Forever His Desire
Page 13
Jennifer rushed to him, throwing herself before him. She fluttered her eyelashes, her eyes red-rimmed and swollen. “Please, Andre. Look at me.” She lifted a palm to his cheek, the warmth of her hand the energy source he’d so desperately been longing for these past years. “I don’t understand. Why didn’t you tell me?” Pity flickered up at him, her eyes a glassy-eyed sheen of compassion.
He sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes. “You’re still doing it.”
“What?” Jennifer’s voice rose slightly, her desperation undisguised. “I need to understand. Why didn’t you trust me?”
Andre tilted his head, closing his eyes to revel in the touch of her hand, releasing a long, drawn-out sigh. “Would you have believed me?”
“I—” Silence ensued as Jennifer seemed to reconsider the question.
“That’s what I thought.” Andre stepped back causing Jennifer’s hand to fall from his cheek. Instantly, he regretted pulling away from her, mourned the comforting warmth of her touch. He’d almost forgotten how wonderful it felt to be touched liked that. It had been too long since she’d palmed his cheek, something she always did when she was eager to gain his full attention. “But I did, Jenn. I tried to tell you. And every fucking time, you slammed the door in my face. I couldn’t get through to you. Four fucking years, three months, and two days, I waited, yearning for you. Praying that you’d forgive me. Hoping by some miracle you’d come back to me.”
Rooted in place, Jennifer stood with her hands at her sides, her eyes darting over him. She shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Maybe, what?”
“I don’t know.” Jennifer forked her fingers roughly through her bangs, pushing them off her forehead. “Maybe things would have been different if you’d told me.”
“Bullshit,” Andre snorted. “You wouldn’t even talk to me. Wouldn’t give me the time of day when I’d try to talk to you.”
“Andre, you impregnated her. She’s never going to be out of your life. You share a child together. I couldn’t compete.”
“Compete? There was never any competition. I was a coward. I knew if I said something nobody would believe me and if by some chance someone did, I’d be laughed off the force.” Andre’s legs splayed, he dropped his forearms over his thighs, clamping his hands together. “Maybe with you by my side, I’d have found the courage to speak up, but you were too hurt. You wouldn’t listen to anything I had to say. Besides, you know how you are.”
Her hands flew to her hips as she rounded on him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re...well, let’s just say you have a tendency to be a bit volatile,” he said, rubbing his finger over his chin.
“Am not,” Jennifer huffed.
Andre raised an eyebrow and shot her a sly grin. “You’re not?”
“Fine,” Jennifer admitted. “Perhaps a little.”
“I wouldn’t want you to be any other way. I’ve always loved your fire.” He chuckled adding under his breath, “Taming you has always been a turn-on.”
“It is, huh?” Jennifer lowered to sit on the cushion beside him, surprising Andre when she reached to wedge her hand in his. “Any man who even dares to try to tame me is in for quite a feat. I’m not one for the faint of heart.”
Andre bit his bottom lip. Dare he believe she’d actually give him another chance? Was holding his hand an invitation? A peace offering? He tightened his grip on her hand, weaving his fingers with hers. “When we found out Rosalyn was pregnant, I knew that was the end of us. But then somehow we found each other again and I really thought I’d gotten you back.”
“Well, the fact that Rosalyn called you at every hour of the night using a poor child for her excuse to get you away from me didn’t help.” Jennifer toyed with her bracelet, rolling it around her wrist.
“Wow! I can’t believe we’re here,” Jennifer gushed as Andre pulled out a chair for her and motioned for her to sit down.
“It’s Valentine’s, Blue Eyes. I wanted to do something extra special.” He placed his palm on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, and then moved to take the seat across from her at the round table. “How’d I do?”
“Pretty fucking incredible,” Jennifer laughed. “Thank you. I’ve never been to The Chandler before.”
“You can thank me later. I need to feed you first.” He reached across the table, taking her hand in his. “I reserved a room for the night.” He guided her hand to his mouth, brushing his lips across the top. “You’re going to need your sustenance for what else I have planned.”
His heart fluttered, his cock twitching with its need to fill her. A huge toothy smile widened across her face, making his stomach flip-flop as if a billion butterflies danced inside.
