Tonight and Forever (18 page)

Justin combed his fingers through Lorren’s hair. A part of him wished it was her ex-husband’s neck instead. “Why haven’t you told me about this before?”

She drew a deep breath. “Because I felt ashamed at having let him do that to me, and for being naive enough to marry him in the first place. I should have known what he was capable of. I should not have given him the opportunity to make my life a living hell. But I did, all in the name of love.”

Justin’s eyes softened as he gazed into her tear-stained face. “You have no reason to be ashamed, Lorren. He is the one who should be ashamed of what he’s put you through. Was last week the first time you’ve seen him since the divorce?”

“Yes.”

He pulled her closer. “I think we should pay Rod a visit and make him aware of what’s going on.”

“All right.” Lorren sighed, pressing closer to Justin. She hoped the phone calls would be reason enough for Rod to ask Scott to leave town.

“What do you mean he agreed to leave town voluntarily?”

Justin leaned against the desk with his arms folded across his chest as he waited for Rod to answer his question. A dark scowl covered his face.

He and Lorren had driven into town earlier that day and met with Rod. He’d sat and listened while Lorren had given Rod her account of the calls she’d gotten from her ex-husband. Afterward, they’d left to visit awhile with Ms. Nora. Then Justin had dropped Lorren off to visit Rhonda and the baby. He had returned to talk to Rod alone.

Rod eyed his friend. “Just what I said. He left town voluntarily. I didn’t have to throw him out. After you and Lorren left, I paid the guy a visit. He was staying at Cullers Inn and was already packing to leave when I got there. Since we always have a number of strangers lingering around after the Festival, no one in town gave his presence much thought.”

Rob took a sip of coffee. “He comes across as a likable guy. There doesn’t appear to be a mean streak in his entire body. In fact, he appeared rather pleasant.”

“A likeable guy? Pleasant? Hah! If you believe that, I have some prime vacation land to sell you in Alaska.”

Rod grinned. “I said he
seemed
to be a likable and pleasant guy, Justin. In this business, I discovered a long time ago people aren’t always what they seem to be. Besides, I’ve known Lorren since grade school, and I have no reason not to believe her story about him.”

Rod leaned back in his chair. “I talked with him for over half an hour. He said he came to Ennis to talk Lorren into giving him another chance. He hadn’t intended for his phone calls to upset her. Since he now knows she’s against the idea of the two of them getting back together, he’s willing to leave her alone.”

Justin arched a brow. “He actually told you all of that?”

“Yeah.”

“Sounds like the two of you got rather chummy.”

Rod chuckled. “Not hardly.”

“Are you sure he’s left town?” Justin asked.

“I gave him personal escort service into Dallas myself. I also told him that if he ever came back to Ennis and tried contacting Lorren, I’d arrest him.”

Justin sighed as he fished in his pocket and pulled out his car keys. “I should have gone with you to see him.”

“No, you did the right thing by letting me handle it, Justin. You’re too close to the situation, too close to Lorren. Things could have gotten a little messy with you there.” Rod’s eyes sparkled teasingly. “I take that back. Things could have gotten a whole lot messy with you there. When you came into my office this morning with Lorren, you were out for blood. I had to talk you out of going looking for him yourself. You were like a lion out to protect his lioness—at any cost.”

Justin met his friend’s stare. “I don’t want him to ever hurt her again, Rod.”

“I understand that,” Rod replied, tipping his head back to look up at Justin. He saw the anger flaring in Justin’s eyes. He hoped, for Lorren’s ex-husband’s sake, the man had the good sense to stay away from Ennis and leave Lorren alone. Rod wasn’t sure if Justin even realized it, but he was wearing his heart on his sleeve.

Rod stood. “Just to be on the safe side, I’m going to keep a close eye on things in town. And I plan to have one of my men cruise the area around Elliot Lake more often for a while, just to make sure Mr. Howard doesn’t change his mind about revisiting Ennis.”

“Thanks, Rod, I’d appreciate it.”

“Tell Lorren if she receives any calls that sound even remotely suspicious to let me know.”

Lorren placed the last of the dishes in the sink before turning around to Justin. “But I don’t understand why Rod wants a police car cruising the area when Scott has left town.”

“It’s a safety measure in case he didn’t quite understand he’s not welcome in Ennis.”

