Tonight and Forever

by Brenda Jackson

  “Mmmm. Something smells delicious,” Justin said, entering the house carrying a bottle of wine in one hand and a gym bag in the other.

  Lorren’s pulse quickened and her stomach fluttered nervously as she gazed up at him. Could she pull off what she’d planned? If so, before the evening was over she would scare the pants off him. Well…she really didn’t want to go that far. The thought of Justin without pants was too much to think about. “It’s gumbo. My roommate in college was from New Orleans and introduced me to Creole cooking. I hope you like it.”

  Justin broke into an open, friendly smile. “I’m sure I will.”

  Lorren couldn’t help smiling back at him. Hurrying home from her visit with Mama Nora, she had dug through a box containing old magazines that had been delivered with her other stuff that morning. Rummaging through the box, she’d found an old magazine which contained the article, “Ways to Send an Overeager Male Running for Cover.” She hoped the author of the article knew her stuff.

  “Thanks for the wine, Justin. You can go on ahead. I’ll join you after making sure everything’s taken care of in the kitchen.”

  She tried not to give an overinterested glance at him. In swimming shorts, his physique was so well sculpted. Each muscle in his hard body was defined.

  Justin pulled a towel out of the gym bag. “Oh yeah, will you go to the movies with me tomorrow night in Dallas?”

  At any time she would have refused his invitation. But since chances were after tonight he would be avoiding her like the plague, she agreed to go for appearances’ sake. “Sure, I’d love to.”

  Justin gave her a smile that sent her pulse racing. “Great!”

  Lorren took a deep breath when Justin left. Get your act together, girl, and don’t screw up.

  When she reached the lake Justin was already in the water. The only part of him visible was his naked brown chest. She slowly disrobed, revealing her two-piece swimming suit, fully aware his eyes were on her.

  Calling out to him, she asked, “How cold is the water?”

  “It’s not cold at all, which is surprising for a day in April,” he answered, taking in every detail of the exotic orchid print bathing suit that was molded to all her curves. “Come on in,” he invited.

  Lorren couldn’t help noticing the interest he was showing in her outfit.

  “You look absolutely sensational, Lorren.”

  She smiled. “Thanks.” She then dived down deep into the water, resurfacing seconds later. She pushed the wet hair from her eyes. “Justin Madaris! I thought you said the water wasn’t cold! It’s freezing in here!”

  Justin laughed a throaty laugh. “No, it’s not,” he said, swimming toward her. “Just relax. You’ll get used to the temperature.”

  “I—I doubt it,” she muttered in a chattering voice.

  “Oh, come here, you big baby, let me warm you.” Before she could react, he was wrapping his arms around her. “Does that feel better?”

  Lorren nodded, unable to speak. His arms were holding her gently. The motion of the water nudged them together from breast to thigh. She was aware of Justin’s solidly built body. The water pushed them even closer, and her breasts brushed against his chest. The muscles of her abdomen quivered.

  Justin felt Lorren’s breasts swell against him. He ached to remove her top and rub his thumb against their taut tips. How many times had he fantasized about holding her like this, so achingly close to his aroused body? Even now, he could smell her perfume, an alluring scent that made him want to…

  Suddenly, with trembling hands, he released her. He had to resist temptation. “That should warm you up some,” he murmured huskily. “Come on. Let’s swim for a while.”

  Lorren nodded. His touch hadn’t just warmed her; it nearly had her in flames.

  They swam, hard and fast, their arms splashing vigorously through the water, trying to channel their powerful heat for one another into playful activities. For an entire hour they had a gung ho time treading water and engaging in water wars. Twice when he caught her trying to cheat during a race, he grabbed her and pulled her under. Once, after making it to the other side and resting on the edge, he jumped out of the water and tossed her up in the air and out over the water.

  “Justin Madaris! You’re going to pay dearly for doing that!” she screamed.

  He threw his head back, releasing a great peal of laughter before diving in. Coming up beside her, his arms wrapped around her waist. “Threats!” he teased.

