Tonight and Forever (10 page)

Lifting his head, he looked down at her. His gaze was gentle. “You do know things aren’t completely settled between us, don’t you?”

Lorren swallowed and shifted her eyes downward a little. “What do you mean?”

“As I told you before, I’m not into one-night stands. And I’m not interested in a casual entanglement either.”

“What exactly are you interested in, Justin?”

“For now, I want to spend some time with you. I want us to get to know each other without your putting up a wall. If you’d like, you can call the shots. We won’t do anything you don’t want to. I’m willing to take things slow.”

Lorren swallowed again. The last thing she needed was to become involved with Justin. But somehow, she felt involved with him already. He was the first man who made her blood race, whose touch stole the very breath from her lungs, and whose kisses made her entire body burn. And he had admitted he wanted her. For those reasons, shouldn’t she try discovering more of him? And along with him, shouldn’t she try discovering more of herself?

“All right.” She trembled when she finally said the words.

Justin’s embrace tightened, drawing her closer. “You won’t regret it.” He wanted to say more, but he didn’t.

“So, how was the cookout?”

“It was okay, but you were missed. I know it’s kind of late, but I’d like you to meet Clayton. Will you walk with me over to my place?”

Lorren felt tension seep out of her, leaving her oddly relieved and feeling closer to Justin. “Sure, why not. Besides, if we don’t put an end to your brother and Syneda’s conversation, it might go on forever. She gets kind of fired up whenever she discusses law.”

Justin laughed. “So does Clayton. But when I left them, they weren’t discussing it, they were debating it. They couldn’t seem to agree on any of the issues.”

Lorren stuck her hands into the pockets of her skirt as they started walking back toward Justin’s place.

Never had she felt this sense of serenity with anyone since her divorce, a sense of well-being Justin could instill so effortlessly.

Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he pulled her closer to his side. They began walking toward the front of the house. Taking the path through the trees, they headed toward the spot where Justin’s brother and Syneda stood in deep conversation.

Lorren could no longer deny she drew comfort from the strong arms around her.

“S
he’s a girl, Dr. J.!” The little boy with a mop of curly black hair snarled.

“You must be Erick,” Lorren replied, trying to hide her grin. Upon opening the door, she’d found Justin with five youngsters surrounding him.

“No, she’s not,” a brown-eyed boy with toasted skin answered beboppingly. “She’s a knockout.”

Lorren laughed. “Thanks. And who are you?”

“I’m Charlie. The C in my name stands for
cool.”

“Oh, all right, Charlie,” Lorren said, grinning and turning her attention to the remaining three youngsters. “Now who do we have here?”

“I’m Derick, ma’am. Erick’s twin brother,” a third little boy answered. “But we’re not identical twins,” the youngster with close-cropped, curly black hair said shyly.

In more ways than one,
Lorren thought, gazing at the mild-mannered Derick, then back at Erick, his surly twin brother, who was eyeing her with distaste.

“I’m Conan,” the fourth little boy replied. His oval face was cocoa in color, and his gorgeous ebony eyes matched his tight curly hair. “My friends call me the ‘Barbarian.’”

“Oh,” Lorren answered as a smile touched her lips. “I’ll try remembering that. Who’re you?” she asked the remaining little boy with dark brown curly hair who was clinging shyly to Justin’s hand. It was obvious he was the youngest of the group. His small bashful face held the innocence of an angel. She fell in love with him at once.

“That’s Vincent, ma’am,” Derick answered. “He doesn’t talk much. He’s only five, but Dr. J. always invites him along with us big guys.”

Lorren’s smile widened. “Hello, Vincent. How are you?”

The little boy cast Justin an uneasy look. Justin nodded his head, then the boy answered softly, “Fine.”

“She’s not even ready, Dr. J.!” Erick stormed. “Just like a girl to make us have to wait.”

“You’re wrong, Erick,” Lorren chuckled. “I’m ready. I just need help getting my things to the car.”

“We don’t have a car. Dr. J. brought an RV,” Conan quickly corrected her.

“That’s right,” Lorren replied. “He did mention he would.”

“I bet she’s bringing a whole bunch of stuff we won’t be needing. Girl’s stuff. We’re going to be crowded out, Dr. J.,” Erick stated in disgust.

Lorren tapped her finger thoughtfully to her chin. “In that case I may as well leave behind the huge container full of homemade brownies and cookies I was bringing along.”

That statement captured the boys’ attention. Justin, who had been quiet all this time, released a hearty laugh. “I was wondering how long it would take you to wrap them around your finger.”

Lorren smiled up at him. She hadn’t seen him since the cookout Thursday night. He looked handsome as ever. She had never seen such beautiful thick eyelashes on a man before. They were lashes a woman would kill for.

“Hey you guys, this is Lorren Jacobs. She’s a friend of mine and will be our special guest for the weekend.”

