Tonight and Forever (7 page)

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 requirements?”

“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.”

Justin shook his head. He didn’t have the time to disagree with her. He looked back down at the paper. Moments later his head shot up. “Your second requirement is that your name be added to my checking account?” he asked incredulously.

Lorren smiled. “Yeah. I thought that was a great idea. You wouldn’t believe just how stingy some men are. Any man I become involved with will have to make sure I never run out of money. I’m sure being a doctor pays well, so you won’t have a thing to worry about. Any money you make will be our money.”

When Justin spoke his tone was dry. “No kidding? And what about the money you make?”

Lorren chuckled. “Any money I make will be
my
money, of course.”

“Of course. How foolish of me to think otherwise.”

“What do you think of my final requirement? Of course it’s nothing you can do right away, but as long as you’ll agree to it, that will be fine.” Lorren took a deep breath. This one was a doozy.

“Let me make sure I understand this correctly,” Justin said moments later, his voice low and dangerously controlled. “You want a child…out of wedlock?”

“Yes. As I’ve told you before, I’ve no intentions of remarrying, but I do want to have a child before I’m thirty. I’ll have full custody; all you have to do is provide me with generous child support payments.”

Justin looked at her intently. “You aren’t serious about these requirements, are you?”

“Yes. I’m dead serious.”

“And you won’t agree to an affair until I’ve agreed to them?”

“That’s the bottom line, Justin.”

Lorren smiled sweetly. She could just imagine the thoughts tumbling through his mind. Her requirements were ludicrous. He would never agree to any of them. No man would. According to the magazine article, not too many men willingly turn over their prized autos to a woman. Very few of them parted easily with their hard-earned dollars, and what man wanted to pay through the nose for child support payments? Being caught in that sort of a trap was something they tried to avoid.

Justin watched a satisfied smile quirk the corners of Lorren’s lips. She was having her laugh, or so she thought. Now he would have his.

“Well, there’s nothing else for me to do, Lorren.”

Lorren’s smile widened. She watched as he fished in his pocket for his keys.

Her brow arched in confusion. He hadn’t driven over, he’d walked. What on earth did he need his keys for? As she continued watching, he took a key off the ring and placed it on the table.

“That’s the key to the Vette. I’ll use the spare I have at home.”

Lorren stared at him with openmouthed shock, totally speechless. She then watched him reach into his back pocket and pull out a checkbook that looked like it had seen better days.

“I’ll add your name to my account first thing in the morning, as soon as the bank opens. You can use these until new checks arrive.”

When in one swift motion he stripped his sweatshirt off over his head, Lorren found her voice. “What are you doing?”

Justin looked at her. A huge grin touched his mouth. “Getting ready to give you that baby you want before you’re thirty. I know you have a few years left before then, but practice makes perfect, you know.” He almost laughed out loud at her look of amazement.

Lorren’s heart jumped in her chest. What had she gotten herself into? Justin, bare-chested except for the medallion around his neck, and a sexy smile, took a step toward her.

She took a step back, rubbing her hands together. “It—it was a joke,” she managed to get out.

Justin smiled, taking another step forward, covering the distance between them. “What was a joke?” he asked in a deep, sexy voice. He stood before her appearing completely relaxed.

Lorren cleared her throat. “I got this stupid idea and it was supposed to work.” Justin didn’t comment, which struck Lorren as strange. He just continued looking at her. “You weren’t supposed to agree to my requirements,” she continued.

She tried not to focus her attention on his shoulders. They were broad and powerful. She suspected those shoulders would feel massive against the palms of her hands. She drew a very slow, very deep breath, trying to put a halt to where her thoughts were headed, praying they hadn’t shown on her face.

“And just what was I supposed to do, Lorren?”

She tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach produced by the deep, husky sound of his voice. She had gotten herself in enough trouble. “You were supposed to be scared off.”

Justin’s shoulders moved in a dismissive gesture. “I don’t scare easily.” He took another step forward, bringing him directly in front of her.

Lorren’s eyes fastened on the play of rippling muscles across his chest. Heat flared in the pit of her stomach. The look in his eyes was dangerous. The air surrounding them seemed to thicken. She lifted her chin. “I can see that.”

“But what I do, Lorren, is get even.”

She swallowed hard. “Get even? How?”

“A number of ways. But this way is just for you.” He leaned forward, his breath misted across her mouth. The touch of Justin’s lips was gentle. His tongue playfully massaged her lips, seeking entry.

“Open your mouth to me, Lorren.”

The plea whispered softly against her lips had a hypnotic effect, and, taking a deep, unsteady breath, her mouth formed the word “no,” but instead she did as he requested. His tender caresses destroyed her last thread of resistance. She surrendered completely to his masterful seduction and placed her arms around him.

His mouth, wet and hot, nibbled at hers with a hunger that was mind consuming. The burning sensation flooding through her was unbearable.

The kiss grew hotter, hungrier.

Lorren could feel every hard-muscled inch of Justin, including evidence of his desire for her. A powerful tremor swept through her body as she fought for control. The little bit she had took a nosedive when she felt his hand move underneath her top. She shuddered involuntarily at the multitude of emotions overwhelming her with his touch. Deep in the recesses of her mind she wanted to put a stop to what they were doing, but couldn’t find the strength to do so.

When his arms tightened around her, prolonging the kiss, she melted into him. An indescribable sweetness flared in her belly, stripping away the last of her defenses. Releasing a soft moan, her tongue met his, stroke for stroke.

Without any control she slid her hands between them to rub his chest. The feel of his chest hair against her palms made her entire body tingle. Her hands brushed against the medallion. His body instantly stiffened. He pulled his mouth away.

Lorren was breathless. Confused. Why had he stopped kissing her? Before she had time to think about it, he leaned down to brush his lips against her cheek. Then his mouth was on hers again and all thoughts flooded from her mind.