A Week for Love to Bloom (4 page)

“I heard you run the bank now,” Justin said.

“Dad put me in charge two years ago. He’s big into stock trading now. So, are you going to work on that oilrig forever?”

“
I’m not sure what my plans are for the future.”

“Don’t you think
it’s time to figure it out?” Beth asked. She was smiling, but it ticked him off.

“Justin needs to get back into college, so he can help me out when dad retires. I don’t want to hire someone outside of the family,” Jonathan said.

Along with quitting his job, Justin enrolled into college a few hours from his hometown to finish his bachelor’s degree in science. He wasn’t ready for his family to know. He was dreading the harassment he knew he would soon receive about attending law school.

Justin needed out of his parents’ home and away from Beth.
He felt as if the walls were closing in around him, so he planned his escape.

“Dad, do you mind if I take one of your vehicles back to
Jonathan’s and use it for a few days?”

“Of cou
rse not, son. Ask for the keys when you get ready to leave,” Jeffrey said.

“Actually, I was going to go ahead and take off. I have a couple of errands to run.”

“It’s Saturday night. What could you possibly need to do at this hour?” Jeffrey asked.

“I have some things I need to pick up in town i
f I’m going to be here a while.” He was certain that would get him out of the house fast. His folks would do anything to have him stay in town longer.

“Beth, since
we’re done with dessert would you like me to walk you out?”

“Sure.”

“Let me grab the keys to the car.”

“Son, take the Mercedes.”

“That isn’t necessary, Dad.”

“I insist, Justin,” Jeffrey said sternly.

“OK. Thanks Mom for a delicious dinner. Jonathan, Emily, don’t wait up for me,” he said.

Beth smiled. Justin realized he gave her the wrong impression.

“Thank you for the invite and dinner. It was lovely. Hopefully we can do it again sometime,” Beth said.

“Anytime, dear, and I hope to se
e you soon,” Susan said.

Justin walked Beth to her
car and opened the door for her.

“It was nice to see you,
Beth. Please be careful driving home.”

“That’s it? Don’t you want to kiss m
e goodnight?” Beth asked, smiling impishly.

Justin quickly thought
of an excuse. “Beth, we haven’t seen each other in years. I mean, we really don’t know each other anymore, and I don’t know how long I’m going to stick around. I hope you can understand.”

“
I’m sure you remember where the bank is if you change your mind. It was nice catching up Justin, and take care of yourself.” As she pulled out of the driveway, she gave him a partial wave. He could see she was embarrassed and annoyed.

Justin became
angrier at Jonathan for giving her the wrong idea. He wanted to blow off some steam, and since he escaped from his family earlier than expected, he gave an old friend a call.

“Hey good buddy,
it’s Justin.”

“How are ya
, man? When did you get into town?” Andrew asked.

“Last night. Are you busy? I wondered if you have time to grab a beer.”

“Sure, Ashley left earlier to go out with a friend, so I don’t want to sit around here. I’ll warn you though, I’ve already had a few.”

Justin chuckled.
“Cool, I’ll be there shortly.”

“Do you still remember where I live, stranger
?”

“You can’t get on my case tonight.
I’ve had enough of that already.”

“Aww
, I was just playin. See ya soon.”

Justin put the windows down and enjoyed the ride there. He hated to admit it, but the car was
sleek. It was sure better than the bus he took to get across the country. Lauren’s image filled his mind when he passed by the road that lead to Evans Garden and Nursery. He got aroused thinking about her gorgeous curves and was fighting the temptation to go back to the nursery soon to see her.

When he reached town,
he turned onto Andrew’s street and saw him waiting on the porch. “Hey man, nice ride. I can tell you’ve been at your folks. Unless something changed, I can’t see you driving a Mercedes.” Andrew had an upbeat personality. He had short, blonde hair and was a blue jeans and cowboy boots kind of guy. He was country as country gets, having never left Masonville.

“I talked to Ash, and she said the bar was packed, so her and her friend grabbed some six packs and headed to G
oose Lake. I told her we’d join them there,” Andrew said.

“Just what I need, another girl breathing down my neck.
I’m not looking for a blind date.”

“Hold up.
I ain’t trying to fix you up with anyone. If you’d prefer Casey’s where it’ll be like a high school reunion, I’ll give Ashley a call and tell her we’re going there.”

“No, man,
I’m sorry. It was tense around my family. You know the pressure they put on me. Hanging out at the lake with you and Ashley sounds cool.”

“OK
then, let’s get this party started!” Andrew shouted, hanging his head out the window. Justin felt the friendship he’d missed all the years he was away. He, Max, and Andrew were tight friends in school. Justin thought about how hard it probably was on Andrew when he and Max went away after graduation.

The li
ght from the moon shimmered on the still water as they drove up the gravel drive. “You’re gonna like Lauren. She’s hot but don't tell Ashley I said—”

“What name did you just say
?”

“Lauren. H
er family owns Evans Garden and Nursery. I take care of the grounds there.”

“Unbelievable.”

“You’ve met her? I didn’t think you’d know her since she wasn’t in high school when we were. Well, I hope you like her because you’re about to see her again.”

Lauren and Ashley were sitting on a picnic table close to the lake. They jumped off of it and walked toward the car when they heard it pull up behind them.

“I think
you’re going to like Justin. He’s very good looking. I wasn’t planning on a double date, but why not?”

