This Time, Forever

by Peters, Heather

  THIS TIME, FOREVER

  By

  Heather Peters

  Copyright © 2013 Heather Peters

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of quotations embodied in articles or reviews.

  DEDICATION

  ~For Amanda and Christopher~

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Many thanks to Stanzalone Designs for another awesome, gorgeous cover!

  For Blanche Marriott and Carolyn Sullivan, whose eagle eyes see and find things I don’t.

  ~ My deep appreciation ~

  PROLOGUE

  Jared Stone opened the tiny black velvet box and smiled when he gazed at the twinkling solitaire that lay in its velvet bed. Tonight was the night.

  Straightening his tie and taking a deep breath, he closed the lid on the tiny box, slid the precious gem in his inner suit jacket and grabbed his car keys. He was going to ask Shana to marry him. Now that his construction business was making money, and Shana finally had her wedding planning business running in the black. Jared didn’t want to wait a moment longer to make her his wife.

  Falling in love had been easy for Jared. He'd met Shana Wilding while employed for her stepfather at Wilding Construction. After a small scuffle with the law at the age of eighteen, Jared had vowed to keep his nose clean, and working for Wilding Construction was the chance he needed to have a future, especially after Shana had come into his life.

  It was obvious that old man Wilding never liked him because of his minor police record. The old man certainly didn’t want Jared near Shana. But Jared fell hard for Shana Wilding the moment he saw her. Something always bothered Jared about Vincent Wilding. He was a very successful contractor/builder, but as Jared learned the construction business, he sensed Vincent Wilding was not a man to be trifled with and Jared worked hard, sometimes up to fifteen hours a day, learning his trade, determined to start his own business someday, a man Shana could love and be proud to marry.

  Ah, Shana. Just the thought of her, the sound of her name, her pretty face and large green eyes could make a man lose himself in their depths. Shana, whose long wheat colored hair always smelled like sunshine and lemons.

  Jared came from a poor working family, and Shana was the richest gal in town. Maybe it was because opposites attract. He never cared if she had a penny or an empire, Jared adored her, and together, they would conquer the world.

  Shana attended college not far from her home; Jared to trade school. They managed to steal precious moments whenever they could, making love in the back seat of his car until she'd return to her dorm and Jared to his tiny one room apartment and dream of their future together.

  With college complete, and after several years of sweat and hard work, Jared was taking her out to the best restaurant in town to propose. He'd vow to cherish and love her forever, because nothing would stop them, nothing would get in their way….

  Starting the engine in his Jeep, only an act of God would interfere with the future he had planned for himself and the woman he loved.

  He didn’t count on Vincent Wilding.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Five Years Later

  Shana Wilding clutched her date book like a bible, grabbed an overstuffed folder, and crammed both items into an already-crowded leather tote bag that had seen better days.

  She looked around her spacious apartment to make certain she'd remembered everything. Shana chided herself for neglecting to do the laundry this morning, but duty called when her assistant had asked Shana to fill in for her. Jane was down with the flu so Shana took over. She gathered her leather brief case emblazoned with the words, WILDING'S WEDDING WISHES, which held everything she needed to create the perfect dream wedding.

  She sighed, slipped into her good pair of Michael Kors heels, and took one last look around the room to make sure she had everything necessary before she met with the prospective couple.

  Truth was Shana seldom forgot anything pertaining to her work. These days work was her life. That's why Shana was in demand and proved to be the best at what she did. Help the loving couple create a fairy tale happy ever after wedding they'd never forget.

  A wedding she'd never have for herself.

  ~*~

  Twenty minutes later, Shana drove up to the building that housed her office. She placed her valise and stuffed totes on the small sofa in her office, while her thick appointment binder lay unopened in the center of her pristine desk. She looked at her watch, puffing out a tiny breath to note she had two entire minutes before the prospective couple was due to arrive.

  Her gaze traveled to her ring finger, and Shana sadly touched the empty spot where a small, yet stunning solitaire used to sit. She gave herself a mental shake. This is no time for a pity party. Get to work.

  Shana was glad to work on a Sunday, especially for meetings with potential clients. Owning her own business kept her busy 24/7, which she preferred. Her demanding schedule kept her mind from wandering to that empty ring finger.

  She shrugged off her black pin-striped blazer, tucked her shoulder-length hair behind her ears, and opened her file to make a mental note of the bride's name. Thea Mills was some rich society matron's daughter. The groom owned his own construction company way across town. Shana was just about to read his name when she heard the ping of the elevator.

  Shana remained standing in order to greet the young couple who entered her open doorway. She looked up and saw a stunning, stately, blonde walk toward her, followed by a much taller, dark-haired man behind her.

  Shana's heart stopped.

  Jared.

  ~*~

  Jared's heart fell to his shoes when his gaze rested on Shana. She was his wedding planner? This was fucking too bizarre for words. Shit. Almost five years had passed since she'd broken their engagement. Four years, ten months and four days to be exact, but who was counting? And damn if she wasn’t just as beautiful as ever.

