The Way You Love Me (The Lawsons of Louisiana Book 5)

by Donna Hill

  Justin held her, stroked her hair, her back, cooed softly that it was okay; she would be okay.

  Bailey sank into the security of his arms and his words. All this time, guilt had been the phantom that stalked her. It was the voice in the recesses of her subconscious. She blamed herself, but even understanding that didn’t make the guilt go away.

  “Let me fix you something a little stronger.” He kissed her forehead and walked her over to the couch. “Thank you for telling me,” he said as he fixed her a shot of scotch and him a bourbon. He sat beside her and handed her the glass. He touched his glass to hers. “To getting over the hurdles...together.”

  Bailey’s smile trembled around the edges. She took a sip of her drink and hummed as the heat of the honey-brown liquid flowed down her throat and ignited in her belly. She knew her liquors, and this was definitely the good stuff. Of course, she wouldn’t expect anything less from Justin.

  “I didn’t tell you all of that for you to feel sorry for me.”

  Justin bit back a smile. “I know.” He put his arm around her shoulder. “You make it very difficult to feel sorry for you.”

  Bailey made a face. “I told you about my family, tell me about yours, stuff that’s not in the papers.”

  “Well, this is family news. My oldest sister, Lee Ann, is expecting twins!”

  “Wow. How exciting.”

  “Second set of twins in the family. Desi and Dom thought they had a lock on it.” He chuckled. “I’m sure you’ve heard about my brother, Rafe.”

  “I’ve seen a couple of pictures of him. You two look a lot alike.”

  “Yeah, he swears he’s the better-looking one, but you and I both know that’s a lie.” He winked.

  “You are absolutely right.”

  “Anyway, Rafe is off in Europe, playing with his band. Says he loves it and isn’t sure when he’ll be back. But I know my brother. He has his eye on a woman he met here at my grandfather’s birthday party. He keeps asking about her, which is so unlike my brother. He’ll be back.”

  “Sounds like you all are close.”

  “We are. Growing up, we were inseparable. Not to mention the host of cousins that lived here off and on, or spent summers and holidays here.”

  Bailey stared into her drink. “That’s what I wanted,” she said softly. “A close family that loved each other, supported each other, us against the world. You know.” She took a sip, and her eyes fluttered closed for a moment.

  He tossed her a smile. “Hey, do you swim?”

  “I can manage in the water. Why?”

  “Let’s go for a moonlight swim.”

  She giggled. “Are you kidding?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “I don’t have a bathing suit,” she hedged.

  He put his glass down, swung his long legs off the table and stood. “The water is always warm. No one here but us.”

  There was that smile again, and her heart started jumping.

  Justin extended his hand. “Great way to relax,” he continued to coax.

  Bailey suddenly beamed a smile, took his hand and jumped up. “Let’s go for it.”

  “Now you’re talking.”

  They ran out back like two giddy high school kids who had the house to themselves while their parents were away.

  “You sure no one can see us?” Bailey asked as she slowly began to strip.

  Justin stepped out of his drawstring sweats. “If they could—” he voice grew thick as he looked at Bailey’s lush body unveiled in front of him “—they would be very jealous that they could only see and not touch.”

  Her flesh heated from the lascivious look in his eyes.

  “Woman, you could make a man lose his mind.” He stepped to her, reached around her back and unfastened her bra. He peeled it off and tossed it onto a lounge chair. He murmured something deep in his throat before letting his thumbs trail teasingly across the dark brown areolas. Bailey moaned softly. Justin lowered his head and took the right nipple into his mouth, let his tongue play and tease it until it was large and hard, and he could feel her body shiver against his. He hooked his fingers beneath the band of her panties and inched them down across her hips. She wiggled out of them.

  Justin caressed her round hips and slid a finger inside her very moist slit. Her legs wobbled. She gripped his shoulders and rocked her pelvis against his hand. She then reached between them and took his hard phallus in her hand. Justin groaned as she stroked him, ran her thumb across the swollen head, and felt his dew dampen her fingertip.

