Denise A. Agnew Heart of Justice 04 Within His Embrace

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“Backhanded me.”
“So any time you expressed an opinion she didn’t like, with her, she punished you.”
“Yeah.”
Shit. This kid needed some major outlets for frustration. For all the crap his parents
put him through on a daily basis.
“I don’t want to be like my parents,” Dane said. “It’s shit being a kid with parents
like them.”
Craig nodded. “You won’t be, Dane. You’re an individual. Sure, there are times
every person does things like their parents. But they have a choice to do it. And
sometimes even then we make mistakes. Don’t give up on yourself so easily.”
Emotions tangled in the boy’s eyes, and Craig felt certain Dane didn’t believe him.
Craig ached with a need to help the boy, to make him understand that all wasn’t lost.
“Look,” Craig said, “I’m okay. You didn’t hurt me.” Craig smiled. “It hurt like hell,
but it was an accident. It could happen to anyone. You’re a good person, Dane.”
Though Dane didn’t look convinced, and he said he wanted to head home, Craig
thought he’d made headway with the boy.
“Why don’t you shower and get dressed?” Craig asked. “I’ll take you home, and
we’ll talk some more.”
Craig left the locker room in search of Leigh. She stood by the front door with Mike.
Mike slipped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed, and she beamed up at the tall
man with an expression of pure admiration. Or at least that’s what Craig saw. Heat
crawled up his spine.
Ah, crap. Craig wasn’t in the mood for a spurt of jealousy, but it hit him hard. He
marched toward them, not giving a damn. His mood deteriorated, but he swallowed the
indignant response threatening to burst out in an inappropriate way. Leigh saw him
coming, and her eyes reflected concern.
She stepped out from under Mike’s embrace. “Are you all right?”
Her concern wiped away the pettiness that had risen inside him. “Yeah, I’m fine.
Dane’s in the locker room getting showered and changed. I told him I’d take him home.”
Leigh’s lips relaxed into a smile. She shifted the handbag she carried and switched to
the other shoulder. “I was worried. That was a bad shot you took.”
Mike sauntered their way. Craig wanted the guy to take a hike. “You okay, Craig?”
“I’m great. Dane needs to go home. He’s had enough for one day.”
Mike nodded and headed away. “See you later, then. Have a good day.”
After Leigh said goodbye to Mike, she turned back to Craig. The warmth in her
smile as she stood near him sent his libido on the fast track. His body ached from the
smackdown, but he’d shrug it off fast. He ignored physical needs for practicality.
“I’d better get Dane home.”
“He’ll be okay, Craig. He just needs time to process things. He’s had an awful lot of
things happen in a short time.”
Craig nodded. “I know. Thanks for coming down.”
Leigh’s cheeks heated, and it made him even more curious. “No biggie.”
Craig didn’t know whether to grin at the sheepish expression on her face, or not.
“Mike interested in you?” came out instead.
Leigh’s eyes widened. “What?”
“He had his arm around you.”
Leigh scoffed and laughed. “He’s like a brother. I met him when his sister was
married last year. I was her wedding planner.”
He grunted. “Uh-huh.”
Leigh’s eyes sparkled. “It’s true.”
“I believe you. I also saw the way he looked at you.”
She shifted her handbag on her shoulder, suspicion narrowing her eyes. “Is that a
crime?”
“No, he likes you. As in sexually attracted.”
Her mouth popped open, and she looked bewildered. He didn’t think she could be
that blind to man’s admiration, but what the hell did he know?
“No, he doesn’t,” she said, moving closer.
Craig soaked up her nearness. He lowered his voice to an intimate level and leaned
toward her. “I’ve seen men look at women that way before.”
Leigh’s gaze locked with his. “Is that Craig MacGilvary all jealous? I’m flattered.”
A muscle in Craig’s jaw tightened until it ached. A hot, primal connection leapt
between them until he wanted to take her home and imprint himself upon her until she
wouldn’t look at another man. Christ, MacGilvary, don’t be such a fuckin’ caveman.
“Yeah. I’m jealous.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “But you can date whoever
you want obviously.”
Defiance flickered in her eyes, as if he’d hit a nerve. “Gee, MacGilvary. Thanks for
telling me. I didn’t know that.”
“Smart ass. I’ll see you later, okay?” With that he turned and headed for the locker
room, his body humming from arousal and aching from the shot Dane had delivered on
the basketball court.
But when he stepped into the locker room, Dane had disappeared.
Chapter Fourteen
Mike popped out of the office as Leigh turned to leave the Boy’s Club. “Hey, you
leaving already?”
She smiled, but knew the effect was pure plastic. “Yes. I’ll see you.”
“Wait.” He glanced around. “I have two tickets to the symphony Saturday night.
Would you like to go?”
“I—”
Craig came striding out of the locker room. “You guys see Dane anywhere?”
“No,” Mike said. “Let’s check out the rest of the building.”
The three searched inside and outside. No sight of Dane.
After scouring the immediate area with no sign of him, Leigh volunteered to help
Craig scan the neighborhood for the boy.
“He’ll be okay, Craig,” Leigh said as she rode in Craig’s SUV as they searched the
streets for Dane. “He’s probably just mad at himself and needed somewhere to sulk. You
know how teens can be.”
Craig’s hands tightened on the steering wheel—she saw his knuckles go white.
“Yeah, I do remember. That’s the problem.”
“It must be hard sometimes.”
“Dane’s life?”
“Yes, his life is hard, but that’s not what I mean.” She folded her hands in her lap.
“Your memories. You went through so much when you were his age.”
“Yeah, well, I’m over that.”
“Are you?”
He glanced her way quickly, and that one spearing look warned her. “I have the
memories, but most of the pain is gone. I’m not a victim, Leigh. I got on with my life.
Arlene and Justice made sure of that. Both of them had somewhat rough experiences
when they were kids. Yet look what kind of people they turned out to be. They didn’t
wallow. They dealt with their emotions and learned to live for today. That’s all we have,
Leigh. Today and now. The past is done.”
She couldn’t argue with that. “I know.”
One more quick, piercing glance. Suddenly she felt like a criminal caught in Craig’s
snare.
“Do you?” he asked. “Or are you still trying to hide your past?” [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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