“Justin?” She wanted to yell at Ashley for the double date comment b
ut was too panicked.

As Lauren approached the guys
and realized it was
the
Justin, she could hardly catch another breath.

Shit,
it’s him, and he looks hot. Calm down, and breathe before you look like a fool.

“Hi, Ashley. How ya been?” Justin asked.

“Good. It’s about time you came home to see us.”

Jus
tin looked at Lauren. “Long time no see.”

She thought her knee
s were going to buckle when she connected with his sexy, come-hither stare. She matched his look with her own “You can have your way with me” gaze. At that moment, she meant it.

“I get it. Y
ou’re good at your job. You can stop trying to impress me now.”

“Good one, but I swear I didn’t know you were going to be
here.” The electric current between them was running rampantly.

“You know each other? How have
I never heard about this from either of you?” Ashley asked, shooting a questioning glance to both Lauren and Justin.

“Um ... Justin was at the nursery this morning. Rem
ember me telling you about that large order we had?” Wide eyed, Lauren looked at Ashley in the hope that she’d pick up on the hint.

Ashley threw her hand over her
mouth for a moment. “Oh my God. You’re the hitchhiker, stalker dude.”

Lauren and Ashley
had been friends since grade school. She’d overlooked Ashley’s enormous mouth ever since, but that second, all Lauren wanted to do was punch her in the face and throw her in the lake.

“Ashley!
Justin, I’m sorry. Ash and I are really close, so I happened to tell her about the other night. I didn’t expect to see you again.”

“What am I missing here?”
Andrew asked with a confused expression.

Ashley grabb
ed Andrew by the arm and began dragging him toward the picnic table. “I’ll tell you about it later. Let’s go have a beer.”

“Again,
I’m sorry,” Lauren said, blushing.

“It’s no big deal
. I’m sure it’ll be the highlight of Andrew’s day. If I remember correctly, not much happens in this town. Anyway, it’s a nice surprise to see you again,” he said.

Justin and Lauren
walked to the picnic table. When Andrew saw them standing next to him, he picked up a six pack of beer and stuck his arm straight out to Justin.

“Here, take
these and go away you serial killer. I’m listening to the juiciest story ever, and you ain’t interrupting it.” Andrew burst into laughter.

“Real cool, man.
I’ll get you back for this.” Justin yanked the beer from Andrew’s hand and looked at Lauren. “Would you want to sit over there with me and have a beer?” he asked, pointing to a picnic table further away.

“Sure.” Redness still filled her cheeks
. She fought to keep her body from trembling as she imagined what would happen between them next.

***

“Now I feel I need to apologize for Andrew’s behavior. He’s been drinking already, and he can be obnoxious sometimes,” Justin said.

“I know. He
and Ashley have that in common. It makes them a dangerous pair,” Lauren said with a laugh.

As she hopped up on the picnic table, her skirt rode
up showing all of her upper thighs. She swiftly pulled it down, but not before Justin got a good look.

He felt his nerve
endings come alive as he wondered if there were skirts any shorter or legs any longer. “I think we’re a little over dressed for the lake, but you look great,” he said.

“
Um, thanks, so do you.”

“Here you go.” Justin handed Lauren a beer.
“Do you all hang out here a lot?” he asked.

“Yes
, mostly when Casey’s is full. Have you been here before?”

“I came here a lot
in high school. We had to sneak in before the old man that owned it died. Then my friends and I started hanging out here more often. His wife never ran us off, and looking back I’m surprised because we got pretty loud. Do you know why it’s called Goose Lake?”

Laur
en grinned. “No, tell me.”

Justin soaked in her gorgeous smile.
“It’s from all the geese droppings around here. I’m telling ya, you’ll have to check those shoes of yours when you get home.” Justin lifted up a shoe looking down at it and then turned to smile at Lauren.

“I think
I can handle it. I get dirty every day.”

Justin stared at her mouth.

Dirty
.
Please say that word again
.

“You’re pretty cool
, Lauren. It’s also a bonus you like beer.” He tilted his bottle up toward her. Justin liked how down to earth she seemed, unlike the stuffy and refined kind of women his family wanted him to date. Beth Humphrey popped in his mind and stirred an unpleasant feeling.

“Thank you. I guess
I’m a country girl at heart.”

“Can I ask what possessed you to pick me up the other
night? It wasn’t the safest move, you know.”

“I have to be honest. The first time was for me. I was …
well, wanting to be defiant, and the second time, I felt bad for throwing you out of my truck.”

Defiant—she’s
so fucking hot.

“Being defiant, huh?
I’m a pro at being defiant. That’s what my family tells me, anyway. We have something in common.” He reached down and took hold of her hand. “Do you mind?” he asked, gazing at her.

“No,”
she answered. Justin knew she was nervous as she stared down at their hands. He pulled it up to look at it.

“You have pretty hands,
Lauren, especially considering how hard you work them every day.”

“Thank you. It takes a lot
of work to get them clean.”

Holding her hand made him want to touch more of her.
He tilted up her chin, so she would meet his gaze.

“You’re be
autiful, and I bet you hear it often,” Justin said before his lips were on hers, planting one soft kiss. When he pulled back he could see a longing in her eyes.

Lauren
freed her hand from his and grabbed the back of his neck. She pulled him toward her, slipping her silky tongue between his parted lips.