and stepped away to sneak out the back door of the bar.
He'd had many fights, but this would be the biggest fight of his life because this time, there was a lot more on the line than recognition in a sport he loved. Regardless of the risk, he couldn't stop smiling. Soon as he rid himself of York and Kern, he could get back to Fallon.
That was a bigger payoff than he'd ever imagined.
LEESE DROVE THE CAR, Brand beside him in the front seat. Fallon was in back with Miles. The silence left her throat tight; these men, badasses all of them, were every bit as worried as she was. Slumping against the door and fighting off the fear, she watched the scenery speed past.
Brand twisted to look over the seat at her. His gaze, so sinfully dark, pinned her in place. "Tell me about the bodyguards you've had."
Drawn from her maudlin thoughts, Fallon started in surprise. "What do you want to know?"
"I take it Justice isn't the norm."
In a tart voice, she replied, "If you're asking if I've had sleepovers with other bodyguards, the answer is no."
Brand grinned, and he looked so sexy she had to sigh.
"You've had bodyguards since you were young, right?"
"Yes." She really didn't feel like chatting. She wanted to wallow in her concern. But how fair was that to the poor men assigned to keep her company? They were Justice's friends. She should treat them better. "My parents often thought it necessary to ensure my safety, at least at big functions. Usually the bodyguards were remote, not friendly like Justice. For different reasons, they were noticeable."
"Clichés?" Brand asked.
"Dark suits, precisely trimmed hair...even their body language screamed ‘professional for hire.'" She gave it quick thought, then smiled despite herself. "Justice is the total opposite. He stands out, no way he couldn't. But it's not because anyone thinks he's been hired. It's just that he's so big and muscular, so cocky and-" Seeing Brand's grin, she cut herself off in midsentence. "I'm sure you understand, since you stand out, too."
"Thank you."
Oh, this one could be dangerous, she thought. Talk about cocky!
Miles turned in the seat to face her. "Was there ever a time when your folks didn't have a bodyguard hovering over you?"
"Yes." And it had been tragic-because of her. "My sister and I convinced them we'd be fine at a lake property they'd purchased but hadn't yet remodeled. The cabin was secluded, so there weren't any other people nearby and no one knew we'd be there." Odd that she could talk about this now without a single shiver in her voice.
Because of Justice.
God, in so many ways he'd dragged her out of a troubled past and into a very bright future.
He said he loved her, and she didn't have a single doubt that it was true. She didn't need to prove anything to him.
And she no longer needed to prove anything to herself.
"My sister died at that cabin, and I was badly burned." No one interrupted as she told what had happened. Telling it the first time to Justice had been difficult. Now, it truly felt like a memory and nothing more.
Brand's gaze never left her. "I imagine that made your folks even more determined to protect you."
"Yes. That's why they hired Justice." She felt a small smile tug at her mouth. "My mother thought he might blend in better."
Miles snorted. "He blends in about as well as a longhorn bull in a herd of calves."
Fallon laughed. "Very true." She sighed, "I took one look at him and fell hard."
"Fell?" Leese asked, the first thing he'd said.
"In love. Or at least, in deep infatuation. It wasn't long before I knew I was lost, though. Justice is just so...exceptional."
"Yeah." Brand laughed. "Exactly how I'd describe him."
Maybe because she didn't have many friends, Fallon found herself confessing all. "I wanted to prove I didn't need a bodyguard, that I was as self-sufficient as any other woman. I had planned to get my own apartment and live off my own funds."
"But?" Miles asked.
"Justice told me that he loves me."
"Duh," Brand said. "We all saw the clues the first time he brought you around."