Loving Justice (El Camino Real Book 2) (23 page)

“Sure.” Abby didn’t sound too certain. She could tell something was up. “I’m going to go over to my house and check to see how the contractor is doing. We’re enlarging the kitchen and the master bedroom until Cade can get our new house started.”

“Okay.” Charlee hugged her, picking up her packages. “Have a good day. And thank you so much.”

Abby let her off in front of the El Camino office complex. She felt like she was walking in a fog. The knowledge that she was pregnant shouldn’t have come as a huge surprise. After all, they had taken risks. Still, the news had stunned her, shocked her, and scared the living daylights out of her. All of the doubt and sorrow from losing her first child came rushing back. How had she let this happen again? Charlee knew how—she had no willpower where Justice was concerned. Just one touch and she lost her mind every time. The one thing she was certain of was that she wouldn’t hide this pregnancy from Justice. This was their second chance. Charlee smiled to herself. They were having a baby! And she intended to tell him now—before she lost her nerve.

*  *  *

Taking a deep breath, Charlee opened the big glass doors to the El Camino office complex. Sometimes she forgot what a big operation this was. All together they probably employed over a hundred hands and office staff. As she entered the vestibule, the receptionist looked up. “Can I help you?”

Charlee had only seen her at a distance, the day she’d come to review the reports. “May I speak with Justice, please?”

“Ah, you’re the geologist?” She held out her hand.

Charlee took it. “I’m Charlee Cortez, Ms. Michaels,” she read the nameplate on the desk.

“If you’ll take a seat, I’ll tell him you’re here.” She edged closer to Charlee. “He’s with someone, a female someone.” Ms. Michaels raised her eyebrows, smiling as if they shared a secret.

“Oh?” Charlee felt uneasy. “Maybe I should come back later.” She started to rise.

“Oh, no. Hold on. They’ve been back there for a while with the door shut.” Ms. Michaels touched her cheeks as if they were hot. “I don’t even want to think about what’s been going on. It’s his girlfriend, well, she used to be his girlfriend until she broke it off. Beautiful girl. Zelda’s her name. A true match for Mr. King, so refined and elegant. A city girl, a real lady. You just sit here and let me check.”

Bile rose in Charlee’s throat. “No, please. You don’t have to.”

The woman ignored Charlee and took off, possibly more to feed her own curiosity than anything else.

She shouldn’t have done it, Charlee knew better. She should just wait and ask Justice what was going on. But she couldn’t, she was drawn down the hall to his office like a moth to a flame. When she came near, the door to the outer office was open. Charlee could hear voices.

“I’m home now, Justice. I’m ready to begin my life with the man I love.” Undoubtedly Zelda.

Charlee’s hand went to her throat. She couldn’t make out all of what was being said, until Justice’s voice came across clear as a bell. “I’ve been waiting to hear those words for a long time. You’ve made me a happy man.” 

Pain shattered Charlee’s heart. Before she could hear more, Ms. Michaels walked out.

“We’d best let them alone.” She smiled really big. “I caught them kissing and talking about a wedding.”

“Yes, we should give them their privacy.” Charlee felt like she was dying.

“I’ll tell him you stopped by. Would you leave your number?”

She walked woodenly back to the front. “He has my number, but don’t bother him with my stopping by. I have to go out of town. I’ll catch up with him at a later date.”

Before anything else could happen, Charlee left. Her mind refused to process what she’d just heard. She half-walked, half-ran back to the house, straight up to Justice’s room to throw her things in the suitcase. This time she took the star necklace off and left it on the bed where he’d find it. For long seconds, she stared at the place where they’d made love. How was she going to survive this? Feeling weak, she forced herself to leave the room and get downstairs. Charlee had to hold the side of the wall to keep from falling. She felt dizzy and disoriented. Hopefully she would be able to drive. The house was deserted and for that, Charlee was grateful.

When she was outside, she loaded her luggage and climbed behind the wheel. Numb, she was totally numb. With a heavy heart, she took one last look around. What she was going to do, she didn’t know. She couldn’t think. Backing out, she drove beneath the El Camino sign and headed toward the sinkhole site. Before she left, she needed to touch base with Cyrus.

Then, she was going somewhere to cry.

*  *  *

Justice whistled as he walked. Whew! What a day. He’d been put through the wringer. If Shiloh’s wedding announcement and Jase’s new career plan wasn’t enough, he’d just experienced the return of…Zelda. Justice laughed to himself. He’d said that phrase in his mind the same way he’d say the return of…Godzilla!

“Mr. King? Mr. King?”

Justice stopped in his tracks. “What’s wrong, Ms. Michael?” He turned to wait on his receptionist, who was hurrying down the hall. All he wanted to do was go home to Charlee. He was worn out, and he needed to hold his baby. Tonight, he planned on proposing. The small band of gold and diamonds was burning a hole in his pocket. Justice had picked the ring out, bought it and had it engraved on the spot. When you throw a little extra money at something, things tend to get done quickly.

