Tonight and Forever (20 page)

Justin eyed Dex, who had been quiet all this time. “Aren’t you going to contribute your two cents, Dex?”

Dex met Justin’s glare. “No. We came here to check out this monstrosity of a house you bought, Justin. We aren’t here to stick our noses where they don’t belong.
Are we,
Clayton Jerome?” he asked his younger brother pointedly.

Clayton smiled. Any other man would have felt outnumbered, but he didn’t. He really wasn’t surprised by Dex’s attitude. He was still hurting from a failed marrlage. lt was bad enough to have one brother suffering from heartache, Clayton thought. He sure didn’t want to add Justin to the “pain and suffering” list with Dex, but it appeared that’s just where he was headed. Clayton was glad his motto in life was—the only men that aren’t fools are bachelors. He was doing the right thing playing the field. This falling in love stuff was far more trouble than it was worth.

“I guess not, Dexter Jordan,” Clayton finally replied, grinning at the two brothers he loved and respected. “But I hope the two of you understand that the attorney in me can’t resist giving a closing argument. And I promise to make it brief.”

Clayton then gave Justin his full attention. “The way I see it, not accepting Lorren as your fate is the same thing as losing her. Either way, she’s out of your life forever.”

He spooned a hefty serving of eggs onto his plate before continuing. “For ten years you’ve been tempting fate, and it’s time for you to pay up. You’re a smart man, Justin, you’ll come to your senses and work things out with Lorren when you’ve had enough. Hopefully, by then, it won’t be too late.”

Three days later

J
ustin had had enough.

Last night had been another sleepless night. He wondered at what point he would stop thinking of Lorren and start sleeping again. When would the memories of the time they’d spent together stop slipping into his thoughts?

Wearily, he slumped back in his desk chair and closed his eyes. Was it possible for someone to escape the world as he knew it and create one of his own—a perfect world? A world free of injustices, disappointments, heartaches, and pain? A world where everything lasted forever?

His eyes flitted open. There was no such thing as a perfect world. The real world was filled with imperfections. Life held no guarantees. You had to take chances.

But if you chose to do so, you could live each day of your life to the fullest, appreciating the time you shared with that special person.

In the real world only the strong survived.

He straightened in his chair. Was he such a weakling that he was willing to let his fear of the unknown destroy him and what he could have with the woman he loved? The woman he’d been waiting for.

Justin inhaled sharply, finally able to confront his fears. Clayton had presented a good argument. Would not accepting Lorren as his fate make the pain easier to bear when he lost her?

No! He needed her like he needed the very air he breathed. He loved her too much to let his fear keep them apart.

Now that you’ve finally gotten your act together, there’s something you need to think about. You love Lorren, but she may not love you. She’s never said she did. In fact, she said she stopped believing in love and marriage a long time ago.

He stood quickly. No matter what his mind was saying, Lorren loved him. Over the past months, she’d said it in every way but with words. He’d felt it every time he held her in his arms and when his body joined with hers. No woman gave herself to a man the way she’d given herself to him without love. Lorren was a woman made for love, his love. She was the woman he’d dreamed of finding for ten lonely years.

Picking up a slip of paper from his desk, he quickly scanned it. Lorren had called earlier while he was with a patient. She’d left a message asking him to meet her at Taylor Oaks at four o’clock.

He smiled. He was giving up his fight with fate, accepting defeat graciously. And he would thank God every day for bringing Lorren into his life.

The builders doing the renovations had finished for the day and were leaving when Lorren arrived at Taylor Oaks. The carpenters had already arranged a portion of the downstairs, converting it into Justin’s medical office. She’d been thrilled that he had agreed with all of her suggestions and decided not to cover the beautiful oak floors with carpeting.

Lorren paced the floor, nervously waiting for Justin to arrive. “Too late to get cold feet now,” she muttered to herself. But she couldn’t help the fluttering of her heart when she heard his car pull up.

Justin entered the house, closing the door behind him. He found Lorren in the living room, enclosed by crates and boxes and looking completely out of place in the chaotic surroundings.

She was dressed in a peach-colored suit made of soft silk and matching heels. The outfit was stylishly sculptured to fit the curves of her body. The straight skirt hit her knees, showing long, beautiful legs. He’d known the first time he’d seen her—the night of Ms. Nora’s party—that her legs were perfect. That everything about Lorren was perfect. And he’d discovered just how right she was for him in every way.

