Tonight and Forever

by Brenda Jackson

  Chapter 2

  J ustin’s statement rendered Lorren speechless. He was her neighbor? He lived a stone’s throw from her house?

  “My neighbor!” she exclaimed as a cloud of anxiety swept over her, and her power of speech returned. “Is this supposed to be a joke?”

  Justin gave her a huge smile. “No, ma’am. I thought you knew.”

  Lorren frowned. “There’s no way you could have thought that. And just how long have you known?”

  Justin shrugged. “I’ve known for a week or so that someone would be occupying Ms. Nora’s lake house. I only found out tonight it was you.”

  She lifted a dark brow. “Exactly when tonight?”

  “Moments after you left the party. I think Ms. Nora was under the impression we both knew already.”

  Lorren tried remembering her conversation with Mama Nora when she’d asked to stay at the lake house. Mama Nora had said the oldest son of the owners was occupying the lake house next to hers, and he had moved to Ennis almost a year ago. Mama Nora had mentioned the man was a doctor in town. Hell’s bells! How could she have forgotten that?

  “Lorren, are you all right?”

  Tilting her head back, she looked up at him. “Yes, I’m fine,” she replied. “I’m just surprised.”

  “So was I when Ms. Nora told me. She’s worried about you being out here alone. I told her I’d keep an eye out for you.”

  Lorren’s chin raised to a stubborn slant. “You may be my neighbor, but you aren’t my keeper. Do try remembering that. Good night, Dr. Madaris.”

  “If you’d give me the key, I’ll open the door for you.”

  “I can do it myself.”

  Justin leaned back against the wood column fronting the lake house. “Just trying to be neighborly.”

  Lorren didn’t know if it was the key not cooperating or the fact she couldn’t get her fingers to relax, but the door lock wouldn’t budge. When seconds ticked into minutes, she realized the futility of the situation. However, she was determined not to ask Justin for help even if she had to stay out there till morning.

  “Here, let me try.” Not giving her a chance to step aside, Justin’s arms slid around her to the door, where the key was partially inserted inside the lock.

  Lorren could feel the hardness of Justin’s chest pressed against her back. His closeness overwhelmed her, and the clean manly scent of him caused her flesh to tingle. The feel of his heated breath on her neck made a pulsing knot form in her stomach.

  For crying out loud. I’ve never experienced anything like this before in my life! What in the name of heaven is happening to me?

  “There you go. You may want to get that lock changed. It’s kind of old.”

  Lorren swallowed deeply when Justin stepped back to give her the space she needed to turn around. She did so slowly. Feeling his gaze on her face, she refused to lift her head to meet it. At least not until she felt a little less shaky, and until the tremors quivering inside of her wouldn’t affect her voice.

  Justin stared at Lorren, trying to cope with the feelings engulfing him from her closeness. He became enmeshed in memories of them dancing together, of him holding her in his arms, his hands wrapped around her waist, and their bodies moving slowly to the music. He also remembered her dancing with her friends on the dance floor. And how the black silk material of her dress clung to her body with every movement.

  His voice was thick and unsteady when he spoke. “Do you want me to check inside to make sure everything’s okay before you go in?”

  “That won’t be necessary.”

  “All right.” Justin’s gaze held hers, then dropped to her mouth, a mouth freshly moistened by the nervous sweep of her tongue. His muscles clenched. Heat raced through him as he tried to retain a hold on his sanity. His gaze returned to her eyes. That same electrical shock of awareness he’d experienced twice at the party hit him full force.

  Lorren watched him, unsure of his next move as he stood silhouetted under the porch lights. He took a step that brought him closer to her. Automatically, she took a step back. “It’s late, Justin. I’m going inside.”

  “Don’t forget, I’m next door if you need anything. No matter how late it is.”

  Eyes hooded, Lorren pursed her lips and nodded before taking another step backward into the house. “Good night, Justin.”

  “Good night.” He turned and walked away as she closed the door.

  Lorren leaned against the door and closed her eyes. Emotional turmoil churned through her. This was not supposed to be happening. She’d been in town less than twenty-four hours, and already she had met a man who could turn her life topsy-turvy and become a threat to the placid existence she’d planned for herself in Ennis.

