A Week for Love to Bloom (9 page)

“Lauren, stop. That was pretty clever, but I can’t picture being presse
d up against you right now, restraint, remember?”

She
giggled. “Sorry, I can’t help myself.”

“T
hen I get to use that excuse next time things go too far,” he said with mild irritation.

“I guess I have a bad girl side I didn’t know about until you came along.”

“Lauren, I mean it. Stop, before I come over there and put a ‘closed’ sign on the gate. I didn’t know I had this dark side of me until you came along.”

“I
wouldn’t call it a dark side.”

“You would if you knew the things I’d like to do to you
.”

“If you only
knew the things I
fantasize
about you doing to me.”

“You asked for it
now. I’m coming over there.”

“No, wait. I really
want to see you tonight, but I’m exhausted. I promise I’ll make up for the sexual harassment this weekend.”

Justin let out a groan of frustration into the phone.

“You’ve definitely sexually harassed me during this phone call, but I believe it’s worth it if you want to make it up to me. You get some rest, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow. I have to go take a
cold
shower.”

***

Lauren smelled the savory scent of her mother’s chicken and dumplings.

“Is Justin coming over again?” Claire asked as she stood at the stove.

“No, I told him I needed tonight to myself. You and I have barely chatted this week, and I need to rest my feet.” Lauren was sitting at the table, trying to wrestle one of her boot strings out of a knot. “That means I’m not moving from the couch for a few hours, but I need to ask you some questions about the finances first.”

Claire had her back to Lauren at the stove. She froze, holding her spoon still in a pot
. “I’d really like for you to discuss that with your father.”

“Mom, I know you never handled the financial side of
the business before he left, but neither did I. I’m starting to feel as if you two are trying to avoid discussing this with me. I don’t see how we made enough income to get us through the off-seasons. We barely had enough this past winter. Once I pay everything, there isn’t much left, so I will likely have to get a part-time job in November to cover us while the nursery is closed.”

“I’
m sorry, honey. I really wouldn’t understand any of it. You know I’ve never done anything in my life other than work in that nursery. Please make your father deal with it,” Claire said as she walked over and handed Lauren her plate.

Lauren let
out a lengthy sigh. “Grandpa and Grandma ran this place until five years ago. Since they died, I’ve slowly taken over their role. Dad just walked away, and you are here expecting me to be the parent. Maybe it wasn’t your intention, but it happened.

“That first month after he
left, I held you each night while you cried. I didn’t know if you would recover. Well, there are days I feel I’m going to crack. I’m twenty-one, but I feel as if I’m forty from the responsibility that was dumped on me. Please, if there’s any help the two of you can give me, I need it desperately. I usually feel sorry for Dad, but days like this, when I’m utterly overwhelmed, I hate him.”

“I’m sorry, Lauren. I never meant for thin
gs to get this bad.”

Lauren saw the unsettled and sad expression on her mother’s face,
but she didn’t feel like she owed her an apology. She was tired of carrying the burden alone.  

She and Claire watched television after su
pper. It wasn’t the pleasant evening she hoped for. After the brutal honesty she dished out to her mother, their evening was awkward and somber.

A
fter a couple of hours, Lauren realized she hadn’t paid attention to the television programs. She could only think about her time with Justin and his charming smile. She felt as if he took up permanent residence in her mind, and her heart warmed from the thought of being wrapped inside his protective arms.

Lauren called
Justin on Thursday morning.

He
answered his phone when it rang. “Good morning, beautiful.”

“My name already pops up on your p
hone. I’m flattered. They’re calling for rain tomorrow, so we’ll probably be packed today, but I wanted to tell you I’m thinking about you.”

“Same her
e. I think my family is aggravated with my preoccupied mind.”

“You told your family about me?”

“Jonathan knows, but I haven’t told my parents yet. I really hope I get the opportunity to introduce you to them soon. Did you get to relax with your mom last night?”

“Not exactly, but thinking of you
r smile made it better. I’ll try to call you tonight. Have a good day, Justin.”

Afte
r hanging up with Lauren, he suspected he was going to go another day without seeing her. Right then he thought of a way to change that.

***

In the afternoon, Lauren was making assorted flower arrangements in hanging pots when Justin came walking into the greenhouse.

He saw Lauren's eyes light
up. “What are you doing here?”

“
I’m starting to think you sleep in one of these greenhouses. I talked to Andrew on his lunch break. I remembered him mentioning that he took care of the grounds here. I told him I wanted to take over for a while.”

“
Oh, that’s not necessary.” Lauren continued working. “I pay him, and I think he’s saving money for the wedding.”

“
Actually, he sounded relieved. He said he could use a break.”

“
Andrew said that?”

“
Yes, now let me do it. You can’t pay me, either. I want to help you out, and secondly I get to see you this way.”

“OK, the tractor is near the barn, but do you know how to operate one?”

“There you go again with the manhood shit. Really, Lauren? I didn’t grow up in the city. It’s not funny this time.”

Lauren giggled.
“I haven't seen you this aggravated with me since I tossed you out of my truck.”

Without warning, Justin
pulled her body to his and saw her eyes fill with uncertainty. “
Woman
, are you planning on making fun of me forever?”

“
Um, if you stick around ... forever.”

