Justice Is Always Ready (A Graham Family Story, 1) (10 page)

Her gray eyes sparkled as she neared
him. “Hey,” she said when she’d reached his side.

“
Hello, beautiful,” he
replied, fighting the urge to lean in and kiss her. “Are your
parents coming?”

She shook her head and slid her arm
through his. “Not today. Mom is at the hospital visiting a friend
and dad is getting some sleep before the lunch. He just went to bed
about seven.” They walked a short way before she nudged him and
whispered, “You look really good, Justice.”

He smiled, pleased she’d noticed.
“Thank you.”

At her side, he couldn’t help but
enjoy how she never let him feel left out. She introduced him
around and everyone welcomed him. The sermon was wonderful and he
let the preacher know that on the way out. The tall man with a
shaved head heartily shook his hand.

“
Welcome to Harbor Point
Baptist, son.”

“
Thank you. Wonderful
service today.”

The brown eyes staring at him
twinkled. “Yes. There is something very uplifting about undying
love.”

“
Yes, sir, there most
certainly is.”

He cut his gaze to where Kassidy stood
talking to a few women. She lifted her head and sent him a smile
that melted his heart. Saying her farewells, she moved to his side
and spoke to the preacher.

“
How’s your mother,
Kassidy?”

“
Doing well. She’s
visiting and sharing scripture with Mrs. Hollins today in the
hospital, otherwise she would have been here.”

The older gentleman took her hand and
shook it. “Give them my best and tell your father I expect to see
him here next Sunday, as well.”

“
I will.”

“
Y’all staying for
lunch?”

“
No,” Kassidy said, “we’re
heading to eat with my parents.”

A glance was shared between the two of
them and he nodded. “Good, good. I hope to see you again, son. Go
with God.”

“
Thank you.” Justice
waited for her to look at him again. Her eyes were soft and he took
her hand, placing it on his arm. Then he walked her to her
car.

“
You can follow me to my
parents’ house,” she said quietly.

Leaning in close, he brushed some hair
back from her face, tucking it behind her ear. He teased her skin
with his lips, delighting in her shiver.

“
You are so beautiful,
Kassidy. Do you have any idea what you do to me?”

Her hands settled on his chest and
hesitated before she pushed against him. “Stop, Justice. Not
here.”

Backing up, he allowed the space
between them she seemed to require. “I wasn’t doing anything,
Kassidy.”

He opened her door and closed it once
she’d swung her smooth legs inside the car. Jogging to his
Corvette, Justice maneuvered behind Kassidy and followed her
through Quiet Harbor. She drove carefully, making it extremely easy
for him for keep her in sight. After about fifteen minutes of
driving, she led him up a driveway to a medium-sized, two-story
house.

Parked behind her, he got out and
strode to her door and held it for her while she climbed out. After
she slowly unfolded her legs, he looked up when the front door
opened. A couple walked out onto the wide porch. Her parents
appeared as they had in the photos, extremely photogenic. They were
a very attractive couple. Licking his lips, he was very grateful
for the feel of Kassidy’s hand upon his arm.

The woman was an older
version of Kassidy. Her hair streaked with gray, was straight and
pulled back from her face. She wore a cute print dress with a white
apron over it. The phrase on the apron read: “Kissing the cook
is
always
advisable, she knows where the sharp knives are.”

Justice looked at Kassidy’s father.
There was obvious love in his gaze when he put it on his daughter,
emotion that cooled considerably when he met Justice’s eyes. Her
father stood tall and proud with short hair with gray at the
temples.

“
Mom. Dad. I’d like y’all
to meet Justice Graham. Justice, my parents, Ethan and Philyra
Barrow.”

He stepped toward her mom and reached
for the outstretched hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs.
Barrow.”

Her eyes were kind, and when she
smiled he realized instantly what had grabbed Ethan’s attention.
Philyra had a million watt smile.

“
No need to be so formal.
I’m Philyra.”

Returning her smile, he nodded while
leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Yes, ma’am. And that’s not just
because you know where the sharp knives are.”

She touched his cheek, amusement alive
in her eyes. “I bet your momma had her hands full with
you.”

“
I’d be lying if I said
otherwise.”

Philyra stepped back and Ethan took
her place. His handshake was firm but his expression bespoke the
fact he was withholding judgment at the moment.

“
Nice to meet you,
sir.”

“
Nice to finally put a
face to the name of the man involved with my daughter.”

Justice understood the subtle warning.
“Kassidy has spoken very highly of you both. Says you’re an
astronomer.”

Ethan’s eyes sparkled, and Justice
knew he’d said the right thing. The man may not be ready to share
his daughter, but he was more than ready to talk about the
stars.

“
Call me
Ethan.”

Chapter
Seven

From the kitchen, Kassidy observed
Justice as he spoke with her dad. They sat in the living room, a
chessboard between them and drinks beside each one. Lunch had gone
off without a hitch, for which she was so pleased.

“
I like him, Kas,” her mom
said in a soft tone.

Tearing her gaze from Justice, she
stared at her mom. There still lingered the hint of gray pallor and
strain to her skin and eyes. It worried her and Kassidy smiled to
hide her concern.

“
Do you really?” When her
mom nodded, Kassidy breathed even easier.

“
I’d say it’s a fair
assessment to say your father likes him as well.”

“
Daddy likes anyone who
will listen to his stories and play chess,” she replied with a
chuckle.

“
Well, there is that, but
I really think he likes him.”

Pain leeched into her heart. “The son
he never had.”

“
Kassidy Lyra, you stop
that!” Her mom’s tone was dagger sharp.

