A Week for Love to Bloom Read online

  He walked over to her and smiled for a couple of seconds before he reached down to pick it up. He couldn’t help but find her blushing and nervousness both funny and flattering.

  “So, we meet again,” he said, giving her a charming smile.

  “I’m Justin.”

  She scrambled to get the radio from his hands. “Sorry. The plants are right there.” She pointed to a long row of them lined up on the ground outside of the greenhouse. Jonathan started carrying them to his truck.

  She glanced back to Justin. “Wow, I guess you didn’t need training after all. Looks to me like your stalker skills are up to par.”

  He chuckled. “Is this place yours?”

  “My mom and I own it.”

  “You have a pretty nice setup here.” He focused on her emerald eyes, amazed that they appeared even more luminous in the sunlight.

  “Thanks, it’s a lot of work, but I enjoy it.”

  Justin noticed a young guy approaching that looked tense and territorial.

  “Lauren, the mulch order just arrived. Do you want me to stack it with the rest in storage, or keep some out?”

  “Storage is fine, Brett. Thanks.” She turned back to Justin. “I better go get your receipt.”

  Justin was curious if the guy was her boyfriend. Instantly, he didn’t like him. He started helping Jonathan load the last of the plants while Lauren was away.

  “I saw you talking to that woman. Are you attracted to her?” Jonathan asked.

  “She’s hot,” Justin answered.

  “Yeah, if you like plain, and that is not the kind of ‘dirty’ I’d want my woman to be.” Jonathan chuckled. He was a professional at work, but remained Justin’s crude, older brother who grew up in the country. He was kind at heart, but sometimes his ego got in the way.

  “It’s obvious she works hard, and she owns a business. It’s impressive if you ask me,” Justin said.

  “You deserve someone classier. Just sayin.”

  When Lauren returned, Jonathan and Justin were already in the truck, so she quickly handed Jonathan the receipt through the window and turned to walk away.

  “You might want to get a belt for that radio,” Jonathan yelled.

  She turned and glared for a couple of seconds.

  “Way to go, asshole.” Justin jumped out of the vehicle and ran after her. “Hey, Evans,” he called out.

  Lauren turned around.

  “Just ignore my brother. He can be a real dick sometimes.”

  “I heard that,” Jonathan yelled.

  Justin turned and gave him the finger before he returned his attention to Lauren. He was standing only a few feet in front of her. “Honestly, I didn’t know this place was yours until I saw you. My brother asked me this morning to ride here with him. I didn’t have time to start my investigation, but it was definitely on my agenda,” he said with an alluring gaze. “I appreciate the gesture last night, by the way, even though you were rude to me at first.” A warm, huge grin spread across Justin’s face.

  “I’m truly sorry I kicked you out of my truck, but you kinda had it coming. I know you were screwing with me,” she said.

  Justin slipped his hands into the pockets of his cargo shorts. “I’m not gonna lie. I enjoyed watching you squirm with panic,” he said, laughing as he nervously skimmed his tennis shoe across some gravel in front of him.

  “Interesting … you’re a stalker, and you enjoy watching people suffer. I think I need to steer clear of you.”

  “I’m really not that cruel.” He gazed at her intently as his expression changed from playful to seductive. “In all seriousness, I hope I run into you again, and can I please get a first name, Ms. Evans?”

  “It’s Lauren,” she answered softly. Their bantering caused the air around them to fill with thick, sexual tension. He sucked in a breath and held it in his lungs, unable to exhale due to the heaviness of it. He thought she felt it too when he saw her blood, red lips quivering as he pierced her eyes with his all-consuming stare.

  Justin felt an urgency to be closer to her, so he took a step forward, closing the distance between them. He swallowed hard before his lungs were freed of air, only to fill once again with the saturated desire still encircling them. He stood only a couple of feet from her, gazing at her plump lips. He wanted his mouth on them.

  “I uh … have to get back to work, but it’s nice to meet you, Justin,” she said, averting her gaze to the ground before she briskly walked into the greenhouse.

