Forever Rain (Rain Will Fall Trilogy #1) (6 page)

“Thank you, lovey.” He was so sweet and understanding. I ignored the fact that his arm around my waist did not ignite the feeling of passion and possession that I’d felt with Jordan.

There you go again! Well so much for your promise to suppress any more time spent of thinking about Jordan. OK, fine…focus, focus.

“Goodnight then. Don’t forget a couple ibuprofen, kids.” Aunt Suzette winked at us and made her way out bidding others goodnight as she left.

As the band continued to wind down from the mind blowing, body gyration of dancing legs and winding hips, they started a series of slower love songs.

“Ah, now that is more like what music should be.” Robert guided me onto the dance floor and held me an appropriate distance from his body; such a gentle and considerate soul. I placed my head on his shoulder. Around the dance floor once, twice…my eyes closed as I replayed Jordan’s arms around me. His skillful moves and decadent hands moved across my body, my thighs, cupping my bottom. Bliss, pure pleasure, erotic and hot against the fence…I spun out of Robert’s arms and bolted to the door, clashing into Jenna.

“Zoe, what’s…?” Jenna’s concerned look slowed me to answer.

“Fine, little headache…dance with Rob. Be right back.” I bolted to the house and this time entered through the back door. I was panting as I made my way across the kitchen and through the living room, down the hallway, up the stairs…how big is this fucking house! I was about in tears as I yanked open my borrowed bedroom door again and slid the lock in place.

Panting for air to hit my burning lungs, I slowed my breathing and threw myself on the bed. My hands made their way under my flirty dress and yanked off the thong that was covering my wet pussy. My finger dipped into the warmth at the apex of my thighs and I gyrating my hips to the movement of blissful, capable hands I imagined as Jordan’s.

In no time at all I was there. The orgasm hit me and I bit my lips from screaming his name. Silently, I chanted his name over and over. For the second time in less than an hour I had an orgasm with Jordan’s name on my lips. Yes, way too much alcohol. I comforted myself with that thought.

Taking a deep breath, I got up on shaky legs and made my way to the bathroom. Slowly I collected what little sanity I had left and went back to the party that was just about over now. I was Robert’s girlfriend, for Christ’s sake. He has every right to touch me. So, if he touches me tonight, down there, then that would be just fine and I will enjoy it. As a matter of fact, I will instigate it as I know that he respects me too much to indulge in such intimacy so soon in our relationship. His words, not mine, but I’d readily agreed with him at the time.

“Ah, there you are. Feeling better? Although you look a little flushed.” He placed a kiss on my forehead and continued to fuss over me. “My poor girl. This party has taken a toll on you.” Glancing at his watch, he confirmed that it was after one in the morning. He looked at me sympathetically and rubbed my arms.

Feeling like a total pile of elephant dung, I mercifully leaned into his slight hug.

“You should have insisted that Jenna put a couple hours limit on the party.” I was nodding my head in agreement as a full on headache attached itself to my aching temples.

“I’ll walk you to your car.” Like a good and dutiful girlfriend, I held his hand in mine and we made our way outside. I took a detour to the side where there were a few green oak trees and pointed out the nice night and great weather we had in May.

I purposely stood behind one of the trees and pulled Robert in a close embrace. My plan of seduction firmly in place, I rubbed my chest on his and looped my arms around his neck while kissing his lips.

“Um, Rob, I am feeling a little reckless right now.”
How do I tell him he can, um…

“My poor love. You are tired, sweets. We are just not into wild and crazy things.” Well hell. So much for that seduction scene.

He carefully removed my arms from his neck.

“You will feel more like yourself tomorrow,” he said. Such a good and considerate man. He took my hand and led me back to the party that had started to dwindle. I was met by more hugs and cheers. The party buses were lined up in the driveway. Most of my friends and acquaintances lived in the Houston area. Jenna, ever the party planner, rented limo buses to and from Austin complete with hotel rooms. Aunt Suzette, Mia, Veronica and I were staying at Jenna and David’s home.