“You didn’t—” Jennifer had started to say, but was interrupted as Rosalyn stormed through the dining area, recklessly pushing their son in his baby carriage. He cringed as Michael wailed at the top of his lungs and the wheels of the carriage smacked into several tables and banged against the chairs.
“What the hell, Rosalyn?” Andre jerked his hand from Jennifer. “Why are you here? What is my son doing out at eight o’clock at night?”
“You didn’t answer my calls,” Rosalyn spat. “Now I know why. Apparently spending our son’s college money on this skank is more important than his future. Besides, he has a cold—he doesn’t sleep and he cries all night.”
Curious onlookers stared, their mouths agape in apparent disbelief, much to Andre’s mortification.
“Don’t you think it was irresponsible to bring an ill baby out on a cold February night?” Jennifer hissed. “Perhaps you should have called the doctor instead of parading him around here to make a scene.”
“Jenn,” Andre warned, rage rumbling within him. “I’ll handle this.”
“Fine, you do that. I’m out of here.” Jennifer tossed her napkin down, grabbed her purse, and nearly ran from the dining room.
He ran after her, stopping at the hostess’s pedestal as she disappeared behind the ladies’ room door. Rosalyn was hot on his heels, halting directly behind him. He peered down, hopelessness filling him as Michael screamed at the top of his lungs, his little face red with tears streaking down while his fists and legs kicked out furiously.
“You know I admire what a great father you are to your son. What I couldn’t accept were the times when it was blatantly obvious that Rosalyn was lying. I swear there were times when she stalked us, Andre,” Jennifer said.
“I knew when you texted Vicki to pick you up on Valentine’s Day that I’d completely lost any chance I had with you. The only thing I had any hope of keeping control over was protecting my job and raising my child. That’s why I let you go.”
“What the fuck, Andre?” Jennifer snapped, her voice rising as she ripped her hand from his and jolted from the couch. “How the hell was allowing the woman who raped you to manipulate our future the right thing to do?”
Slowly, Andre rose from the couch. “It was the worst decision of my life. I must have been an idiot to think I’d actually be able to move on without you. I lived for the days when my mother gave me updates on your recovery. Told me how well you got along with Shane O’Halloran.” He released a half-hearted laugh. “Hell. I’ve been jealous of that guy ever since I learned he’d been the one to save you.”
“For the record, Andre Jenkins, I saved myself. I even got a damn cat just so I’d have something to make me get up in the morning. I had a responsibility to that little creature to love and care for her. If anyone saved me, it was Brûlée. Some people would say she’s just a cat, but not me. She gave me a purpose.
“I’m sorry I failed you. Sorry I wasn’t able to help you while another man was by your side.”
Jennifer slapped her hands to her thighs, dragging in a labored breath. “I—I can’t believe this. You’ve got to give me a minute to absorb everything. It’s a lot.” Jennifer squeezed her palms together, her knuckles turning white as she clenched her fingers. “It’
s too damn much.” Her head dropped, her shoulders suddenly shaking as she began to weep. “I wanted you by my side, not Shane. It was so hard. So lonely.”
“Blue Eyes,” Andre said, pulling her towards him to wrap his arm around her waist. “Shh,” he cooed, running his hand down the length of her hair. “Everything is going to be all right.”
The more Andre tried to comfort her, the deeper her sobs were. “All this time, I thought I’d die without you. But she hurt you...hurt us!” Jennifer flattened her palms against his chest, pushing away as she started to hyperventilate.
“It’s okay. Breathe,” Andre instructed as he’d done so many times before when Jennifer experienced a panic attack. “Everything is going to be all right. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere unless it’s with you. All right?” he asked. A tear escaped from the corner of his eye, staining his cheek.
“I don’t want you to go,” Jennifer wailed. “Promise you’ll never leave.”
“Never,” Andre’s voice cracked, his words muffled as he pressed his lips to the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. “I just told you—you’re my girl. Forever my desire from the very first moment I saw you.”
