Forever in Love

by W. Lynn Chantale

  She studied the tight set of his jaw. “I can’t let you do that.”

  Again that little smile. “You should rest and not worry your pretty little head about anything else except getting better.”

  She closed her eyes. “You shouldn’t have come.”

  A gentle finger caressed her cheek, before his warm breath tickled her skin. “You couldn’t have kept me away because I’m calling in my marker.”

  ***

  “This is really getting old,” Bonnie said to the man at her side.

  Ever since she returned to work three weeks ago, her brother or Cal had walked her to her car. Tonight it was her brother.

  “I mean it Dexter, I don’t need you to walk me twenty feet.”

  “That guy is still on the loose and you don’t remember who it was, so for your safety and my peace of mind, you get an escort to your vehicle.”

  She still could not recall all the events of that evening when someone tried to rob her. At least that’s what the cops were saying. It was an attempted carjacking or robbery and she fought back. Of course she fought back, but one thing bothered her. It had to be someone she knew. A shudder wiggled down her spine. Her attacker had called her by name. If she hadn’t been distracted by her phone call, maybe she could’ve seen the guy. But that begged the question, who did she know that wanted to hurt her?

  “Hey? Are you okay?” His voice broke through her reverie.

  She nodded, not trusting her voice.

  He faced her, concern shadowing his eyes.

  “I’m fine. Really. I just realized that the person knew me.”

  “Which is even more of a reason why someone should walk you to your car at night.”

  “I know.” She sighed. Having an escort was sensible. She didn’t have to like it, but she could see the logic in his argument. They resumed walking.

  “And you’re not moving as fast as before.”

  “Well let me break a couple of your ribs and see how fast you move,” she quipped.

  “Should you even be back at work?”

  She huffed. “Dexter, please. You’re nagging.”

  “I learned from the best.”

  She smiled at that. He opened her door when she unlocked it.

  “So what’s going on with you and Buck? I noticed he’s been hanging around the condo.”

  “Nothing,” she mumbled and ducked her head so her brother wouldn’t see the flush creeping into her cheeks. “You’ve walked me to my car. Don’t you have something else to do?”

  He chuckled. “Sure. Will he be there tonight?”

  “You’re not going to leave this alone are you?”

  He shook his head, a grin on his face.

  “Fine. He wants to go out with me.”

  “Really?”

  “Why say it like that?”

  He shrugged.

  “You think he’s too old?” She couldn’t quite keep the defensive note from her voice. The last thing she wanted to hear would be her brother’s disapproval.

  Her brother met and held her gaze. “Do you think he’s too old for you?” Dexter rested a hand on the door. “I always thought he was cool. He taught me a lot of things growing up, but that could be some of the left over hero worship talking.”

  “It might be.” A smile creased her lips. There were many an afternoon she’d come home for school or work and find Buck showing Dexter something or other. They built everything from forts to model planes. They even went fishing a time or two. She slipped her key in the ignition.

  “At least you don’t have to lie about your age anymore.”

  “Yeah. There was that.”

  He closed her door and she rolled down the window. “I’ll see you at home.”

  “Chicken and dumplings for dinner?”

  “I thought I told you I’d cook tonight?”

  She shrugged. “Old habits, lil’ bro. I’ll always take care of you.”

  “You need someone to take care of you too.”

  As an answer she peeled out the drive-way and stuck her hand out the window in a wave. She didn’t need anyone to take care of her, she was quite capable of doing that herself.

  When she pulled into the driveway of the condo she shared with her brother some fifteen minutes, she wasn’t surprised to see a familiar gray Benz parked at the curb. She blew out a breath. This man was going to drive her crazy in more ways than one. With a sigh, she exited her vehicle and locked it with the remote.

  “If you keep this up, my neighbors are going to complain,” she said as she strolled toward him.