Robert gave Jenna a peck on her cheek while chastising her about the party that lasted way too long and wore me out. His concern for me was touching and I reassured him that I would go straight to bed. Jenna tried to suppress a smile. The caterers and cleaning crew were busy with the after party duties so we headed into the house. Veronica and Mia were singing out of tune and wobbled upstairs as I went to the kitchen for a glass of water.

“Great party, love.” David came up behind Jenna and placed both arms around her while nuzzling her neck. Jenna giggled like a schoolgirl as he whispered something in her ear. It didn’t hurt that Jenna is elegant and beautiful. She also has a doting husband who was completely in love with her. Our parents would have liked David; he’s a good person and Jenna is deservedly happy. I rolled my eyes at them but was smiling as I took a sip of water. They both laugh at me as I teased them about too much public displays of affection.

“Thanks again for the party. I had a great time, and catching up with my friends was a bonus.”

“Good, sweetie. That’s what I aimed for. For you to have fun; since you work so much, it seemed like a good time to throw you a party,” Jenna said, leaning into David’s embrace.

“By the way, Zoe, it was good to see Jordan again. I knew he was in town to see David for business but I’m glad he could stay for the party.” I looked over Jenna’s head and squinted my eyes at David. Suddenly he was restless, shuffling his feet. He knew I wanted nothing better than to never set eyes on Jordan again.

“Sorry, Zoe. Look, the poor guy was dying to see you. He has tried many times over the past few years and, well, I just felt sorry for him. Don’t hold it against me for not telling you he would be at the party. Please? Say you forgive me.” I saw that he was honest and did feel bad to be put in this situation, so I nodded my head.

“OK, David. All is well. He did say he was sorry for leaving without telling you goodbye and that he will be in touch.”

“So you did talk to him then?” asked Jenna.

“Yeah, I talked to him. Nothing resolved and good riddance to him and his endeavors but I am happy to move on with my quiet life as it is.” They both knew that Jordan and I had been an item when I was in college and that he hurt me. Although he still did business with David in banking, I did not want to hear about him and what gorgeous women he had hanging on to him.

“Well, I’m glad you moved on. I just want you to be happy, Zoe. You deserve it,” said Jenna.

“Keep an open mind. Sometimes the best things in life are right in front of us. Don’t let hurt keep happiness and fulfillment away.” David said in a quiet tone. He was looking at me and I tried not to read too much into what he said, but I knew what he meant just the same.

“Goodnight, you two,” I said.

Jenna kicked off her shoes and bent down to pick them up. David spanked her on her ass. She yelped and giggled while running down the hall and up the winding stairway as he ran after her.

After a quick shower, I slid into bed. I pulled my iPad off the night stand and updated my Facebook status about the party. I saw that several of my friends had already posted photos of the event and chatted about it. At this moment I felt thankful that I had so many people in my life that loved and cared about me.

Again, I thought of my parents and knew they would be proud of Jenna and me, and grateful to Aunt Suzette for being steadfast in our lives while raising us as her own. I turned out the lights, but sleep eluded me. My mind drifted back to my past relationship with Jordan.

Chapter 6

Ten Years Ago

After Jenna’s June wedding, I headed back to Houston with Aunt Suzette and settled into my job at The Busy Bee Bookstore. The weather was typical for this time of the year in Texas—hot and humid. I spent a couple days with Mia at her father’s mansion in River Oaks, a ritzy area of Houston that reeked of old money.

Mia’s mom had left her dad for a doctor from New York when Mia was 12 and her brother, Trevor, was a senior in high school. Her mother divorced the doctor after two years of marriage and came back to Houston. She convinced Mia’s dad to take her back, but six months later she left again and went to Paris with another man. Her father continued to raise Mia and Trevor. He never remarried, although he was never lacking for female companionship.

Mia, Veronica and I settled down at the pool with ice cold drinks and lazily talked about friends, school and life in general when I got a text from Jenna asking me to give her a call. She and David had been back in Austin for a few weeks after their honeymoon and were settling into their condo as a new married couple.

“Hi. How’s married life?” I asked as soon as she answered the phone.

“Loving it. My man is the absolute best! I am so in lust…I mean, in love with him,” she said giggling. We chatted for a few minutes while catching up on the past weeks and memories of her wedding.

“Um…so, David asked me to tell you something.” I sat up in the lounging chair wondering what the heck?