Chapter 31
Jennifer
“Okay, Vicki.” Jennifer lumbered past the checkout desk on her way towards the coat closet. “Everything is cleaned up and prepped for tomorrow.” Removing a wool knee-length coat in a shade of mint green that suited her complexion perfectly, Jennifer fumbled with the buttons. “Do you need me to do anything for you before I go?” she asked, grasping for any excuse not to go meet with Dr. Javier Fuentes.
Victoria pushed her tortoise glasses up from the tip of her nose, peering up from her book. “Oh. That’s right. I’d forgotten your appointment was today,” she called out from her seat behind the front desk. “I’m glad you’re finally going. You look—” She scrunched up her nose, her eyes roaming over Jennifer from head to foot. “You look a bit worn-out.”
“Gee, how nice of you to say,” Jennifer huffed. “It’s always so wonderful to have your best friend tell you that you look like death warmed over.”
Victoria scrunched up her nose and shook her head. “I didn’t say that, Jenn. I said you look tired.”
“No, Vicki. You said I looked worn-out,” Jennifer corrected.
“I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry.” Victoria smiled. “I’d just expect you to look and act more like the Energizer Bunny.”
Jennifer shot Victoria a bemused look. “You think I should be hairy and pink with big shoes and gigantic ears?”
“No, silly,” Victoria laughed. “I mean more energetic. Every day for the last month, you’ve been gushing about Andre—how you’re spending all your free time together making up for lost time.”
“Well, you might look worn-out too if you got laid once in a while. Andre and I have been back together for six weeks, not a month. We have several sexless years to make up for. Do the math, Vicki. That’s a whole hell of a lot of fucking to catch up on.”
“Jenn!” Victoria’s mouth dropped open.
“It’s true,” Jennifer announced, her lips curving into a devious grin. The flush on Victoria’s face didn’t lie. Jennifer had managed to make her flustered. Although perverse, she really did get a kick out of goading her best friend. “Andre and I barely sleep. We fuck. Sometimes all night.”
“W-well,” Victoria stuttered. “Well, good for you. A-and to answer your previous question, I’m fine. I can manage the shop by myself for a few hours. Besides, I’ll feel a lot better knowing that you’re going to your appointment.”
“It’s awfully quiet around here. You might get bored without me.”
“I’m sure I can handle it.” Victoria shoved a bookmark into the thick novel, a look of knowing on her face. She was well aware of Jennifer’s aversion to doctors. “Don’t waste time buttoning and unbuttoning your coat. The sooner you get there, the sooner you get home.”
“Well, aren’t you Sally Sunshine.” Jennifer rolled her eyes and moved to stand before the checkout desk. “What are you going to do if someone comes in with a huge Easter order? Are you going to be comfortable handling that? It’s not that far away, Vicki. It could happen. Egg-shaped cookies are all the rage. Do you really want a doctor’s appointment to be the reason why we fucked up someone’s holiday?”
“That’s rich, Jenn. But that excuse won’t work with me because I’m not concerned.” Victoria’s lips quirked, amusement playing out on her face. “I’ve taken orders before. I’ll survive.”
Jennifer glared, silently trying to intimidate Victoria as she stared her down. “Business isn’t something to laugh about, Vicki. You know as well as I do how important our holiday orders are. We can’t afford to fuck them up.”
“Jenn, just go. You’ll be glad you got the appointment over and done with.” Victoria held up the book she’d been reading and waved it above her head. “Since we aren’t overwhelmed with business this afternoon, this really is the best time to go.”
“All right. I’ll go,” Jennifer huffed, completely out of excuses. “What could possibly be better than being poked and prodded by a stranger?”
“Well, Javier isn’t a stranger,” Victoria answered seriously. “And he is completely in love with Diana. So I wouldn’t be concerned with being manhandled.
“Oh...come on. I know Javier isn’t like that,” Jennifer snapped in exasperation.
“See?”
Jennifer waved her free hand in the air. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m just trying to ease your nerves.” Victoria smiled. “You said it yourself, Javier isn’t a perv. He’s our friend. Everything will be fine.”
“Whatever.” Jennifer tossed her purse over her shoulder and stomped to the door, stopping to peer over her shoulder before she left. “You know something, Vicki? Maybe you are right. I shouldn’t delay this. I’ve got a dinner date with my man tonight and he knows exactly how I like to be poked and prodded.” Jennifer winked. “This appointment is just a warm-up. A dress rehearsal.”
