Ashton reached the bottom of the stairs and started to make his way up them. He had to go a little slower than he would have liked, since he couldn’t tear his gaze from Justice, but it was a small price to pay. Especially since Justice stood there and waited for him, all the while looking at Ashton as if he were the best thing ever.
“Because all good stories have a happy ending,” he replied, simply.
“And you think ours is going to be a good story?”
“Of course I do. It’s going to be the best one ever.”
All of Ashton’s good humor faded once he stood in front of Justice. Up close he could now make out that Justice had a fat bottom lip and a good-sized bruise on one cheek. Ashton grabbed Justice by the hand and led him between a row bookshelves. Since that particular one dealt with heavy Russian literature, he felt pretty certain they wouldn’t be disturbed for at least a few minutes.
“Did Craig do this to you?” Ashton demanded as he lightly ran the pad of his thumb over the bruise.
“No, my father did.”
“Because we were talking to each other?”
Justice nodded, another blush coming over his face. “Yeah, he’s pretty strict about who I hang out with.”
Guilt slammed into Ashton at the thought of Justice being in any amount of pain on account of him. Even though Ashton had always had a protective streak, never before had it been this strong. At that moment he wanted to pound on the DA and Craig for harming Justice. Which just shocked Ashton because he wasn’t the violent type at all.
“Let me guess, the son of Carter Garner is not on his approved list.”
“No.” Justice gave a rueful smile as the flush deepened over his cheeks, almost as if he was shamed by his father’s biased behavior.
“Yet, you still came today,” Ashton’s voice hitched in shock.
Most of the guys he met usually shied away as soon as they found out who Ashton was. The knowledge that Justice not only didn’t care about that, but risked another beating to meet him tugged at Ashton’s chest. Why Justice obviously saw so much in him when the rest of the world found him lacking was a mystery to Ashton. Damned if that would stop Ashton from grabbing onto the opportunity and holding on tight, though.
“Yeah, I figured you were worth the risk,” Justice said as he cast his gaze down shyly.
If Ashton hadn’t already had it bad for Justice, that admission would have done it for sure. Ashton continued to rub his thumb over the injury, furious that somebody would raise their hand to such a sweet guy. Being as gentle as possible, he nudged Justice’s chin until he lifted his gaze.
“Does he hit you often?” Ashton asked, getting lost in the other man’s gray eyes.
Justice shrugged. “Only when I disappoint him or make him mad.”
Ashton would be willing to bet that happened a lot. Yet, the press painted the DA as the good guy, while demonizing Carter. That just took the irony gold medal. While his dad may be many things, he’d never once struck Ashton.
“I could kill him for hurting you,” Ashton whispered before he leaned forward and brushed the softest of kisses against Justice’s cheek.
“But you could never do that, because that’s not who you are,” Justice whispered back.
Ashton jerked back, shock coursing through his body. “You’re so certain of that, even though you know who my father is?”
Justice gave him a tender smile. “You’re nothing like him.”
“How can you know that? We’ve just met each other.”
“I don’t know. I just do,” Justice said with a sheepish shrug.
The blind faith coming from Justice floored Ashton. He bent forward and delivered another kiss, this time to Justice’s battered lip. All the while, he took extreme care to be as gentle as possible. While Ashton yearned to really lay one on Justice, he didn’t want to hurt the man any more.
“Let’s get out of here,” Ashton suggested.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Justice hedged. “What if Craig spots us? The only reason I suggested us meeting here is because I know the last place he and any of his friends will be is the library.”
“I’ve already thought of that. Bryce is waiting out back for us in his SUV. Its windows are tinted, so nobody will be able to see us inside.”
“Where will we be going?”
The way Justice’s eyes softened, told Ashton the guy was warming up to the idea. Good, now he just had to make sure that their plan went smoothly. That way Justice would continue to trust him on future dates.
“There’s this small restaurant my uncle owns a few miles from here. He promised to let me use the back dining room, so we’ll have complete privacy.”