She stared at her toes where they
peeked out from her peep toe heels. Sometimes her mouth moved
without thought. “Yes, ma’am, sorry.”

It was a fear and shame she hadn’t
been able to get past. She knew her dad loved her. Deep down she
knew that, but she just couldn’t let go of the conversation she’d
overheard at the age of fifteen.

“
I swear some days I just
don’t know what gets into your head, young lady.”

Blinking back tears of frustration,
she forced an apologetic smile and met her mom’s gaze. “Just crazy
talk, Mama. Forget I said anything. Tell me about you and how
you’re doing.”

The shifting of emotions was quick but
not quick enough, and Kassidy knew her mom was about to lie to her.
Stand right there and lie. Ensuring her expression revealed nothing
that would alert her mom she knew the words would be a lie, Kassidy
waited for the response.

“
The doctor had been
worried I’d gotten pneumonia, then a virus, but all I had was a
really bad cold. My sinuses were not cooperating. So some meds and
rest, n’ here I am. Thanks for helping out at the museum while I
was under the weather.”

The urge to scream “Liar!” roared over
her with the force of a class five hurricane. “No problem. Glad
you’re feeling better, mom,” was all she said. Libby appeared
beside her and the feel of her short hair beneath her palm calmed
her down. “I’ll have the dishes done in a jiff, why don’t you sit
down.”

Kassidy kept the smile on her face
until her mom had sat down in the living room. Standing over the
sink, her hands deep in the hot, sudsy water, she took harsh ragged
breaths while she clenched and unclenched her fists.

“
You okay, beautiful?”
Justice’s deep timbre preceded his light touch on the small of her
back.

Tilting her head to the side, she
found his expression concerned. She struggled to hold on to her
control but it hovered just out of her reach. Her mouth moved but
nothing came out.

His fingers pressed along her spine.
“I’m right here, Kassidy. You’re not alone.”

And like that the rope of control
rested securely in her grasp. She closed her eyes and nodded before
sending him a thankful look.

“
What can I
do?”

“
Rinse.”

“
Let’s get to it,” he said
with one final lingering touch.

His hand dropped away and
she missed the warmth of his caress instantly. He settled his body
next to hers and she ogled him

blue suit coat that was being
removed and hung over a chair, pristine white sleeves of his shirt
had been rolled up to his elbows. The dark chocolate of his skin
mesmerized her. Such strength lay in those arms and hands. And such
tenderness.

Her mind drifted to the boat where
he’d used those large hands to bring her such exquisite and
concentrated pleasure. Over and over again. She bit her lip as the
memory flowed over her, his scent, his feel, his everything.
Him.

“
Kassidy?”

Dragging her gaze up to his, she felt
more shivers grow at the molten look of passion he had in his.
“Huh?”

Justice roved her face, lingering on
her lips before he cleared his throat. “You seemed lost in
thought.”

Was I ever.

The blush couldn’t be stopped. At his
arched eyebrow she said, “I was, a bit.” Swallowing hard she did
her best to focus on the task at hand, not the gorgeous man beside
her. It wasn’t easy.

She and Justice said their farewells
around five-thirty. He held her car door for her once Libby had
been loaded up.

“
I want to hold you,
beautiful,” he said in a low tone.

A craving she longed for as well.
“Follow me home.”

He said nothing, just shut the door
and headed to his car. She watched him back out of the drive, then
waved to her parents one more time before heading home. When she
arrived, he was already there and waited on her front steps. Tears
threatened again and she took several deep breaths while he trekked
toward her.

“
Come here, beautiful,” he
drawled after she and Libby were both out.

Without hesitation she moved into his
arms, feeling safe and secure in his embrace. He reached past her
and grabbed Libby’s bag before guiding her toward the front door.
Her movements were a bit stiff and uncoordinated as she unlocked
the door. Once it had closed them off from the eyes and ears of the
outside world, she found herself swept up in his embrace. She sank
into him, not wanting to be anywhere but where she sat. In his
arms.

When he laid them down on her bed, she
stared at him. He sat up and shrugged out of his suit coat again
before lying down and drawing her flush to his hard body. The
masculine scent of him totally surrounded her and enveloped her in
a cocoon of safety.

“
What happened today,
Kassidy?”

She squirmed closer, not wanting to
talk. This time she allowed the tears to fall. In her ear, Justice
murmured soft words that helped calm her. When the tears stopped,
he repeated his question.

“
What happened today,
Kassidy?”

“
She lied to
me.”

“
Your mom? What did she
lie about?”

“
Whatever is going on with
her. I asked and she lied. Stared me straight in the eye and lied
to my face.” Kassidy shoved away from him and left the bed. She
paced back and forth by the foot of the bed, running a hand over
her face in frustration.

Justice remained on the bed, lying
there watching her. Not in judgment, just watchful.

“
I’m their daughter, what
the hell is so bad they can’t or won’t tell me?”

He said nothing. Just continued to
watch her with calm eyes.

“
I feel it here,” she
clutched her arms around her waist, “I
feel
it here… there is something
seriously wrong. And I hate,
hate
it that they’re keeping me in the dark about
it.”

Still no words from him but the
compassion leeching from his unwavering stare warmed
her.

“
I must be such a
disappointment to them both,” she cried, stumbling as her legs no
longer seemed capable of holding her.

“
Enough!”

The harshness of his tone combined
with the hold he had on her snagged her immediate attention.
Wide-eyed, she stared at him. His touch gentled but his expression
stayed set and angry.

“
I will willingly sit
there and listen to you talk about how unfair it is they’re keeping
the status of her illness from you.” One hand gripped her chin,
holding her immobile. “But I’ll be
damned
if I idly sit there and let
you say such things about yourself.”