Read Online Loving Justice (El Camino Real Book 2) by Sable Hunter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sable Hunter
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coming home?”
Doc Parker choked out a harsh laugh. “Not to see me, I can guarantee that. I don’t know why she’d want to see you either. I can remember the morning right before she left, when she came traipsing back through the woods right after daylight like some cheap little strumpet. I told her what I thought about her then, I showed her too, knocked her to her knees.”
Rage hit Justice like a semi-truck. Before he could stop himself, he had Parker against the wall, holding him by his throat. “What are you talking about? She didn’t come to see me. What did you do?”
“You’d better unhand me, King, before I press charges on you for assault.” His voice creaked from his throat. Justice wasn’t giving him much room to breathe.
“You want to charge me with assault?” Justice snorted. “You should have been convicted of child abuse a long time ago.”
Disgusted with Parker and himself, Justice let him go abruptly, and he slumped to the floor. Without a word, he left, walking to his truck blindly. There was something about all of this that he was missing. More had gone on the day Charlee left than he was comprehending. Jerking the truck door open, he crawled in and started the engine, gunning it out of the clinic parking lot.
Justice was so mad, he couldn’t see straight, much less think. If he ever did catch up with Charlee, she had some explaining to do.
* * *
Two days later…
Charlee Parker
Loves
Justice King
Bam! How could she have forgotten that eyesore? Charlee pulled her Jeep over and parked on the side of the road. The ten foot white letters were still plainly visible on the Bronco, Texas, water tower, sticking out like a sore thumb. Why hadn’t anyone ever painted over it? She could just imagine the gigantic graffiti drove Justice bat-shit crazy on a daily basis. Charlee smiled sadly, remembering the day they discovered Tobias’s masterpiece and the argument they’d had over it. Looking back, she knew that was the beginning of the end. Justice had been embarrassed and she’d been mortified because it was true and Justice didn’t feel the same way.
He’d told her so.
Enough—she made herself look away, pull back on the road and head on into town. Everywhere she looked there were memories. Nostalgic feelings threatened to overwhelm her. All of it was so familiar, yet so different than the life she lived now. Bronco had an old-fashioned town square with the courthouse in the center. Small family-owned shops lined the streets, all still gaily decorated for the holidays. If she closed her eyes, she’d be able to picture herself and Justice running from Perry’s Drug Store where they’d had creamy hot chocolate to Matthew’s Dry Goods to have their photos taken on Santa’s lap. Her heart hurt, realizing what she’d lost since she and Justice parted ways.
As she sped away from the sad evidence of her past, Charlee wiped a tear from her cheek. When she’d first been assigned to this job, she’d fought it tooth and nail. No matter how much she’d argued, her boss hadn’t relented. Charlee was the most qualified and familiar with the region, so here she was. Justice had initially made the call asking for assistance, and he had no idea it would be Charlee who would be sent to help. So much had changed since she’d seen him last, even her name. Since she had no choice in the matter, she decided to make this trip accomplish more than one goal. Not only would she attempt to find a solution to the problem, Charlee intended to lay some ghosts to rest. There were things she needed to sort out—not only her past with Justice but also the tumultuous relationship she had with her father.
But first things first.
Before she checked into the motel, Charlee couldn’t resist giving in to temptation. Determined, she headed to the road which ran along the northern perimeter of El Camino Ranch, just for the privilege of seeing him the way they used to be. Charlee parked
Doc Parker choked out a harsh laugh. “Not to see me, I can guarantee that. I don’t know why she’d want to see you either. I can remember the morning right before she left, when she came traipsing back through the woods right after daylight like some cheap little strumpet. I told her what I thought about her then, I showed her too, knocked her to her knees.”
Rage hit Justice like a semi-truck. Before he could stop himself, he had Parker against the wall, holding him by his throat. “What are you talking about? She didn’t come to see me. What did you do?”
“You’d better unhand me, King, before I press charges on you for assault.” His voice creaked from his throat. Justice wasn’t giving him much room to breathe.
“You want to charge me with assault?” Justice snorted. “You should have been convicted of child abuse a long time ago.”
Disgusted with Parker and himself, Justice let him go abruptly, and he slumped to the floor. Without a word, he left, walking to his truck blindly. There was something about all of this that he was missing. More had gone on the day Charlee left than he was comprehending. Jerking the truck door open, he crawled in and started the engine, gunning it out of the clinic parking lot.
Justice was so mad, he couldn’t see straight, much less think. If he ever did catch up with Charlee, she had some explaining to do.
* * *
Two days later…
Charlee Parker
Loves
Justice King
Bam! How could she have forgotten that eyesore? Charlee pulled her Jeep over and parked on the side of the road. The ten foot white letters were still plainly visible on the Bronco, Texas, water tower, sticking out like a sore thumb. Why hadn’t anyone ever painted over it? She could just imagine the gigantic graffiti drove Justice bat-shit crazy on a daily basis. Charlee smiled sadly, remembering the day they discovered Tobias’s masterpiece and the argument they’d had over it. Looking back, she knew that was the beginning of the end. Justice had been embarrassed and she’d been mortified because it was true and Justice didn’t feel the same way.
He’d told her so.
Enough—she made herself look away, pull back on the road and head on into town. Everywhere she looked there were memories. Nostalgic feelings threatened to overwhelm her. All of it was so familiar, yet so different than the life she lived now. Bronco had an old-fashioned town square with the courthouse in the center. Small family-owned shops lined the streets, all still gaily decorated for the holidays. If she closed her eyes, she’d be able to picture herself and Justice running from Perry’s Drug Store where they’d had creamy hot chocolate to Matthew’s Dry Goods to have their photos taken on Santa’s lap. Her heart hurt, realizing what she’d lost since she and Justice parted ways.
As she sped away from the sad evidence of her past, Charlee wiped a tear from her cheek. When she’d first been assigned to this job, she’d fought it tooth and nail. No matter how much she’d argued, her boss hadn’t relented. Charlee was the most qualified and familiar with the region, so here she was. Justice had initially made the call asking for assistance, and he had no idea it would be Charlee who would be sent to help. So much had changed since she’d seen him last, even her name. Since she had no choice in the matter, she decided to make this trip accomplish more than one goal. Not only would she attempt to find a solution to the problem, Charlee intended to lay some ghosts to rest. There were things she needed to sort out—not only her past with Justice but also the tumultuous relationship she had with her father.
But first things first.
Before she checked into the motel, Charlee couldn’t resist giving in to temptation. Determined, she headed to the road which ran along the northern perimeter of El Camino Ranch, just for the privilege of seeing him the way they used to be. Charlee parked
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