“Oh my God, Jenn. You’re shameless,” Vicki giggled.
“Consider it a lesson in learning to be submissive. Andre likes to take the lead. Maybe he’ll star as the doctor in our exclusive main attraction.”
“TMI, Jenn.” Her cheeks a vibrant shade of pink, Victoria once again pointed at the door. “TMI. Now, go!”
Roaring with laughter, Jennifer left the shop. Completely amused by the fact that after all these years she could still make her best friend blush, she quickly crossed the cobblestone street, clicking the key fob to unlock the driver’s side door of her Hyundai Santa Fe.
Chapter 32
Jennifer
A half hour after leaving work Jennifer snapped the magazine shut, slapping it down to her side. Who could possibly concentrate at a time like this? She clenched her sweaty palms, folding them tightly onto her lap and took in her surroundings. Desperately in need of a paint job, the dull eggshell-colored walls were plastered with photographs taken of local tourist attractions. A large, framed portrait hung crookedly above a drab upholstered chair shoved into one corner of the room. An array of efficiently labeled containers filled with cotton balls, swabs, and the like dominated the counters.
Unable to stop fidgeting, Jennifer kicked her legs out before her and then let them drop heavily against the examination table’s cold, steel frame. This is bullshit! I’ll have a full-on anxiety attack by the time he gets here. She drew out a long sigh, the scent of antiseptic having begun to take root in her lungs. Outraged, her eagle-eyed gaze fell to the large, round clock that hung above the door. What the—
Jennifer leapt from the table, her foot skidding across the linoleum. How dare he waste my time like this? Arms flailing, she gripped the vinyl tabletop, her fingernails ripping a large hole through the barrier of the neatly rolled-out wax paper. “Son of a bitch,” she swore under her breath as she steadied herself. Bunched up in a mangled mess, the one-time hu
man shield against bacteria and other godforsaken germs was useless. “Ugh.” She grumbled as she stormed toward the door.
The receptionist peeked up from her computer, her eyes bulging as she watched Jennifer stride through the overcrowded waiting room. “Ms. Jordan, is something wrong?”
Consumed with rage, she’d been heedless to the whispers buzzing around her. Jennifer’s eyes narrowed on the receptionist. “Damn right, something is wrong.” Jennifer thrust her finger out, pointing it toward the abandoned examination room. “I’ve been holed up in solitary confinement for the past forty-five minutes.”
The receptionist pushed away from the desk, nearly falling off the chair as it rolled backwards. Confusion and a flicker of trepidation clouded her beady eyes. “Excuse me?”
Jennifer propped her arms onto the counter. Elbows locked and shoulders squared, she stared down at the receptionist. “I’ve been locked up in that germ-infested room for almost an hour,” she ground out. “Where the hell is Dr. Fuentes?”
“I’m very sorry that you’ve been kept waiting,” the receptionist’s voice quivered. “There was an unexpected emergency at the hospital. Dr. Fuentes called a few minutes ago to confirm he is on his way to the office as we speak.”
Jennifer waved her hand in dismissal. “I don’t give a shit how sorry you are. This treatment is unacceptable. My time is valuable.”
“Again, Ms. Jordan, I apologize.” The receptionist flushed, clearly embarrassed by the spectacle Jennifer was creating. “If you’d like to reschedule, I’m sure we could fit you in tomorrow.”
“Well, isn’t that kind of you,” Jennifer answered sarcastically. “No, I don’t—” A cool breeze billowed beneath her dressing gown as the door flung open interrupting her rant. Oh God, no. Inching her hand behind her back, her fingers swept over her clammy exposed spine. Say it isn’t so! Jennifer cringed, her cheeks burning as she remembered how the medical gown gaped open in the back.
She shot one last menacing glance at the receptionist. “Five more minutes and I’m gone,” she warned. Then turned toward the waiting room, thrusting her head high as if she hadn’t just made a complete ass of herself, as its occupants openly gawked. She clutched the edges of the makeshift gown between her fingers and held the stretched cotton together at the small of her back. With a deep breath, Jennifer sauntered through the office and back into the exam room.