Desert Angel (Family Justice Book 2) Read Free

his head. Their family’s close-knit bond and the significant age difference between them confused Parker.
    He remembered how close they became once she was off the Marquez leash as a young, carefree college student. Those thoughts were always his undoing. Sweat was pouring off his neck into the collar of his shirt as the five-star meal he’d consumed churned in his gut. It took a damn lot of energy to compartmentalize and cut off an entire part of his life, but it wasn’t like he had much choice. His thoughtless transgression when they parted ways had been so monumental, he couldn’t see how they could ever get past it. He kept all those feelings locked down tight so he wouldn’t go mad.
    Lights drifted by in the darkness along the winding drive to his home on the outskirts of Sedona. He could do the drive on automatic, which was probably a good thing in his current preoccupied state.
    He knew that Uncle Cris and Aunt Ashleigh were staying at the Villa while Alex and Meghan honeymooned but he assumed Angie and Soph would return to Spain after the wedding to hadle the vineyard. Thoughts of the Marquez Winery reminded Parker that every summer, his folks traveled to Spain for an extended visit with Alex’s parents. Always full of news and gossip when they returned, he’d have to sit through the obligatory sharing of the vacation pictures and the enthusiastic re-telling of every moment spent at the opulent Valleja-Marquez hacienda enjoying the splendor of the massive casa grande and winery with its ancient cellars brimming with history.
    He’d had to endure watching the beautiful young girl he’d unintentionally betrayed change into a breathtaking, accomplished woman—one who he had no doubt hated his fucking guts. Knowing he deserved her hostility for having been a dick didn’t lessen how he felt.
    The moment Alex and Meghan got engaged, he knew his days of avoiding the biggest mistake he’d ever made were numbered. He’d been mentally preparing himself for having to see her at the wedding. Mostly, he’d hoped to stay out of the line of fire. Keep his damn head down and try not to be a complete ass. The very last thing he expected was an extended visit. Here, in Arizona, no less.
    Angie. Fuck. Even after all these years, he worried about facing her. As time went by, he’d grimly shut all his feelings and memories of her away. Pushed them deep where they hid in his soul. But there was also that other thing that wouldn’t go away or stay in the shadows. The wanting. The yearning for Angelina Marquez that lived in every atom and cell of his being
    Navigating through the dark streets, Parker also thought about Alex. When his friend had very nearly come home from the war in a goddamn body bag, he’d vowed to make their friendship a priority in his life. Closeness like the one they’d been blessed with didn’t come along every day.
    And now that Parker was back in Arizona for good, he made even more effort to stay close to his old friend while carrying this enormous secret inside him. That no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t forget the fresh-faced beauty who happened to be his best friend’s little sister or her profound effect on his psyche.

    “Hey, baby. Wake up.” Running a knuckle down the side of his fiancée’s face, Alex enjoyed the sight of the sleeping beauty before him.
    She was adorable—curled on her side in the corner of the big sectional sofa in the family room with her hands tucked beneath her chin as the TV flickered, his beautiful Meghan looked so peaceful.
    Stirring from his gentle touch, she blew out a sleepy puff of air. He knew when her eyes opened that first glance would be full of love and happiness. But it wouldn’t take long for the hint of shade to appear. He didn’t know what was going on with her, but he knew something was making her . . . well, shit. He didn’t know what it was making her. Sometimes she seemed sad. Or bummed out. And for no good reason. Mostly, he