  In spite of herself, Lorren joined him in laughter. They trod water some more before swimming to the other side again.

  “If we don’t get out of here soon, we’ll start looking like prunes,” she said. “Besides, it’s almost dinnertime.”

  Justin gave her a devastating smile. “My stomach agrees with you.” He got out of the water. “I really enjoyed myself, Lorren. You’re a lot of fun.”

  “I had a great time, too,” she replied, getting out of the water and toweling herself. Too great a time, she thought, grabbing her robe. A feeling of happiness rose inside her, making her feel lighthearted and relaxed. This was the most fun she’d had with a man in a long time.

  “Allow me.” Justin took the robe from her fingers and held it out so she could slip her arms into the sleeves. His hands smoothed the fabric around her shoulders, down her back, and over the curve of her hips. He was tempted to go farther, to run his hands lightly up the insides of her thighs, to make her ache for him as much as he was aching for her.

  Lorren’s head was whirling. How could his touch have this effect on her? His arms were now around her waist, forcing her against his body so she could not ignore his want of her. She closed her eyes. She couldn’t give in. “Thanks, Justin,” she whispered.

  “You’re welcome.” His hot breath caressed her ear. “Are you ready?”

  His husky voice reverberated through her body. “Ready?”

  Justin turned her around to face him. His hand moved caressingly along her side. “Yeah. Are you ready to go?”

  Unable to speak at the moment, Lorren nodded.

  They walked back to the lake house. Justin drew her closer to his side, making her aware of the strength radiating from him as well as the power of his body. When they entered the house, she attempted to breathe normally. It wasn’t easy. His proximity had nearly stolen the air from her lungs.

  “Is the spare bedroom okay?” Justin asked.

  His question startled her. “For what?”

  “To change clothes.”

  “Oh. Sure,” she replied, embarrassed that she’d jumped to conclusions. “I’ll meet you back here in a few minutes.”

  They returned to the living room about the same time. Lorren had changed into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, and Justin was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. She noticed the gold coin medallion around his neck. “That’s a nice medallion, Justin.”

  “Thanks,” he replied, unconsciously tucking it inside his sweatshirt. “Do you need help preparing anything?” he asked.

  “No thanks. Just make yourself comfortable. It’ll only take a few minutes to warm up everything,” she replied, rushing off to the kitchen. The man was too sexy for words.

  Back in the kitchen, she busied herself with dinner, trying not to think about the man in the other room. The gumbo’s spicy aroma helped clear her mind.

  In the living room, Justin glanced up at a huge painting Lorren had hanging on the wall. It was a painting of two African children, a boy and a girl. Both were dressed in their native apparel. “Who are they?” Justin asked, turning in Lorren’s direction and asking the question across the open breakfast bar separating the kitchen from the living room.

  Lorren glanced up and saw him standing in front of the painting. She smiled at him. “Evidently you’ve never read any of my Kente Kids books, Justin,” she said teasingly. “Or you would know that’s Suma and Zakiya, my two original Kente Kids. They are everybody’s favorites. Suma is a male African name which means the first one, and Zakiya is a f
emale African name which means smart and intelligent. Every so often, I introduce a new Kente Kid in one of my books. That’s what I’m doing in the book I’m presently working on. There are now a total of six Kente Kids.”

  “And who’s the new kid?” Justin asked, grinning.

  “A little boy by the name of Mukasas. His name means giver and provider.”

  “That’s interesting.” He turned his head back to the painting. “I wouldn’t mind having a copy of this painting for my very own.”

  Lorren grinned. Like Justin, most people were immediately taken with her Kente Kids. “Sorry, that painting is one of a kind. It was painted by a friend of mine from college and given to me as a gift.”

  Justin nodded as he glanced around the room. He noticed a stack of boxes sitting on the floor in the corner. “You’re still unpacking?”

  “Yes. Those boxes arrived this morning. I’m not sure whether or not I’ll be unpacking all of that stuff. Other than the items I need for my writing, I’m going to wait until I’m settled into my own place before unpacking most of it.”

