Redeeming Justice (23 page)

“Thanks for not giving up on me, girl,” he chuckled while giving her a good scratch
behind the ears. Was that what she wanted to hear? Maybe, because after that she went
and curled up on her bed and promptly ignored him.
Females, go figure.

Remembering something Meghan said earlier, Alex pulled on a pair of sweats and grabbed
his laptop. Bringing up Google he typed in – parasol – and clicked search. The lady
needed a fucking parasol? Well, he’d find the perfect one if it took the whole damn
night.

Meghan couldn’t lift a finger. Completely and utterly spent she lay in the shadowed
silence of her room running over in her mind the events of the day. It was a lot to
take on board.

Alex’s territorial behavior at breakfast; her time in the saddle; their make-out session
in the barn; the excursion into the desert which ultimately led to her jumping his
bones on the front seat of a truck. Then there was everything that came after. His
instant regret; her angry and hurt reaction; the scene she’d inadvertently caused
in the driveway; Tori’s concern; the way Carmen reacted when she’d come to check on
her before dinner.

The housekeeper had knocked on her door just as she’d come out of the shower. When
Meghan had flounced from the driveway in high dudgeon mode, she hadn’t noticed who
had witnessed the hissy fit she’d been directing at Alex. The moment she saw the housekeeper’s
face though, she knew the kindly Latina was more than a little dismayed about what
had passed between her boss and his house guest.

Keeping things light and casual wasn’t going to happen especially after Carmen caught
sight of her scraped knees and the ugly abrasions on her palms.

“Dios, M
eee
s Meghan! What happened to you?”

It had taken enormous effort not to start crying all over again. There didn’t seem
to be a way to explain so she shrugged and murmured, “I stumbled and fell,” knowing
from the dark scowl on Carmen’s face that she was creating her own picture of what
that meant. Soon thereafter the women pulled a first aid kit out of thin air and solemnly
set about caring for Meghan’s wounds.

Between the emotional overload of having been rejected by the brawny Major and the
crying jag that followed, it was Carmen’s concern that got the better of her. Her
brutal headache wasn’t just the result of too much sun. It was everything rolled into
one huge stress ball that got her head thumping.

“My head’s killing me,” she told her, accepting the pain tablets and quickly taking
them. “I don’t think there’s anyway I could sit through a meal, Carmen. Would you
pass along my regrets to,
uh
…..I mean tell everyone I’m under the weather?”

“Not to worry M
eee
s Meghan,” she told her. “I’ll take care of it. You lay down and close your eyes.”

Grateful for her care and understanding, Meghan tried to relax as the housekeeper
pulled the curtains and quietly slid from the room taking Alex’s dog with her. It
hadn’t taken long for her to end up curled in the fetal position as the code ten thumper
took her down.

She hadn’t expected Alex to appear inquiring if she was alright. He’d been distant,
almost angry, at first but eventually softened. The decision made in that moment to
unload on him about her backstory with David was nothing short of life changing. Sharing
her truth hadn’t been easy but it needed to be done. Once the story was out, she’d
felt relief.

Being honest also helped get Alex down off the emotional ledge where her former fiancé
was concerned. It had been the right thing to do but still hurt like hell.

What happened after had stunned her. His admission that he wanted her and what that
meant—
dirty as fuck
he’d said. She’d never forget hearing those words and how they made her feel. There
was more she wanted to say, especially the part about the lack of protection during
their spontaneous interlude, but she’d lost the chance to say anything else the moment
he told her to close her eyes and let him make her feel better.

And man oh man, had he done just that. Meghan felt confused about the level of trust
it required on her to part to so willingly allow him to dominate her as he had. She
barely hesitated at every command, something that got her shaking her head. She’d
always been so sure of herself. So
large and in charge
as her brothers liked to tease. With Alex though, she surrendered so fast that it
seemed completely out-of-character. He affected her that way. And she affected him
too. What he’d just done to her body and senses was not much different from how Meghan
had pushed his control earlier in the day.

Now that the truth about David wasn’t clouding every interaction, maybe they’d be
able to make some sense of what they were feeling. She was drawn to him in a big way.
And it wasn’t a simple hormonal blitz. That she could have handled with no problem.
He charmed and fascinated her; challenged how she saw herself; got her thinking about
happily ever after.

Whoever said that women were the complicated sex was delusional. It wasn’t her who
kept pulling away. She still didn’t have a handle on whatever fucked up shit he had
going on in his deepest, darkest thoughts. Maybe she never would. But Meghan was not
going to give up on him so easily. It occurred to her that all the growling and mixed
signals might actually be his mechanism of defense—defense against giving away his
trust, to keep from opening up his heart to the possibility of love.

He heard it the minute he walked from his room the next morning. The sound of the
piano being put to very good use if what he was hearing was any indication. He knew
it was her playing. No one else but him ever sat at the old-fashioned instrument,
and she’d been fascinated by it the moment she saw it tucked away in the alcove under
the staircase.

