Only for You

by Jacquelin Thomas

  “I feel the same way about you.”

  Ethan pulled the covers up over them and wrapped her in his arms and legs, snuggling closer to her as they lay together in bed. He kissed her lips in a tantalizing slow kiss.

  She drew away from him. “Did I ever tell you that you’re a great kisser?”

  “So are you,” Ethan responded with a grin.

  “I’m so happy.”

  He smiled. “So am I.”

  “How often do you come to Martinique?” Jordin inquired.

  “Two to three times a year. I love this island. That’s why I decided to buy this place.”

  Her eyes traveled the room. “You put so much into this house...were you planning to live here permanently at some point?”

  “Yes,” Ethan admitted. “I considered that this is where I’d like to live out my retirement.”

  She looked at him. “Is this still your plan?”

  “Not really,” Ethan replied. “I’m not going to leave you in Charleston and I don’t expect you to give up your job. This will be our vacation home.”

  She loved the idea of a vacation home with Ethan as she hoped to spend the rest of her life with him. They had not discussed marriage, but Jordin felt that the topic could come up at any time. She was ready to settle down for marriage and a family. Jordin believed that she and Ethan were on the same page when it came to taking their relationship to the next level, but she did not know if he was ready for marriage.

  * * *

  Jordin closed her eyes as she let her body sink into his. She knew she would never be happy with another man if her time with Ethan ever ran out.

  They were going to do some sightseeing and shopping around noon. She was so comfortable in Ethan’s arms that she did not want the moment to end. “Why don’t we just stay here and watch movies?” she suggested.

  He planted a kiss on her forehead. “Seriously?”

  “I love it here in your arms. I feel safe and secure. I just don’t want to give this up right now. I love this feeling.”

  “Why don’t we go on and get the shopping out of the way. We can have an early dinner and come back here to relax for the rest of the evening.”

  “That sounds nice,” she murmured.

  “Let’s get going, sweetheart.”

  Jordin rose to her feet and went to slip on her shoes. She was enjoying her time on this exotic island with the man she loved. He seemed much more relaxed in this space, which made her wonder if Lydia continued to be a source of discomfort to him. He was still seeing Bree and Jordin did not ask him to disclose his conversations with the therapist.

  His happiness mattered to her, but Jordin still believed that he would not be completely free until he found a way to forgive his mother.

  Chapter 17

  Jordin chose a silky purple dress with an A-line skirt that flared just around her knees. Swarovski crystals sprinkled like raindrops from the shoulder to the waist. Wearing it made her feel very sexy, especially with the strappy high-heel silver sandals.

  “Are you sure this place is open?” she asked, observing her surroundings. “There aren’t any cars in the parking lot. I don’t think this is a good sign.”

  “The parking lot’s empty because I booked the restaurant just for us.”

  Jordin paused in her steps. “You shut down this place for the two of us? Why?”

  Ethan nodded. “I want this to be a special night for us.”

  She wondered briefly what he had in mind for the evening, but she was not concerned. Every moment on this island had been special as far as Jordin was concerned. She was thrilled that some of the old Ethan had returned during their time together. He was not as tense as he usually was when they were in Charleston.

  Jordin and Ethan were seated immediately after entering the upscale restaurant. They had barely sat down when waiters appeared out of nowhere, bringing in trays of food as soft jazz floated around the room.

  They enjoyed a five-star dinner with crystal-blue water and bright stars as their backdrop.

  “I could stay here forever,” Jordin murmured.

  Ethan smiled. “Really? You’d leave Charleston?”

  She was quiet for a moment before saying, “If I was ready to give up my job, but until then, I think we should come here as often as we can.” Jordin took a sip of her wine, before adding, “Look at me, I’m taking over your place.”

  “I’m glad you feel at home here,” Ethan said.

  “I really do,” she confirmed.

  “Jordin, I wanted tonight to be special because there’s something I want to ask you.” Ethan took a small box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal an elegant diamond ring in a platinum setting. The stone was an emerald-cut diamond surrounded by smaller princess-cut diamonds.

  Her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, wow...wow...that’s gorgeous...”

  “Will you marry me?”

  Jordin gasped as Ethan gently placed it on her finger.

  She looked up at him, her surprise evident on her face. “I never expected this.”

  “I love you, Jordin,” he said softly. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you...if you’ll have me.”

  “Yes... YES,” she responded. “All those years you were gone—it felt like a part of me was missing. I don’t want to feel that way ever again, Ethan. I love you.”

  “I guess this means that we’re getting married.”

  “This is definitely what it means,” she responded with a grin. Jordin glanced down at the ring on her finger and murmured, “It’s so beautiful.”

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  When they returned to the house there was a bottle of champagne on ice and a plate laden with assorted cheese, crackers and white-chocolate-dipped strawberries.

  “Did you arrange this too?”

