Page 112 of Bourbon Bliss
“Not really. I’d be willing to bet she knows she can’t win. She’s just trying to scare you away from implicating her.”
George squeezed my hand. “It won’t work.”
Marc shook his head. “No. But it makes my job more complicated. Anyway, I think we’ve covered everything. Do you have any questions?”
“No.” George looked at me. “What about you, June? Any questions for Marc?”
I squeezed George’s hand. “No. If you have everything you need, that’s what matters.”
We both stood and said our goodbyes to Marc. He promised to contact George within a week with an update, or sooner if there were any significant findings.
Neither of us spoke much when we left the office. There was much to say, but we both seemed to realize the parking lot of a law office wasn’t the best place for the conversation. Instead, we each drove back to George’s house and went inside.
Mellow greeted me by hopping in a circle around my feet. I knelt on the floor to pick her up.
“Hello, little one.”
George took off his coat and collapsed onto the couch. I put Mellow down and sat next to him. An instinct I hadn’t realized I possessed made me draw his head gently into my lap. He lay on his side, one hand tucked beneath my leg, the other draped over my thighs.
I ran my fingers through his hair, sitting with him in comfortable silence. Feeling his body slowly relax. This felt good. It felt right. Despite the crisis in his life, we were together. This was where I was supposed to be.
This was love.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice soft.
“You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t expect to see you.”
“I know. But you needed me.”
He nodded against my lap. “I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you about everything sooner. I should have. And I’m sorry for what I said last night.”
“I forgive you. I’m sorry I didn’t fully understand what you needed.”
He turned over onto his back, his head still in my lap. “June Bug, you don’t need to apologize. I’m sorry you have to go through this. I didn’t want to make this your problem.”
I brushed his hair off his forehead. “But this is intimacy, isn’t it? If I only wanted to be with you when things were good, what kind of a partner would I be?”
His mouth hooked in a grin. “That’s a good point.”
“And if I were in similar trouble, you would do the same for me.”
“Of course I would.” He reached up to touch my cheek, brushing his fingers against my skin. “I love you, June Bug.”
I pressed my palm against the side of his face. “I love you too. And I’m fully convinced that despite the obvious challenges, justice will prevail for you.”
“Thanks. I hope you’re right.”
“I’m quite certain.”
And maybe a little Bootleg Justice would help.
36
June
Often, Bootleg Justice was swift, delivered immediately and without hesitation. People settled differences themselves in our town, only involving the law when absolutely necessary. As a result, there weren’t a lot of lawsuits in Bootleg Springs. Secret town meetings, bar fights, justice committees, and other less-than-official means were our way.
