Chapter 4 Justice #2
Hope nodded. “You want me to make some suggestions? I’ve only been back in town for a little while, but you could ask Nicole McCurdy. She’s been hanging out with Bobby Fisher for the last few months. Or you could try Talullah. Though I heard she and Beau had a brief—”
“I meant you.”
Hope blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”
I gestured at her. “You. As in, can you do it?”
Hope stared at me for a beat, and I caught a glimpse at something on her face that left me feeling off balance. But just as quickly as it was there, she shuttered it away, dipping her head to fork a giant bite of waffle. She chewed slowly; her gaze trained on her plate.
My leg jiggled as I allowed her time to process my request. It took everything I had to bite my tongue rather than press her for an answer.
“What about Roxy—”
“No,” I interrupted. “It has to be you.”
“But why?”
“Because I trust you.”
She stared at me. “Oh.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Yeah. It’s just…
.” I shrugged. “This life ain’t easy. People will do whatever they can for their piece of fame and fortune.
I’ve had women sell my underwear online.
I’ve had men try to provoke me to fight them.
I’ve seen the worst in people, Hope. And I don’t have time for that right now.
I just need someone I can rely on. Someone who understands the rules of this relationship and won’t expect more than what it is. ”
She frowned, stirring her milkshake absently with her metal straw. “People will talk.”
“I know.”
She took a sip of her shake. “I’m not photogenic. I’ll probably do something stupid or clumsy or say the wrong things or—”
I reached across the table to entwine our fingers. “Hey, look at me.”
Her gaze met mine.
“There’s no pressure here. If you can, great.
If not, no problem. But let me be clear.
No one, and I mean no one, Hope, is gonna fuck with you.
I’ll take the blame when this is over—I’ll orchestrate some kind of bullshit maneuver that allows you to move on without any issues.
But let me be clear, yeah, your face will be on magazines and they’ll try to find some dirt to throw at you.
But I’m not gonna let that happen. I’d never let you be hurt, babe. You’re too important to me.”
She swallowed, her gaze searching my face. “You’re absolutely sure?”
“Positive,” I confirmed.
We were quiet for a beat as she considered my request. My thumb traced gently over the curve of her palm, memorizing her soft skin.
She blew out a sigh. “Alright. I guess I could pretend for a while. But what does that look like? I have a job and a busy schedule outside of work, and—”
“Don’t worry,” I rushed to reassure her. “I can take care of everything and work around you. We just need to be seen out on a couple of dates. Maybe holding hands once or twice. That’s all.”
Her straw stilled. “Are you saying we need to kiss?”
The thought hadn’t even occurred to me—or, more precisely, it had but I’d discarded it out of hand.
I wanted to know if she tasted like peaches, apple or spice. I needed to know how she’d respond, how her body would feel pressed against mine, how she’d sound when I backed her into a wall, cupped her cheek and made love to her mouth.
I decided to press my luck.
“Yeah, sweetheart,” I said gently. “We should kiss—at least a few times.”
She nodded, glancing away.
“Or we could just look cozy, if that’s what you prefer. You know, holding hands, hugging, that kind of thing.”
“Right,” she murmured. “That kind of thing.”
I withdrew my hand, waiting for her to consider my proposal.
“If I do this, will you do something for me?” she asked hesitantly,
“Absolutely,” I said, eager to pay her back for the sacrifice she was about to make for me. “Whatever you need.”
“Will you come to the rodeo with me? They’re having a swing class and I’ve always wanted to learn but never had a partner to take and—” She broke off, shaking her head. “I’m sorry. That’s asking too much, never mind. I—”
Surprised and delighted by her innocent request, I couldn’t help but reach back across the table to snag her hand, holding her in place.
“I’d love to,” I said, sincerely. “It’d be my pleasure.”
Her cheeks flushed, and I began to wonder if there was anything that didn’t make her blush.
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
I tipped her a teasing grin. “Though, not to brag, but I am pretty wealthy. You really could have asked for more.”
“Like what?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know, what do you want? A jet plane? A trip to Paris? A pony?”
