"Fight?" her father rasped, his face going ashen. He grabbed her shoulders, turned her this way and that to check her over. "Dear God, are you all right?"
"No one was hurt," Justice rushed to explain. "Fallon's fine."
Her father took that in, let out a shaky breath, then drilled them both with his patented stare. "There was a fight?"
"Skirmish," Justice soothed. "Nothing serious."
Well, since her father knew anyway... "He was amazing," Fallon gushed. Justice had impressed her and she was dying to share. "He kicked one guy in the face and put him down."
"One guy?" More apoplectic by the second, her father barked, "There was more than one?"
Justice squeezed her when she started to explain, then he took over. "Three knuckleheads wanted to take her purse, that's all. It wasn't a big deal."
A flush of anger replaced the pale disbelief. Through clenched teeth, her dad said, "I don't know where you took her, but you quite obviously used poor judgment."
When Justice started to speak, Fallon fell into him. "I need to sit down."
"Let's take you in, then your father and I can talk." He put an arm around her and led her forward.
She took one step and tripped over her own feet. The concrete drive rushed up at her face.
Before she made impact, Justice scooped her up into his arms. "Make a note, Fallon. You are not a beer drinker." He walked past her silently outraged dad.
Her mother, often more reasonable, stood at the door. "Fallon, what in the world have you done?"
"Two beers," Fallon explained. "I swear."
"Close to the truth," Justice said, stepping inside when her mother held the door open. "Add another half a beer to be exact."
Fallon looked at the long stairs, then at Justice. "I don't suppose you could carry me on up?" Her legs felt ridiculously wobbly, and besides, she liked being in his arms. He didn't look the least bit strained.
"No," her dad snapped. "He most definitely cannot. In fact, you will unhand her this instant."
"Clayton," her mother chastised. Then to Justice, "Put her right here."
He strode across the foyer to the small settee her mother had indicated and carefully lowered her to the seat.
Behind them, her father seethed. "You're fired. Leave and do not return."
Going stiff in the neck, Justice said, "She had a terrific time tonight. You know she's not done, and she's already familiar with me and-"
"Fired! Now get out."
"Dad!" No, no, no, Fallon thought. It couldn't end like this. "You can't blame him for-"
"If he doesn't leave this instant, I'll call the police and have him removed."
Justice stiffened. "Fine."
As he turned to go, Fallon panicked. "Justice?"
He paused only a second, sent her a look of frustrated regret, then kept on going...right out of her life.
"Shh," her mother told her before she could make a single sound of protest. "Pick your battles, honey, and time them well. Now is definitely not the time."
"But-"
"Come along. I'll help you upstairs."
The night had been so nice. How could she go from happy to devastated in a matter of minutes?
"You need to sleep it off," her mother whispered, "then we'll talk in the morning, I promise."
Behind them, her father glared. Never before had she seen him enraged like this. Certainly she'd never seen him enraged at her.
"Clayton will be fine," her mom assured her. "He's struggling with his own demons, and like you, he needs a little time. Morning will be soon enough to sort it all out."
God, she hoped so. Halfway up the stairs, Fallon said, "I had a nice time."
"I'm glad."
"Even though no one would dance with me."
Smiling, her mother said, "Perhaps Mr. Wallington wouldn't allow it?"
"Maybe," Fallon said. "He has this crazy death stare, way worse than dad's, and it terrified everyone. I don't think Justice knew that I noticed, but I did."
"Of course you did."
Thinking about the way Justice had watched her, Fallon admitted, "He was wonderful, Mom."
"Was he, now?" Supporting her, her mother kept her walking, up and up that never-ending staircase.
Tonight the stairs seemed a particular challenge. Fallon knew she'd never before overimbibed because this out-of-control feeling was entirely new. She couldn't get her limbs to coordinate, and worse, she felt like bawling.
Once in her room, her mother got out her nightgown and folded down her covers.
