Broken Justice (Justice Brothers) (32 page)

“Y’know Cam - sometimes your brooding silence pisses me the fuck off. Talk to me, man. Tell me what’s going on. I like this girl.” The look of white-hot fury that shot off Cam didn’t miss its mark.

“As I was saying before the dagger eyes, I like this girl. She’s got a good head on her shoulders. If you mess with her there’s going to be a whole crowd of folks standing in line to kick your ass. That’s my way of letting you know that she has friends here. Everyone likes her so watch yourself.”

Cam knew he was being a dick. First jealousy about Drae and now wanting to punch Alex’s lights out. God dammit, the girl had him twisted inside out.

Alex watched his friend, marveling at the heavy emotional burden Cam’s broad shoulders carried. He needed someone by his side who cared about him. It was clear to even a blind man that Lacey was that person. Seeing him struggle with the enormity of his personal baggage, Alex felt some responsibility for at least a portion of what was tying his friend up in knots.

The three of them had escaped the battlefield but not the brutal aftermath. He didn’t need to ask to know that Cam and Drae still carried harsh memories and vivid nightmares from their wartime activities. As always, Alex assumed a heavy share of the responsibility for them as their commanding officer. It had been he who had given them their marching orders.

Finally, Cam spoke up. “I seem to be apologizing a lot. First Draegyn and now you.” Jamming his hands deep into pockets that barely held his big paws, he hung his head and slowly shook it back and forth. “She’s too young and too……..well, you know. Someone like me is no good for the likes of her. I knew that but it didn’t stop what happened. Fuck. Didn’t even slow it down.” The look he gave his friend was the most honest he’d ever shown.

“If it helps any, she put on a good show but believe me, the lady was seriously bumming without you here. It’s a fucking pity that someone so lovely would fall for your tortured soul bullshit! Time to fish or cut bait, Cam. Make a damn decision. Either stake your claim or cut her loose.” When Cam looked at Alex full on he added, “And that’s an order.”

“Fuck you.”

“No dude! Fuck
you
. Now go grab some swim trunks and get your sorry butt out to the pool. Time to party!”

The poolside gathering seemed like water torture to Cam. There were too many people around to do more than nod at Lacey so he did the next best thing. Staked a claim on one of the padded loungers, slid his dark sunglasses down across his eyes and watched her every move.

Dammit if she wasn’t wearing the one-piece suit he’d gotten her during their trip. Thinking it modest before, today with so many sets of eyes on her alluring figure he considered it practically indecent. She had an ass that made men and women alike turn and take a second look. The insistent hard-on triggered by watching her required careful towel placement to avoid knowing looks. It didn’t help that she seemed to be deliberately ignoring him. Nor did it help that she fit in so well with the others present and was all but the life of the damn party.

Drae stayed true to his reputation and zeroed in on a fierce looking woman that Cam was fairly sure his friend would be banging before the night was out. The lady looked like she could take care of herself and was clearly enjoying Drae’s secret agent charm. He was relieved that the man didn’t approach Lacey because keeping a lid on his jealousy was proving a bit difficult.

The barbecue proved just as tough for Cam. Staying away from her was not as easy as it sounded. He’d caught her peeking at him throughout the day. Quick, covert glances that were making his nerves stand on end. He decided to wait until the bonfire and then make his move. They needed to talk.

Unfortunately, once dinner was over and nightfall had thrown them into darkness, the alcohol started flowing at the same time that the bonfire lit up the nighttime sky. Cam pretended to nurse a beer but none of it ever passed his lips. Keeping his wits about him was key.

He noticed that Lacey had what looked like a mixed drink with a colorful umbrella poking out of it. At closer inspection he noted the pale pink color of the umbrella and knew she was drinking a non-alcoholic beverage. Good. He didn’t want to deal with an inebriated Ponytail.

Years of surveillance work meant Cam could patiently wait her out. He was prepared to bide his time all night if need be.

Lacey was beside herself. When Cam appeared at the rodeo earlier she’d nearly whooped with delight and flung herself into his arms. It had taken supreme effort on her part to act unmoved by his return. She’d been pleased with herself for managing a half-hearted wave of hello before she left him standing slack-jawed in the Arizona dust.
Serves him right
, she thought.
Did he really imagine he could come into her bed, melt her bones with mind-blowing sex, and then vanish without a word?
No. That wasn’t going to be how this played out. If he didn’t want her,
all
of her, he was going to have to say so. The silent act was not going to cut it.

They were sharking around each other in this ridiculous dance that wasn’t fooling anyone. She was careful not to let the cocktails being passed around find their way to her. Tossing back a few drinks might make her brave but they would also impair her judgment and that wasn’t a good idea. No. The longer he kept his distance, the more she had to be on high alert.