  “I did,” Ethan responded. “The night isn’t over.”

  He spun her to face him and began to string searing kisses across her shoulders and up her neck.

  A moan escaped from her lips and Jordin felt her legs go weak.

  He lifted her and carried her to the bed. Ethan laid her down on her back and stretched out next to her.

  “You are so incredibly stunning, sweetheart,” he murmured. “You take my breath away.”

  * * *

  Ethan woke with Jordin in his arms feeling better than he had in a long time. He felt a deep sense of peace for the first time since returning home. He stared at his sleeping fiancée and smiled.

  She is so beautiful.

  Jordin released a soft moan as she snuggled against him.

  He kissed her. “Wake up, beautiful.”

  She stretched in his arms and smiled up at him. “Good morning.”

  Ethan could not help but wonder at the way she made him feel, at the intensity of his feelings for her. “Morning.”

  She sat up in bed and stared down at her ring finger. “So it wasn’t a dream.”

  He grinned. “No, we’re very much engaged.”

  “This is a dream come true for me. You’re the only man I ever thought I’d marry.”

  “I bought the house with the idea that we would live in it as husband and wife, but I wasn’t sure if that would really happen,” Ethan confessed, “but it looks like I’m getting my greatest wish.”

  Jordin pulled his face to hers, kissing him. “I love you, Ethan Holbrooke.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Shower?” she asked with a smile.

  Ethan broke into a grin. “I’ll go start the water.”

  “I’ll join you in a few minutes,” Jordin responded.

  He slipped out of bed and crossed the room toward the bathroom.

  She watched him as he padded barefoot, taking in the tight m
uscles in his legs and the bands of muscles crisscrossing his back. Everything about Ethan was perfection.

  “I’m a lucky girl,” she whispered.

  Ethan called out to her a moment later that the water was ready. She slipped into the bathroom and joined him under the hot jets.

  Jordin enjoyed the long, slow and wet shower with the man she loved. They were leaving for Charleston in the morning—it was time to go back to their lives, but the time they spent in Martinique was perfect. His proposal of marriage had put her over the moon. Things would only get better from this point forward. She looked forward to spending the rest of her life with Ethan.

  * * *

  “How was your vacation?” Austin inquired when Jordin walked into the break room on Monday morning.

  “It was perfect,” she responded with a smile. “It was the most romantic trip I’ve ever taken.”

  “The way you’re grinning, something special must have happened. Hold out your hand and let me see it.”

  “Austin, you’re ruining the surprise.”

  He chuckled. “Your glow is very telling.”

  Jordin showed him her engagement ring.

  “Wow...” he murmured. “Very nice. I’m happy for you.”

  They embraced.

  “Can I have some sibling love?” Jadin uttered from the doorway. “How come I wasn’t invited to the party?”

  Austin hugged her. “Jordin has some news she wants to share.”

  Jadin turned to her twin. “What is it?”

  “I’m getting married.”

  “Ethan proposed?”

  Jordin held up her hand and nodded. “He asked me to marry him our last night on the island. It was very romantic.”

  “You and Ethan... I didn’t know it had gotten so serious.”

  “We love each other, Jadin. We want to take our relationship to the next level. I thought you’d be happy for me.”

  Austin picked up his coffee mug and said, “I’ll give you two some privacy.”

  “I’m walking out with you,” Jordin stated. “I’m not going to let anyone ruin this day for me.”

  “What’s that all about?” her brother inquired.

  “Jadin doesn’t think Ethan is the perfect man for me. He doesn’t come from a royal bloodline, so to speak.”

  Austin’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Really?”

  “I love her, but our sister can be a bit of a snob. I don’t think she would’ve given Michael a chance if his great-grandfather wasn’t the founder of Charleston’s oldest African American newspaper.”

  “Well, from the looks of that ring, Ethan is doing quite well for himself.”

  “All that matters to me is that he loves me as much as I love him, Austin. Marrying well does not ensure a happy marriage.”

  Her brother nodded in agreement. “I’m happy for you.”

  Jordin looked up at him and smiled. “Thanks.”

  “Can we talk for a moment?” Jadin asked from the doorway an hour later.

  Jordin put her guard up and prepared to defend her engagement to Ethan. “Sure.”

  Jadin closed the door behind her. “I’m sorry about the way I reacted this morning. I was just surprised by the news.”

  “Why are you so surprised?” Jordin asked. “You have always known about my feelings for Ethan?”

  “You can’t deny that you two are from very different worlds.”

  Jordin eyed her twin. “Meaning what? In the African American community, Michael is considered Charleston royalty and you let him go off to California just like that—you say you love him, but I don’t think you really do. Ethan didn’t grow up with all of the privileges we had, but I don’t care. I’m with Ethan because I love him in a way that defies definition.”

  “I just want you to be happy, sis.”

  “I am happy, Jadin,” she assured her. “I’m very happy.”

