Tonight and Forever by Brenda Jackson

her chair. He smiled. “My pleasure, and don’t worry about your bill. I’ll take care of it for both you ladies.”
    “Thanks. That’s kind of you. I’ll see you guys later.”
    Lorren felt abandoned and thoroughly set up by her friend. Looking across the table, she found Justin’s eyes on her as he sat back down.
    “How have you been, Lorren?”
    “Fine.”
    “Are you almost all settled in?”
    “Not quite.”
    Justin held her gaze with his for a few moments. “So you decided to go swimming the other day after all.” It was a statement, not a question.
    Lorren’s eyes widened. “How did you—” she began, then broke off as she realized what the only possible answer to her unfinished question could be. He’d been at home. “I, ah—”
    “You what, Lorren?”
    She hesitated before answering. “I didn’t know you were home. Your car wasn’t parked out front. I assumed you had gone somewhere.”
    Justin leaned back in his chair. A slow smile touched his features. He sensed her nervousness. “Most of the time I keep my Vette parked in the back, under a shed. Texas weather can be murder on a good paint job. And to answer the question you didn’t complete, the reason I know you went swimming is because I saw you.”
    And what he’d seen had been a sight to behold. He’d been sitting at his kitchen table, which overlooked the lake, reading an informative but boring medical journal article. For some reason he’d glanced up and caught sight of her. Whatever information he’d been reading abruptly faded from his mind when he’d received the jolt of his life. Of course, he’d known she had a shapely figure. The black dress she’d worn at Ms. Nora’s party had clearly emphasized that. But the swimming suit she’d been wearing had knocked the breath out of him. All he could do was stare. He couldn’t pull his gaze from her. He had all but devoured the vision of her wet curvy body, admiring every inch of it.
    Lorren shifted her chair. “I, ah—” she swallowed. “After you left, I changed my mind and thought the swim would relax me.”
    Justin studied Lorren’s well-manicured hand tightening around the glass of soda. “Did it?”
    Lorren lifted a brow. “Did it what?”
    “Did the swim relax you?”
    She shrugged. “Yeah, pretty much.”
    He smiled. “I’m glad.”
    Lorren’s throat suddenly felt dry, and she took a huge swallow of soda. Justin seemed amused, not irritated, that she’d gone swimming alone, less than an hour after turning down his invitation to go swimming with him.
    “You have nice strokes.”
    Lorren almost choked on her drink. “Excuse me?”
    “Your strokes are nice. You’re a good swimmer.”
    She studied him intently. “You must have seen a lot that day.”
    Smiling, his teeth flashed white against his dark skin. “Yeah,” he said huskily. “I saw enough. And I was very impressed with everything I saw. Every bit of it.”
    Lorren bridled at the double entendre.
    Before she could dissect his words, he bailed himself out. “With your swimming, of course.” He grinned lazily, certain she knew her aquatic ability had nothing to do with his remarks.
    “Of course,” she returned stiffly.
    “Have you given any thought to what I asked you the other day?”
    He saw her tense at his question. Her eyes met his candidly. “As I told you, there’s nothing to think about.” She stood. “Well, I’ll be seeing ya.”
    “Where’re you headed?”
    “Fred’s Garage. I had my car shipped here from California. It arrived this morning with a flat tire.”
    “Wait up and I’ll walk with you partway,” Justin said, signaling the waitress for the checks. “My next patient isn’t due in the office until three.”
    Lorren glanced around the crowded diner, with its clinking dishes, faded wallpaper, and aromas of home-cooked meals. Over the years, it appeared very little had changed, including Sophie’s clientele. There were still the truck drivers, senior citizens, and