Eventually, Alex produced a guitar and the mood started shifting. One of the things she’d discovered about that particular Justice Brother had been his amazing talent and hard-core grasp of every song made popular in the last twenty years. That guy could sing.

He was playing a classic Eagles song while the others sang along when she noticed Cameron slip away into the shadows.
Good Lord! Was he kidding?
She was surprised when her quarry made a hasty retreat in the direction of his home.
Was he really just going to walk away? Again?
Lacey’s heart sank. She had truly believed they had at least a chance. Watching him turn his back on her, and everyone for that matter, killed her. He said he was broken. Maybe he was right.

Hesitating didn’t seem like a good option so she got up and quietly followed him. Maybe she was being a fool, she didn’t know, but the time had come to stop all this idiocy. She wanted him and she was absolutely sure he wanted her. Getting him to admit it was more than casual sex was the real problem. There was still the distinct possibility that he wasn’t going to let her in.

Squashing the soul-crushing fear, she crept into the shadows with fingers crossed. Oh yeah, and her panties were damp. Not much had changed in the week he’d been away. Slowing her steps, she searched for what to do next. There wasn’t any reason to confront him. The back of him said more than any words could. She couldn’t smile and be the happy friend, either. That would just kill her too, only slowly.
What the hell was she supposed to do?

The sound of his door shutting with a firm push brought her senses snapping back to the present. She looked around realizing she’d followed him as far as his driveway. This was the first time she’d come this far down the dirt lane past her little house. Not having given much thought to what Cameron’s home would be like, she gasped at the gorgeous wood cabin nestled amongst a stand of trees that gave it privacy from the lane.

The two-story structure had broad wooden steps leading from the driveway to a wide stone porch under a heavy wooded pergola. At night, the lights from the house illuminated the welcoming porch littered with terra cotta pots brimming with desert succulents and comfortable looking wood furniture. It looked so homey.
Was it weird that she was so surprised?
There was nothing about Cameron’s demeanor that would lead anyone to envision his home looking so warm and inviting. The man was full of surprises.

Cam had made it to his house in quick time once he realized he’d left something vitally important to his plans at home. When he’d changed into casual clothes earlier, he’d left the small jewelry box with the delicate pearl earrings he’d bought for Lacey on his nightstand. Slipping away once the music got started, he figured that it would take but a few minutes to run home and get back before anyone missed him. Not that the ‘anyone’ he had in mind was paying much attention to his whereabouts anyway.

Regardless, he was determined to draw her aside to someplace quiet where they could talk. They had to find a way to handle what was happening between them. Or rather,
he
had to find a way. She seemed to be handling herself fine. It was him that was a mess.

Grabbing the box, he paused and opened it. Tiny pearl drops were set in the plush padding, twinkling in the low lights of his bedroom. He hoped giving her jewelry wasn’t a step too far. The moment he saw the pretty earrings, he wanted her to have them.
They were like her. Charming. Light.
He sighed.

Lowering the lights as he made his way through the house, Cam stopped dead in his tracks when he flung open the front door and spied a startled freckled face staring at him from the driveway. She had a deer caught in the headlights look that matched how he was feeling inside. Remembering the box in his hand, he slid it into his pants pocket while his eyes drank in the sight of her.

She’d worn a very short summery dress to the barbecue that molded perfectly to every one of her curves. The sexy cowgirl boots were a nice touch. He was bummed that the pigtails were nowhere to be seen but the sight of her blonde tresses falling about her shoulders was recompense enough. She was beautiful.

So far they’d flirted like crazy, kissed like the possessed, fucked liked animals, and indulged every sense in a coupling that had stormed his soul. Seeing her hovering and uncertain at his front door tore at his senses.

His feet propelled him right at her even though his mind urged a more thoughtful approach. Aware that she’d shown how fearless she was by coming after him, Cam let instinct be his guide. Absolutely nothing was going to stop him from going to her.

The sound of his feet thumping down the wooden stairs echoed in the silence. In just a few wide strides he reached her, and without missing a beat, swung her into his arms and headed back toward the house. The only sound she made was a short gasp when her feet left the ground. After that all he heard was her shallow, rapid breathing.

Once inside the house, he secured the door and then walked her to the massive stone fireplace that dominated the center of the open living space. Placing her carefully on her unsteady feet, he switched on the gas that made flames come to life and then retreated several steps to look at her.

She was taking in the high ceilings throughout the house while Cam watched her with satisfaction. He’d helped design his home and Draegyn had put his impressive woodworking talents to use in every inch of the interior. It was massive and masculine and he loved every inch of it.

When she eventually returned her gaze to his, he let the energy arcing between them go wild while he held her eyes with his.

“Take off your dress.”
Jesus, had he just told her to strip?
He had. He’d also surprised the shit out of her judging by the way she straightened up.