Tonight and Forever Read Online Free PDF Page A

lights. He took a step that brought him closer to her. Automatically, she took a step back. “It’s late, Justin. I’m going inside.”
    “Don’t forget, I’m next door if you need anything. No matter how late it is.”
    Eyes hooded, Lorren pursed her lips and nodded before taking another step backward into the house. “Good night, Justin.”
    “Good night.” He turned and walked away as she closed the door.
    Lorren leaned against the door and closed her eyes. Emotional turmoil churned through her. This was not supposed to be happening. She’d been in town less than twenty-four hours, and already she had met a man who could turn her life topsy-turvy and become a threat to the placid existence she’d planned for herself in Ennis.
    And if that didn’t beat all, he was her neighbor. Her closest and only neighbor…for miles. She drew in a long breath, feeling tears trickle down her cheeks. She hadn’t cried since that day in the judge’s chamber almost a year ago. It had been the day her marriage to Scott had ended.
    The tears hadn’t been for the finality of her marriage; she’d been overjoyed about that. They had been for the cruel words Scott had leveled at her in the presence of the judge and their attorneys. He’d informed her he was glad to be rid of her since she had never been able to perform the natural womanly function of a wife during their marriage.
    She would never forget the quick look that had passed between the other three men before the judge warned Scott against any further outburst. It had been the most humiliating day of her life. Scott had succeeded in degrading her until the very end.
    Lorren slowly opened her eyes. She was too tired, both mentally and physically, to relive memories of her past or to begin pondering her future. At the moment, all she wanted was to forget about everything and go to bed.
    Wiping the tears from her eyes, she straightened and went into the bedroom.
     
    Intrusive bright sunlight flooded the bedroom, awakening Lorren. Shifting her head on the pillow, she gazed up at the ceiling. Unfortunately for her, sleep hadn’t come easily. Long after going to bed last night, she’d tossed and turned. The room had been naturally cooled by the breeze blowing off the lake through the window, but her body had been hot and restless. She had been acutely aware of every inch of her naked skin left bare by the skimpy gown she’d worn to bed.
    How was one man capable of making her feel things in the space of a few hours when Scott hadn’t made her feel anything during the two years they’d been married? In the beginning she’d been attracted to Scott, or so she’d thought. But this attraction she felt toward Justin Madaris was completely different. And it scared her to death.
    Sighing, she threw back the bedcovers and reached for her bathrobe. Putting it on, she belted it firmly around her waist and headed for the bathroom.
    A little while later, she stepped into the shower. Hot water rushed through her lathered hair, soaking her brown skin. Closing her eyes, she relished the feel of it streaming over her. Turning her face into the spray, she let the shampoo’s foam slide down her back, thighs, and legs. She felt a warm glow inside her body as she remembered the feel of Justin’s hard, muscular chest pressed against the curve of her back and the roundness of her bottom when he’d opened the door for her last night.
    Adjusting the showerhead to release a lighter spray, Lorren threw her head back, arching her neck against the flow of water, liking the feel of it wetting her lips.
    Then the unimaginable happened.
    Her mind conjured up a mental image of Justin in the shower with her, placing light kisses on her lips and softly caressing her back and shoulders, and the tender skin between her breasts.
    The depth of Lorren’s sensual mental diversion startled her back to reality. She snapped her eyes open. For Pete’s sake! What’s happening to me? Turning off the water, she