  The corners of his mouth lifted and she was drawn to his lips. Full and sensuous. Just right for kissing. Awareness trickled through her veins, tightened her nipples and pulsed at her core. Whenever she was in his presence she always had the same reaction. And here she always thought her response was a product of leftover teenage crush...or not.

  He closed the distance between them, lifted a hand and cradled her cheek. “You look tired.”

  She stepped away and his hand fell to his side. The intimate gesture spoke volumes while his deep voice moved over her like silk and sin awakening desires and passions better left dormant.

  Not good. She could just imagine pressing her body to his and doing all the things she dreamed of doing when she was a teen. She shook her head. “I am. I worked a full day today.” She crossed the short strip of lawn to the front porch. He followed. Under the guise of finding the right key, she perused his body and hitched a breath. Lean, muscular physique poured into black denim jeans and a short-sleeved polo. Both arms sported tattoos, but in the dim light she couldn’t be sure of what. She dragged her gaze back to his face and longed to tuck the lock of dark hair brushing his forehead back in place.

  He frowned. “Should you be working so hard so soon?”

  She laughed. “Please, Buck. I sit on my butt all day long.”

  He removed the key from her fingers, reached past her, unlocked and opened the door. “And it’s a very nice butt too.”

  Heat crept into her cheeks. He was flirting. This handsome virile man was flirting with her. “Why are you here?”

  He shrugged, just a casual ripple of muscle. She bit back a sigh of appreciation. “I thought it was obvious.”

  She dropped her purse in a nearby chair and moved to take off her jacket. Buck was there to grab to collar and ease it down her arms. “Thanks.”

  “Something smells divine.”

  “Chicken and dumplings. Make yourself at home, you always did.” She waved a hand toward the living room as she headed toward the kitchen. Once there she flicked on the light, washed her hands and removed the cover from a small bowl. All she had to do was add the liquid and toss the mixture into the bubbling slow cooker. By the time her brother arrived, dinner would be ready. She paused long enough to take a beer from the fridge and hand it to Buck.

  “Thanks sassy.”

  “Welcome. i still don’t remember much from that night, so if you plan to ask more questions you’re out of luck.”

  “No. I stopped in to ask you out to dinner.”

  She stared at the dough mixture now covering her fingers. “I’m cooking.”

  He chuckled. “Not tonight, maybe tomorrow or Friday.”

  She dropped the dough into the simmering golden brown liquid as she thought of a response. A chair scraped behind her and a moment later heat touched her back, while warm masculine spice enveloped her. One lightly tanned hand appeared on the counter on either side of her.

  “I’ve waited a very long time for you, Bonnie and now that I’ve found you again, I’m not going to let you go.”

  She closed her eyes. He had been waiting for her?

  He moved his hands to her waist and leaned close until his lips brushed her ear. “You were smart. You saved your money and got out of the ghetto. You and your brother. That’s all I ever wanted for you.”

  A shiver raced down her spine as his warm breath tickled her ear and tightened her nipples. He drew her clo
se, until her back rested against the hard wall of his chest. “As I recall you told me I could not work for you anymore.”

  “The day you moved away was the saddest day of my life.”

  “Why was that?”

  He turned her in his arms. “You were the bright spot in that neighborhood. You inspired me to get out the game and become an honest man.”

  She held his gaze. “You were always honest, Buck. You just took a different path than most and if not for that path I wouldn’t have survived.”

  “Those were hard lessons a teen should never have to learn.”

  “It made me who I am.”

  “I admire you.”

  Warm fuzzies stole through her heart at the compliment.

  “There is a matter a debt to settle.”

  Her heart pounded. “I thought all you wanted was a thank you.”

  “That was then. This is now.” He brought his mouth down on hers and for a moment she stopped breathing.

  Only in her dreams had she ever kissed Buck and here he was in fantastic tempting flesh coaxing her lips apart with gentle expertise. Each flutter ignited a slow burn that flared into an inferno and he was the only one who could extinguish her raging desire. She locked her hands behind his head as he deepened the kiss, his tongue dueling with hers as he pulled her closer.