Lorren turned back to the sink. Reaching up, she opened the cabinet and placed a bowl inside. Justin’s eyes were drawn to the soft material of her skirt as it clung to her bottom. When she lifted her arms, his gaze zeroed in on her fine hips and shapely thighs as the material stretched upward. His body immediately hardened.

“Don’t do that, baby,” he said huskily.

Lorren turned around and gave him a strange look. “Don’t do what?”

“Don’t reach up like that.”

Their eyes held. Then Lorren’s lips curved into a mischievous smile when understanding dawned. “Oh, you mean don’t reach up like this?” she asked, deliberately reaching up farther this time.

“Woman, you’re really asking for it,” Justin said, his voice strained.

“Asking for what?”

“You know what,” he muttered, getting out of his chair and walking toward her.

Lorren laughed when she saw the evidence of his desire straining against his jeans. “You always want me.”

“Yes, I always want you,” Justin agreed, placing his arms around her waist.

“That makes me feel good,” she said, leaning into him. “For so long I considered myself undesirable.”

Justin pulled her closer. “Oh, but you are desirable, baby. Too desirable for your own good,” he said, as he began fumbling with the buttons on her blouse. “And mine.”

A
week later, dressed in shorts and a knit top, Lorren leaned back from the papers spread across her desk. She had been up since sunrise, putting the finishing touches on her book, and hadn’t eaten breakfast. A cup of coffee was all she’d had, and now her stomach was rebelling.

Glancing around the room, she felt Justin’s absence. He’d gone into the office to work half a day and had invited her to join him for lunch at Sophie’s Diner.

The tile floor felt cool under her bare feet as she walked into the kitchen. Even though it was still early, she had about two more hours of writing time left before joining Justin for lunch.

By eleven o’clock, she had completed her writing, showered and changed into a challis print skirt and silk blouse, and was ready to leave. She had just grabbed her car keys off the table when she heard the doorbell.

Lorren gasped when she looked through the peephole in the door to see who was on the other side.

Scott!

What was he doing back in Ennis after Rod had warned him against returning?

For a few moments, she stood with her hand on the doorknob, trying to decide what to do. She squared her shoulders when her internal fuming had reached the boiling point. She’d had enough of Scott.

Snatching open the door, she confronted the man who was standing before her dressed impeccably in a tailored suit. “What are you doing here, Scott?”

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small gift-wrapped box. “I bought you a gift. It’s sort of a peace offering.”

Lorren couldn’t help remembering the other times he’d caused her pain, then brought her gifts to make up for it. In the past, she had fallen for such gestures. But not anymore.

“No thanks. I don’t want it.”

“You’re really going to like this, Lorren,” he continued, ignoring her remark. “It cost me a bundle, but you’re worth every penny. I really should be angry with you for sending that small-town cop after me. But I know you’re still upset about how things ended between us.”

He held the gift out to her. “Take it, Lorren. I got it especially for you.”

Lorren’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t want it, Scott. Understand? Things are over between us.”

Scott hesitated, then stuffed the box back into his pocket. “I don’t believe that, and neither do you. You love me too much.”

The corners of his mouth curved upward. “Besides, what other man would put up with you and your problem, baby?”

“That does it!” Lorren tried slamming the door in his face, but Scott, suspecting what she was about to do, blocked its closing with his foot and pushed his way into the house.

“Forceful entry is against the law, Scott. You’re already in hot water for even being here. I would advise you to leave. Now!”

He shrugged his shoulder, walked into the center of the room, and glanced around. “Nice place, but it’s not where you belong. You belong back in California with me. There’s nothing for you here in this little depressing town.”

Lorren continued to stand by the open door, determined to keep distance between them. “I happen to disagree. Everything I’ve ever wanted is here.”

“You’re just not thinking clearly, sweetheart.” His voice softened cajolingly. “I know that while we were married I wasn’t the perfect husband, but I promise to do better. I even plan to help promote your career more. I’ve heard about your deal with Corvel, but I’ve got even bigger plans for you. How does the idea of the Kente Kids going to television grab you?”

Scott leaned against the bookcase with his arms crossed, a satisfied grin on his face, and contintued. “I’ve run the idea of the Kente Kids becoming a Saturday morning cartoon show past my boss, and he absolutely loves it. He believes they’d be a smash hit. Just think what that could mean. There haven’t been all-black cartoons on television since Cosby’s Fat Albert series. I can just see all the bucks rolling in, not to mention the recognition the network will give me as the creator of the series.”