  And if that didn’t beat all, he was her neighbor. Her closest and only neighbor…for miles. She drew in a long breath, feeling tears trickle down her cheeks. She hadn’t cried since that day in the judge’s chamber almost a year ago. It had been the day her marriage to Scott had ended.

  The tears hadn’t been for the finality of her marriage; she’d been overjoyed about that. They had been for the cruel words Scott had leveled at her in the presence of the judge and their attorneys. He’d informed her he was glad to be rid of her since she had never been able to perform the natural womanly function of a wife during their marriage.

  She would never forget the quick look that had passed between the other three men before the judge warned Scott against any further outburst. It had been the most humiliating day of her life. Scott had succeeded in degrading her until the very end.

  Lorren slowly opened her eyes. She was too tired, both mentally and physically, to relive memories of her past or to begin pondering her future. At the moment, all she wanted was to forget about everything and go to bed.

  Wiping the tears from her eyes, she straightened and went into the bedroom.

  Intrusive bright sunlight flooded the bedroom, awakening Lorren. Shifting her head on the pillow, she gazed up at the ceiling. Unfortunately for her, sleep hadn’t come easily. Long after going to bed last night, she’d tossed and turned. The room had been naturally cooled by the breeze blowing off the lake through the window, but her body had been hot and restless. She had been acutely aware of every inch of her naked skin left bare by the skimpy gown she’d worn to bed.

  How was one man capable of making her feel things in the space of a few hours when Scott hadn’t made her feel anything during the two years they’d been married? In the beginning she’d been attracted to Scott, or so she’d thought. But this attraction she felt toward Justin Madaris was completely different. And it scared her to death.

  Sighing, she threw back the bedcovers and reached for her bathrobe. Putting it on, she belted it firmly around her waist and headed for the bathroom.

  A little while later, she stepped into the shower. Hot water rushed through her lathered hair, soaking her brown skin. Closing her eyes, she relished the feel of it streaming over her. Turning her face into the spray, she let the shampoo’s foam slide down her back, thighs, and legs. She felt a warm glow inside her body as she remembered the feel of Justin’s hard, muscular chest pressed against the curve of her back and the roundness of her bottom when he’d opened the door for her last night.

  Adjusting the showerhead to release a lighter spray, Lorren threw her head back, arching her neck against the flow of water, liking the feel of it wetting her lips.

  Then the unimaginable happened.

  Her mind conjured up a mental image of Justin in the shower with her, placing light kisses on her lips and softly caressing her back and shoulders, and the tender skin between her breasts.

  The depth of Lorren’s sensual mental diversion startled her back to reality. She snapped her eyes open. For Pete’s sake! What’s happening to me? Turning off the water, she quickly stepped out of the shower and hurriedly dried herself with a thick velour towel.

  First last night, and now this. It’s bad enough being isolated out here with the man, without st
arting to have sexual fantasies about him. Girl, you better get your act together.

  Stepping into her robe, she tightened the sash at the waist just as the doorbell chimed. She walked out of the bathroom to the living room.

  “Who is it?” she asked, peering through the tiny glass peephole in the door. A hot ache grew in her throat. The flaps of a shirt gaped open and a dark, muscular, hair-covered chest dominated her view. She sucked in a quick breath. It was as if her fantasies had zapped Justin to her doorstep.

  “It’s me Lorren, Justin.”

  Lorren reached a trembling hand for the doorknob. Her palms became sweaty. Her mouth felt dry. Slowly, she opened the door.

  Justin stood before her dressed in a pair of outlandishly sexy swimming shorts and a camp shirt. Somehow she managed to speak. “What do you want, Justin?”

  Justin’s gaze swept over Lorren. Even with her hair damp from a recent shower and her face scrubbed clean of makeup, she was breathtaking. He would bet the keys to his Vette she wasn’t wearing anything under her robe. X-ray vision was something he’d give just about anything to have at the moment.