Justice hesitated for only a moment longer before nodding his head. “Sure, it sounds like fun and I missed dinner anyway.”
“Great, let’s get going,” Ashton said.
He grabbed Justice’s hand and led the way down the stairs and to the back door. When Justice simply accepted, even going so far as to thread their fingers together, a heady thrill went through Ashton.
They pushed through the door and walked outside. As anticipated, Bryce sat behind the wheel of his SUV. While the driver and front passenger windows were clear, the ones in the backseat were tinted. They were so dark there was no way Craig or anybody else would be able to spot Justice in the backseat. Ashton opened the door and ushered Justice inside.
Ashton slid in after him, a thrill going through him as their bodies briefly brushed against each other. In the closed confines of the car he could detect the crisp scent of the Justice’s cologne. While Ashton recognized it as a knockoff brand, it didn’t take away from its appeal. If anything, it made him want to bury his nose in Justice’s neck so he could get a really good whiff. Since Ashton didn’t think that would be good first-date behavior, he held back.
He caught Bryce’s gaze in the rear-view mirror, the snarky expression unmistakable even in the glass. Ashton thought back to all the ribbing he’d given over the years whenever his cousin would “fall in love” with yet another top-heavy blonde. He realized then that Bryce would be giving him some payback.
“This is my cousin, Bryce,” Ashton said, as he shot Bryce a be good or I will strangle you glare.
When Bryce gave him a wicked smile in return Ashton knew he was screwed.
Bryce turned and waved. “Hello, Justice, we only met briefly last night, but Ashton has talked about you so much I feel as if I’ve known you for years.”
Note to self: kill Bryce.
Ashton flashed Bryce a fake smile. “Can you drive us to Uncle Terry’s, please?”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go to Mike’s? It’s a lot more fun.”
“No, Terry’s place will be just fine,” Ashton replied tightly.
“But Mike’s has the best burgers in town and the entertainment is so…well, entertaining.”
Second note to self: kill Bryce in the most painful way possible.
“I don’t think his place is exactly date worthy,” Ashton replied as he curled his hands against the leather seat. The urge to wrap his fingers around Bryce’s neck grew strong. While he usually didn’t mind his cousin’s teasing and smartass comments, Ashton really wanted to impress Justice.
“What kind of business does your Uncle Mike own?” Justice asked, falling right into Bryce’s verbal trap.
Ashton groaned as he flashed an I will get you back for this look at Bryce.
“A girly strip club,” Bryce informed with a huge grin.
Justice opened and closed his mouth a few times. “Yeah, I think Ashton may have a point. That really isn’t my kind of place. Besides I don’t have any singles and the last time I went the girls got cranky when I tried to shove quarters down their G-strings.”
Bryce blinked, for once stunned silent, no doubt shocked to have his own medicine shoved down his throat while Ashton howled with laughter. Just when he thought it couldn’t be possible, Justice somehow had managed to surprise him yet
again.
Ashton once more met Bryce’s gaze in the rear-view mirror and wasn’t surprised to see the admiration flashing in his cousin’s gaze.
“I think I see his appeal,” Bryce admitted.
Ashton reached out to reclaim Justice’s hand. “Yeah, he’s pretty great.”
The adorable flush came over Justice’s face again. It was pretty obvious Justice hadn’t been on the receiving end of too many compliments. “You keep talking like that and I’m going to get a big head.”
Bryce opened his mouth to fire off another comment, but after exchanging looks with Ashton, clamped his lips together. While Bryce may come off as a bit slow sometimes, in fact he saw more than most gave him credit for. So Ashton knew that after taking in Justice’s bruises and timid nature that Bryce put two and two together and came up with DA Knowl is an abusive ass.
Bryce turned the vehicle on, then pulled out onto the road. The drive was short, so they made mostly small talk the entire way. Justice confessed to being an avid fan of the Blue Jackets, so they bantered back and forth over various NHL teams and their chances in the upcoming season. The time passed quickly and Ashton was surprised to see the familiar outline of the restaurant. Bryce parked in the back, then got out to make sure nobody was watching before he came back over and opened the back door.
