Page 46 of Fighting for Brielle
Brielle stared slack-jawed at her cell phone when she realized Faith hung up on her. Speaking barely above a whisper, cursing at her, hanging up on her?nothing about Faith’s behavior made sense. A cold chill ran up her spine. In her profession she’d learned to rely on her instincts, and every instinct screamed that whatever Faith was investigating wasn’t good. Not at all.
She’d just about made up her mind to fly to Chicago when her phone pinged with an incoming text message.
Faith: Sorry about that. I’m investigating allegations that a high-ranking judge is visiting prostitutes. About to blow it wide open along with a CPD detective.
Her timing couldn’t have been more perfect. And for that reason alone, Brielle didn’t believe a single word in the text message.
Brielle: No worries. Can’t wait to read the story! LOL! Be safe. Love you.
Faith: Be safe. Be careful. Love you, too.
The triple heart emojis at the end of Faith’s text only partially reassured Brielle. She still didn’t believe the story Faith fed her. But for now, she’d let it go.
Brielle researched Mayor Gage, Nash Carson, and Linda Ferguson until six-thirty. She’d gathered plenty of information she wanted to share with Justice.
Justice.
She thought about him as she applied mascara, a little blush, and pale pink lip gloss. He’d dealt with his first crisis as chief of police, and in her opinion, he’d handled it well. She hoped he’d been able to get some much-needed rest after a terrible night on the job.
After grabbing the strawberry cheesecake she’d picked up on her way home from the YMCA, Brielle strolled up the beach to Justice’s place. She made her way around to the front and rang the doorbell.
Justice yanked it open a moment later, and Brielle’s heart sank. His tousled hair, dark, tragic, red-rimmed deep blue eyes, and pale face filled her with sympathy and concern.
“Oh, Justice,” she murmured as she crossed the threshold.
She set the cheesecake on the coffee table, took him by the hand, and led him to the sofa. “Lie down.”
He obeyed and she cradled his head in her lap. Stroking his forehead with gentle fingers, she said in a soft voice, “It’s going to be okay.”
Justice trembled. “Jesus, Bri. Ten dead.Ten. And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop it.”
She whispered again before pressing a warm kiss against his lips. “No, don’t think like that. Focus on what youwereable to do. You said in your press conference you shot and killed Arnold Dewitt. You saved his sister’s life, and probably countless others, too. That’s what matters.”
Her voice, her words, soothed him. Reaching up, he pulled her head down to meet his mouth in a long, thrilling kiss that set passion aflame between them. And although he only had to slightly turn his head to nuzzle her breasts, Justice didn’t take advantage of her. Disappointment swept through her. She wanted him to touch her so badly!
Emitting a soft sigh, Brielle murmured, “You stay here on the sofa. I’ll cook dinner.”
“No, no. I got this.” Justice rose to his feet. “I already stuffed a couple of Cornish hens, and they’re roasting in the oven. You can help with the rest of the meal, though.” He eyed the cheesecake. “My favorite, next to your mom’s peach cobbler. Did she make the cheesecake, too?”
Brielle smiled. “Not this time. I stopped at a bakery after I left the Y.”
“Oh. Well, I bet she makes an awesome cheesecake.”
“She does.”
“Want a tour before we eat? The hens won’t be done for another fifteen minutes.”
“Sure.”
Justice proudly showed her his home, pointing out the features he loved about it. When they reached the top level, though, he adamantly refused to show Brielle the master bedroom.
“It’s a mess,” he explained.
Brielle shot him a funny look but didn’t comment.
By the time they finished touring the house, the oven timer buzzed. Justice removed the pair of juicy, golden-brown Cornish hens from the oven as Brielle tossed the ingredients for a salad. Working together, throwing teasing comments about whose culinary skills were better, they finished preparing their meal and set everything on the kitchen table.
Justice grasped her hand. He said a quick prayer for the souls they’d lost during the night, and especially for Rosie as she grieved for her family. Brielle echoed his “Amen” and squeezed his hand before they began to eat.