  He backed up to the lounge chair and sat. His hot gaze beckoned her. Bailey came to him, spread her legs on either side of the chair and slowly lowered herself on top of him. As always, that initial contact took their breaths away. For a moment, neither of them could move and then, slowly, Bailey began to ride him as he leaned back and took everything that she threw at him, returning the favor in kind.

  Justin grabbed the globes of her rear and thrust up and deep. She cried out, and he pushed harder, holding her in place so that she was totally his for the taking. Bailey arched her back and thrust her hips forward, taking him even deeper inside.

  “You’re mine. All mine,” he groaned between the valley of her breasts. “Mine,” he repeated.

  * * *

  Bailey felt her world begin to shatter as the tingles raced up the backs of her legs, and her pulse roared in her ears. She threw her head back, and the moon and the stars looked down upon her as a volcanic orgasm snapped through her, shook her limbs, arrested her breath, clenched her walls to suck the essence of Justin out of him in an explosion that vibrated through the night.

  She collapsed against his chest, and he held her. Their hearts banged and pounded as they tried to regain control over their breathing, that slowly turned to satiated laughter.

  Justin kissed the hollow of her neck. “Woman...”

  “Hmm...”

  “I have no words.”

  “Hope that’s a good thing.”

  “Trust me, it is.” He cupped her face in his palms. His dark eyes skimmed her face. “I’m in love with you, Bailey.”

  She blinked rapidly.

  “Don’t say anything. I want that to sit with you for a while.” He stroked her bottom lip with his thumb. “See how it fits.”

  “I don’t have to see how it fits. I love you, too.” She felt him pulse inside her.

  “We’ll make it work, babe.”

  She caressed his jaw. “I know.” She slowly gyrated her hips against him.

  Justin hissed between his teeth. “It’s more than this,” he groaned, thrusting up inside her. “Believe that.”

  She draped her arms around his neck and pressed her cheek against his. “I know,” she whispered.

  Chapter 19

  “I need to go to Atlanta for a couple of days,” Justin said while he prepared breakfast the following morning.

  “Really? What’s in Atlanta?”

  “Hmm, just some business to handle.”

  “Okay. When are you leaving?”

  “Tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be back late Monday.” He turned and spooned the omelet from the pan onto a platter.

  Bailey looked at him. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, just some old business with a client that I need to tie up.”

  She bobbed her head and cut a slice of the omelet and put it on her plate. “I have to work Sunday anyway. We’re hosting a private party.”

  Justin swung onto the stool. “No more issues with Vincent, I hope?”

  “No. He’s been cool. Distant but cool.”

  “Good. I know you were pissed that I said anything to him, but that’s who I am. I can’t sit around—” he leaned across the counter “—and have the woman I love disrespected. It’s not gonna h
appen.” He gave her a light peck on the lips.

  Bailey’s cheeks flamed. Love. Wow. This is what it feels like. A bubbling joy that could barely be contained. A warmth that flowed through your veins. A feeling that no matter what, that special someone was in your corner. She’d never had that. Never. It was hard to wrap her mind around the enormity of it, the responsibility of it. She’d felt love before, for her siblings, for Addy, but love had always been on the back burner when it came to her own life. Now, here it was. Right in front of her. This man loved her, and she was in love with him. A man who could have any woman he wanted. He chose her. Her.

  “You okay? You’re not eating,” he said, breaking into her thoughts.

  “Oh.” She grinned. “Just thinking.”

  “About what?”

  “About the fact that we never did get to swim last night.”

  Justin chuckled. “Yeah, I think we got a little distracted.”

  “Ya think!”

  They both laughed.

  “Listen, I know your car is still in the shop. What did they say about the repairs?”

  Her expression drooped. “Hmm, the engine is shot.”

  “That’s major.”