Alex slowed his steps and listened. She was doing some runs, learning the way the
baby grand responded to her fingers. He’d only had to listen for a few moments to
understand that she was incredibly talented. And then she began playing a song. Something
he’d never heard before. It was soulful and haunting, just like her.

He knew she couldn’t see him and wouldn’t be aware of his presence so he quietly came
to the bottom of the stairs where he sat down, with his elbows resting on his knees,
closed his eyes and let the melody sink into his senses. She played beautifully with
a confidence that made listening a pleasure.

Sensing the piece was coming to an end, Alex moved behind her, as she played, oblivious
to her audience. Watching as she swayed to the music, her beautiful hands moving by
rote against the keys, he was transfixed by the passion with which she played.

When the song came to an end, she lifted her hands slowly from the keyboard and sat
quietly as the last vibrations faded from the air.

“Meghan, my God. That was beautiful.”

He wondered if she’d known he had been listening because she didn’t startle at his
voice or immediately turn around. When she did, he sucked in a quick breath at the
wave of emotion he found in her gaze.

“Thank you. It’s one of my favorites.”

He went and stood next to the piano and searched her face. “I’ve never heard that
before. Is it something you wrote?”

“Oh lord, no! I can play almost anything but a composer I am most definitely not.
That piece is from an artist I enjoy. It’s called “Broken” by David Nevue.”

“It was lovely. Just like the woman playing it.”

She didn’t actually acknowledge the compliment, just waved her hands over the keys
and sat back to look at him. “Y’know, I’m never sure with that song whether it makes
my happy or sad. Must be why I like it so much. It can be anything you make of it
in the moment.”

“It’s been a long time since someone sat on that bench and played anything so beautiful.”

She smiled that time and actually blushed. “I thought you said you played,” she teased.

“Well I do, but not like that,” he laughed.

“Show me,” she said, scooting over to make room for him on the bench.

“Are you challenging me, woman?” The warmth and humor in his voice made her eyes twinkle.

“
Mmm hmm
. Show me what ya’ got big guy.” She patted the bench and raised her eyebrows. “Unless
of course, you’re full of shit.”

He enjoyed her lighthearted manner. “Blow me,” he taunted as he sat down by her side.

He had to laugh when she pointed to her face and chuckled. “This would be a shit eating
grin. Now either put up or shut up. We’ll discuss getting blown,
later
.”

Alex met her wicked grin with one of his own. “Deal. And I’m going to hold you to
it,
later
.”

“Tell me something I didn’t already know,” she teased with a dramatic roll of her
eyes.

Alex thought for a moment. He wasn’t much for Rachmaninoff but he did have a serious
selection of pop music pieces he could whip out with no problem. Wanting to impress
her he decided on an old Elton John composition that reminded him of his college days
in New York City.

Meghan watched while Alex readied to play something for her. She’d been touched by
his praise and found sharing a love of music with him deeply personal and not just
a little seductive. It was a rare man who would admit to being so moved by a simple
piano piece.

He surprised her with his choice of songs and his obvious musical talent. Not only
could the man play, he could sing too. Something she hadn’t expected. Sitting alongside
him as his hands played the familiar piece; he treated her to a moving rendition of
“Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”, a song she knew well.

Alex Marquez continuously surprised her. His dexterity on the beautiful instrument
showed an artistry that delighted her. He was a musician through and through.
My God
, she thought.
There was so much more to him than met the eye
.

When he finished, she beamed at him and elbowed him gently in the ribs. “You dog.
What other hidden gifts do you have?”

He seemed pleased with her reaction, took hold of her chin and said, “Well, this one
you already know about.” And then he kissed her.

“That was nice,” she whispered when their lips separated.

He had some kind of light bulb moment after that, telling her, “Look. I’ve got to
head into Sedona on business this morning. Tori is coming along because she wants
to do some baby shopping. Would you mind going with us? Drae is tied up with clients,
and he’s concerned that she’ll overdo and spend too much time on her feet.”

“Oh, no problem. I’d be happy to tag along. I can never say no to a shopping excursion.”

Alex reached out and took her hand, bringing it slowly to his lips. Placing a kiss
on her knuckles that charmed the pants right off her, she practically swooned with
glee.

“Thanks, baby. Drae will be relieved, and I’d enjoy your company. Did you grab breakfast
yet?” At her affirmative nod he eased from the bench and gestured toward the kitchen.
“Well, I’m gonna stuff my face and then make myself presentable. How about we meet
back here in say, forty-five minutes? I’ll text Tori and let her know the plan.”

“Sounds good. I’ll get changed too. Put on my bargain hunting outfit and do some power
stretches!”

He barked with laughter and shook his head. “Heaven save me from women clutching a
credit card when there’s a sale nearby.”