  Justin felt paralyzed as the force of suffocating passion in the air crashed against him. He tried to wrap his mind around the intense moment shared between them when he couldn’t think—he only felt.

  He was pulled from the enthralling event when his brother yelled at him.

  “She’s not standing there anymore, you know.”

  Justin scrambled to the truck. When he got in, Jonathan was staring at him.

  “So are you going to tell me what the hell happened last night?”

  “How about I tell you over a beer?” The brothers dropped off the plants at the house and headed to one of the bars in town, Casey’s Place.

  ***

  Lauren was in a trance as she stood in the greenhouse. She couldn’t believe it was possible for a man’s gaze to make her panties wet. All she could think about was Justin’s charming smile, vast blue eyes, and the desire that surged through her body.

  She was so distracted by her thoughts of Justin that she didn’t notice her best friend, Ashley, standing in front of her staring.

  “What happened to you? You’re ten shades of red, girl,” Ashley said.

  “I uh, I just met this guy. Well, actually I met him last night, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t have time to think about a man.”

  “It sure looked like you were thinking about him from here.”

  “Stop. It’s embarrassing.” She wiped the beading sweat from her forehead.

  “Come on. Let’s go have lunch, and you can tell me all about him,” Ashley said.

  Lauren went into the kitchen and made sandwiches and lemonade. Ashley worked full-time at a bank, but worked at the garden center some on the weekends to help Lauren out. Ashley was rather short and thin with long, blonde hair.

  She pried until Lauren shared the events from the night before and that day. She couldn’t stop laughing at Lauren over the hitchhiker story, but she also didn’t hesitate to let her know how dangerous it was to do such a foolish thing.

  “Lauren, maybe this was meant to be. I mean really, what are the odds you’d see him again this soon?”

  “I don’t know, Ash. He may not be staying in town. I couldn’t tell if he was moving here or visiting. Besides, he seemed out of my league, and I have no way to get in touch with him.”

  “You talk yourself out of everything, and you’re going to have to trust a man, eventually. You’ve never even had a boyfriend, and you’ve barely even dated because of how wrapped up you’ve always been with this place. Lauren, you’re a great catch, and what if he’s the right guy for you? Anyway, you need to find a boyfriend before ‘buff Brett’ finds a way into your pants. I’ve really had enough of his drooling.”

  “Ash, shut it. Not Brett or any other guy is getting into my pants.”

  “Oooh, if you hook up with ‘Mr. Mysterious’ we could have a double wedding. You’d have to hurry it up though. My wedding is only a year away,” Ashley said, beaming.

  “It doesn’t matter now. He’s gone, and I’m not going to search for him. Let’s get back to work.”

  “I wish I got a look at this guy. He had to be hot if he got you this worked up.”

  “He was hot—beyond hot. Like I said, out of my league.”

  ***

  “That’s a hell of a story, bro. It was crazy enough you took the damn bus, but then not to call me to pick you up is just stubbornness. Instead, you let some chick do it. She can’t have much sense, picking up a stranger on the side of the road, especially heading away from town. That’s just
dumb.”

  Justin got an uneasy feeling thinking of her picking up the wrong kind of stranger in the dark. He felt a need to protect her.

  “You need to forget about her. She was attractive, but like I said before, you should be with someone classier, whose family is respected in this town. You need a woman who has time to care for your kids because being an attorney requires a lot of time away from home.”

  Justin rolled his eyes at Jonathan’s old-fashioned views.

  “Who I choose to date is my decision, and I’ve told you a million times, I don’t want to be an attorney.”

  “I bet there’s still a chance you’ll change your mind.”

  “I doubt it. Let’s get out of here. It won’t be long before we need to go to Mom and Dads. They’re probably biting at the bit to lecture me about my short-comings.”

  “Hey, bro, you have a lot of love from this family. We all want what’s best for you.”