Lorren stared at him. It was hard to believe she hadn’t seen through his self-centered, smooth-talking, scheming ways before they had married. But she hadn’t. Would she ever be able to get over her faulty judgment in choosing him for a husband?

Anger, the likes of which she’d never known, ripped through her. She slowly left her place near the door and walked a little farther into the room.

“You’ve got it all worked out, haven’t you?” Lorren asked, her voice as chilling as her expression.

Scott didn’t pick up on it either. He smiled, obviously thinking Lorren was giving him a compliment. “Yes, baby. I do.”

Lorren laughed. “Well, I hate to disappoint you, but you’ve evidently forgotten one major detail.”

His smile faded. He raised a brow. “What?”

“Me, and how I would feel about your whole scheme of things. I wouldn’t take you back, Scott Howard, if you were the last man on earth. Thanks to God, you’re not. And I certainly wouldn’t let you manage my career. My agent is doing a remarkable job, and I have no complaints. In fact, another network has already made us a similar offer, which I’m seriously considering at the moment. So forget it, Scott. I’m not interested in you or your deals. So get out.”

Something cold flashed in Scott’s eyes. His lips drew back in a snarl and he took a step toward her. “You little—”

“Don’t even think about touching her.”

Scott halted, going instantly still at the sound of the low, lethal, masculine voice. His gaze flew to the man who stood just inside the doorway. “Just who the hell are you?”

Justin ignored Scott’s question, and instead spoke to Lorren in a controlled voice. “Come here, baby.”

Scott’s eyes narrowed when Lorren didn’t waste any time going into Justin’s outstretched arms.

“You okay?” Justin asked her softly, placing his arms securely around her waist.

Lorren nodded. “Yes, I’m fine. But how did you know about—”

“The police cruiser. I was at Rod’s office when one of his men radioed in that he had seen a rental car in the area, and that the driver fitted this man’s description.”

Scott, obviously unnerved by the sight of Lorren in Justin’s embrace, spoke up. “Look you. I don’t know who you are, but you can’t just barge in here. This is between me and my wife.”

Justin’s eyes darkened, and Scott had the good sense to take a step back. “Don’t ever refer to Lorren as your wife. She was, and still is, too good for you.”

Scott laughed viciously and sneered. “Too good for me? Is that what you think about that cold, empty woman standing next to you? Boy are you in for a surprise. She’s nothing but a beautiful shell.”

Justin took a step forward. “Why you—”

“All right, that’s enough!” A uniformed Rod Clark walked into the house. He first fastened his level gaze on Justin. “I’m going to give you a ticket for speeding, Justin. You were doing every bit of ninety in that Corvette getting here.”

He then turned his attention to the other man. “And you, Mr. Howard, evidently don’t understand simple English. I thought I made it clear just a few days ago that you weren’t welcome in Ennis.”

Scott’s shoulder lifted in a dismissing shrug. “This is a free country, Sheriff, and I can go anywhere I please.”

Rod squinted at the ceiling for a moment, then looked at Scott again. “Not in my town, and not when it involves harassing one of the citizens I’m duty bound to protect.”

Rod turned to Lorren. “How do you want me to handle this? Just say the word and Mr. Howard will be my guest for a few days in the Ennis Park Suite Jail, cell number ten.”

Lorren clasped her hands in front of her, squaring her shoulders. “He’s leaving, Rod, and he’s not coming back. I think Scott has finally realized there’s nothing here in Ennis for him. And since he claims he came here on behalf of the network where he works, I’m sure the president of that company would not take too kindly to one of their up-and-coming junior executives behaving in such a despicable manner. I don’t want to, but if I have to, I
will
cause trouble for him. I have both the means and the funds to do it now.”

She turned to Scott. “Do you understand what I’m saying, Scott?”

He glared at her and the two men. “I understand.”

“Then I would suggest that you get in your car, leave, and don’t come back.”

Scott threw them all one last disapproving glance, then strode through the doorway. Rod and Justin followed behind him.

He had made it to the porch and was just about to walk down the steps when he whispered sneeringly to Justin. “Man, you’re making a big mistake if you’re thinking about making her your woman. She ain’t worth your effort in bed.”

By the time Lorren reached the porch, she found Scott sprawled on his face in the front yard. “What happened?”

Justin shrugged. “He slipped.”

“I did not,” Scott yelled, pushing himself up on his elbows. “You tripped me.”

“Your word against mine.”

“Sheriff, you saw him,” Scott said, getting to his feet and wiping dirt off his expensive suit. “He tripped me.”

