A Week for Love to Bloom (15 page)

“I was in the middle of telling Brett about you. I told him I had a boyfriend. I also told him not to flirt with me anymore. I
didn’t need your help.”

“I saw him whisper in your ear before you went into the
bank, and then I had several minutes to relive it in my head. When you two came out, he still had that fucking grin on his face. I was pissed he got that close to you. The anger I felt thinking he might’ve touched you in the bank went right through me.”

Justin clenched the comforter
. He could still feel the adrenaline pumping through him. “I know what he wants. Anyone watching him would’ve seen it.”

“You can’t react that way again.
I’m certain in the past you dated beautiful women who were eyed by other men. Is this how you behaved when you were jealous then?”

“
I’ve never been jealous, only with you. I never noticed anyone admiring who I dated in the past, so I guess I didn’t care enough to see it. This hasn’t happened before, so I didn’t know how to control it. I swear, Lauren, it’s the truth. I’ve never known that kind of fury.”

“God, Justin,
you’re going to have to get a grip. I’ve never thought of myself as beautiful, but guys flirt with me from time to time. I love you, and you’re going to have to trust that I’m not going to flirt back.”

“He took it a step further than just talking to you
, and you know it. For a second I thought he was going to kiss you. I regret pushing him and yelling, but I’m not sorry I told him to stay away from you. It’s going to kill me knowing he’s working with you, but I know I don’t get a say in it, and I don’t want to be that kind of boyfriend.” Justin’s voice softened with his last sentence.

Lauren sat next to him on
the bed and took his hand. Justin turned to her and watched the anger vanish from her eyes. Relief washed over him as the knot in his stomach waned.

“Brett
looked terrified. I’ll probably have to plead with him to return to work. I like the roller coaster we’ve been on, but since I haven’t been on it before, I’m not familiar with the next turn. You really scared me,” she said softly.

“I don’t know the next turn, either, and I have a feeling this is far from the last surpris
e. I’m sorry. Please tell me you’ll forgive me.”

“I love you, and
I’m not going anywhere. Thank you for looking out for me. I have to admit, as embarrassed as I am about returning to the bank and facing Brett at the nursery, I’m truly flattered. I like knowing if someone tried to hurt me, you’d protect me.”

He gently ran the back of his hand down her cheek before taking hold of her chin. He drew a line across her bottom lip
with his thumb as the rosy fullness lit the match on his desire. His other hand slowly slid up behind her neck and into her hair, massaging her scalp as he seduced her back to him with the most sensual, heartmelting kiss.

“I love you
, Lauren. Again, I’m so sorry I hurt you. It was never my intention, and I hope you can forgive me.”

“I already have. Now, there’s
something that has to happen next.”

“What?” He was puzzled.

“Make-up sex.”

“C
ould you be more perfect?” he said as he laid her back on the bed.

***

Justin rolled off of Lauren and let out a breath. “You’re so good at that. Can I please hold you hostage?”

“If I let you then you’re no
t holding me hostage. I have a hunch though, that if I don’t leave soon, your parents are going to be pounding on the door. I’m really worried about your family accepting me. I can’t imagine I’m the type of girl they want you with.”

“I told you
they’re going to love you. We’re a package deal now, so if they want me in their lives then they’ll be kind to you.”

“I love you, but I
won’t interfere with you mending things with your family. I won’t allow it.”

“Stop,
it’ll work out fine. Please, don’t worry about it.”

“I better go
. If you don’t mind, I thought we could try not to see each other for a few days, so you can spend time with them. I really need to focus on the nursery, and I have to call my dad and force him to explain some financial stuff to me,” she said as she dressed.

Justin sighed. “I do need to spend time with my family and the few friends I have left in this town, but it will be hard for me to go without seeing your gorgeous face. I love you,
Lauren.”

“I love you, too. Now, stop spo
iling me with all this attention, or I’ll be hiding in your trunk on your way to Nashville.” Lauren leaned over the bed and gave Justin one last kiss.

Jonathan stopped to speak to his father in the hallway of their office. “We have to intervene with this
Lauren
situation. I was just humiliated at the bank. Beth Humphrey informed me that Justin got into a fight over Lauren with some guy in their parking lot yesterday.”

“I think
it’s time we have her over for dinner,” Jeffrey said.

“
How is that going to help?” Jonathan asked.

“My main concern is this business de
al. I want to see if she has an inkling of what lies ahead and if she has the funds to bail herself out.”

“I seriously doubt she knows, or she
would’ve paid up already.”

“I just want to be sure she isn’t holding out for her father to do it first.
I’ll have your mother arrange dinner for this weekend.”

Lauren called Brett to apologize and pleaded with him to return to work on Saturday. She also called her father to ask him some questions.

“Dad,
it’s Lauren.”

“Hi, honey.
How’s my girl?”

“
I’m good, but I really need you to answer some questions for me. I’m worried about making it through the winter months. I can’t see from the journal entries how we had enough money to float us the last few years. What’s written in the books doesn’t seem like enough.”

“Um,
Lauren, your mom and I were frugal when it came to the extra’s.”

“I don’t
understand. I’ve never noticed a change in anything we do around here. I only saw a change once you left, and I need your support in figuring out what I’m doing wrong. The income is roughly the same, but once I pay expenses, there isn’t much left. I can’t see how you made it stretch.”

“B
ring the books up here one day, and we can go over them.”

