But maybe we’ll both be exactly what the other wants.
I clear my throat, ready to answer her when the back door opens and I hear Charity yell at her daughter.
“Justice, are you here? Sorry they took all the parking again.”
“No problem, Caelin’s setting up my new laptop.”
She comes into view and I give her a wave.
“Oh thank God, that things been on its way out for years. Did you have a burial ceremony for her last night?”
A snort works its way out of my throat, sounding even worse because I tried to hold it back.
“Thank you very much, I didn’t. She’s got a place of reverence on my desk.”
“Told you she’d be a damn good paperweight,” I mumble as I finish the set up.
“Oh shut up.” She turns to me. “Nobody asked you.”
“I give my advice free of charge.”
Right then, Mandy comes through the front door, holding a coffee in her hand, sunglasses over her eyes. “Those shit stains next door are going down. I had to hoof it from the Square.”
“Do you plan on talking to them?” Charity puts her hands on her hips, giving her a look.
“You know I have my concealed carry, I plan on having more than a talk with them.”
“Okay!” I rise up from where I’m sitting at Justice’s desk. “I’ll take care of the assholes next door. No reason for any of you to get involved.”
“Oh we’re involved,” Justice echoes Mandy. “They’ve been doing this for months. How can we not be involved?”
“I’ll rephrase my statement. I’ll call Drew if any of you feel like you need to take matters into your own hands. I’m sure he’ll see it my way.”
“Seriously Blackfoot?” Mandy sighs. “You’d tell on us? I thought you had more balls than that.”
“I mean,” - I shrug - “I value my balls, and if I let you go over there with your temper flaring and guns blazing, I’d not only have to answer to Drew, but Dalton too. And I honestly make it a point never to deal with both of them on the same day. So, ladies, I’ll bid you a goodbye and I’ll go talk to them.”
As I’m about to leave, I turn to Justice. “I’ll think about what you said.”
“You better.” She smiles softly.
Before I shut the door, I can hear the other ladies questioning her, asking what she said to me. If I know Justice, she’s going to keep this close to the vest until we figure out what we want to do with one another.
Walking over to the office next door, I take a look at the signage, trying to figure out what I’m getting myself into. It says it’s some sort of social media management office. Slowly I put my gloves back on, sighing before I resign myself to what’s about to happen.
Great.
When I open the door and stride in, there’s a whole group of dude-bros hanging around a desk, drinking what looks to be fresh-squeezed orange juice.
“Can I help you?” one of them asks. He’s got perfectly laying blond hair, and what looks to be a smile that costs thousands.
“Yeah, who owns this place?”
He cuts me off. “You do know this is a social media management company, right? Unless you’re starring in the remake of Sons of Anarchy, this probably isn’t the best place for you to be.”
They all laugh like this is the funniest joke they’ve ever heard.
“Right.” I bring my gloved hands up and crack my knuckles. “So the ladies next door, they pay for the parking privilege behind their office. Seems as though y’all think it’s yours, even though they’ve told you numerous times it’s not.”
“First come, first serve,” someone shouts from behind the counter, and they all start high-fiving each other.
I slow-roll it up to their counter, before leaning on it. “No, that’s not how this is gonna work. Like I told you, they pay for the privilege. You’re encroaching on it.” Reaching into the waistband of my jeans, I pull out my handgun, placing it on the counter. “If I come back any time after five minutes from now and I see any car that doesn’t belong to one of the ladies next door, I’ll shoot out the tires, the windshield, and then I’ll have my friends at Walker’s Wheels tow the fucker. You’ll never see it again. Now I know guys like you love their little Beemers, Chargers, and whatever else mommy and daddy’s money can afford, but I promise if I have to get involved, you’ll never find the car to make an insurance claim. And if you don’t believe me, I can have Drew Walker come tell you himself.”
“We got it,” someone over to the side says.
“The fuck we do,” the first guy I talked to grumbles.
“My dad went to high school with Drew. Trust me.” His eyes meet mine. “We got it. I’ll explain when you leave.”
“See that you do. If your idiot friends want to try us, they’ll get us.”
Chapter Five
Justice
When Caelin leaves, I try not to let my gaze linger on him too long, but it’s hard. It feels like a part of my soul is walking out the door. He’s been one of the most important people in my life since the night with Travis, and I’ve always counted on him to be there. To think I scare him is one of the most powerful comments anyone has ever bestowed on me.
“Did he get you up and running?”
My mom’s voice brings me out of my head. I haven’t tried out the new laptop yet. But I snap to attention anyway. “I think so, I’ll let you know if I have any more issues.”
“Good, I didn’t get a chance to grab coffee this morning, so I’m heading to Harper’s. Do either of you want anything?”
Both Mandy and I tell her no, and watch as she leaves through the back.
“You might want to pick your jaw up off the floor as you stare at Caelin’s ass.”
Brows furrowed, I glare at my aunt. “What do you mean?”
“Oh give me a break,” she laughs. “He’s sex on a stick and the way he looks at you could burn down this block. Don’t act like you don’t know it.”
“I’ve kissed him,” I admit. “Thrice.”
“How was it?” She comes over to the chair in front of my desk, sitting down and leaning in on her elbows. “I imagine he’s the type of man who likes to take charge. Maybe twine his fingers through your hair and guide you whichever way he wants you to go.”
“Jesus, Mandy.”
“I mean anyone who’s looked at Caelin Blackfoot has wondered.”
“So basically you’re telling me I have a bunch of competition. Thanks.”
She snorts. “There is no competition when it comes to him. He only has eyes for you. Of that you don’t have to worry.”
“Before you and Mom came barging in here like you own the place.”
“Which she does.” She gives me a pointed look.
I ignore her. “I was asking him why I’ve kissed him three times and he hasn’t made a move.”
“Do tell, what’s making him hold off?”
I could kill her for continuing to interrupt. “Dad.”