  The moment their eyes met, her wide eyed gaze betrayed the rest of her seemingly calm façade. She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear, a nervous gesture Jared was well acquainted with. But why should she be nervous? A lifetime ago Shana had declared that she didn’t love him anymore, had been the one who returned his ring, torn his heart from his chest, then stomped on it for good measure.

  Unbelievable, and equally ironic. The woman who once upon a time had been the love of his life was now planning his wedding to another woman.

  Be cool, he told himself. This is just business. Their engagement was long over, their wedding cancelled five weeks before the "I dos." Jared had moved on, and obviously, so had Shana. He was engaged to Thea now, their wedding in a few months. If he'd known his former fiancée would be standing not two feet away, he'd never in a million years be here. The fates were cruel indeed.

  "Ms. Wilding? Good morning. I'm Thea Mills and this is my fiancé, Jared Stone."

  Shana shook both their hands with professional indifference. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."

  Jared's throat felt as if sand was being shoveled through it. His chest pumped so hard, it hurt, as his fingers encircled her small, soft hand. Ice cold hand. Shana pulled back sharply without being obvious. What the fuck?

  A vivid memory came to mind of those lovely feminine hands and the ways she used to caress his face when they kissed. Fingers that entwined with his own as they shared romantic whispers across a dinner table. Hands used to arouse and stir him when they made love. Damn her
.

  Wasn’t she going to say something to reaffirm their acquaintance? Something like, 'It's good to see you again, Jared. How are you? Remember me? I dropped you like a bad habit nearly five years ago.'

  But one look at her face told him she wasn’t going to acknowledge him. So that was the way it was going to play? Fine.

  "You'll have to excuse Jared's appearance." Thea frowned. "But he's come straight from the construction site where he's building the new mall on Forest Avenue." She turned and shot him a glare. "Really, darling, you could at least have showered and shaved before our appointment. What will Miss Wilding think?"

  "It doesn't matter what I think." Shana threw him a glance icy enough to freeze a polar bear. "I'm here to make sure your wedding day is one you'll never forget."

  He managed a tight nod. It seems as if you forgot ours quick enough.

  They'd both moved on, but just for good measure, his gaze quickly slid to her left hand, particularly her bare ring finger. A flood of relief washed over him, and Jared couldn't explain the sensation. They hadn't been a couple in years. Why the rush of relief to discover she wasn't married or engaged? He should feel nothing.

  But his body told a different story. The air of familiarity apparent when you haven't seen someone you shared so much with was still present. Shana motioned for him and Thea to sit across from her, which gave Jared the opportunity to study his ex lover closely and reacquaint himself with every memorable nuance about her. Those beautiful, big, moss-green eyes, tiny freckles sprinkled on pink cheeks that even makeup could not cover. Her mouth could house a smile potent enough to charm even the most controversial opponent.

  Memories of their love affair washed over him. He'd fallen for her so fast and hard the first day they met. It had been a spring day when Jared started working for her step father as an apprentice electrician. The other guys on the crew had warned him not to fool around with the boss's daughter, but Jared hadn’t been able to stay away from Shana. Jared couldn't breathe unless he was close enough to breathe in her sweet floral scent. The woman Jared loved years ago was a warm, passionate woman. The person across from him was a stranger, a statue carved from stone.

  Her voice still reminded Jared of a cool morning after a long night of hot sex and interrupted his erotic musings of their time together. In contrast, Thea's animated voice bubbled like a volcano waiting to erupt.

  "We'd like Wilding's Wedding Wishes to take care of every aspect of our wedding." Thea clasped her hands together as Jared attempted to concentrate. His gaze never strayed far from Shana, who seemed to be looking anywhere but at him. He allowed his gaze to drop from the crown of her shiny, straight, chestnut hair to her long, elegant neck, and lower to her breasts, now encased in a stark white sleeveless silk blouse. Her wrist caressed a tiny gold watch and round diamond studs accentuated small shell-shaped ears. Ears that were sensitive to the touch of his mouth as he nibbled on her lobes brought back memories of whispered promises that never came to fruition.

  Shana's business like tone interrupted Jared's momentary day dream when she addressed Thea. "Yes, Miss Mills, I have all the information here, and I'll be happy to discuss everything with you. Are you planning your own bridal shower? If not, would you like us to take care of that as well?"

  "Well, I think that would certainly be something we should discuss, Miss Wilding."

  Shana nodded and focused only on Thea. "Let me show you some brochures on various services we offer."

  Jared's concentration averted from the wedding discussion time and time again to Shana. Why won't you look at me? Did I mean so little to you?

  In a feeble attempt to stop staring at her, Jared averted his gaze and attempted to concentrate at a point on Shana's desk, where not one picture frame or paper weight resided. Do you even remember what we were to each other? Remember that the first time when you gave me your innocence? I was your first lover. You promised we'd be together forever.

  Obviously not. Shana's stoic expression seemed forced. She directed her business-like attitude toward Thea only, virtually leaving Jared out of the mix.