  “Good morning, Lorren. I happened to be in the neighborhood,” he teased as a smile touched his lips, “and was wondering if you’d like to join me in an early morning swim?”

  Lorren looked at him, trying not to notice how the hair on his chest tapered down his sides, spreading out again along his navel until it disappeared beneath the waistband of his shorts. She marveled at the splendor of his trim flanks and long muscular legs. There wasn’t an ounce of spare flesh on him.

  “I—I can’t,” she stuttered, forcing her gaze from his body to his eyes.

  Justin smiled. “What is it you can’t do? You can’t join me, or you can’t swim?”

  “I—I can’t join you because I haven’t had breakfast yet,” Lorren answered, her tongue stumbling over the first excuse she could think of.

  Justin’s eyes twinkled. “Never fear, the doctor’s here.” From behind him, he produced a bag. “It occurred to me, since you’d just arrived yesterday, you hadn’t had a chance to go to the grocery store. So being the friendly and considerate neighbor that I am, I decided breakfast would be my treat to officially welcome you to the neighborhood. With your permission, I plan to take your kitchen by storm.”

  Lorren had a feeling that wasn’t the only thing he would take by storm if given the chance. Common sense told her to refuse his generosity. However, it suddenly dawned on her that common sense was something she seemed to lack around him.

  Whether she liked it or not, he was living next door, so she might as well follow his lead and try to be neighborly. Besides, she really was hungry. “How can I reject such an offer?” she said, stepping aside.

  A subtle hint of pure male, and the crisp, clean scent of aftershave, permeated the air as Justin swept past Lorren. He turned to face her, his gaze moving from the top of her damp head to the polished toes of her bare feet peeking from under her robe. His gaze slowly retraced its path. “I’ll fix the main course.”

  Lorren nodded. “All right. And I’ll make the coffee. I noticed a full can last night.”

  Justin followed Lorren into the kitchen. She tried to concentrate on taking the cups out of the cabinet. Spinning around and colliding with the hard wall of his chest, she slowly lifted her gaze to his. There was something about his features she hadn’t noticed last night. His sculptured cheekbones added a greater dimension to his already dark handsome face.

  “Sorry. I didn’t realize you were so close,” she said, swallowing hard. She turned to the sink to pour water in the coffeemaker. Even with her back to Justin, she was aware of his blatant scrutiny.

  “Did you get a good night’s sleep?” he asked.

  Lorren turned around. “Yes,” she lied. “What about you?”

  “Best sleep I’ve had in a long time.”

  “Glad to hear it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get dressed.”

  Justin blocked her way out of the kitchen and made no attempt to step aside. “Why? I like what you’re wearing. The color peach looks good on you.”

  Lorren looked down at her robe. Although the thick material hid a lot from Justin’s eyes, it wasn’t the proper thing to wear when entertaining a male guest.

  “Thanks, but I like the color I’m changing into even better,” she said. “I’ll be back in a minute. If you need anything while I’m gone, check inside the cabinets or the closet.” She walked around him and out of the kitchen to the bedroom.

  Lorren was slightly unsettled getting dressed. After blow-drying her hair and applying light makeup, she headed back to the kitchen. The rich aroma of eggs and bacon filled the air.

  She paused at the kitchen’s entrance. Justin had evidently searched the place and found a hand-crocheted cotton lace tablecloth. The table was set and there was also a beautiful bouquet of bluebonnets for the centerpiece. He was leaning over the stove, tending to a tray of pancakes.

  She was amazed. “I wasn’t gone that long. How in the world did you accomplish all this in that short time?”

  A gleam shone in Justin’s eyes. “I work fast. I don’t believe in beating around the bush or taking things slow.”

  Lorren knew he was talking about more than his cooking abilities. “Well, your swiftness at getting things done is appreciated this morning. I’m starving.” She crossed the room to the counter.

  Justin’s gaze followed her movement. The soft material of her blue romper did more than hint at the feminine curves it covered. He watched her hips sway provocatively with each step, enticing him with an allure that was as old as mankind. She turned around to face him.

  “How do you like it?”

  Justin blinked twice. He swallowed hard. “Excuse me?” he asked huskily.