  “Will you be moving into town?”

  “Yes, but I’m in no hurry. I like the privacy and the seclusion this place provides. I wish I could talk Mama Nora into selling it to me. It’s just what I need. I don’t want anything too big. It’s perfect.”

  Justin walked into the kitchen as Lorren was making the salad. “Why don’t you ask her?”

  She shook her head. “I can’t do that. She loves this place as much as I do.”

  Justin nodded. “How would you like leasing the one I’m in?”

  Lorren looked startled. “Where’re you going?”

  Justin’s mouth curved into a smile. “I’m buying the Taylors’ place. In fact, I’m meeting with the attorneys tomorrow to sign the final papers. That’s the reason for the cookout on Thursday. It’s sort of a celebration. I’ve been negotiating with the seller for over four months now. We’ve finally reached a satisfactory agreement.”

  “You bought Taylor Oaks?” she asked, totally surprised. In her early days in Ennis, Taylor Oaks had been one of the largest spreads in the county. Sam and Holly Taylor had been members of Ennis’s elite society. Their beautiful cattle ranch had also been the sight for breeding thoroughbred horses. It was situated on over three hundred acres of land encompassing the most beautiful oak trees found anywhere. That ranch had been Lorren’s dream home since the time she’d first attended the Taylors’ annual barbecue. She used to envision herself living there.

  Mama Nora had informed her last year of the Taylors’ deaths when their private plane had crashed. Because they left no children, the ranch became the property of a wealthy distant relative. Uninterested in the ranch, he had put it up for sale.

  “Yes, I bought Taylor Oaks.” Justin leaned proudly against the kitchen door. “It cost me a bundle, but I think it’s a worthwhile investment. I knew I wanted it the moment I saw it.”

  “But it’s so huge. Isn’t it too big for one person?”

  Justin smiled. “I plan on closing my office in town and moving it to the ranch. I’m converting a section of the house downstairs into an office and examining rooms. And I do plan on remarrying one day and want a large family, so the size of it will fit perfectly with my future plans.”

  “When will you be moving?”

  “Not for a while. I’m going to have the place completely renovated. It’s been empty for over a year.”

  “That’s wonderful, Justin. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks. Are you sure you don’t need any help?”

  Lorren smiled. “Positive. Everything’s all set.”

  During dinner Justin told her some more about his family and his childhood escapades.

  “My goodness,” she said, filled with laughter. “You and your siblings were definitely a rowdy bunch. It’s a wonder your parents didn’t snip your ears.”

  Justin laughed. “Believe me, there were moments when they were tempted. My two brothers and I used to fight like hell among ourselves, but when it came to protecting each other against some outsider who tried to bother any one of us, we stuck together like glue.”

  Lorren smiled. “Where’s your family now?”

  “In Houston. Both of my parents are college professors at Texas Southern. My youngest sister, Christy, will be sixteen next month. She claims being the youngest in the family isn’t much fun with three overprotective older brothers. My other sisters, Kattie and Traci, are both married. Neither of my brothers is married. Dex is only eighteen months younger than me. He was married for a short while, but things didn’t work out. He works for a major oil company in Australia. We’re expecting him back in the States any day, and I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t seen him in almost two years. My brother Clayton is three years younger than me, and is an attorney in Houston. He’s flying in for the cookout, so you’ll get to meet him then.”

  Lorren’s eyes sparkled with admiration for the obvious warmth and affection Justin felt for his family. “Any nieces or nephews?”

  Justin grinned. “Not enough according to my parents. Kattie and Traci both have two kids each, all boys. My parents are anxiously awaiting their first granddaughter. Since Kattie and Traci claim they’re not having any more kids, my parents aren’t too pleased with the marital status of me and my brothers.”

  Lorren smiled as Justin finished off the last of the gumbo soup she’d served with a tossed salad. She removed their dishes from the table to the sink. “Go on into the living room. I’ll bring dessert right out.”