“We’ve never taken a girl along before, Dr. J.,” Erick replied, not bothering to hide his displeasure. “Why is she coming? What makes her so special?”

Complete silence fell upon the group. They eyed both Lorren and Justin speculatively, waiting for Justin’s answer. Lorren noticed even Vincent had emerged from his hiding place behind Justin to analyze them.

“First of all, she was kind enough to fill in for Mr. Bob. He couldn’t make it this trip. Now, let me see what makes her so special.”

Justin then tipped his head to one side as if studying Lorren. “Ummm…she’s pretty. Real pretty. She can cook. She understands and likes children, because she writes books especially for them to read. And when you guys get older you’ll discover all men like having a girl around every once in a while to keep them in line. I guess all those things make her special.”

Lorren felt herself tint from Justin’s statement, feeling just as special as he’d made her sound.

“You keep Dr. J. in line?” Charlie asked, as if the task was a monumental undertaking.

Her eyes squinted with laughter. “I try my best.”

“Wow!” the boys exclaimed in unison.

Justin laughed. “Come on, you guys. That’s enough questions. How about grabbing those things over there and heading on out to the RV. And watch your step.”

When the boys were out of hearing range, Justin turned to Lorren. His gaze held her so intently she was only vaguely aware his arm had slipped around her waist. He pulled her against his chest, resting his chin on the top of her head. “Are you ready to have a terrific weekend?”

Lorren took a step back and gazed up at him. “I’m more than ready.”

Justin smiled. “Good. John and Juanita should be there with their group about an hour after we arrive.” He extended his hand to her. “Let’s go. The guys are waiting.”

“Is this a recreational vehicle or an apartment on wheels?” Lorren asked, stepping on board the huge RV and glancing around.

Talk about going camping with all the necessities! It was equipped with a refrigerator and stove, private toilet and shower facilities, a game table, enough room to sleep at least six people comfortably, a disc player, a television and VCR.

Justin chuckled. “I ask myself the same question whenever I’m using it. You may as well make yourself comfortable and enjoy the ride. It’ll take a couple of hours to get where we’re going.”

“When can we start eating the goodies?” Erick asked excitedly licking his lips, his discontent with Lorren’s gender suddenly forgotten.

“Not for a while yet. You just finished breakfast. Besides, it’s too early for sweets,” Justin answered, getting behind the steering wheel and snapping his seat belt in place. “Try keeping yourselves busy until snack time.”

“When is snack time?” Charlie asked eagerly.

“Not for at least another hour or so,” Justin replied, grinning. Now he understood what his mother meant when she claimed he and his brothers almost ate her out of house and home when they were kids. Little boys seemed to have bottomless pits instead of stomachs.

Apparently satisfied with Justin’s answer, the boys, with the exception of Vincent, went toward the back of the RV. Vincent, Lorren noticed, had curled up on one of the sofa-sleepers and was going to sleep. “Vincent isn’t very talkative, Justin. Are you sure he’s feeling well?” she asked with concern.

“That’s just the way he is. He’s the newest member of the group, and is still somewhat shy. He’s only been with the Society a little over a year, and during that time he’s come a long way. He’s the lone survivor of an automobile accident that killed both his parents and little sister.”

Lorren shuddered as painful memories resurfaced. Her own parents had been killed in a car accident. She would never forget how she, at the age of eight, had taken a final stroll with her parents when she’d walked behind their caskets up the aisle of the church.

“And to make matters worse,” Justin continued, “Vincent had no other family. When he first arrived he was scared and withdrawn. He’s slowly coming around. I spend more time with him than I do the other boys. He still has a few medical problems as a result of the accident.”

“Nothing serious, I hope.”

Justin shook his head. “Not anymore. He’s coming along nicely.”

Lorren met his gaze. “I’m glad you get to spend a lot of time with him, Justin. The worst thing anyone can do is let him continue to withdraw. I went through something similar when I first went to live with Mama Nora and Papa Paul. If it hadn’t been for their love and patience, I don’t think I could have survived emotionally. It’s very hard to adjust when you’ve lost everyone you’ve ever loved.”

They remained silent for the remainder of the trip until the boys interrupted them for a snack.

They finally reached the campgrounds of Davy Crockett National Forest. Justin delegated the boys the task of unpacking the smaller items from the RV. To Lorren’s surprise, the five of them worked well together.

John and Juanita Graham arrived with their group within the hour. Lorren took an immediate liking to the attractive woman who was married to Justin’s old college friend.

Juanita had smooth almond skin, high cheekbones, ebony eyes, and a bubbly and friendly smile. Her short curly hair fit almost caplike around her head, emphasizing the beauty of her features and giving her a dark, sultry look, even while dressed in a pair of jeans and an oversize T-shirt.

