A Lasting Love (14 page)

Reid scooted his hips next to hers on the
wooden bench and took her hand. His lips and that devilish mustache
played over her knuckles. "Remember? Ah,
mi
amor,
after all the time we spent here and around this
bay? My heart remembers, Loren. I was serious about getting away,
alone. I'm aroused just looking at you. It's been two weeks
since—"

"I know how long it's been, Reid."

"You do?"

"Of course. I miss you, too, when we're not
together."

"I miss your gorgeous body."

"Reid—" Loren gasped, blushing.

"Without you I'm miserable, Loren. Not to mention
unsatisfied." His teasing eyes were alight with passion, and he
looked questioningly at her.

Their rapt attention was broken when the waiter set a
tall gin and tonic before Reid.

"I ordered a drink for you. Hope you don't mind,"
Loren explained.

"Fine." He nodded curtly to dismiss the waiter.

"Reid, why don't we go ahead and order?" She squeezed
his hand affectionately. "I have an appointment with a client in an
hour."

Loren had answered his question and, at the same
time, crushed his hopes for an afternoon rendezvous.

Reid sighed and gave her a wouldn't-you-know glance.
"Okay. What'll you have?"

"A soft-shell crab sandwich," she announced with
satisfaction, then turned to Reid. "Try it. It's really great."

He raised his dark eyebrows. "Whole fried crab? No
thanks. I'll have a hamburger."

When the waiter had left, she explained. "Reid, I'm
sorry. It's just that I have a lot of work to do this afternoon.
Several appointments."

"I can tell you're a career woman. You can't even
take time out for a little fun," he admonished, his dark eyes
teasing.

"I took the time to come all the way up here for
lunch with you, didn't I?" She sipped her own half-empty gin and
tonic.

"Yes," he admitted. "And I'm glad you did. I must
admit, I've been wondering why."

Loren sighed and looked out over the water. The salty
breeze lifted her tawny hair away from her face. "I... sometimes I
come up here alone. Just to reminisce and enjoy. But always alone,
because this was our place, Reid. And I just wanted to remember it
again, with you this time."

"It has been a long time since I've been here, but it
seems the same. Unchanged. It's beautiful, and just being here
turns me on to you something fierce." He nuzzled her earlobe. "I'd
like to think our love is unchanged, too, Loren."

"Oh, Reid, nothing stays unchanged." She quivered
inside at his touch, his kiss, his admission of love. She knew it,
and felt it too.

"Maybe you're right, Loren. Actually I had another
reason for calling you up today for lunch." His voice was low and
serious. "I got a call this morning from home. It's my father. He's
very ill."

"Oh, Reid, I'm sorry," she said, covering his hand
with hers.

"I need to go back to see about him, Loren. And I
want you to go with me. I'm going to wind up some business this
afternoon and leave early in the morning."

"Reid, I . . . can't. I have too many things to do
this week."

"You'll have this afternoon to cancel them and make
other arrangements. Please come, Loren. I have always wanted to
show you my world. This is your chance. It won't cost you a thing.
I'm flying my plane and—"

"Your plane?"

He nodded. "Sure. It's the easiest way to get around
these days. Wouldn't you like to go with me, Loren?"

"Yes, but—"

"Then figure out a way. It will be a mini-vacation
for you. And a chance to see my world." His tone was decisive.

"Your world?" she laughed. "You make it sound like
another continent."

He looked up at the thick-leaved branches draped over
the lazy river. "It almost could be, Loren. It's very different
from all this."

"Reid, I just don't see how I can go. I have
appointments all week, and—you will be back, won't you?" Her large
eyes rose alarmingly to him. She wasn't ready to lose him yet.

He shrugged. "Depends on Dad's condition. My work
here isn't finished. I'd like to stay longer, make more contacts. I
plan to return in a few days."

"I am sorry about your father, Reid. But I wish you
didn't have to go. I'm afraid you won't return." She dropped her
eyes and dark lashes feathered her cheeks.

"Then come with me. Don't make me go alone. I—I just
want you with me, Loren." His finger lifted her chin while his
thumb edged her lower lip longingly.