Out of breath, Ms. Michaels stopped in front of him. “I just wanted to tell you that you missed a visit from that lady geologist a bit ago.”

Justice frowned, perplexed. “Charlee?”

She made a face, thinking. “Maybe, that’s not the name she used…something Cortez.”

“Charlee came here? What did she want?” An uneasy feeling began to rise in the pit of his stomach.

“Well, she asked to speak to you. But I told her your lady friend was in there with you.” Ms. Michaels blushed and fanned herself. “I think she understood, especially after I explained you’d had the door shut and you two were…kissing. The lady didn’t leave a message, she said she’d check up on you later.”

“Shit.” Justice shook his head.

“What’s wrong?” Ms. Michaels looked disturbed.

“Not much, you’re fired.” He wasn’t firing her because she told Charlee what she thought she saw, he fired her because her mouth was too big.

“What? Why?” She looked shocked.

“If you’d tell someone you thought was a relative stranger that much of my business, you’ll tell anything. I can’t trust you. Pack your desk. I’ll wait.”

She huffed and puffed, spouting off about filing a lawsuit. Justice ignored her. Instead, he called Charlie. He let it ring and ring, but there was no answer. Finally, it went to voice mail. Justice glanced over at the woman clearing out her desk while he called the house phone. Again, no answer.

Hell, he was in a mess. Could she have believed Ms. Michael’s stupid assumptions? Zelda had stopped by to inform him she was moving back to Bronco. She and Toby were engaged. As far as Justice was concerned, they deserved one another. And yes, he and Zelda had embraced but it was nothing more than a congratulatory kiss. Oh well, he’d straighten it out as soon as he saw her. Charlee would listen, she knew he loved her.

About three miles away, Charlee shook Cyrus’s hand. “You’ve done a fine job, Cyrus. If you can get a local contractor to monitor the sinkhole, I’d appreciate it. And please forward me updates on the El Camino Real road construction, I’d love to see the finished results.”

“I’ll do it. Where are you off to next?” Cyrus asked. “I sorta thought you’d be hanging around here.”

“No, I just got off the phone with my boss. I’m heading to Dallas. There was another earthquake, and we need to rule out fracking as a source of the problem before a bigger one hits. If it is the cause, we’ll stop the oil drilling near the fault line.”

“Well, good luck and I’m sure we’ll be working together again soon.”

As she walked back to her car, Charlee let her gaze rove over El Camino. In her mind’s eye she could see her and Justice running and playing, riding and laughing. Oh well, those days were gone. She ought to have been an actress. Charlee was astounded that she’d managed to hold it together while speaking to Cyrus.

Firming her resolve, Charlee got on the road and headed north. She didn’t go by the clinic to tell Curtiss Parker goodbye, she just wanted to get the hell out of Dodge. This time as she passed the water tower, the words seemed to mock her. Charlee averted her head until they were no longer in view.

Loving Justice had been a mistake.

Justice drove up to his house, rehearsing what he was going to say. He had to make sure Charlee understood that what Ms. Michaels thought was happening was not anywhere close to the truth. She’d understand, she had to understand. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! How the hell had this happened? He’d been happy, he’d been minding his own business. Getting on with his life.

Opening his truck door, he stepped out into the yard. The sun was shining, he could see a few crocus beginning to peek their heads up through the dirt in his mother’s flower bed. A horse whinnied in the distance and a dog barked somewhere in the pasture, probably chasing a squirrel. He’d walked about two yards before he realized Charlee’s car was gone. A ripping feeling tore through his gut. Charlee’s car was gone.

“Charlee!” Justice didn’t know why he was calling her, she wasn’t here. Maybe she’d gone on another errand. Maybe…running, he jumped up the steps, flung open the door and took the stairs two at a time. He tore down the hall and crashed into his room, hoping to find something, anything that would tell him she was still here.

Dammit! His room was just his room again. Gone were her clothes, her computer, her suitcase. All that remained was her sugar cookie scent and the lonely star lying across his pillow.

*  *  *

Just a short nap, that was all she needed. This pregnancy was sapping her strength faster than last time. Maybe because she was older now. Charlee rolled to one side and clutched the pillow.

“You need to eat something, Charlee.”

It was Weber, looking in on her for the umpteenth time in the last hour.

“I can’t keep anything down. Maybe later. Okay?”

“I promised Hampton I’d take care of you. We have to keep your strength up. You shouldn’t be working at all. I’m just glad this job was in Dallas so you could stay with us.”

Charlee rolled over so she could see her friend. Between him and Hampton, he was the talkative one. “This job isn’t strenuous. I ride in a truck and read seismic reports. I’ll be fine. Where’s Hampton?”

Weber beamed. “He’s talking to the woman I hope will be our surrogate. Just think, we’ll be raising our kids together.”

She smiled weakly. “True and I think that’s wonderful. I’m so grateful I have you two. I wouldn’t want to face this alone.” Charlee stared up at the ceiling. Their luxury townhouse sure beat a hotel any day. Pity she wasn’t in the frame of mind to enjoy it.