Justin realized
what he said and pulled her into a tight hug. His heart was racing.

“I like the sound of that, and
I’m not aggravated at you.” He pulled back and gazed down at her. The intensity in his eyes mimicked the intensity of his feelings for her. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me, Lauren. I don’t know how I could ever stay mad at you.” He took her face into his hands and kissed her softly.

***

Lauren followed him out of the greenhouse, admiring him as he walked away. She found him sexy in jeans and work boots and stood gawking as she fantasized about how hot he must’ve looked tanned and sweating on the oilrig.

“
Are you admiring something, honey? Or should I say someone? I still can’t believe he’s a Garrison,” Claire said as she walked up, startling Lauren.

“
I like him because he doesn't act like it.”

“You’ve
been happy since you met him.”

Lauren stood staring
at Justin on the tractor. She brought to mind his “forever” comment and dreamed about the possibility of a future with him.

After the nursery
closed, Lauren took Justin some iced tea. “I see you’re almost finished. Would you want to hang out with me after?”

“Of course
.”

“Cool,
I’ll get us something to eat.”

Lauren
picked some blueberries for them to eat before she took their supper to the blanket she laid out. Justin sat next to her.

“Thanks again for today, but you really don’t have to,”
Lauren said.

“I want to, and besides,
I’m not getting the exercise I’m used to, so doing work around here will be good for me.”

“True, and
I’d hate to see these muscles go away or that lovely tan,” Lauren said, gliding her fingers down his sweat covered arm.

“I noticed last Saturday that besi
des Andrew, you have some other help around here, and he looked protective of you. I have to admit, I realized I liked you because I didn’t like him.”

“Oh, Brett. He
works weekends. He’s had a crush on me for a long time, but he’s only an employee. He’s leaving for college, too. It appears most men want to leave Masonville after high school.”

After eating
, Justin stretched out on the blanket and lay his head on Lauren’s lap. She ran her fingers through his warm hair.

“I’
ll be glad when I finish school, so I’ll have a job again. I swear I’m a hard worker.”

“Justin, I know you are, or you
wouldn’t have lasted that long on that rig. You’re obviously smart. I’ve been intimidated by your intelligence. I don’t think you’re aware of how noticeable it is when you speak.” She ran her hand across his chest.

He sat up immediately and
turned around toward her. Leaning over, he gently kissed her cheek. “Thank you. When you’re extra sweet it just makes me want you more.”

“Well, you
kissing me in the sweetest ways make me want you more,” Lauren said as she pulled him down on top of her to make out. After a few minutes, he broke free of her lips.

“You still owe me for the sexual harassmen
t, and I’d like to collect as soon as possible. I think we’re due for some more
exploring
, so will you come see me at the guest house tomorrow night?”

Lauren saw the riveting desire in his gaze
and felt the warm pulsing sensation spreading throughout her body. She became lost in his hypnotic, deep wells of blue as a staring showdown began. Imagining the erotic things she would like him to do to her at his guest house made her oblivious to reality.

“
I want your hands and mouth all over me,” she said slowly. The sound of her voice snapped her out of her trance. She stared up at him. “Tell me I didn’t just say that aloud?”

Justin chuckled.
“Oh, I heard it, alright. Damn, Lauren that was hot. And I think this is the reddest I’ve seen your face. Now you have to come see me, so I can put my hands and mouth all over you.”

She
burned his playful, wide grin into her mind. It was a memory she had to hold onto. “I do owe you. I’d love to see you then, but are
you
going to be able to have restraint if you have me alone in a small space?”

“
It’ll be difficult, especially now that I know what you
really
want from me, but I’ll do my best. I better go home before it happens now. Baby, you have me very turned on. Call me if you get a minute at lunch tomorrow?”

“
I’ll make sure I get a minute.”

***

Lauren was getting ready for bed when her phone rang. She assumed it was Justin and smiled.

“Hey, it’s Ash. Andrew just told me that Justin was there today.”

“Yes, and I have so much to tell you. We’ve seen each other all week,” Lauren said with enthusiasm.

“Lauren, I have to come over right now.”

“Gosh, Ashley, I think you can wait until tomorrow for the details.”

“I have to tell you something—now.
I’ll be right over.”

Lauren waited for her
on the porch with an uneasy feeling. When Ashley arrived, she sat next to Lauren on her porch steps.

“Listen
, I overheard Beth Humphrey tell a girl that works next to me that she had dinner with Justin at his parents’ house Saturday. I’m telling you this because he didn’t even tell Andrew about the dinner, but maybe he decided he didn’t want to see her again. Then he ended up at the lake and felt something for you.”

“I hope you’re right. I mean, he spent so much time with me this week
. Surely he isn’t seeing both of us.”

“Andrew told me Justin didn’t like B
eth at all after they broke up. I can see why. I hate working for her. She’s such a bitch.”

“What are you talking about?”

“They dated their whole senior year of high school.”

Lauren began crying.
“Oh no, then I can’t see him. Even if he says he isn’t seeing her, I can’t take a chance that he’s lying to me. I was with my dad every day, and I didn’t see what he was doing. I can’t get hurt like that again. If he saw her then he must be thinking about her again,” she said, swiftly shaking her head.