John, Lorren learned, was a Texas Ranger and was nearly as handsome as Justin, with maple skin and tawny-colored eyes. Before the Grahams left for their own camping site, they had talked Justin and Lorren into making plans for the four of them to get together for dinner sometime in the near future.

It was wonderful to get away and enjoy the solitude of the wild, Lorren thought. To her dismay, she discovered tremendous pleasure in watching Justin take charge. Dressed in a pair of well-worn jeans that fit his body snugly, and a short-sleeved blue shirt, he looked perfectly at home in his surroundings.

As he worked diligently getting camp set up, Lorren’s gaze encompassed his sleek body, the perspiration-sheened brown skin of his bare back after he’d removed his shirt, and the play of muscles across his torso whenever he reached for something.

A couple of times he caught her looking at him and gave her a huge arrogant grin, as if reading her thoughts. She quickly turned her head, embarrassed at being caught, but glanced back at him minutes later.

They spent the rest of the day exploring the park and taking hikes with John, Juanita, and their group. Later that day, Justin, Charlie, and Erick went fishing for their dinner. When they returned Lorren was delegated the task of cooking their catch. She became the hit of the day when she surprised them with a hidden dessert she’d brought along, a huge chocolate cake.

Justin insisted Lorren sleep inside the RV, but she had other ideas and started to protest until Charlie mentioned certain unmentionables, like snakes, bears, and mosquitoes. Justin and the boys really roughed it by bedding down on the ground in sleeping bags with the stars for their roof and a pile of leaves for their pillows.

By the time Lorren settled into the RV that night, every muscle in her thighs ached, her backside felt sore and her feet were tender. No sooner did her head touch the pillow than she went quickly to sleep.

They awakened early the next morning to Justin’s breakfast of biscuits and sausage, hot chocolate for the boys, and coffee for them. It was another full day of vigorous activities. By four o’clock that evening, they were all packed to return home.

Lorren had thoroughly enjoyed herself. The boys, to her surprise and utter amazement, turned out to be a bunch of darlings. They, along with Justin, catered to her every whim. It had been wonderful enjoying the simple pleasures of camping, such as singing songs and exchanging ghost stories over an open fire and hiking in the woods. The camping trip also afforded her an opportunity to see another side of Justin.

She realized just what a genuinely caring man he really was, and saw in him a sensitivity that overwhelmed her. It was evident he loved kids, and the boys adored him. His time had been their time, their survival, his, and their happiness, his enjoyment. She didn’t miss the expressions of gaiety on Justin’s face when Vincent and Erick recited poems they’d learned in school, or his expression of deep interest as he listened to Conan expound on his desire to one day become an astronaut.

He had hugged Derick with loving arms when he had caught the biggest catch of the day, and had gently but sternly scolded Charlie for his insistence that he be allowed to go spend some time with a group of Girl Scouts he’d discovered camping nearby.

Justin had made them laugh with his rendition of the Fat Albert character. Later, he pulled out a guitar and, ignoring the snickers and giggles from the boys, played her a beautiful love song.

Although there was sexual tension surrounding them on the camping trip, they were able to harness it, most of the time. However, more than once their eyes met over an open fire.

Later that night, when Justin took Lorren home after dropping the boys off, he helped her unload her gear into the house. They worked in silence until the job was done. Afterward, she walked him to the RV.

“Thanks for coming along, Lorren. You were a big hit with the boys, and I thoroughly enjoyed your company.”

“Thanks for inviting me. I had a great time. The boys were wonderful, and John and Juanita are really super people.”

Justin nodded. “Are you planning to go to the National Polka Festival?”

“Yes.”

“Are you going with anyone?”

“No.”

“Would you go with me?”

Lorren smiled. “Do you promise to bring me straight home afterward?”

Justin chuckled. “If you insist, but you have to admit our being at Bristol Trail may have been a blessing for those two kids.”

Lorren shuddered slightly, remembering the accident. Earlier Justin had given her an update on the teenagers’ conditions. Although improved, their conditions were still guarded. “Maybe it was at that.”

“Well, I better get along. I need to return the RV tonight. I guess I’ll see you later.”

“Okay.”

Justin stepped closer. Lorren gazed up at his face, just a couple of inches above hers. He gently pulled her to him. “How do you manage to stay slim and trim when you bake so well?” He placed his arms around her slender waist and drew her closer.

Her response was an amusing laugh. “I usually don’t bake for myself. I enjoy baking for other people.” She unconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck. He didn’t seem as surprised at her boldness as much as she did.

“You can bake for me anytime,” he said huskily, before bringing his lips to hers. His tongue sought hers, tentative at first, then with more assurance when he felt her response.

As their mouths clung together, his hands pulled her body closer to him. Moments later he reluctantly pulled away. “Yes sirree, you can bake for me anytime,” he whispered in between quick breaths.

Lorren smiled. “I’ll remember that.”

“How about joining me in a late-night swim when I get back?” he suggested in a deep husky voice.