Page 2 of Tough Justice
Her words hit at the truth of what had brought him to Wyoming in the first place, but that was a story he never planned to share. Instead, he scooped her close and gave her a giant hug before stepping back and smiling down at her. “Doesn’t look like it was too tough. I mean, you look kind of tired, I guess. But that’s not new.”
She slapped his arm. “Always the charmer. Are you going to invite me inside, or what?”
“Bring a bag?”
“Yep, in the back seat.”
He plucked out the baby blue suitcase then swept an arm toward the narrow porch. “After you. It’s unlocked so you can go on in.”
Inhaling a deep breath, she took another glance around before heading for the house. “It really is beautiful here. My gut tells me you picked a good place—even if it is too far.”
He followed her inside and hoped she was right. He’d escaped to Hillmore when his back had been shoved against a wall, but now he never wanted to leave. And if he hadn’t picked a spot far enough away from his troubles, he’d run again.
Suzy Tipton satbehind the desk in her new office at her old house. Life was a wild ride. If anyone told her the year before that her brother would sweep back into town and transform his inheritance into a new business where she’d end up as his secretary, she’d have laughed so hard she might pee a little.
But here she was, sitting in the office her dad once occupied, in a house filled with more bad memories than the one from Amityville, working away at a new job she loved.
Not like walking away from her position as a teller at the local bank had been difficult. Bad pay, bad hours, bad boss. Lane’s job offer gave her a better income and benefits, as well as an opportunity to see her handsome nephew all the time.
Then there was Duke.
Tiny burst of excitement tiptoed in her stomach. A now-familiar sensation anytime her brother’s business partner came around. Heck, anytime she thought of him. His sharp jawline that could cut through glass, short-cropped sandy blond hair that was usually covered with his trusty cowboy hat.
As a thirty-year-old woman born and raised in Wyoming, cowboys sporting the hat and boots were a dime a dozen. But on Duke…. well, nothing about him was for show or pretend. The authentic cowboy look on him was enough to drive a girl crazy.
Enough to drive her crazy.
The door to the office swung open, and Lane strolled in with his son on his hip.
Parker rested his head on Lane’s shoulder, his thumb tucked into his mouth.
Suzy jumped to her feet and wiggled her arms in a come-here motion. “Come to Auntie Suzy,” she cooed and gathered the little boy into her arms.
At close to a year old, Parker was the spitting image of his father. All big brown eyes and dark hair. His cheeks were chubby and kissable—something he didn’t have in common with his father—and his curiosity usually kept him toddling all over the house looking for mischief. It wasn’t often he wanted to sit still and cuddle, and she’d take advantage of every second of it that she could.
Parker nuzzled his face against her neck, and her ovaries did a little somersault.
“Duke not here yet?” Lane stalked to his desk on the opposite end of the room and settled into the new leather chair.
Heck, everything in the office was new except the built in shelves, which had been painted a dove gray and brought a whole new energy to the room. Once toxic and angry, the energy now was light and calm. The mixture of masculine lines in the furniture with soft blue on the walls and Parker-friendly accessories scattered on the cozy rug created a warmth found nowhere in the house until now.
Lane and Celine’s combined effort to turn a house of misery into a home was a testament to the kind of relationship Suzy dreamt of. One that seemed so far beyond her reach she’d have to be content with the life of spinster aunt.
Lane cleared his throat, chasing her head from the clouds.
“Nope. He’s not here, and I haven’t heard from him.” She hated the dip of disappointment pulling at her stomach. She wasn’t his keeper, and there was no reason for him to check in with her about his daily schedule. “I figured he had a job to see to this morning or something that I wasn’t aware of.”
Lane snorted. “There’s nothing that goes on here that you aren’t aware of. Trust me, hiring you was the best decision I ever made.”
With her eyebrows raised high, she rubbed the tip of her nose against Parker’s. “Maybe the second best.”
Another snort from Lane brought a smile to her lips.
“Where’s Celine this morning?” she asked, carrying Parker to the rocking chair in the corner and sitting.
He rested his head on her shoulder and sighed.
“She’s helping at the restaurant for the morning shift. Already took off. Something about doing inventory with Tia before the place opens.”