“Dad, I don’t have time. I took off two weeks ago on one of our busiest days, and you didn’t help me then. After
everything, you owe me this.”

“
I’m sorry, Lauren, but it’s kind of hard to do over the phone.”

“Then come here for a day. I need your help, and I want you to meet someone.”

“Is it a man?” Tom asked.

“Ye
s, his name is Justin Garrison.” There was a long stretch of silence. “Dad, did you hear me?”

“I
s he a son of Jeffrey Garrison?”

“Yes, but
he’s so down to earth. You’ll love him.”

“Lauren, I can’t see you with a Garrison. I mean, I can’t see
you blending with that family.”

“
What’s that supposed to mean?” She didn’t want anyone acknowledging what she feared was true.

“Nothing. I just feel you deserve better. Look, I don’t think it would be a good
idea for me to come down. Let me know when you can make it up here again.”

“Dad, I—”

“I have to go, honey. Bye,” Tom said before he hung up on her.

Lauren was furious. She wondered what alien nation had abd
ucted the father she once knew.

The next morning, Lauren felt something on her face. When she opened her eyes, Justin was leaning over her and running his thumb down her cheek.

“Justin, what are y
ou doing in my room?”

“Your mom’s a pretty
cool lady. She was determined I was coming up here to see you and would not take no for an answer. I brought you bagels.” Justin held up a small paper bag for Lauren to see before he sat it on her dresser. “I waited the three days, but you should know I wouldn’t wait a minute longer. Now scoot your butt over, so I can feel your warm body.”

“
I’m not doing it with my mom downstairs.”

“
I’m offended. I just want to cuddle, but I like the way you’re thinking, so maybe you need to come over and get into my bed instead.”

Lauren pulled
back the covers. “OK, but you asked for it.”

Justin took a step back.
“Shit, Lauren. I didn’t think ahead about what you’d be wearing under the sheets. I guess I thought you’d have pajamas on. This wasn’t a good idea.”

Lauren w
as wearing a thin white tank top and purple panties. “Oh no, you wanted to invade my bed and cuddle, so you’re just going to have to deal with it.”

Justin curled up with her
, keeping the lower half of his body away from her skin as much as possible.

“You know I have to get ready for work soon, right?”

“I know, and I’m here to work, too.”

“Oh yes, that. I forgot.”

“Um, Lauren, I need to ask you something. My parents want to know if you’ll come over for dinner tomorrow night.”

“Already?” Lauren sat up
in bed. Apprehension settled in the pit of her stomach.

“Are you
here this morning to butter me up?”

“No, but if
you’re into kinky shit then I’m sure I can find something to do with you and butter,” Justin said, laughing.

Lauren flipped the blankets back and straddled him.

“Whoa, get off Lauren—Now—Shit.” Justin couldn’t help but grab her hips and squeeze them right at the top of her panties. “Damn, you look so fucking hot. Now I’m getting an erection, and it doesn’t feel good with you on top of it in these jeans. You know I can’t control myself for long, so cut it out.”

“Fine, but
that’s what you get for springing this on me. I’ll go to your parents’ for dinner, but I’m going to be a ball of nerves.” Lauren climbed off of him and sat on her legs facing him.

“
I’ll be right by your side. I want my parents to see how special you are.” Justin tried to readjust himself in his jeans. “I could tell you had a feisty side when we met, but you’re taking it to a whole new level.”

“I’
ve learned from the best,” she said with a wink.

“
Woman
, one of these days when your mom’s not home, I’m giving it to you in this bed.”

Lauren
swiftly straddled him again. “Promise?”

Staring him down, s
he grabbed his finger and slid her wet mouth over it. She began sucking on it like a Popsicle before she slowly pulled it out. She knew she took it too far when she was flat on her back in a second.

J
ustin lay on top of her, penetrating her with his intense, carnal stare. “I warned you not to push me, Lauren. I wasn’t joking. I love you, but I also lust you, and just like the jealousy thing, I don’t know how to stop myself after a certain point.

“
I’m trying to be respectful to you and your mother, but you must not care. I’m also seeing you don’t know what the word restraint means,” Justin said angrily before he got up and walked out.

The breath she was holding escaped her as she lay stunned.
She thought it was the hottest thing ever, and then she became infuriated. Lauren went through the motions of getting ready that morning but at an accelerated pace. After she dressed, she looked out her bedroom window and saw Justin on the tractor. She let the kitchen door slam behind her before she barreled through the yard. He turned it off and looked at her.

“W
hat the hell was that, Justin? You started all of it, so you’re not leaving me in my bed to feel like shit! It wasn’t fair. How the hell am I supposed to know when you’re at your breaking point?”

“You want to talk about fair. You straddled me i
n your fucking panties and sucked on my damn finger like you wanted to suck on something else!”

Lauren clenched her
hands into fists as tears began streaming down her face. “You’re the one who came into
my
bedroom and insisted on climbing into
my
bed when I was only wearing purple—fucking—panties!”

Justin jumped off the tractor and grabbed Lauren by the back of her hair, pulli
ng it out of its ponytail as his other hand wrapped around her body, slamming it against his. Inches from his face, Lauren saw someone else’s eyes. Never before had she seen what was now living inside them. She tried to resist, but he turned and pinned her between his body and the tractor. He grabbed her head with both hands, assaulting her mouth with his tongue, as he released his hot breath.