used to. For one thing she didn’t bow to his every whim. I was pretty little when they met, but the stories are legendary about their courtship. Best of all, the sparks are still there. You can feel it whenever they’re in the same room.” He met her gaze. “Just like us,” he added softly.
Patsy had always wanted to believe that a relationship like that was possible. Her own parents had been married for years, but it was as much habit as love that kept them together. There was none of the warmth and tenderness she had witnessed between Janet and Harlan Adams. Theirs was the kind of relationship she’d always dreamed of, the kind she could almost imagine having with Justin if things were different. Maybe someday, though, as soon as this mess was straightened out once and for all.
They reached Janet’s office and paused on the sidewalk out front.
“You ready?” Justin asked, tucking a finger under her chin to tilt her face up so he could study it.
Thinking of Will’s view of the street, she backed away, ignoring the flash of hurt in Justin’s eyes. “I don’t have any choice, do I?”
“Not unless you’re willing to go back to Oklahoma with him and go through the same thing all over again.”
“Never,” she said adamantly.
“Then let’s do it.” He held open the door.
Inside, Janet rose to greet them. She gave Justin a kiss on the cheek, then enfolded Patsy in a hug.
“Justin’s filled me in on the basics. It’s going to be okay,” she promised, her expression radiating a quiet serenity.
And for the first time in months, Patsy actually felt as if it might be.
Before Patsy realized what was happening, Janet was ushering a protesting Justin out the door.
“He can stay,” she said, responding to the indignation on his face.
“No,” Janet countered. “It will be best if we have this conversation in private.”
“But—” Justin began, only to be cut off again.
“Go,” Janet said. “You’ve done your part by bringing her here. Now, go away and have a cup of coffee or something.”
Justin’s gaze sought Patsy’s. “You’re okay with this?”
Patsy nodded. “Thanks to you, I’m in good hands.”
“Well, of course. That’s not the issue.”
Janet smiled tolerantly. “Justin, go,” she commanded softly.
He bent and brushed a kiss across Patsy’s forehead. “I’ll be at the office if you need me.”
After he’d gone, Janet turned a thoughtful look on Patsy. “He’s very protective of you, isn’t he?”
“That’s just his nature. It’s probably why he became a cop.”
“Sweetie, I don’t think this has anything to do with his job. Whether he knows it or not, he’s falling in love with you.”
Patsy stared at her in shocked disbelief. “You’re wrong. I mean, I know he cares about me and Billy, but love? No, it can’t be.”
“Why not? Because you don’t love him?”
“I never said that.”
Janet grinned. “Good, then we won’t be starting out with any lies and half-truths between us.”
Patsy studied her intently. “You tricked me, didn’t you?”
“I suppose. I just wanted to be sure where things stood. I don’t want Justin to be hurt. He has a tender heart.” She shuffled some papers on her desk and got out a pen. “Now, tell me about you and Will Longhorn. From the beginning.”
An hour later Patsy was still talking. She told Janet every single thing she could recall about their relationship, from the moment she’d gone to work in Will’s office until she had run away and sought refuge for herself and her son in Los Piños.
Janet rarely interrupted and then only to ask very pointed questions about something Patsy had said. When Patsy was finished, she regarded Janet evenly. “It’s not a very pretty story, is it?”
“I’ve heard worse. How much of this does Justin know?”
“All of it.” She hesitated, then said, “There is one more thing you should probably know. Will saw me with Justin earlier. He’s threatened to drag him into it.”
To her surprise, Janet chuckled.
“That will certainly make his day,” she said. “He’s already spoiling for a fight with this man. Heaven help Will Longhorn if he gives Justin an excuse.”
“Justin can’t be involved,” Patsy said fiercely. “He’s already paid a price for keeping silent rather than reporting me to the Oklahoma authorities. I know he struggled with his conscience every day over that.”
“Justin knew you were wanted for kidnapping your son?” Janet asked, clearly surprised.
Patsy nodded. “It put him in a terrible position.”
“Did you ask him to keep silent?”
“No, of course not. I didn’t even realize how much he knew