“Sorry, I didn’t see a thing, Mr. Howard. The sun temporarily blinded me. Are you sure you weren’t just a little clumsy?” Rod asked, grabbing Scott’s arm and leading him over to the rental car.

“I’m going to waste the taxpayers’ money one more time and escort you across the county line. If you come back again, causing problems, I’ll make sure you find out just how mean I can be when my patience is tried.”

Rod yanked open the driver’s door to the rental car and shoved Scott inside. He then walked casually around the vehicle to his patrol car.

“Don’t think I’m going to forget about that ticket, Justin,” Rod said, before getting inside the vehicle.

“I didn’t think for one minute that you would,” Justin replied. He walked over to Scott’s car to have a few words with him. He lowered his voice to a deadly tone.

“Just thought I’d tell you before you go, Howard, just in case you’re thinking about returning—Lorren belongs to me. And what’s mine I keep and protect. If you ever try contacting her again, you’ll have me to deal with. Just remember that.”

An angry Scott nodded before starting the engine and pulling away, with Rod following behind.

When the two vehicles could no longer be seen, Justin walked back up to the porch.

“You sure you’re okay?”

Lorren nodded as Justin followed her back inside the house and closed the door behind them.

“Yes, I’m all right. Scott forced his way inside here and there was nothing I could do,” she replied, kicking off her shoes and walking into the bedroom.

Justin followed.

Mindless of the fact that she’d just gotten dressed to meet Justin for lunch moments earlier, Lorren began stripping off her clothes and rehanging them neatly in the closet. She didn’t want thoughts of Scott to consume her. He had been a big mistake in her life, but she had to accept that and move on. But he had taught her a very valuable lesson—all that glittered was not gold.

Lorren shuddered and forced herself to clear her mind. Right now she only wanted to concentrate on the man leaning against the bedroom door, watching her. He was the man she loved more than anything, and at this very moment she needed him to make her feel whole.

“You’re one tough lady, Lorren Jacobs. I was proud of you today.”

She frowned slightly, feeling somewhat undeserving of his words. “I was scared, Justin. But I couldn’t let Scott know it. For once, I wanted to stand up to him.”

“You did, and I really don’t think you’ll hear from him again.”

“I hope not.”

Lorren backed up a few steps until the back of her legs touched the side of the bed. “Love me, Justin,” she whispered. “Please love me. Now.”

Justin straightened his stance and walked toward the woman standing next to the bed, wearing a lacy black bra and a black half slip.

“We’re missing lunch,” he said huskily, coming to stand in front of her. “And we’ll probably miss dinner, too.”

Lorren framed his face with her hands, pulling him to her. “Right now, I have a totally different type of hunger. One only you can feed,” she said, moments before his lips covered hers.

Beautiful.

The fragrance Lorren wore and the scent of their lovemaking combined forces and retriggered primitive yearnings deep within Justin. However, he refused to give in to the urge to make love to her again…at least, not yet.

It was late afternoon and dusk was slowly approaching. They had only been out of the bedroom once, and that had been when Rod had dropped by to deliver the speeding ticket.

He and Lorren had used that time to grab something to eat, only to return to the bedroom. Now she lay snuggled against him, asleep. Her soft curves molded to the contours of his body. He allowed his gaze to travel over her face.

Beautiful.

There was no other word he could think of that would describe not only her, but also what they had shared that afternoon. Their lovemaking had spiraled to new heights.

Some sort of desperation had driven both of them, had consumed them. It had made them so wild and out of control that the bed was a complete mess because of it. The bottom sheet had somehow worked its way to the top; pillows and the bedcover were strewn on the floor.

Justin breathed deeply. The truth of the matter was that, even with the hot, fiery turbulence of their mating, he had felt something beyond just satisfying their bodies. He’d felt an inner contentment he hadn’t felt in a long time.

How had Lorren accomplished something in a couple of months that other women hadn’t been able to achieve in ten years? How could she make him feel so complete? So whole?

He continued to hold her as his thoughts shifted to Denise. She had been his first love, and he appreciated that fact. Through her, he had been able to grow and mature.

He could now admit that after her death he had compared every woman he would meet to her and none would measure up. It hadn’t dawned on him until much later that there was not another Denise Wakefield Madaris out there, and it wouldn’t be fair to her memory to try to find one. Deep down he never thought he’d get lucky enough to find the kind of happiness he and Denise had shared a second time.