  He squeezed her side and she cried out. Pain skipped along her left side as he released her. “I’m sorry. I forgot.”

  “It’s...I’m okay,” she gasped.

  He led her to a chair and forced her to sit. “I lost my head.” He left her side and returned a moment later with a glass of water. “Drink.”

  “Let me wash my hands.”

  He set the glass on the table with a snap and returned with a damp towel. Gently he dragged the cloth over her fingers eliminating the sticky dough. Once her hands were clean she combed them through the lushness of his hair. Soft and silky.

  “I’ve wanted to do that for a very long time,” she admitted.

  He pressed the glass in her hand. “Drink.”

  She lifted the glass to her lips aware of his scrutiny and tipped the cool liquid down her throat. Some emotion she wasn’t comfortable defining hovered in his irises. She lowered the glass.

  “Are you okay?” Concern colored his tone.

  She nodded.

  “I’m sorry.”

  She shook her head. “It’s fine. There are still sore spots.”

  A frown tugged at the mouth. “Maybe I should finish dinner.”

  She scoffed. “I dropped the dumplings in the broth already. Why did you kiss me?”

  He cupped her cheek and caressed her lips with the pad of his thumb. “I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.”

  “Maybe you should find someone else.”

  “Why would I do that?” A hint of amusement pulled at the corners of his mouth while a flicker of hurt dashed through his irises.

  “Just like then, I don’t need you to take care of me.”

  “Did you ever think that maybe I need you to take care of me?”

  Stunned, Bonnie looked him up and down. This strong, handsome man needed her? He could have any woman he wanted, but he waited for her? She shook her head.

  “Why is that so hard to believe?”

  “You should be married with kids by now, especially if you’re out the game.”

  He held her gaze a moment. “There’s only one woman I want as my wife.”

  Bonnie stood so fast she knocked her chair over. He stood as well and grasped her hands. When she tried to pull away, he held fast. Her pulse pounded as he drew her closer. This was too surreal. His wife? He wanted her as his wife? She had to be dreaming.

  “I see it in your eyes. Why is that so hard to believe?”

  “You’re older than I am.” She smiled, hoping it would soften the words.

  “Yes, we’ve a twelve year age difference, but that has nothing to do with how I feel about you.”

  The door opened and slammed. Dexter appeared in the doorway a moment later. He glanced from one to the other. “Am I interrupting? Dinner smells great sis.” He passed through the kitchen and disappeared through a door on the other side of the room, his wing of the condo.

  “I want to take you to dinner. Just you and me,” Buck said.

  She studied him a moment. Before she could answer, the door opened behind her and she could’ve sworn Buck groaned.

  “So is it ready?” Dexter returned, rubbing a towel over his head.

  “Uh yeah.” She shook off Buck’s hands and rushed to set the table. They’d have to finish their conversation later. “Are you staying for dinner?”

  Buck nodded and sat in one of the padded wooden chairs. “Just like old times, huh?”

  Dexter sat across from the other man leaving the chair between them for Bonnie.

  She placed steaming bowls of food in front of each one. “Yes. Just like old times.”

  ***

  The next afternoon when Bonnie pushed open the trailer door of Cal’s Construction, she stopped short. On her desk were two large vases of flowers and several packages. A couple appeared business related, but a few were definitely candy boxes.

  “Cal?” She walked farther into the triple wide, the door slamming close behind her. Several files were stacked on the bank of file cabinets to her left a few loose papers fluttered to the floor in the breeze created.

  Chair springs creaked and a moment later a stout man with a thinning combover appeared in the office door way to her right. He held a half-eaten sub in one hand while a dollop of mayonnaise clung to the corner of his mouth.

  “What?”

  She waved a hand toward her desk. “This.”

  “Delivery. After you went to lunch. Guy seemed pretty disappointed you weren’t here.” Cal gnawed a bite from his sandwich. “He suff em beff.”