Justice cocked a brow. “With all this sneaking around I’m beginning to feel like I’m a secret agent man or something,” he said as they climbed out from the backseat. “Maybe I should get some fancy clothes and change my name to Austin.”
“I promise no evil men are trying to feed us to sharks with lasers on their heads. Although, they may try to cryogenically freeze us,” Ashton quipped.
“Darn, that kind of adventure was on my bucket list, too.”
“Funny, all that’s on mine is bungee jumping and finally going on that Alaskan cruise.”
Bryce kept his mouth shut, but he did roll his eyes at their banter. He opened the door for them, and as they entered the restaurant, Ashton allowed himself to take comfort in the familiar surroundings.
The restaurant had been in the family for years, and even after his uncle had taken over, nothing changed. Simple, yet classy with its wood walls and plank flooring, the inside was always dark no matter the time of day. Every table had drippy, wax candles as a centerpiece and they were always lit. Several photos taken over the years dotted the walls and there was even a picture of his uncle shaking hands with the last Michigan governor.
Uncle Terry approached, his arms already stretched out for a hug. Ashton returned the embrace, his arms struggling to reach across Terry’s girth. His uncle liked to call himself a bit fluffy around the middle. Most others would say he was overweight. To Ashton, he was just simply his favorite uncle.
As his father’s youngest brother, Terry shared a lot of the same traits. He had the trademark Garner dark hair and eyes. Unlike Carter, Terry possessed a gentle heart. He always had a kind word and good advice. It was no wonder Ashton felt closer to Terry than his own father.
Justice lingered behind, almost as if he wanted to be as inconspicuous as possible. His shoved his hands into his pockets, shoulders hunched as he studied his shoes. Ashton pulled out of his uncle’s embrace and took Justice’s hand.
“This is—”
Terry cut him off, “DA Knowl’s youngest son, Justice. I remember from all the newspaper articles.”
Ashton smiled, while Justice stiffened. The reaction didn’t come as a surprise. While Ashton knew his uncle would never betray their trust, Justice had never met the man before. Also, Ashton had a sneaking suspicion that Justice never had the luxury of being able to confide in any family members.
“Don’t worry. My uncle won’t say anything,” Ashton assured, giving Justice’s hand a squeeze.
Gone was the Justice who’d been throwing around teasing comments just moments before. Instead, Ashton found himself confronted by someone who looked two seconds away from diving under the closest table and curling into a fetal position. Ashton grinned, hoping to ease some of the tension away, but failed miserably. Justice gave a weak smile in return as he plucked at the drawstrings of his sweatshirt. His eyes were slightly wide and his fingers trembled just a bit. His tongue darted out to lick his lip, only to retreat when it passed over the injured area. Ashton didn’t know whether to hug the guy or offer him some ice, since the wound looked like it still smarted. Meanwhile he continued to dart glances to both the front and rear door, almost as if he expected a monster to pop through at any moment, so he needed to measure the quickest exit.
Damn, did Justice always have this lost, kicked-too-many-times look about him? How often did he walk around with fat lips and bruises? Did he live every second of his life in fear of being attacked? The thought that Justice might have to constantly exist under a shield of hate made Ashton want to hold the other guy in a tight embrace, just so he could know that not the whole world was so hard and cruel.
Ashton vowed at that moment that no matter how long it took, he’d show Justice that life didn’t have to be about fear, degradation and cruelty. Justice would come to learn that real families cared about each other and didn’t seek to harm one another. Most of all, Ashton became determined to make it so the smiling, joking Justice who’d been out in the car, would become a permanent fixture.
Chapter 4
*
All in all, Justice thought he was doing a great job of not showing his nerves. While his heart pounded like mad and a heavy dose of panic screamed through his body, he maintained a smile.
