Bounty (Colorado Mountain 7)

“How’s it hanging?” I asked when I stopped at him.

“Fine,” he said crisply. He took a look around my now fully-walled space and then his gaze came back to me. “I came up here to tell you that, with your situation clearing up, I need to get to Nashville. Your aunt is going back into the studio and I have to make sure everything is as it should be.”

That was a bummer.

I liked having him around.

Still, my situation had cleared up and Aunt Tammy, when recording (and performing, and breathing), could be a diva.

I nodded. “Okay,” I said and grinned. “Back to regularly scheduled programming.”

He nodded back. “Just so you’re aware, I’ve had a word with a few people I know in Los Angeles and a few others who can pull strings here. They’ll be expediting the DNA tests so we can be assured this gentleman in LA was the same as the gentleman who paid a visit to you.”

Paid a visit to you.

Mr. T was a stitch.

I did not laugh.

I nodded again.

“I’ve also had a few words with the authorities in LA. I’ve not only been clear that what happened there has nothing to do with you, I’ve been assured there’ll be no leak about any connection between what happened there and you.”

“Right. Great. Thanks as usual, Mr. T.”

“And Jacob Decker will continue to report to me as well as to you through Hightower.”

“Sounds good,” I approved, not that he needed my approval but I gave it to him anyway.

“Please continue to be careful, Justice,” he warned.

“Not gonna be an issue since I’m going to visit my friend Krys and her new baby in about five minutes. Then I’m setting dinner up in a Crock-Pot at Deke’s for tonight, where we’re going to escape paint fumes. And then I’m back here with sandwiches and I’ve been ordered to text the progress of my travels so often, I might be able to get a few breaths in in between but we’ll just have to see.”

After I said that, Mr. T looked beyond me to where I knew Deke was.

“It pleases me,” he started softly before he brought his gaze back to me, “that when the foundation of your father was pulled from under you, you found a safe place to land.”

That gave me goosebumps.

“Pleases me too, Mr. T,” I replied just as softly.

His lips moved in what was a semi-kinda-semblance of a smile.

That vanished and he stated briskly, “I must be on my way. My flight leaves in three and a half hours.”

I nodded again and turned, calling, “Deke, Mr. T’s taking off. He’s gotta get to Nashville.”

“Hey, dude. Cool to have you around,” Bubba called while Deke headed our way. “Come back and visit Jussy soon. We’ll make it a party.”

Mr. T made no reply to Bubba and Bubba had been around him enough he didn’t expect any. He just went back to checking the plastic taped on my windows.

Deke stopped close to me, throwing an arm around my shoulders and shoving out a hand.

“Bill,” he said.

“Deke,” Mr. T replied, taking Deke’s hand for a firm squeeze before letting him go. “I trust you’ll look after Justice,” he said unnecessarily.

Deke just grunted unintelligibly. This was both his affirmative answer and an indication he was slightly insulted Mr. T voiced those words.

“Of course,” Mr. T said to Deke then looked to me. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Can I get a hug?” I asked.

“If you must,” he sighed.

Deke grunted again and that one was just masking a chuckle.

He let me go and I moved into Mr. T, wrapping my arms around him tightly, but carefully, still holding coffee and phone.

“Safe trip,” I said into his ear. “Thanks for everything. And love you to pieces.”

He gave me a short squeeze and stepped out of my arms.

Then he gave me a look that made my heart squeeze.

“Good-bye, Justice.”

“Later, Mr. T.”

He nodded once, turned, opened the door and moved through it.

Deke claimed me again and moved us into it before Mr. T could close it.

He glanced back only once before he walked directly to his rental car, got in and drove away.

“I’m gonna miss him,” I muttered wistfully.

“Always tough to see the back of someone you love.”

I looked up at Deke.

Deke was watching my drive, but when he felt my gaze, he looked down at me.

“Even far, babe, think you get, they never really are,” he finished.

“Yeah,” I said softly.

“Get to Krys,” he ordered. “Her man’s back at work, she’s at home with a new baby, she’s gonna need her girls around her.”

I nodded and started to pull away.

“Kiss first, Jussy.”

I looked into his eyes and just saw Deke looking down at me. It was not distant. There were no boundaries. He was close, his arm around my shoulders, waiting for me to roll up to my toes and give him a kiss.

I didn’t know what this talk was going to be about that we’d have over Steph’s chicken.

What I knew looking in his eyes was that, if Deke said it wasn’t going to be bad, it wasn’t going to be bad.

So I rolled up on my toes.

The kiss was hard, closed-mouthed, and not short, but also not long.

Deke had his fingers in my hair, his hand cupping the back of my head when it was over and he didn’t let me roll back to my toes.

He commanded, “You’re gonna be texting me.”

“Yeah, I am,” I agreed.