Page 3 of Justice's Reward
She passed the door quickly, then paused because she couldn’t help herself. Justice’s deep voice was singing to his son. She quietly chuckled when she recognized Queen’sFat Bottomed Girls. Why did the man have to be so attractive?
She forced herself to head toward the restroom, did her business, then walked quickly by the entrance to the room and back out to the main restaurant. She grabbed a cup and filled it with ice and her favorite—Dr. Pepper Zero. She loved the taste, and wasting two hundred calories on a soda wasn’t in her meal plan.
Adley was at the age when her body decided it wasn’t going to let her eat anything and not gain weight. In her twenties and early thirties, she could demolish a pizza by herself and never gain an ounce. Now, at thirty-nine, she looked at a donut, and the scale went up. Since Adley was firmly opposed to sweating unless she was on her back and a hot tattooed man was on top of her, she’d watch her calories and food intake.
“Order up for Tess. Tess Tickles, your order is up,” the worker blushed as he said her name. Sometimes, Adley had the humor of an adolescent, and tonight had been one of those times.
She walked over with her drink and paid the total in cash.
“Thanks,” she said, heading out before she had to see Justice again.
When she made it to the Jeep without talking with him, she considered it a win. Why couldn’t he be a crap single father? Seeing him holding his son so tenderly and singing to him had her panties wet and her resolve to stay away from him and the Saint’s Outlaws seriously tested.
Adley had finished her dinner and was enjoying walking around the Arboretum. The foliage in July was gorgeous, and today was one of those days that wasn’t quite as hot.
For the last couple of minutes, Adley had the weird feeling that someone was following her. Each time she checked, she didn’tsee anyone, but the feeling persisted. She’d taken the pathway that would lead her back to the entrance where her Jeep was parked.
She slid her belt bag open and pulled her phone out along with her stun gun. She had pepper spray too, but it was windy today. She wanted to incapacitate someone if needed, not herself.
She called her sister.
“Hey, chick, what’s going on?” Macy asked.
“I’m at the Arboretum and have been getting that feeling like someone’s following me. I’m heading back to the entrance and my vehicle,” Adley said.
“I’m ten minutes away and already in my car heading that way. I was going to go shopping. I’ll meet you in the parking lot. As long as you’re okay, I’ll stay in my car and follow you back home to see if anyone else isfollowing, but stay on the phone with me,” Macy said.
“Oh yeah, I will,” Adley said, walking a little faster. She didn’t want to run and give the appearance she was running away, but she definitely wasn’t going to dawdle.
“I know you mentioned your client yelled he’d get you. Do you think it’s related to that?” Macy asked.
Adley glanced behind her and didn’t see anyone, but the path wound through the Arboretum and had twists and turns.
“I have no idea. I just know every sense is screaming at me to get to the safety of my vehicle,” Adley muttered, keeping her eyes peeled for anything suspicious.
It annoyed her that a place she enjoyed going to relax had become a place she was now concerned about getting out of.
“I’m getting closer to the entrance. There are two families with strollers ahead,” Adley whispered into the phone.
“Okay, that’s good. People around will most likely deter anyone from doing something,” Macy said.
“I love that you don’t question my instincts but just immediately back me up,” Adley murmured.
“Sissy, we’ve been through too much to not trust our instincts. Okay, I’m pulling into the parking area. I see your Jeep. I’m going to park where I can see your Jeep and you…” Macy’s voice trailed off.
“Macy?” Adley questioned.
“Change of plans. Tell me when you’re getting ready to exit. I’m going to wait until the last second and then pull up in front, and you can jump in. A black panel van just pulled in and parked on the driver’s side ofyour Jeep. No one is getting out to go in. Maybe nothing, but I’m not willing to take any chances,” Macy said.
Adley walked toward the entrance, cataloging everyone standing by the entrance. One person stood out to her. He was trying to act like he was perusing the gift shop items but kept glancing up.
“I think the guy in the gift shop is watching for me. I’m thirty feet from the gift shop, then another twenty from the exit. I’m going to walk that way, then start running after I pass the gift shop. I should be outside and to where you can pick me up in less than two minutes. Starting now,” Adley said, walking quickly while keeping an eye on the man in the gift shop.
Once she passed, she put on speed and hit the door running. As she ran outside, shesaw her sister’s vehicle speeding around the parking lot. She ran toward her.
Macy slammed on the brakes. Adley grabbed the door, opened it, jumped in, and looked toward the entrance. The man who had been in the gift shop came running out of the building.
“Let’s go, but not to either of our homes,” Adley said.