  “Your coffee. How do you like it? Or should I ask, how do you take it?”

  He cleared his throat and said the first words that came to his muddled mind. “Black and hot.”

  “What?” Lorren stared at him dumbfounded.

  “Oh, I meant black with sugar. Sorry.”

  Lorren poured the steaming hot liquid into a cup, then added a spoon of sugar. Walking over to him, she handed him the cup, careful to avoid touching him. It was bad enough keeping her gaze from roaming over his physique.

  “Thanks.” His gaze scanned her outfit. “I take it you’ve decided not to go swimming with me this morning,” he said, disappointed.

  “Afraid so. I still have a lot of unpacking to do. I hope that doesn’t mean you won’t be feeding me after all.”

  Justin laughed. “No, but it does mean you owe me a rain check.”

  “I told you last night, I don’t give rain checks,” she said, smiling, and finding herself relaxing in his company in spite of her apprehensions.

  Justin smiled. “Then I’ll be your first.” He gave her a teasing wink. “Come on, let’s eat.”

  Lorren eagerly escaped to the table and sat down. Justin sat across from her and began spooning hefty servings of scrambled eggs, bacon, and pancakes onto her plate.

  “Thanks.” Lorren dug hungrily into the meal. “Justin, this is wonderful. I haven’t eaten food that tasted this good in a long time. You’re definitely full of surprises.”

  Justin watched as she parted her lips and small white teeth bit down on a piece of crisp bacon. Slowly, she chewed the piece of meat, savoring the taste. A crumb clung to the corner of her mouth. A knot rose in his throat. He was tempted to sweep the crumb away with his tongue.

  “Who taught you how to cook, Justin?”

  Justin shifted in his chair as he experienced a tremor in his stomach—well, not quite in his stomach. Actually, it was a little lower. He took a calming breath before answering her. “I’m the oldest of six kids, so I was the one who had to learn everything. I enjoyed helping my mom in the kitchen as much as I enjoyed performing surgery on my sisters’ baby dolls.”

  Lorren couldn’t keep the amusement out of her voice. “You didn’t rea
lly do that to their dolls, did you?”

  He chuckled. “Afraid so. It got so bad they would hide them from me. I tried convincing them I was just making the dolls better, but after a while, they didn’t buy it.” He laughed. “I grew out of it when my parents started using my allowance to buy new dolls.”

  She smiled. “So you always knew you wanted to be a doctor?”

  “Yes, I think so. I’ve always cared for people and wanted to help others. What about you? Did you always want to become a writer?”

  “No,” she replied softly, remembering the first story she’d written at the age of nine. “After my parents’ death, the courts assigned Mama Nora and Papa Paul as my foster parents. At first it was quite an adjustment for me, and I wanted to be left alone. Mama Nora discovered I liked to read and gave me a lot of books to occupy my time. Soon I was writing my own stories. I would give them to her for safekeeping, not knowing of her plans to submit them to a publisher when I got older. She did, and in addition to becoming a published author, I received a four-year scholarship to attend college in California. I’ve been writing ever since. My books are specifically designed and written to commemorate our ethnic heritage, as well as to entertain and enlighten children.”

  Justin nodded. He wondered how her parents had died, but didn’t want to ask her about it. He of all people knew how hard it was losing a loved one. In her case, she had lost two. But she’d still made something of her life. He was impressed. “That’s quite a success story.”

  “You think so?” Lorren’s voice clearly reflected her surprise with Justin’s comment.

  “Of course, don’t you?”

  It had been a long time since she’d considered any part of her life as being successful. The guilt of a failed marriage had overshadowed any such thoughts. But now, hearing Justin’s words made a part of her feel good inside. “I guess I don’t think about it. Writing stories is something I enjoy doing.”

  Justin knew he was probably about to tread on dangerous ground with his next question. “Did you meet your husband in California?”

  Justin’s question brought back memories of the day she and Scott had met. It had been one morning in a small café across the street from the newspaper publisher where she worked. Having graduated from college only a few months earlier and landed her first job as an editorial assistant, she’d been experiencing her first real taste of independence.