  Back at the house, Jonathan went outside to help Emily with the landscaping. When Justin walked by a window, he saw his brother brush up against Emily’s backside while she was bent over planting some flowers. They both laughed as Emily stood to hug him. As Justin watched them outside he thought about what he wanted in his future.

  He tried to rest awhile before dinner but kept dwelling on the news he’d soon tell his family. Justin desired a serious relationship more every day, and he knew he didn’t want to settle down in California, so he quit his job and traveled to his hometown of Masonville, letting his family believe he was on vacation.

  The image of Lauren’s ass in the tight jeans she was wearing at the garden center shifted his thoughts. Her beautiful face was vivid in his mind, along with the sexual urges he felt toward her. Justin hit the wall next to the bed, frustrated over how much he was fantasizing about her. He wanted a girlfriend, but not one in Masonville. He had no intentions of ever returning there other than to visit his family. Living there meant being an attorney or always being reminded that he wasn’t. As much as he desired seeing her again, he decided it would be a poor plan to pursue Lauren.

  Chapter Four

  For the rest of the day, Lauren couldn’t stop thinking about Justin. As the bright sun moved overhead to the west, she replayed the encounters between them.

  “You have to go out with me tonight, chick. You need a beer after today,” Ashley said.

  Lauren tried to knock off some of the dried soil on her hands. “I’m too tired.”

  They both pushed the heavy gate closed that blocked the parking lot.

  “It will likely be your only chance to get out for another week. You’re going,” Ashley said, pointing her finger at Lauren.

  “Fine, but one of these days I’m going to rip that finger of yours off,” she said, smirking. “I do need a night out. We better get moving. You know it takes us a good thirty minutes in the shower to remove just the dirt from under our nails.” They both laughed before Ashley got into her car.

  Claire was cooking when Lauren went into the house.

  “Lauren, I fixed us some pork chops and fried potatoes,” she said.

  “OK. Let me clean up a little.”

  Lauren dreaded alone time with her mom after a visit with her father, Tom. There were always inquiries from her about what he was doing. “Is he still with her? Does he appear happy?” The most pressing question was always, “Is he still trying to get you to move there and go to college?” That night was no different.

  “Yes, Mom. He’s still trying to get me to move there and go to college. How many times will I have to reassure you that I’m not going anywhere?”

  “You know your father can be quite persuasive. I’m afraid you’re going to get tired of this hard work and leave for something better.”

  “It’s not going to happen, Mom. Eventually, he’ll see that. You need to trust me, and stop putting me in the middle of your issues with Dad.” Lauren got up from the table. With force from her frustration, she scraped her fork loudly along her plate, dumping her uneaten food into the garbage can. “Please, demand a divorce already.”

  Lauren got into the shower. As she lathered her body, thoughts of Justin touching her lingered in her mind. She never planned on “saving herself” and believed she was still a virgin due to her busy life, but it was hitting her that maybe she avoided sex on purpose, so her first time would be with the right man.

  It was different with Justin. As the soap suds slid away from her, she thought of them being his fingers, trailing their way down her body. The attraction was overwhelmingly strong, and she couldn’t help but think about him touching her everywhere. Lauren knew she’d want him if she got the opportunity. He was under her skin, and she was feeling desperation knowing Justin had to be the one to make the next move.

  Feeling womanly from her fantasy, she decided to put more effort into getting ready. She picked out a denim skirt and matched it with a pink, snug top. Her dark curls were lustrous, and she applied more makeup than usual. The final touches were some silver earrings and matching bangle bracelets. She slipped on her sandals and waited on the porch for Ashley.

  Chapter Five

  Justin wore khaki pants and a crisp, white dress shirt to his parents’ house. He rode with Jonathan and Emily, and as they pulled into the driveway, he was reminded of the wealth passed down from generation to generation. He eyed the vast brick home that sat on a hill of eight acres. He also glanced to the guest quarters he stayed in on his prior visits that sat adjacent to the garage.