Ashton studied him closely for several moments before giving his hand another squeeze. “It’s okay, Justice. You’re safe here.”
Shame flooded Justice as he realized that maybe he hadn’t been fooling anyone. Even Ashton’s uncle had a sympathetic look on his face. The older man cleared his throat before saying, “Come on, let me show you to your table.”
Justice trailed after Ashton, but they continued to hold hands. Despite the flurry of emotions battling inside him, Justice found a bit of comfort from that touch. Silly really, that something so simple from somebody he just met should feel so right, but it did. So much so, that when they reached their table, Justice found himself reluctant to let go.
He did though, sliding into the chair opposite of Ashton. True to Ashton’s promise, they were the only ones in this area of the restaurant. If it weren’t for the dim sounds of conversation, doors opening and silverware clinking against dishes, Justice would think they had the whole place to themselves.
He took the menu with a murmured thanks and opened it, not really seeing the words inside. Terry disappeared, so it left just Ashton and Justice in the room. Justice tried to concentrate on the menu, but failed miserably. Instead his gaze kept drifting to Ashton.
Justice still couldn’t understand what the guy saw in some dorky loser like him. Ashton had everything going for him. He was hot, rich and had a great personality. The high-end blue sweater and designer jeans probably cost more than Justice’s entire wardrobe combined. Plus, he exuded confidence while Justice bumbled his way through life. Moreover it looked as if Ashton’s family could actually stand to be around him. Something Justice never experienced.
“Get whatever you want,” Ashton urged.
“Huh?” Justice started, embarrassed at being caught ogling.
“I said for you to order whatever you want,” Ashton replied, a sexy, lopsided smile coming over his handsome face.
Justice tilted his face downward, both to hide the bruises and the heat coming over his cheeks. God, what in the hell had ever possessed him to agree to go out on an actual date? It would probably take Ashton ten minutes tops to realize what a lost cause he had on his hands. Justice would be lucky if he didn’t find himself taking a taxi home. He nervously licked his lips, wincing in pain as he was once again reminded of his split lip.
“What’s good here?” he asked.
“A lot of people love the steak, but my personal favorite i
s the lasagna.”
“Okay, then I’ll go with that.”
“Are you sure?”
“I trust you.”
Ashton’s smile faltered for moment as he began to fiddle with his silverware. When the silence stretched, Justice began to worry if he’d said something wrong. An apology was forming on his lips, when Ashton looked up and said, “Nobody aside from Bryce has ever trusted me with anything before, not even with something as small as ordering a meal for them.”
“Why not? Even though we’ve just met, I can tell you’re great.”
Now it was Justice who glanced down as he realized he’d come off as some kind of gushing stalker.
“You’re the only one who’s ever thought that. Most people turn their back on me once they hear what my last name is.”
Outraged, Justice looked back up. “Why the hell would they do that? You’re nothing like your father.”
A rueful smile twisted Ashton’s lips. “How do you know that?”
Justice paused as he fought for an answer. In truth, he really couldn’t, not since they’d just met the night before. Yet, there was something inside Justice that screamed he could trust Ashton, that while he may share the same blood as his father, they were cast from a different mold.
“Do you think I’m like Craig and my father?” Justice challenged by way of answer.
Ashton slowly shook his head. “You’re everything they pretend to be.”
A warm feeling pooled in Justice’s gut at those words. “And how do you know that?”
“Like you, I just have a feeling. Besides, I asked around about you.”
Justice cocked his head to the side. “Really? Who did you ask?”
“Don’t worry, I was very discreet about it. I mostly talked to Paula Chase.”
“Oh, no,” Justice groaned. “I can only imagine all the embarrassing stories she told you.”
Best friends since junior high, Paula had seen Justice at his best and worst. He had no doubt she shared all of the stories from both categories.
A waiter came and took their order. Ashton waited until he left before answering. “She said that you were sweet, generous and too forgiving for your own good.”
Ashton and Justice Page 3