  Jared listened half heartedly as the women discussed menus, flowers and other incidentals, while he clenched nervous hands on his lap.

  Why did a sudden sense of panic strangle him? He loved Thea, didn't he? They'd been dating since the previous autumn. He found her to be a classy, intelligent woman, and he'd been attracted to her instantly. Jared had settled for their healthy—if rather less than inspired—sex life. After Shana, not even Thea had measured up in the love making department. Shana had been the most tactile, loving woman he'd ever met. But he never expected Thea to be like Shana in any way. Thea had satisfied Jared's needs physically, yet something had always been missing.

  That "something" was sitting across from him.

  He needed to focus on Thea and nothing else. Last month, she'd coolly hinted that it was time for them to discuss marriage and of course, an engagement ring.

  So Jared did the right thing, the gentlemanly thing, and purchased the ring she'd picked out from Tiffany Jewelers. It was nothing like the one he'd given to Shana.

  Shana's diamond had been a round, simple affair. He painfully recalled the way she'd thrown her arms around him, kissed him, and cried as though she'd just been given the Hope Diamond. Shana vowed she'd love him forever. There was that word again. Forever.

  All a lie.

  Thea's ring rivaled most of her wealthy friends' jewelry. A gaudy, square stone, surrounded by an endless trail of little sapphires that set Jared back. It appeared to make her happy, her parents somewhat satisfied, and seemed to thrill her friends not to mention people Jared hardly knew.

  Jared barely listened as Thea and Shana mentioned something about mimosas, brunch, and doves. Well, hell, we're just one big happy family, aren't we?

  CHAPTER TWO

  Shana went deep within herself to find the strength to concentrate on the task at hand. If she faltered, she'd lose control of the situation and Thea Mills would think…well, who knows what the woman would think. Take a deep breath. Act like a professional, yet appear distant. They are just clients. Jared is just another groom.

  Even she didn’t believe what her mind commanded. This wasn’t just another man, this was Jared, her Jared, engaged to be married…to another woman.

  Jared, the man she'd never stopped loving; the man she gave up so she could save his future and his reputation.

  The secret she'd kept locked inside her heart had nearly eaten her up inside all these years, until all that remained was an empty shell of a woman.

  While Thea inspected several color charts for tablecloth and napkin designs, Shana caught Jared staring at her. Those bedroom blue eyes of his were boring a hole through her. Shana was unable to meet his hard, questioning gaze, and forced her emotions away from Jared onto the business at hand. Her expertise ruled when it came to planning an elite affair such as a society wedding. She aided potential brides in selecting flowers and food and music. She could import doves and tropical flowers from anywhere in the world with one phone call. When it came to her job, she was in complete control. She possessed an uncanny knack for locating the most reputable caterers, and was a natural expert in picking the perfect colors for the bridal party. It was her personal life that was in shambles.

  Shana didn't dare exhibit a single sentiment as she sat there watching Jared, knowing he was going to marry this lovely, classy, rich woman across from her. Jared would sleep with Thea in the same bed every night, hold her, make love and babies with her, if they wished it, something that Shana would never share with him. It was all she could do not to quiver with sadness.

  Loneliness gripped her as she choked away her emotions, turning her face from the handsome countenance of her former lover. Jared was out of reach. Shana did not, in any way, deserve his love and devotion. She'd lost him forever. Life had moved on, at least for Jared. For her own self preservation, Shana would allow him and his bride-to-be only to see what she wanted them
to see. And that meant her professional manner and a cool, calm control throughout their meeting. Jared would never know her heart was bleeding, or see the tiny beads of sweat along her hairline.

  Shana would allow herself a few moments of self-pity, and fall apart, only after their meeting was at an end.

  ~*~

  Jared wanted to see Shana just once, alone. He longed to look into those warm green eyes just once more. His wounded heart needed to know if Shana still loved him, had to hear it from her own lips, before he headed to the altar and took the most important step of his life.

  You're a jerk. She dumped you, get it? When you attempted to find out why, you discovered that Vincent Wilding had put a restraining order on you! Wilding's lawyer served you himself, warning you to stay away from Shana, don’t call her, email her, nothing. She's ignoring you now. Do the smart thing: walk out and never come back.

  Finally, thankfully, the meeting concluded. The women stood. "Thank you, Shana. May we call you Shana?" Thea shook Shana's hand and smiled affably.

  Shana nodded and returned the smile. "Of course, and get in touch with me anytime with questions. It's my job.''

  "Mr. Stone." Shana turned to him. Did her lower lip quiver? No, it was just his imagination. He frowned, noting the contradiction between her cool hand and the tiny bead of sweat on her upper lip as she bid him goodbye.

  "I wish you both much happiness." Her voice was devoid of the passion he knew was inside her at one time. Her smile never reached those cool green eyes. Jared's chest ached when she pulled her fingers from his and broke their connection. He found his hand empty and hollow, yearning for something he couldn't possess.

  Shana slid her gaze to him once more. Were those tears welling in her eyes? No, just wishful thinking on his part.