Feeling far too clumsy, Fallon finally got her clothes changed and didn't protest when her mother put them away. More than anything, she wanted to drop into bed. However, old habits died hard, so she first went into her bathroom to halfheartedly brush her teeth and wash her face.
When she stepped out, she found her mother sitting on the side of the bed. Knowing that probably meant a talk, Fallon groaned, but dutifully got into bed.
"How do you feel?"
"Exhausted." And melancholy and excited and...too many emotions for her to differentiate. The night had been fun, but at times scary. Peaceful and exhilarating. And until she'd blundered, she'd felt so incredibly free.
She should never have given up on life, limited as it might be. Now that she'd had a small taste, she wanted more. God, she craved more. With new conviction, she decided that if she couldn't have it all, she'd at least take what she could get.
Her mother smiled, then said carefully, "Mr. Wallington is an interesting character."
He fascinated her. "Yes." Interesting, funny, strong, an unbelievable fighter, unique and so protective and gentle without smothering her as her parents often did.
After tucking the covers up around her, her mother smiled. "You know, I met with Ms. Silver and went over all the profiles before selecting Mr. Wallington as your guard."
That was news to Fallon. "You did?" She knew her mother and Ms. Silver had met via their social circles, but she'd assumed her father had made all the arrangements for the protection.
"Yes. Your father was put off by his appearance, but I specifically choose him because, well, I assumed you'd find him unattractive?"
With her mother watching her so closely, Fallon tried not to show any reaction, but inside, she scoffed.
The truth was that she found Justice almost too attractive to bear. But her mother waited for a reply, so Fallon said, "He's okay."
"Yes." Her mother smiled. "Anyway, whether you'd find him handsome or not, I decided his casual manner and dress would make him less obvious as a bodyguard."
Working up what she hoped would be a convincing smile, Fallon said, "I'm glad you did." In the end, it didn't matter how sinfully gorgeous Justice might be: she understood her own limitations.
"I want you to be happy, Fallon."
Fallon sighed. Her mother had her hair loose, no makeup on her face, and still Fallon thought she looked very pretty. She also looked to be fishing.
"I am happy."
"Oh, honey." Her smile went sad. "You know you don't ever need to lie to me."
"I wouldn't." Yes, she could be happier, but she understood her lot. She had parents who loved her, financial security, a custom-made job that she enjoyed and all the comforts she wanted. "Just because I'm..."
"Expanding your horizons?"
Fallon nodded. That was a good way to put it. "It doesn't mean I'm unhappy." She hoped she could clear out the cobwebs sufficiently to reassure her mom.
Teasing, her mother mused aloud, "Now that I've met him in person, I'll admit that Mr. Wallington has a certain rugged appeal."
Rather than admit anything else inflammatory, Fallon pressed her lips together and shrugged.
"And, my Lord, the man is enormous, all of it brute strength. I imagine any young lady would find him striking on a very basic level."
Pretty much on any level, but Fallon said only, "Yes, so?"
"So he's your guard. It's not only your father he has to answer to, but also his employer. You're a beautiful woman, Fallon, but understand that Mr. Wallington could be completely discredited if he crossed the line while on the job."
"Mom." Heat rushed into her face. "It wasn't like that."
"I'm all for you dating again," her mother continued. "If Marcus doesn't suit-"
"Marcus most definitely does not." She'd see Marcus again, of course. They moved in the same social circle. But she'd never again be alone with him-and she'd never again trust him.
"If you want to talk about it-"
"No." Her mother didn't know the soul-crushing rejection Marcus had delivered, and Fallon hoped to keep it that way. Her way of dealing? Get out there and live without expectations. "I'm fine. Please don't worry."
"I'm a mother. I'm allowed to worry and I imagine I'll be doing so the rest of my life." She softened that with a hug. "Now, about Mr. Wallington."
Fallon would never again delude herself. A strong, confident man like Justice Wallington wouldn't give a woman like her a second look, except as an assignment.
And as a mere assignment, he'd never know her secrets.