Page 72 of Hidden Justice
I smile at Sandesh as if I haven’t noticed. “But, of course, you already know the best.”
He leans into me, brushes his hot lips against my ear.
Oh.Yes. That. Feels. Great.
“Is it Gracie?”
I cover my mouth and smother a giggle. Mortifying. Idon’tgiggle.
He smiles, and the heat in his playful blue eyes is deadly serious. I can sense Tony and Bridget gaping at me. Good. Let them feel off-balance. Maybe it’ll shake something loose.
“Are you in love, Justice?”
Holy shit! Bella just asked the most embarrassing question known to big sisters everywhere. As if she’s cool now, the five-year-old Russian with big brown eyes and a long, evil grin jumps up and down in her seat.
Turns out, the younger kids’ group name is dead-on. Like the Lollipop Guild fromThe Wizard of Oz, they should’ve been cute, but they’re actually quite shocking. I’ll have to make a point to get to know the evil monster better. She could come in handy.
“For a little while, anyways,” Tony says.Gawd. Tony and all his South Philly. I knew it was too much to ask that he not embarrass me tonight.
For his part, Sandesh doesn’t look the slightest bit concerned. In fact, he looks like he’s enjoying himself as he gazes down at Bella and says, “Love takes time, Bella. But I hope Justice and I can spend as long as it takes.” He winks at me. “And then some.”
Aw, seriously, that might be the cutest answer ever. And my own damn heart tells me I don’t need even one more minute. What’s that about?
Before I can say anything, Sandesh dips down to Bella’s level and stage-whispers, “How long do you think it’s going to take me?”
And… that’s it. The room, now laser-focused on us, erupts with speculation.
37
SANDESH
After dinner, Justice and I step outside into cool, rain-showered night air. Throughout dinner, this woman had teased me with her words, subtle gestures, and looks. Now, I’m so keyed into her that I’m transfixed as she buttons up her jacket, hiding the soft curves underneath. I swallow hard. I’m in it bad.
We descend the stone steps and walk down the driveway, past my truck and the row of cars parked there. I tuck my hands inside the pockets of my slacks, and she loops her arm through mine.
“You really enjoyed it? That dinner? Despite all the giggling and talking and squeeing?”
“Squeeing?” The cobbled driveway gives way to the paved drive, and we stepped onto a sidewalk. Justice’s heels click against the concrete. Wrought-iron lampposts light the way, appearing as if they float in the foggy night.
“It’s a sound girls make when they’re very pleased.”
Unaccountably, I found myself angling my walk, as if drawn to her body. Truth is, I’ve had worse targets. “I think I’ve heard you make that sound before, but it was louder and involved more sighs.” I wink, and since I know exactly how to follow up sexual banter with action, unhook my arm from hers and put it around her waist.
She leans into me. “Sandesh, truth. If I didn’t have to sneak you past my little sisters, I’d take you up to my room right now.”
My heart and expectations perk up. “I’m not exactly sure how I’m supposed to answer that, but somehow doubt the fact ‘I can scale the side of this house and into you room’ is the appropriate response, so I’m going to settle for, ‘I’m good with my truck.’”
Laughing, she snuggles closer. After long, easy moments of silence, she whispers, “Did you get any vibes?”
I let out a breath. I did. Tony gave off some weird ones, but I don’t know enough about any of them to say anything yet. “I’m going to withhold judgment for now, but I’m open if you have anything else you’d like to add from your day’s chats.”
She lifts her head off my shoulder and her gaze goes the skies. “Guess it was too much to hope we’d be able to sort all of this out in one day.”
“Whoever it is has to be a little afraid, afraid enough to hold back from any activity that might draw attention to them.”
“Let’s go this way. I want to show you something.”
We go right, moving down lamppost-lit lanes with elaborately carved shrubs, flowers, and evenly spaced trees. The silence is both comfortable and sizzling with energy.