A fancy peach-colored wide brim cuff hat adorned her head. She wore a diamond necklace and matching diamond stud earrings. She looked stunning, and the sight of her nearly took his breath away.

“You look sensational, Lorren. Where’re you going?”

Lorren’s pulse quickened upon seeing Justin. “To a wedding.” Her nerves tingled. She had to be strong. Their future depended on it. “The reason I asked you to meet me is because there’s a couple of things I’d like to say to you, Justin.”

He gazed at her. “There’s a few things I’d like to say to you, too, Lorren.”

“I’ll go first, if you don’t mind.”

“All right.” Justin leaned against the wall. He watched Lorren pace the floor a few times before coming to a stop in front of him.

“I’d like to return this,” she said, handing him the medallion. “You left it at my house the last time we were together.”

She hesitated for a brief moment before continuing. “On the night we met, Justin, you said you believed in fate and that one day fate would bring this special woman to you. At the time, I thought you were living in a dream world, and I was realistic enough to know things just didn’t happen that way. And I believe that deep down, you knew that, too. You just didn’t want to admit it.”

She paused for a moment. “I now realize that you were still hurting that night, just as I was. You just developed a different way of dealing with the pain, which was convincing yourself that one day you could love again, and that you
would
love again. You conveniently left your future in the hands of fate.”

Lorren frowned up at him. “The only problem with that, Justin Madaris,” she said, tapping the point of her well-manicured finger several times on his chest, “is your refusal to accept your fate when it came knocking on your door. You may have believed in love and marriage as you claimed, but you never had any intentions of involving yourself with either one again.”

“Lorren,” Justin broke in, taking her hand in his before she tapped a hole in his chest. “Lorren, I—”

“I’m not through saying what I have to say, so please don’t interrupt.”

She took her hand from his and looked deep into his eyes. “Well, I’ve got news for you. I love you, Justin, and I intend to spend the rest of my life loving you. I won’t let you go. And if there’s anything I’ve learned about myself in the last few months, it’s that I go after what I want. And once it’s mine, I’m not about to let go.”

She poked his chest once more with her finger. “So take a good look, Justin. Take a real good look because, as far as I’m concerned, I’m your fate whether you like it or not.”

Lorren sighed deeply. There. She’d said what was on her mind. Now for the really daring part. She pulled an envelope out of her purse.

“This is for you,” she said, handing it to him.

Justin’s brow lifted as he eyed the envelope she held out to him. His gaze returned to her, confusion revealed clearly in his features. “What is it?”

“Read it and see.”

Justin remembered another time they’d shared a similar scenario. He opened the envelope and pulled out an elegantly designed card and read it.

His head shot up. He stared at her. One look at her face was enough to assure him this was not a joke this time.

He was invited to a wedding. Theirs.

Lorren awoke the next morning, cradled in Justin’s arms. Last night he had carried her to thrilling heights during their lovemaking. He’d fulfilled her every dream and had lavished her with the most secure feeling of belonging and love she’d ever known. She smiled as she lay contented in his warmth, knowing she was truly and completely loved.

Justin roused himself from blissful slumber and shifted his gaze to Lorren. Her smile widened when their eyes met.

“Good morning, Mrs. Madaris.” Raising his hands, he captured a mass of silky brown hair and brought it to his lips.

“Good morning,” she replied in a voice barely above a whisper. “Did you sleep well?”

Justin’s eyes turned a deep brown as he ran a hand along Lorren’s body. “I didn’t sleep at all. I’ve been taking little catnaps. I have this demanding wife who married me for my body.”

Lorren leaned upward and placed a kiss on his jaw. “Oh, yeah? And what did you marry her for?”

His expression became serious. Lorren drew a steady breath when she saw the intense look of love in his eyes. “For all the love the two of us will share forever.”

“Ummm, that sounds wonderful.”

“It
is
wonderful,” Justin replied, pulling her atop him. “It’s undeniably wonderful.”

She took his face in her hands. “I hope you don’t feel you were forced into marrying me yesterday. You handled it admirably, though, and didn’t seem at all upset to discover I had a wedding service all planned.”

“I had no reason to be upset. I was elated.” He grinned. “I’m just glad you timed the ceremony to at least let me shower and change first,” he said, placing a kiss on her cheek.

