Page 60 of Home for Justice
That left Tyler and Justice alone. He turned to her immediately, placing his hands lightly on her shoulders and leaning in so their faces were close, their words just between them.
“How are you really doing?” he asked, his voice low and serious. “And don’t give me a bullshit answer, Justice. I want the truth.”
She let out a soft chuckle, and her hands slid to his waist, holding him as though she needed the contact as much as he did.
“All in all,” she said, “I’m okay. I mean, if I look at the big picture? The vandals only broke the glass, and the sprinkler system quickly doused the flames, even before the fire department arrived. My staff helped as we mopped the floorsthis morning, and we’ll need to replace the counter and chairs in here. But they didn’t touch the customer vehicles, thank God. That would’ve been a nightmare.”
She looked up at him then, her eyes bright but clear. “And I’m honestly glad LSIMT is helping. I can’t even pretend to be offended that anyone thinks we can’t handle it alone. I’ll take every bit of help we can get.”
Tyler grinned, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead.
“Good,” he said. “That’s exactly how you need to look at this.”
Justice’s gaze shifted to the side, lingering on the boarded-up window. She sighed, frustration threading through the sound.
“Although I have to say,” she muttered, “every time I look over at that plywood, which I’m grateful for, truly. But every time I see it, I get mad all over again. I haven’t heard anything from the detective today. Or from Uncle Jordy.” Her mouth twisted. “Which honestly surprises me.”
Tyler grimaced without meaning to, and she caught it immediately.
Her head snapped toward him, eyes narrowing. “What do you know?”
He lifted his hands slightly in surrender. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I haven’t heard anything from the detectives.” He hesitated a moment, then added, “But… your dad said Jordy called him today. Gave him an earful about being questioned by the police.”
Justice’s entire face hardened with narrowed eyes, tight lips, and anger radiating off her like heat waves. “You have got to be fucking kidding me!” she ground out. “That asshole called Dad? After everything Dad’s been through?”
“Justice, honey, think about it,” Tyler said, keeping his voice low and steady. “If Jordy did do this, being questioned puts him on the defensive. He’s trying to deflect. And if he didn’t do it…he’s still pissed and embarrassed, and he’s lashing out the only way he knows how.”
She pounded her fist against her chest, a sharp, furious thump. “Then he needs to take it out on me! Not Dad. Especially not Dad, who’s still recovering from heart surgery!”
Without thinking, Tyler wrapped his hand around her fist and gently pulled it away from her chest, pressing it against his own.
“I agree,” he said quietly. “He needs to leave Jack alone. But he also needs to stay away from you. And that’s a message I fully intend to deliver.”
Her chin jerked back, eyebrows snapping together in suspicion. “You’re going to give him a message?”
“Yes,” Tyler said firmly. “And I’ll be alone when I do it.”
“Oh no, you won’t—” she started, fire flashing in her eyes.
“It needs to come from me, Justice,” he interrupted gently.
“Why?”
“Because he needs to see and needs to know that he’s no longer just dealing with his brother and his niece. He’s dealing with me too. And I’m not saying that to be all alpha macho or to push you aside. But I’m not just your neighbor anymore. Not just a family friend. And I want it crystal clear to him that if he talks to you or to Jack, he’s talking to me, too. And he’s not gonna like what comes back at him.”
Justice stared at him for a long, heavy moment, her expression unreadable. He braced himself for an argument.
Instead, her lips curved slowly into a smile. “Is it bad,” she murmured, her voice dropping into a husky, teasing tone, “that that was a really sexy thing to hear? And I kinda want to jump you right now?”
A surprised laugh burst out of Tyler. Throwing his head back, he pulled her forward, wrapping his arms tightly around her. They stood there, locked together in the middle of the emptyreception area, the smell of smoke and dampness lingering around them, the broken window still covered in plywood, and none of it mattered.
“Not bad at all, babe,” he said against her hair. “And if we weren’t standing right here…” He leaned back just enough to catch her gaze, his grin wicked. “If we were alone, I’d let you jump me.”
27
Justice stood in her bathroom, staring at her reflection in the mirror, feeling as though the woman looking back was someone both familiar and brand new.
She had taken longer than usual, letting the hot water wash away the day’s tension and shampooing the smoke smell from her hair. Once out, she had smoothed lotion over her skin, the light, clean scent clinging to her like a whispered promise. A touch of blush warmed her cheeks, a sweep of mascara darkened her lashes, and a dab of gloss gave her lips a soft sheen.