  “Then I’m thrilled for you. Congratulations.”

  Jordin was not sure her sister’s well-wishes were sincere, but chose not to dwell on the negativity. “Thank you, Jadin.”

  “When do you plan to tell the rest of the family?”

  “Tonight at dinner. Ethan and I are going to tell them together.”

  “Then you may want to take that ring off your finger.”

  Chapter 18

  “Looks like your entire family is here tonight,” Ethan observed aloud when they arrived at her parents’ house. “There are a lot of cars here. Looks like a luxury car lot.”

  “I wanted the whole family together when we made our announcement. I did tell Austin and Jadin earlier but they were sworn to secrecy.”

  “How do you think your parents are going to take it?” he asked.

  “I’m sure they’ll be happy for us.” As soon as they walked into the house, Jordin stated loudly, “Everyone, I have an announcement to make.” When she had everyone’s attention, she continued. “Ethan asked me to marry him and I said yes. We’re engaged.”

  There was applause all around the living room, although her father looked surprised by the news.

  Jordin followed her father into his office.

  Closing the door behind her, she asked, “You didn’t seem truly happy for me when I announced that I was marrying Ethan. Do you have a problem with him, Dad?”

  “I like Ethan, but I never considered your relationship with him would go beyond friendship.”

  “He’s a good man, Daddy, and I love him.”

  “I can see how happy he makes you,” Etienne stated. “I have always liked Ethan, despite the rumors about his mother and her boyfriend.”

  “He had no control over his mother’s actions.”

  “I know this.”

  “Dad, I want your blessing, but I’m going to marry Ethan no matter what. He is the man for me.”

  “You are stubborn just like your mother.”

  Jordin broke into a grin. “It’s one of the reasons why you love her.”

  Etienne gave a slight nod. “True.”

  “Oh, just so you know... Ethan came to me before you all left on vacation and asked my blessing.”

  “So why did you look so surprised when I made the announcement?” she asked.

  “I guess I wasn’t quite ready for the reality of it.”

  “Dad, are you happy for me?”

  He smiled. “Knowing that you are happy fills me with joy, sweetheart. Congratulations.”

  Jordin and her father walked back to join everyone hand in hand. She was thrilled that she had his approval, although she would have married Ethan regardless.

  She walked over to Ethan and smiled.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  Jordin nodded as she sat down beside him.

  Ethan was staring at her, sending a delicious shudder through her body.

  “What is it?” Jordin asked. “Why are you staring at me like this?”

  “I can’t get over how beautiful you are,” he said, bringing a smile to her lips.

  Ethan stroked her face gently.

  She glanced around the room to see if any of her family members were watching them. “You do know that we’re not alone, Ethan.”

  “I don’t care,” he responded. “You are going to be my wife and I hope you won’t make me wait too long.”

  “It depends on the type of wedding you want.”

  “Actually, that depends on what you prefer, sweetheart. I’d marry you tomorrow if you’d agree.”

  Jordin smiled. “I’d love to just go to the justice of the peace and get married or elope, but my mother would kill me.”

  Ryker and his family arrived.

  Kai and Amya ran straight to Ethan.

  Jordin laughed, as th
ey each had to give him a hug. “The girls adore you, Ethan.”

  He smiled. “They are cuties.”

  “I like watching you with them,” Jordin confessed when they went into the kitchen with Garland. “You will make a great father one day.”

  Ethan shook his head no. “I don’t want to be a father. My mother and father were terrible examples of parenthood.”

  His words stunned her. “The actions of your parents don’t mean that you will be a bad parent.”

  He shrugged in nonchalance. “It’s a decision I made long ago.”

  Ethan not wanting children was something that had never occurred to Jordin. In fact, it came as a complete shock and could possibly change everything between them.

  Pain twisted with misery became a tangled mess deep inside her. Jordin swallowed hard.

  She stole a glance at Ethan before saying, “I’m going to see if I can help Garland.” She needed some time to brace herself for whatever happened next.

  Chapter 19

  It was raining by the time, Jordin and Ethan departed for home.

  Clutching her sweater closed, she shivered.

  Outside, the wind shrieked, the rain poured and she knew the minute she ventured out of the car, the downpour would soak her clothing to the bone.

  “Why are you so quiet?” he asked. “You hardly said a word since we left your parent’s house.”

  “No,” she responded. “The weather is nasty, so let’s just head back to my place.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  Jordin nodded. She needed some time to digest Ethan’s decision to not have children. At some point, they would have to have a discussion, but Jordin was not ready for this conversation tonight.

  “Okay, I know something’s going on,” Ethan uttered. “Did I do something to upset you?”

  “I’m just tired,” she stated. Jordin fought back tears as they neared her neighborhood. She didn’t want Ethan to know how much his words saddened her.

  “Is this about my saying that I didn’t want children?”