  “I know. Replacing the engine will cost more than the car is worth at this point.”

  Justin was thoughtful for a moment while he chewed his food. “Well, you can drive the Benz as long as you need to.”

  “I really can’t do that. I can get a rental or something until...”

  “Why do that when you have a car at your disposal?”

  “Are you sure? You need your car.”

  “You need it more. And I have the Navigator.” He didn’t tell her that he also had other vehicles parked in the garage.

  “If you’re sure.”

  “Absolutely. Now eat up.” He checked his watch. “I have some errands to run this morning.”

  “And I definitely need to get home and change, and check on Apryl.”

  “Speaking of home...I was thinking that since you’ll be spending more time here that you should bring some things over.”

  Her pulse quickened. “Bring some things over?”

  Justin frowned and looked around the room. “Do you hear an echo?”

  Bailey laughed. “Very funny. You sure?”

  “Stop doubting what I say. Yes, I’m very sure.”

  She drew in a deep breath then grinned. “Okay. I will.”

  “Good. Then it’s settled.” He pushed back from the table and took his plate to the sink. “You think anymore about going with me to the foundation gala?”

  “Not really. I’ve never been to anything like that before.”

  “And what was my promise to you?” he asked when he turned to face her. He rested against the sink.

  She twisted her lips. “That you promise to take me to all the places I’ve wanted to go and have never been,” she said softly.

  “Exactly. So when you say the word, I’ll make it happen.”

  He looked into her eyes, and she instantly knew that he understood the why of her reluctance.

  She nodded her head in agreement. “Okay.”

  “Good. I’m going to grab a shower. You’re welcome to join me.” He gave her that tempting grin that made his eyes sparkle.

  She got up from her seat and took her plate to the sink. “And we’d never get out of here.” She lightly kissed his cheek that was slightly rough against her lips. “I think I like this rugged, after-five look on you.” She caressed his jaw.

  “Whatever makes you happy, babe.” He lassoed his arms around her and pulled her close. “You like it, then I love it.” He lowered his head and brushed his mouth against hers then slowly deepened the kiss, tasting the meal that they’d shared on her tongue, and he grew hungry again.

  * * *

  “I’m leaving for real this time,” Bailey said over her laughter while Justin tried to entice her to stay in bed with him, where they’d eventually wound up. She scrambled out of bed as he tried to snatch her back. “And don’t follow me,” she said with a warning wag of her finger.

  “I could make it worth your while.”

  “I’m sure you could.” She gathered her clothes and went into the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind her.

  When she was dressed and ready to leave, she came out of the bathroom.

  “I’ll call you later,” Justin said.

  She reached up and gave him a quick kiss. “Okay. I go in tonight at six to set up for the private party. I’m off at one.”

  “Come here when you’re done.”

  “Sounds inviting. I’ll let you know. Okay?”

  “Fair enough.” He snatched her back before she crossed the threshold. “I love you.”

  Her pulse leaped. “I love you.”

  “Go, before I seriously change my mind about listening to you.”

  “Talk to you later.” She spun away and practically skipped to the car. When she got behind the wheel of the Benz and looked at the expanse of the Lawson mansion in front of her and the man who loved her standing in the doorway, she felt as if she was in a dream, someone else’s life. But it could be her life now, if she was willing to step into it. She turned the key in the ignition and slowly pulled out of the driveway. One day she was serving drinks behind those doors, and now she was sleeping with the man of the house.

  When she arrived at her apartment, it seemed smaller than ever. She locked the door and put her purse on the kitchen table. She flipped through the mail that she’d taken out of the mailbox on her way in. Bills, bills, overdue notices. There was one letter from Xavier University. Her pulse quickened. She tore the envelope open. Her eyes raced across the page. Her heart stopped. “We’re sorry, but at this time...” She didn’t need to read any further.

  She plopped down in the chair at the kitchen table. The table rocked. What was she going to do now?

