Loving Justice (El Camino Real Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn’t just tell her, she didn’t know. It wasn’t as if she was of any value to him. If she could locate her real family, Charlee would contact them in a heartbeat.
    Throughout the years, the Kings had begged her to go to the authorities and report Parker for abuse. She’d refused, there was no way she could ever leave Bronco, not because she didn’t want to leave her home or her father. The truth was Justice was here. She couldn’t bear to leave him. But now…she didn’t know if she could bear looking him in the face again.
    When the time came, she mechanically went downstairs and opened the doors for business. Several people showed up, most with things as uncomplicated as a bad cold or the flu. Charlee stayed out of his way as much as possible. When lunch came, he barked at her to go pick him up a sandwich. She took money from the cashbox and headed out, grateful to get away.
    Charlee thought about calling Justice, but she had no idea what to say. How did one ask what a night of sex had meant to them? Surely he would contact her. Charlee looked at her cheap cell phone, making sure she hadn’t missed any calls. No, she hadn’t.
    The walk from the clinic to the diner only took about seven minutes. She kept her head down, embarrassed that she now wore a fresh bruise across her lips. If anyone asked, she’d tell them she walked into a door. It had been a long time since this had happened. She was ashamed. Charlee was older now, an adult. She didn’t intend to live like this any longer. What she would do, though, she didn’t know.
    Reaching the diner, she stepped back to let a couple with a baby exit before she entered. Smells of hamburgers and French fries wafted on the air. “What can I get you, Charlee?” Wanda asked with a grin. She’d been the chief cook and bottle washer at the diner for as long as Charlee could remember.
    “A steak sandwich to go.”
    “Is that all?” she asked, knowing Charlee wasn’t getting anything for herself. “Not hungry?”
    “Add a vanilla malt to the order.” She gave Wanda a tentative smile, her fingers going up in front of her mouth. She was self-conscious.
    “Sure thing. Want a piece of ice for that lip?”
    “No.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt much, I walked into a door.”
    Wanda nodded somewhat sadly. “Just sit down and rest, I’ll have this out to you in a jiffy.” Charlee followed her suggestion and found a table by the window where she could watch the crowd go by. It wasn’t but a few seconds before her heart leapt into her chest. “Justice!” she whispered.  He pulled his truck right up to the front and climbed out. She raised her hand in a shy greeting. How had he found her?
    Justice waved back, but it was that wave she didn’t like. He sliced his hand through the air as if he were pushing someone, her, away. She held her breath, but he didn’t come right in. Instead, he looked up the street as if he was waiting on someone. If it was like old times, Charlee would’ve run out to greet him. But those days were gone and last night had just complicated things. She kept her eyes on him. The expression he wore didn’t seem to be one of a man elated to see his lover, the one who had gifted him her innocence—he looked…bored.
    Finally, she breathed a sigh of relief when he turned to come inside. Now they’d straighten things out. He’d ask her why she’d left so quickly and tell her how much he’d enjoyed being with her. He would ask to see her again and be concerned about the place on her lip. And when she told him what had happened, he would get up and go deal with her father. Maybe he’d even insist she come stay with him. After all, things were different now. Charlee sat up a little straighter, adjusting her skirt. Why hadn’t she checked her face? She should’ve put on a little powder and lipstick, especially since her mouth probably looked like she’d been stung by a bee.
    “Hey, Charlee,” he spoke with an offhand smile,