She smiled. “Only because Syneda’s plane was late.”

He chuckled. “I’m a bit curious as to how you pulled it off so quickly?”

Lorren grinned. “Clayton was real eager to help. He said with you happily married off, he’d only have Dex to deal with on the ‘pain and suffering’ list.” She lifted her brow. “I gather that’s a ‘male thing’ and you understand what he means by that?”

At Justin’s nod, she continued. “Well, anyway, Clayton basically took care of everything, especially pulling the strings for the quickie marriage license. He has friends in high places who were willing to make a few exceptions here and there.”

Justin laughed, thinking those friends of Clayton’s were probably all females. “A few exceptions? Honey, it seemed to me like quite a number of exceptions were made. But I don’t care as long as everything’s legal.”

“Trust me. Everything’s legal. We’re very much married.” She gazed at the sparkling diamond ring on her finger and the matching wedding band. Justin had surprised her with both at the ceremony. She’d been knocked off her feet when he’d told her he had stopped by a jewelry store on his way out to Taylor Oaks for their meeting. He had accepted her as his fate and had every intention of asking her to marry him once he got there. His other surprise was changing the name of the ranch from Taylor Oaks to Lorren Oaks. A new marker had been ordered already.

“Thanks to you, Lorren, I don’t have any fears of my tomorrows,” he said huskily. “In fact, I’m looking forward to them.”

“And thanks to you, Justin, I’m cured of divorcitis.”

In a smooth movement he shifted positions and rolled her beneath him. He smiled. “I told you from the beginning all you needed was a dose of tender, loving care.”

Lorren’s arms locked around his neck. She breathed in the tantalizing male scent of him. “You may have given me too much TLC, Dr. Madaris. I think I’m addicted. I hope you’re prepared to feed my habit.” She nuzzled her face against his neck. “I may as well warn you, I’m plagued with a new condition.”

“Oh?” Justin asked, pulling her closer to him. “And what condition is that?”

Lorren gazed into the eyes of the man she loved. “Happyitis,” she replied silkily. “Is there a cure?”

His eyes met hers. Love shone through in them. “No, sweetheart, there’s no cure for happyitis,” he answered, brushing his mouth across hers. “It’s terminal.”

A Year Later

“Y
ou’re doing great. Just continue to breathe deeply, love.”

Lorren bit her bottom lip and breathed as her husband instructed. She sighed with relief as the pain ebbed.

Justin wiped his brow. “I never thought the day would come when I’d be delivering my own child.”

“You’re doing a great job, Doc,” Lorren assured him, just before another hard contraction hit her.

“Hold on, baby. It’s almost over.” Justin’s hand pressed her stomach. “Give me one final big push.”

Lorren pushed at the same time grinding agony tore into her. She felt the baby’s head slip from her body and into its father’s waiting hands. A split second later, the sound of a wailing baby rent the air.

“It’s a girl, Lorren! We have a daughter and she’s beautiful!”

Justin held their daughter and grinned proudly, tears misting his eyes as he placed their newborn child on Lorren’s chest. He gazed down at his wife with a soft look of love on his features. “Now will you tell me the name you’ve decided on?”

Tears shone in Lorren’s eyes as she held in her arms the product of her and Justin’s love. “Yes.” She smiled up at him. “Because I know our daughter will be her daddy’s girl, it seems fitting to name her after you. Her first name will be Justina. And for her middle name,” Lorren said softly, “I want to name her after a person I’ve never met, but one I’ve grown to admire and respect. She’s a person I owe a lot to for having a hand in making you the man you are today. I’ll always be grateful to her for giving you a reason to believe in love and marriage, and for you caring enough to make me believe in them again, too. Her middle name will be Denise. Our daughter’s name will be Justina Denise Madaris.”

Justin wiped the moisture from his eyes, tears of joy and happiness. “Thank you, baby, for proving there’s always tomorrow.”

He smiled warmly as he lovingly touched his wife’s cheek and gazed down at the gift of love she had just given him. He also thought about Vincent, the little boy they had adopted not long after he and Lorren were married, who was now their son. Justin was overwhelmed by the intensity of emotion he felt for his wife, his daughter, and his son.

His gaze moved from his daughter and fastened intently on Lorren. She was his, to love and to cherish. And he would always do both. He knew his forever had begun the night he’d met his fate.