  “Son, how are you? I’m glad you made it home safely. That’s a long trip,” Mr. Jeffrey Garrison said as he patted Justin on the back of his shoulder. Justin was surprised at the amount of grey in his father’s hair since he last visited.

  “Thanks, Dad. It’s good to see you.”

  Justin’s mother, Susan, entered the room carrying Jack. Emily quickly swooped him up and thanked her in-laws for babysitting.

  Susan grabbed Justin and gave him a loving hug.

  “Sweetheart, I’m so glad you’re home. We’ve missed you so much. I can tell you haven’t been eating my southern meals. You’re in too good of shape. Look at those muscles,” she said as she squeezed her son’s bicep.

  “That’s embarrassing, Mom, but I will say I’ve missed your country meals.” Justin was raised in a loving home. He had only one complaint about his parents; the fact that they wanted him to follow in his father’s footsteps. He wanted their approval no matter what he chose as a career.

  Justin and his family were enjoying a drink and chatting when the doorbell rang. Justin was nearby, so he went to answer it.

  His brow lifted as his eyes opened wide. He was stunned to see his high school girlfriend standing in front of him.

  “Beth … um … what brings you here tonight?” he asked politely.

  “Hi, Justin.” Beth immediately went in for a hug. Justin hesitantly hugged her back.

  “I was speaking with Jonathan at the bank one day, and he told me you were going to be home on vacation. He invited me to dinner. I thought it would be great to talk to you since we haven’t seen each other in years.” Beth smiled and squeezed Justin’s arm.

  Beth Humphrey was Justin’s girlfriend his senior year of high school. He remembered her snobbish personality and how she wanted everyone at school to know her family was wealthy. The longer he dated her the less he liked her as a person.

  Beth always wanted a rich husband and status, so during a date one summer night after graduation, when she was going on and on about their future, Justin broke up with her. He didn’t believe he could live up to her expectations. Beth was furious. She screamed at him and cried as he drove her back to her home.

  Justin was shocked to see her standing in front of him with a smile on her face. He couldn’t miss her outer beauty from her great figure to her thick, blonde hair, but she reminded him too much of the few women he tried to date in California. He thought they were spoiled and all wrapped up in themselves.

  “I hope you d
on’t mind,” Beth said.

  “Um, of course not. Mom, could you make Beth a drink?”

  He walked over to Jonathan who’d found a place on the floor to play with Jack. Justin was sure he was using it as a distraction not to make eye contact with him. When Jonathan finally looked up, Justin’s glare was evident. “Can I have a word with you outside—now?”

  Justin paced across the porch, running his hand through his hair. “Why in the hell is Beth Humphrey here? What were you thinking inviting her without asking me first? I know you want to dictate every move I make, but I’ll pack my bags now and head straight out of town if you don’t knock it off.”

  “Hey, calm down, little bro—”

  “Don’t call me that right now!”

  “I just remembered how much you cared for Beth in school, so I thought since you’re not dating anyone you wouldn’t mind seeing her.”

  “Why would you think I want to see any girl from back then? I broke up with her for a reason. I’m not a child anymore. I’m twenty-five, and you’re only six years older than me, although it’s obvious you have a hard time remembering.”

  “Justin, she might be a better person than you remember. It’s just dinner, and if you’re not interested then send her on her way.”

  “Fine, just dinner. I should’ve known you’d try to fix me up with someone.”

  Everyone sat down at the dining room table, and Beth made it a point to sit next to Justin.

  “Beth, Jonathan said you’re still single. I figured you would’ve married by now,” Justin said.

  “We’re not that old. I’ve had a couple serious relationships since ... um, high school, but they weren’t the right man for me. Why are you still single?”

  “I haven’t found the right woman.” Justin took a big swig of the scotch his father had insisted on him trying. He found Beth to be just like she was in school, annoying and shallow. He briefly dated one girl in college, and aside from the few women he dated in California, occasionally when drunk, he’d have one night stands with girls he met at bars. He was lonely most of the time he lived away from home.