Her eyes met his, and she knew there would come
a time when his work in Washington would be finished.
And
then—
what?
"Oh,
Reid, don't make me choose now."

"All I want you to do right now is go to Arizona with
me. A short visit."

"I... well, maybe," she mumbled, then a flicker of
light touched her eyes. "Maybe I could make it a partial business
trip."

"What business?"

"My business with Emmaline Walker. Could we
visit
her?"

"Emmaline who? Oh, you mean the Navajo woman we
met."

"Yes. I have her benefits straightened out and was
just about to write her a letter. But I'd rather deliver the
message in person. And I want to return her Silver Star."

"Great. Fine. Whatever you say. Just so you go
along."

"Can you take me to Bisbee? Is that near Tucson?"

"Sure," he shrugged. "No problem. It’s only a couple
of hours away. We can handle it. I'm going to show you another
world, Loren. I hope you'll enjoy it."

"Oh, I know I will. What should I wear?"

"No business suits," he warned, and they both laughed
and shifted as the waiter placed sandwiches before them. Even this
secluded place was too public for them.

Reid's dark eyes were riveted to Loren's sandwich.
"What the hell is that?" Scraggly bits of the contents were visible
between thick slices of bread.

Loren glanced down at the item, then back up at Reid
with the most innocent expression she could muster. "A soft-shell
crab sandwich. Want a bite?"

He cringed in mock horror. "No way!"

She giggled. "It's a crab that's caught while
molting. These have no shell and are deep fried. They're delicious.
Here, try it." She generously offered her lunch.

"No, thank you," he said firmly.

Loren took a bite. "Hmmm, they fix the best crab
sandwiches here. I think it's the sauce . . . or the fresh—"

"Loren, what is that thing sticking out?"

"Just a crab leg."

"That's what I thought." Reid eyed the food as if he
thought it would hop out onto the table.

"Don't look at it, or imagine anything, Reid. Just
take a bite and enjoy the flavor." She leaned toward him. "You do
like Maryland crabs, don't you? You know, Americans love baseball,
motherhood, apple pie, and Maryland crabs.

He pursed his lips. "I've had a few steamed crabs
with beer, but it's not my favorite form of food." He still hadn't
touched his hamburger.

"Oh, for God's sake, Reid, try it." She challenged
him by holding it inches before his mouth.

There was no easy way out, so he took a bite. For one
brief, frantic moment he thought the whole thing would return to
embarrass them both. Mustering all his fortitude, Reid managed to
chew the crunchy things in his mouth and swallow.

Meanwhile Loren was laughing heartily at his facial
expression. "Reid, you're positively green."

"You will pay for that, young lady," he warned with a
threatening gleam in his eyes.

She shrugged. "I don't see what all the fuss is
about. It's totally cooked."

"The
whole
thing?"

She nodded reassuringly. "The whole thing."

"All of it?
All?"

"Of course," she smiled.

"I think I'll stick to hamburgers," he muttered,
taking a huge drink of the gin and tonic.

"I can't believe you didn't like that, Reid. I was
just sure—"

"I'm the one who doesn't like seafood, remember?" he
grated.

She smiled sweetly and reached over to caress his
face. "Oh, Reid, I remember. I remember . . ." she whispered.

They finished eating and strolled down by the narrow
river, content to be together in their little place that time
forgot. Just to be together was so wonderful, so fulfilling, they
could almost forget the outside world and all the problems that
tugged at them. Almost . . .

"Reid, I must get back to work. Appointments all
afternoon, and I need to check with my business partner, Althea, to
see if she can handle the office alone this week."

He sighed. "Yeah, I know. I need to check with the
airport and see if everything's in order for our trip tomorrow. I'm
hiring a mechanic to make sure the plane's in shape for a
three-thousand-mile trip. We're leaving very early, around
dawn."

She nodded and slipped her hand into his as they
ambled back to the cars. "Reid, what about your father? How is
he?"

"He's been hospitalized in serious condition. Lupe
says he has a lung infection. Trouble is, he's just not strong
enough to fight these infections anymore. Everyone at home is very
upset, and I need to be there."