  “Hi.”

  Bailey glanced over her shoulder. “Hi.”

  “Something wrong?”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary.” She stuck the letter back in the envelope.

  Apryl pulled out a chair and sat. “Sis, I’m really sorry about the things I said. I was so out of line. You didn’t deserve that.”

  “How’s your wrist?” she asked.

  “Did you hear what I said?”

  “I heard you.”

  “And? No response.”

  “What can I say, Apryl? You hurt me. Really hurt me in a way I don’t think you understand. I accept your apology, but that doesn’t make the hurt go away. That’s going to take time.” She glanced away. “How’s your wrist?”

  “Better. At least if you accept my apology, that’s a start.”

  Bailey offered her sister a shadow of a smile. “We all have to start somewhere.”

  “I love you, sis.”

  Bailey’s stomach jumped. Apryl had never said that to her, not that way, not like she really meant it.

  Apryl squeezed Bailey’s hand. “Thanks for everything.” She pushed up from the table. “I think I’ll go for a walk. I need to get out of the house. I’ll probably go home tomorrow, give you your space back.”

  Bailey was speechless. Maybe her sister was growing up after all.

  * * *

  Justin planned on using the family’s Learjet. As long as someone else didn’t need it, it should be available. If not, he’d book a quick round-trip flight to Atlanta. He put in a call to the hangar and spoke with the supervisor. Luckily, Desiree and her husband had just come back from Cancun that morning. After servicing and refueling, the supervisor told him it would be ready for Justin’s trip to Atlanta. He’d have his usual pilot, Paul Harris. Although both Justin and Rafe had their pilot’s license for a number of years, Justin prefe
rred to relax this time. He had a lot to think about, and unwinding on the flight was exactly what he needed.

  With that bit of business out of the way, Justin made a few phone calls, checked his email and was surprised to find one from Jasmine. She wanted to apologize for how she acted, the things she’d said. She missed him, and she hoped that they could find a way to fix things between them.

  Justin pressed Delete, and the email zipped into the trash can. Next on his agenda was a trip into town to meet up with Dominique. His sister’s keen eye for fashion was just what he needed. He knew what he liked to see on a woman, but Dominique knew what a woman wanted to be seen in.

  * * *

  Dominique was waiting for him in front of Femme Boutique. She’d assured him that something designer ready-to-wear could be found there.

  “Hey, baby bro,” she greeted.

  “Hey yourself. Thanks for meeting me.”

  “Anything for you, sugah.” She gave him a hug. “When am I going to get to meet this new lady of yours? Bailey, right?”

  “Soon.”

  She hooked her arm through his. “Well, let’s get this shopping party started.”

  Justin held the door open for her, and they walked inside.

  “You can’t go wrong with the little black dress,” Dominique said, strutting through the aisle. She fingered a silk scarf as she passed. “I’m thinking cocktail length.”

  They were approached by a sales clerk. “How can I help you?”

  “We’re looking for a black cocktail dress, size ten. Flirty, but classy. Maybe something by Vera Wang.”

  “Right this way.”

  About an hour later, they were walking out with a dress that Justin couldn’t wait to see Bailey in so that he could get her out of it.”

  “What about accessories?”

  “Hmm, hadn’t thought about that.”

  “Follow me over to my shop. I’m sure I can find the right thing.”

  Dominique had launched her business, First Impressions, nearly five years earlier. At first it was an outlet for the overflow of clothing that she’d acquired. Her idea was to provide a wardrobe jump start to women who were returning to the workforce, had hit on hard times or simply needed a designer outfit at rock-bottom prices. The business did so well, and her clientele was so devoted, that she expanded First Impressions to include GED classes and financial management courses. Both of which were always full with a waiting list. The expansion of her original building space was how she’d met her husband, Trevor—contractor extraordinaire. The one man on the planet that had been able to tame Dominique’s wild ways—or at least rein her in a bit.