  “Huh?”

  He swallowed. “He said he’d be back.” Cal moved back into his office.

  “Oh.” She removed her jacket and draped it over the back of a chair. She buried her nose in the first bouquet, a collection of pretty pink carnations and roses and plucked the card from its holder.

  ‘Sorry I missed you.’

  Puzzled, she moved to the next arrangement. This one was a mixture of daisies and lilies. ‘You take my breath away.’

  Warm fuzzies stole through her at the sentiment.Then her gaze fell on a smaller singular orchid. Panic blossomed and bloomed. It wasn’t so much the flower, but what was wrapped around the stem. A packet of cherry flavored unsweetened drink mix. This was the second one she’d received since returning to work. Something about her attacker. That damp spring night niggled at her brain, just out of reach. Dread, cold and uncomfortable lodged in the pit of her stomach. “Cal, did you recognize...” She turned around and stared at the man standing in the doorway. He looked even better with the light at his back. His wavy chocolate brown hair touched the collar of his black leather jacket. That wayward lock of hair tempted her to brush back into place, but it suited him and softened the angular set of his features. Beneath the jacket was a dark tee. The cotton stretched across wide shoulders to perfect pecs before tapering down to washboard abs into the waistband of his jeans. She wanted to yank the material free and run her fingertips along the hard muscle, she knew was lurking beneath his shirt. A wide buckle heralded a 12 point buck and seemed appropriate.

  She drifted her gaze downward. Powerful thighs were encased in faded denim the cuff of the pants rested on the tops of black cowboy boots. Somehow she managed not to drool on her shoes and returned her attention to his face. Amusement stared at her, but she was lost in his cerulean depths. Never had a pair of eyes held her so captive or had she seen such intelligence and strength.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” Buck said.

  “I—uh—yeah.” She knew she was staring, but couldn’t stop.

  “Did you like the gifts I sent?”

  “You sent them?” Pleasure rushed through her. She had to get a hol
d of herself and stop acting like some lovestruck teenager. She was a grown woman and dang if she didn’t find the man in front of her sexy as hell.

  He nodded. “I wanted to take you to lunch, but you’d already left.” He moved a little closer.

  She stepped back. After last night she didn’t want to get too close. He had a way of muddling her thoughts and she needed a clear head. The desk brought her up short and she leaned against it, grateful for the extra support. Buck wanted to take her to lunch.

  “And you never gave me an answer about dinner.”

  Her hand slipped and she knocked a box of candy to the floor. They bent to retrieve it at the same time. Their fingers touched. A jolt of awareness zipped up her arm. She wondered if he felt it too, by the flare of desire burning in his irises, she’d have to say he did.

  She lost her balance and he wrapped an arm around her bicep to steady her. His scent, a blend of spice and musk enveloped her. She leaned closer to get a better whiff, realized what she was doing and jerked upright.

  “D-dinner?” She tucked a stray curl behind her ear, willing the heat in her cheeks to die down. He smiled and her knees turned to jelly.

  “We were interrupted last night. I got the impression I may have upset you by asking you out.” He moved a step closer. “That was far from my intention.”

  She studied him a moment. Was he testing her personal space limits again? “Surprised, not upset. You’ve had dinner with us a couple of times a week since my attack. I always felt safer with you around.” She touched his sleeve. “And now that you’re back with you and Dex hovering I feel like I have my own personal security guards.”

  Concern filled his eyes. “Anything?”

  “Dreams mostly.” She shrugged. “I write down what I can remember when I wake up, but I always open my eyes before i see his face.” She stared at a spot over his shoulder. “Some part of me insists that I know him.” She brought her gaze back to his face. “I don’t know anyone who would want to hurt me like that.”

  “What makes you think you know him.”

  “He knew my name. That’s the last thing I remember. He called my name.” Her gaze fell on the orchid. “Did you send this too?”