Crossing his arms over his wide chest, Weber frowned. “I still think you’re making a mistake. Justice King didn’t cheat on you. It took me less than two minutes of seeing that man standing next to your hospital bed to know you mean everything to him.”

The words hit Charlee squarely in the heart. “I don’t think so.”

“How many times has he called since you pulled your disappearing act?”

“I don’t know, I quit checking,” Charlee mumbled.

“Justice loves you.”

“No, he doesn’t, he never said it. Not once.” Charlee knew she was practically whining. Disgusted with herself, she pulled the pillow over her head.

“I was stupid. I guess I just thought you knew I loved you. I’ve always loved you.”

This unexpected voice in the room almost caused Charlee’s heart to jump out of her chest. Justice was here! “Go away. I have bed head.”

She heard the door shut and assumed Weber had deserted her.

“Come out from there, I’ve seen you covered in mud, no front teeth, with chicken pox and naked before you had those delectable boobs. I think I can handle a bed head.” When she didn’t move, he pressed. “Are you ill, Charlee?”

“No, I’m just fine!” she yelled beneath the pillow. “I’m pregnant again, the father of my baby is in love with another woman, and I’ve made a fool out of myself—again!”

She didn’t hear him move, but there was a sudden whoosh in the air and his big six-foot four body flew through the air and landed right on top of her, not crushing, his hands and knees preventing any but the most gentle of contact. He tore the pillow from her face. “You’re pregnant?” There was wonder in his voice. “With my baby?”

Charlie scrunched up her face. “No, it belongs to one of the other ten men I’m sleeping with.”

Justice’s mouth twitched. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to challenge them all to a duel for your hand. Were you going to leave me out of this again? When were you going to tell me?”

She pushed at his chest. “I wish you’d move.” When he didn’t, she sighed. “I came to tell you the moment I found out. I had gone to get birth control pills and learned that you had requested my father do a pregnancy test. Then I found you and Zelda cozied up making wedding plans.”

“She’s marrying Toby.”

“And here…” She reached out from between their bodies and grabbed a piece of paper from the nightstand. “I wrote this to you, it explains everything.” Charlee dragged it back across the bed. “I didn’t intend to leave you in the dark.” Through the haze of her anger, his words finally sank in. “What did you say?”

“Zelda’s marrying Toby. Don’t you think that’s a perfect match?” Not one to waste an opportunity, Justice was now peppering kisses over her face. “When are you going to marry me?”

“Oh, no.” She tried to turn her face away. “You don’t love me, and I’m not marrying you because of the baby.”

Patience. Justice could afford to be patient. After all, he had her right where he wanted her—beneath him in a bed. “I just told you I loved you.”

“As a friend, you’ve always loved me
as a friend
.” She said the last three words with emphasis.

“You are my friend, sweetheart. My best friend.” Justice framed her face. “You’re also my other half, my soulmate. You, my Charlee, are part of me, the best part. When you left me, both times, it felt like I’d lost myself.” He looked deep into her eyes. “And I had, I’d lost my heart.”

Tears began to flow from Charlee’s eyes. “You’re just saying this because I’m pregnant.”

“Women,” he teased, “always have to be shown.” Rising up on his knees, he dug in his pocket. “Hold on.” He pulled something out and held it between his fingers. “I didn’t know about the baby when I bought this. I hadn’t seen Zelda when I bought this.” He stepped from the bed and got down on one knee.

“Cha’risa Cortez, my Charlee Parker, will you marry me? Will you live with me? Will you let me love you for the rest of my life?”

He had Charlee’s attention now—big time. “Are you sure you want to marry me? Me? I’m just Charlee, remember? The same Charlee whose love was immortalized on the water tower for all to see.”

Justice smiled and held out the ring, a beautiful gold band with a big diamond in the center. “Read what’s inside and give me your answer. I had the ring engraved.”

With a shaking hand, she took it and held it close enough to read.

This is what it said.

Justice King Loves Charlee King. Forever

Charlee grabbed her heart and flung her arms around his neck. “You do love me! Yes, I’ll marry you. I’ve never seen more beautiful words.”

He sealed their love with the longest, deepest, sweetest kiss imaginable. “I’m glad, because they aren’t only written on a band of gold, they’re written on my heart.” Justice slipped the ring on her finger.

Charlee buried her face in his neck. “I’m sorry I ran.”

“That’s okay.” Justice laughed. “Just know that from now on, I’ll always come after you.”

“You do that.” She hiccupped against him.

“Now, how about we go check into a nice hotel where I can make love to my future wife? Abby tells me you bought that hot sexy leather outfit to drive me crazy.” He joined her on the bed. “I know you have this job to finish, and I’m going to stay with you until you’re through and then I’m taking you home.”

“I don’t want you to be away from the ranch. What about Shiloh?”

“You’re more important. The ranch and Shiloh’s new bride will be there when we go home.” Justice ran a finger down her soft cheek. “I love you so much.”

She took his hand and placed it under her heart. “There’s nothing more important to me than you and our baby. I love you, Justice King.”