“OK. What’s the something?” I asked.

“He’s been doing some business with Jordan Dawson and I know you don’t know who Jordan is. I’ve met him several times, but he always had a different girl with him so I thought he was like taken or something. Anyway, Jordan told David he danced with you at our wedding and now…ummm…”

“Whoa…slow down. I did dance with Jordan, but I think he felt sorry for me since I was staring at him like the entire evening. And yeah, he was with a drop dead gorgeous woman,” I said.

“Well, he asked if David would give him your phone number but Jordan wanted to know if it would be OK with you first, which I think is rather sweet. So…?”

“Hmmm. I don’t know, Jen…I mean, the guy is gorgeous, charming and sexy, that’s for sure,” I said as I recalled our dance and how mesmerized I was with him.

“But, I am not sure that I’m his type. We probably have nothing in common and I am way too busy with school.” I tried to stay calm hearing that he was interested in me and silently doing a happy dance, but I was also trying to be cautious. I didn’t have any desire to have a one-night stand, and since I’d only had a couple boyfriends in high school that only got as far as first base with me, I felt way out of his league.

I had been kissed and my last boyfriend went as far as rubbing and touching my breast. That was the extent of my sexual experience and I’m sure that someone like Jordan would not be satisfied with a few kisses. To put it mildly, he scared the shit out of me.

“As much as I’m flattered, I must say no, Jen.”

“OK. You need to follow your instincts, although he is a very nice person and I wish you would at least go on one date with him. He lives here in Austin and Baylor isn’t far away, but I’ll tell David to let him know you’re not interested,” Jenna said. I think she thought I would change my mind, but I stood firm and changed the subject.

“OMG! You totally did not turn down that Jordan guy!” exclaimed Mia.

“Eavesdropping?” I asked and jumped in the pool to cool off. Veronica and Mia jumped in as well and peppered me with questions about the conversation with Jenna. Since we started college, Mia’s had a couple boyfriends but she got bored with them quickly, and Veronica hadn’t had a boyfriend since she was in eleventh grade.

“Come on, Zoe, live a little. Jordan could easily be on the cover of
GQ
magazine. He oozes sexuality. Honest to God, the man has all the right stuff!”

I ducked my head under the water and Veronica stop twirling around and looked at Mia.

“Why couldn’t it be me?” she asked with a sigh. We continued our conversation about hot guys and the debate of who was the hottest of all our guy friends.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The summer passed quickly and I headed back to school in September. I was thrilled that I’d done well in college. I was a junior this year. This semester, I will start going to the hospital for clinicals, which is direct contact with patients. Mia, Veronica and I were living in a campus apartment now and we were thrilled that we had individual bedrooms and bathrooms.

Veronica was always the first one to get up in the morning so she makes the coffee for us and tea for Mia. We chatted for a few minutes while the coffee was brewing when the phone in the living room rang. Mia picked it up as she was on her way into the kitchen.

“Zoe…that was the front office. There is a delivery down there for you.”

I arched my brows. “Really? This early? I don’t remember ordering anything. Maybe Aunt Suzette sent me something or maybe…”

“How about, maybe you can go and find out what it is,” Veronica said, rolling her eyes. Her long silky black hair hung over her shoulder past her perfect voluptuous breasts. Swear to God, the girl was blessed with an amazing curvy body.

“You don’t have time, chick,” Mia chimed in, looking at the clock on the wall.

“Oh, God. I’m so nervous and excited at the same time. I can’t believe we’re finally starting clinicals, hands-on patient care,” Veronica said as she pulled bagels out of the toaster oven for us and I shoved a banana in their hands.

We gulped down out breakfast, showered and donned our student hospital scrubs with a huge patch on both arms with the word STUDENT sewn on just in case someone could not identify us from a real nurse despite the deer in the headlights look we were bound to have on our faces, especially during our first clinical semester.

We made our way to the hospital and met with the instructor. There was a pre-clinical conference, then we were paired with a nurse and observed her in action. The day flew by and we were convinced that we’d never achieve the level of skill that we observed today, but the instructor gently reminded us that it was only our first day and we had two more years before the state would trust us with a license.