"This won't be a very pleasant trip home for you. Are
you sure you want me tagging along?"

They halted between their cars. "Positive. Having you
there will make it bearable. And give me some lovely
diversion."

She smiled. "Reid, why don't you come over tonight?
We can leave together early in the morning."

He cast her a grateful look. "Sounds like a
reasonable, practical plan."

She nodded pragmatically. "I'll see you later then.
And thanks for meeting me here for lunch. I've loved it."

Reid grasped her forearm and pulled her against his
chest. "Loren, I love you." His whisper rocked through her as if he
had shouted it to the world.

"I know," she acknowledged, and mouthed, ‘love you,
too’. They kissed and both drove back down the highway to the
bustling city.

As darkness fell, a full moon bathed the capital
city, the Potomac, and the little town house on Prince Street in
its luminous splendor. Inside, that glow was enhanced as Loren
basked in Reid's loving arms.

Reid's head and shoulders rested on a pillow against
the brass headboard, and he cradled Loren's slender form against
his golden muscles. His tanned hand contrasted with her
cream-colored breasts while his thumb teased the tip to berry
ripeness. He caressed her rib cage, waist, and hips, then rested
his hand on her rounded buttocks. Occasionally he tugged her to
him.

"Did you tell Mark you were going to Arizona with
me?"

"What a thing to think about at a time like this.
What's wrong? Feeling guilty?" She traced lacy figures in the dark
mat on his chest.

"Not exactly guilty. It's more like a burning rage
inside me whenever I think of you two together or see that damned
ring on your finger." His voice was a growl that vibrated through
his bare chest and into Loren's being. She could feel the strength
of his feelings on the subject.

Immediately sitting up, she extended her left hand.
"Does this make you feel any better?" With a deft, sure motion,
Loren removed the engagement ring and tossed it casually onto the
dresser.

"Loren—" He grasped the ring-less hand and pressed it
to his lips, his mahogany eyes imploring, questioning.

"Reid, you're right about Mark and me. We don't
belong together. I—I just can't wear his ring any longer."

"Do you think if I hadn't reappeared in your life you
and Mark would still have gone your separate ways?"

She hesitated and her blue eyes met his honestly. "I
don't know, Reid. But I am sure that if I continued with this
mockery of a relationship with him, it would be a mistake. It's you
I love . . . always have. No matter what happens, I will always be
yours."

Before the last word was out, his lips crushed hers.
A low moan of undisguised longing escaped Reid's throat, and he
clutched her to him as if he would press her into every cell, as if
he would never let her go. And, indeed, Loren wanted to be his
forever. Wanted them to be together, like this, forever.

It was a kiss like the first passionate kiss between
lovers ... the last lovers' farewell ... as if they had never
loved, and lost... wonderful and desperate and compelling. A love
that lasts forever. Loren met Reid passion for passion, strength
for strength, lips to merging lips, tongue to exploring tongue,
passion and love, altogether in a kiss.

The impact of the kiss left them both breathless.
Loren slumped back against the pillow while Reid rained
feather-light kisses over her upturned face and eyelids and flushed
cheeks. His lips found the hotly pulsing hollow of her neck, then
caressed the creamy mounds of her breasts, pausing to tug gently on
each ripened peak. She arched to meet his pleasure, and he obliged
with a lingering, gentle sucking motion for each rose-tipped mound.
A kittenish purring told him she was ready for more, and he was
only willing as he traced her navel with his tongue before plunging
inside.

She dug her hands into his dark hair, pulling him
achingly to her as he prolonged her agony with soft nips on her
sensitive inner thighs.

"Reid, please—"

"Loren, Loren, don't ever forget. . ." He slid over
her, his body hot against her. "I love you."

They were the last gasping words she heard before
they both plunged into the exploding peaks of passion. The moments
hung like golden threads in time, binding them together forever.
Loren would always cherish his vow spoken in the throes of love's
highest frenzy.

As the burning embers inside them cooled, Loren could
feel Reid slipping from her. She clutched him in a futile attempt
to hold on to the man she loved.