She chuckled, the tension easing between us. “I’m happy with a night out dancing. But I’ll keep it in mind.”
I leaned back, rubbing at a strange warm ache that had rooted in my chest.
“There’s just one last thing you should probably know,” Hope said, hesitantly. “It’s about not having secrets. There’s this one thing, it’s not a big deal or anything but—”
“Oh my god! It’s Justice Wild!” The scream pierced the quiet chatter of the diner’s patrons. Within a heartbeat a small group of teens surrounded our booth, thrusting notepads, pens and napkins at me to sign.
I shot a wry grin at Hope, who offered me a smile that said she was okay with the interruption.
I chatted with the teens, signing everything and anything and taking a million pictures. Finally, I glanced around and spotted my security detail, giving them the nod to intervene and usher them along.
On private land, I didn’t need them to be so close, but out here in public, they were indispensable. The guys were staying in the local motel and running shifts to ensure that no one trespassed on my family’s land. I’d feel bad if I didn’t know exactly how much they charged me for their service.
Hope stood as the teens moved on, collecting her things.
“I need to get going,” she said with an apologetic smile. “I have that meeting to prepare for.”
Strain touched her smile, turning it brittle.
I frowned. “Is it a bad meeting?”
“It’s… it’s fine. I’m just having some issues with a staff member. It’s not a big deal.”
I didn’t for one second believe her.
“Let me walk you out.”
I scooped up her tote, tossing it over my shoulder before clasping her hand in mine. She glanced down at our joined fingers, seemingly surprised by my touch.
“Now seems as good as any time,” I said, hesitating. “Unless you’ve decided to—”
“No! No. Now works.” She squeezed my hand. “Let’s do this.”
It’d been a long time since I’d found pleasure in anything as simple as holding someone’s hand, but feeling her palm press against mine felt right. Like a piece of a puzzle that I hadn’t known was missing had finally been found.
You’re a fool if you think this is going beyond a fake relationship.
Our hands clasped together, we walked out of the dim diner and into the bright lights of flashing cameras.
“Justice! This way!”
“Justice! Who is that on your arm?”
“Mr. Wild! Over here!”
“Justice! Why are you in town?”
I wrapped an arm around Hope as Mike and Wyatt cleared a path, Parul tailing us.
“Ignore them,” I said to Hope as we ran the gauntlet. “And look above or below the cameras or the flashes will blind you.”
She tucked herself into my side, keeping her head low.
I loaded her into her car, hanging on to her hand for a brief second as the cameras continued to flash around us.
“You okay?” I asked, cupping her cheek. I found myself unable to keep from touching her. It crossed my mind to call a halt to this charade, to break the inevitable descent into madness that would launch itself at us thanks to the photographers behind us.
She smiled. “I’m okay, Justice. You don’t need to worry about me.”
But I did, and I’d continue to until this farce was over. I wanted to protect Hope, but she had agreed to this, and it would be over in a few short weeks. I just needed to keep the focus on me until then.
“Okay.” I leaned in, catching her lips for a sweet, slow kiss. My eyes closed as the cameras flashed and people shouted questions. She tasted of peach ice cream and sunshine. Her scent tickled my nose, soft and sweet and surprising—coconut and lime.
It should have felt awkward with all these cameras, but from the moment our lips touched, the world around us ceased to be—all my attention narrowed down to her.
I pulled back slowly, reluctant to let Hope go.
Her gaze met mine, asking questions I had no way of answering.
“Thanks for the date.”
Her lips tipped up in a wry smile. “Our first. And I didn’t even know it.”
“Regrets?” I asked, half joking.
She tilted her head to one side. “Only that I didn’t ask for the pony.”
I barked out a laugh. “Minx.” I stepped back, shutting her door. “Drive safe.”
As her car pulled away, I turned to the paparazzi, forcing a cocky grin.
“Now,” I said, spreading my arms wide. “Who wants a picture of my good side?”
I spent an hour with the paparazzi, feeding their gossip reels and answering questions that allowed me to deflect their attention from Hope.
At least for now.