Justice Is Always Ready (A Graham Family Story, 1) by Aliyah Burke Page A

control.” His Adam’s Apple bobbed with his
swallow. “Let’s go.”
    A few more highly charged moments of
staring at one another and she edged by him. “I’m ready,” she
informed him without looking back.
    After she said goodbye to Libs,
Kassidy followed him out the door and down to his shiny, red
Corvette. She hesitated. A gorgeous boat and an awesome car. Her
fingers tightened on the string handles of the gift
bags.
    “ Kassidy?”
    Alex had nice things, too. Very nice
things. And he got his in a way that was far from being legal.
Walls began to shoot up around her heart even while her brain opted
for a much more rational explanation.
    “ Kassidy? Are you
okay?”
    The light touch of his hands on her
shoulders got her focused. “I’m fine, sorry. Lost in thought for a
minute there.”
    Justice’s expression spoke of his
disbelief but thankfully he said nothing. Merely slid a hand to the
back of her neck and down to the base of her spine before guiding
her to his car. The ride was done with no words between them. The
rap on his stereo, the only noise in there. She stared at the two
bags on her lap. Simple crème-hued bags.
    Please let this go
well.
    The urge to sneeze hit her hard and
she couldn’t stop. Once, twice, three times, and more. Eyes
watering and short of breath, Kassidy finally regained control.
Taking a tissue from her purse she dabbed at the corner of her eyes
and noticed they were stopped in a gas station parking
lot.
    “ Kassidy, look at me.” His
order filled the car. The now silent car.
    “ Why are we stopped at a
gas station?” she questioned even as she did as he’d requested.
Crumpling the Kleenex, she kept it in her balled fist. Her
breathing began to slow and her heart calmed down.
    “ There is nothing for you
to be nervous about. They’ll love you.”
    Easy words for him to
say. She’d never done the “meeting of the
parents” before. Battling back another sneeze, she attempted a
smile.
    “ I’m fine, Justice. Now
unless you’re trying to get me to believe they live here, perhaps
we should go as to not be late.”
    He leaned close and before she knew it
had placed a chaste kiss on the corner of her mouth and sat back in
his seat. The next second he’d shifted into gear and got them
smoothly back on the road. Kassidy focused her attention on
breathing calmly.
    When the car pulled into a large paved
circular drive, her eyes grew large at the impressive home sitting
at the apex of the curve. Digging deep, she composed her face into
her professional mode.
    Justice got out and headed to her
door. Her gaze tracked his easy movement. Smile affixed, she took
his hand and allowed him to assist her from the Vette. His own
smile faltered when he caught her expression. Then his brows
converged and he frowned.
    “ What is going
on?”
    “ What?” She glanced down
expecting to see something out of place. Her soft magenta shirt,
silky and clean, had all buttons properly done. There was nothing
on her black slacks or her shoes either. “What’s wrong?”
    He backed her up so his car supported
her. Head tipped to the side, he reached for and cupped her face
with infinite tenderness. Her heart lurched.
    “ Justice?”
    “ Where are you, Kassidy?”
he asked in a silken tone.
    “ What do you mean? I’m
right here.”
    “ No.” He shook his head,
his thumbs trailing her cheekbones. “Something is
different.”
    Behind him, she heard a door slam but
for the life of her she couldn’t tear her eyes from his, any more
than she could stop her heart that exact second.
    “ Come back to me,
Kassidy.” His words were velvet, dark, decadent, and seeped in
endless promise.
    Her attempt to speak was halted by his
mouth landing on hers. The kiss held some anger in it, but she felt
no fear. He dominated her until she sighed and gave in to the kiss.
Her hands curled around his strong biceps. When it ended, she was
limp. Eyes heavy with desire, she smiled when one thumb traced her
lower