Read Online Justice Is Always Ready (A Graham Family Story, 1) by Aliyah Burke - Free Book Online Page B

wouldn’t throw you to the sharks right away,
beautiful. I’d be there with you.”
    Leaning against the railing, she
stared at all the lights on the docked boats as well as those still
heading in. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d prefer to be
driven.”
    “ Fine. You navigate and
I’ll drive.”
    “ You were too good. You
didn’t get lost.”
    “ I will next time.” There
was velvet promise in that statement.
    Glancing in his direction she gave in
to the smile. “Hmmm. Go out with a man determined to get lost. I
don’t know about that.”
    “ I promise I’ll keep you
safe and warm. All you have to do is teach me about the
stars.”
    “ That can be arranged, I
think.”
    “ Wonderful.”
    She watched in silence as he expertly
pulled the boat up to its slip and tied them off. Remaining on the
deck while he went down, she stared up and focused on the
star-studded sky. Her gaze on Orion’s belt, she sighed and realized
she was falling in love with Justice Graham.
    “ Falling or fallen?” she
asked the sky.
    “ Falling or fallen what?”
Justice questioned.
    Embarrassed at being overheard, she
merely shrugged. “Just talking to myself.”
    “ Right,” he murmured in
her ear. “Here I thought you were trying to decide if you were
still falling or were ready to admit you’ve already fallen in love.
If you want my opinion, fallen is my choice.”
    Trailing her fingers along his arm,
she sighed dramatically. “Fine, I admit it. You caught me. I love
your boat.” She stepped carefully onto the pier and glanced over
her shoulder at him.
    In the lights she could see his
narrowed gaze. The warning was playful, but there. She stuck her
tongue out at him.
    “ Keep doing that, Ms.
Barrow, and you’ll find your sexy butt back on the bed below
deck.”
    She couldn’t help herself and did it
again. Justice vaulted over the rail to land beside her. One swift
motion and he had her tossed over his shoulder and got back on the
boat. The clothes she’d put on a short time ago, soon found their
way to the deck of his room. The gentle lapping of water against
the hull was combined with the sounds they made as they again
indulged with one another.
    Kassidy awoke cradled in Justice’s
embrace, more content than she believed she’d be. The boat rocked
and with a small sigh, she burrowed closer to the man holding her.
He nuzzled her hair and whispered something in his sleep. She lay
there until he seemed to settle back to sleep, then she began to
inch her way out of his arms.
     
    * * * *
     
    Justice awoke alone. His hand clutched
air where before Kassidy had lain with him. Cracking open his eyes,
he couldn’t begin to explain his relief at seeing her still there.
She knelt on a bench seat in the main cabin, staring out a small
window. The morning sun filtered in and around her. He stared at
her thoughtfully for a moment. He could sense her indecision and
see it, as well. Kassidy had a cute way of nibbling on her lower
lip when she was uncertain or indecisive. Like she currently did
now. After the fifth time she glanced in his direction, he slid
silently from the bed and pulled on his jeans.
    Resting a shoulder against the wall,
he asked, “Planning on running?”
    Her body jerked and he knew she still
had believed him asleep. With an easy motion he moved behind her
and wrapped his arms around her.
    “ No,” she
whispered.
    Despite her hesitation with her
answer, Kassidy turned easily in his arms and gave him a kiss that
made him more than ready to carry her back to bed.
    “ Good to hear,” he said
after the kiss. “Hungry?”
    “ I could eat.”
    “ Give me five to get
dressed and we’ll go get some.”
    She nodded and rotated her body so she
could once again see outside. He got dressed in record time and
entered the main cabin to find her in the exact spot.
    “ Something got your
attention?” he queried, kneeling on the blue cushion beside
her.
    “ Just admiring the way the
sun sparkles off the