  She came into the living room a few minutes later, carrying a tray with cut slices of apple pie which she placed on the coffee table.

  A big smile covered Justin’s face as he tasted the pie. “This is delicious. Is it homemade?”

  Lorren grinned. “Thanks, and yes, I made it myself. Everyone who lived with Mama Nora left with a degree in baking.”

  A while later Lorren gathered their dishes and took them into the kitchen. When she returned she switched on the tape player sitting on a nearby table. The soft melodic sound of Luther Vandross filled the air.

  “Dinner was great, Lorren.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Come here.” Justin’s voice was husky as he patted the spot next to him on the sofa.

  As much as she hated doing so, especially when she was enjoying his company, the time had come to send Justin running for cover. Taking a deep breath, she joined him on the sofa. “Would you care for some more wine, Justin?”

  “No, this is fine.” He spread his arms out along the back of the sofa, then slipped his hand to the nape of Lorren’s neck.

  She turned toward him slightly, clearing her throat. “Did you have a busy day?”

  He rubbed his finger against her cheek. “No busier than most.”

  “Oh,” she replied as she watched him drink his wine, thinking how sensuous his mouth was. She couldn’t help remembering the feel of that mouth on hers. How he had run his tongue over her lips. How his tongue had parted her mouth and slipped inside to…Good grief! What’s wrong with me? she shifted frantically in her seat. She felt Justin’s hand move from her cheek to her shoulder. His fingers traced a heated path down her arm.

  Lorren bolted from her seat.

  “Justin, there’s something I’d like to give you.”

  Confusion appeared on Justin’s face when he watched her lift the sofa pillow she’d been sitting on and pull out an envelope, dropping the pillow back in place.

  “Here.”

  Justin eyed the envelope she held out to him. His gaze returned to her, bewilderment evident in his features. “What is it?”

  “Read it and see.”

  Justin stood and, taking the envelope from Lorren’s hand, opened it. A legal-looking document was inside. He pulled it out and glanced at it, then looked back at her. “A preaffair agreement?”

  “Yes, it’s the latest thing. Isn’t that neat? It spells out all my requirements.”

  “What req
uirements?”

  “The requirements you have to agree to before I’d consider having an affair with you.”

  Justin stared at her in disbelief, then back at the paper he held in his hand. A shudder slithered down his spine. How could he have been so wrong about her? Not in a million years would he have thought there was a conniving bone in her body. Had this evening been nothing but a setup?

  A part of his mind sent him an entirely different message. His expression suddenly turned thoughtful as his gaze moved over Lorren’s features. She glanced nervously around the room, refusing to look at him. Justin backtracked his thoughts to earlier that evening. Memories tugged at him—their swim and how much fun they’d had, the expression on her face when he’d told her about his family, how she’d listened and the smile she’d worn. A part of him simply refused to believe this entire evening had meant absolutely nothing to her but a ploy to put him on a leash. Still, the piece of paper in his hand proved otherwise.

  What were these requirements Lorren wanted? And did she really expect him to go along with them? He doubted it, which meant she knew he wouldn’t. Was that what she was counting on? There was only one way to find out. He glanced down and briefly read the typewritten, legal-looking document. A few minutes later he glanced up at her, shaking his head. “Is this a joke?”

  To Lorren’s surprise, Justin sounded amused, not angered. “No.”

  “Your first requirement is unlimited use of my Vette?”

  Lorren raised her chin. “That’s right. Hopefully, I won’t need to use it often, but I want to know if I ever needed to, there wouldn’t be a problem. I detest a man who thinks more of a piece of tin than he does the woman in his life.”

  She saw a flash of disbelief cross Justin’s face. “My Vette is not a piece of tin, Lorren. Can you handle a Vette?”

  Lorren lifted a dark brow. “Justin, we’re talking about a car, not a spaceship. What’s there to handle? If you’ve driven one automobile, you’ve driven them all. I could never understand why some men think car manufacturers make certain vehicles just for them. There’s not a car on the road that a woman can’t handle.”