Always Means Forever Read online

  Darwin slammed a fist against the padded mattress top and swore. Loudly. The profanity pierced through the dark and the silence that filled the space around him. The harshness of it frightened the snow-white Maltese that lay sound asleep at his bedside. The small animal jumped with a low growl, then barked, a series of high-pitched yips crying for some attention. Darwin blew a gust of warm breath past his lips.

  “Hush, Biscuit. Stop that noise.”

  The tiny bundle of puppy energy stood up on her hind legs, a tiny paw scratching the air for his attention. With one hand he swept all six pounds of fluff up to his side, gently stroking the animal’s head as she struggled to lick his hand and his face.

  “No kisses, you. Stop that! Stop, Biscuit!” he said, his pleas a half-hearted attempt at a reprimand.

  Ignoring him, Biscuit jumped about, then finally settled down against a pillow on the other side of the bed.

  Great, Darwin thought, palming his crotch for a second time before pulling both of his arms up and over his head. Here I am, dreaming of a female in my bed, and the one actually here has four legs and a tail.

  As if reading his mind, Biscuit barked again, then settled her head back down against the pillow, her dark eyes eyeing him curiously.

  “Don’t you get comfortable,” Darwin said out loud. “Your bed is on the floor, dog.”

  Biscuit tilted her head ever so slightly.

  Darwin sighed. Bridget had been on his mind since he’d raced out of her home. Although he’d gotten the impression that she wouldn’t have minded him staying longer, his nerves wouldn’t allow it. The woman had had him trembling in his seat as they’d enjoyed dinner and dessert. By the time the meal was finished and the dishes washed, he was a walking time bomb set to explode.

  It was one thing to be in a loving relationship with a woman and then become impotent, but it had to be something else altogether to be impotent walking into the relationship. He couldn’t imagine any woman wanting only half a man. He wasn’t about to set himself up for that kind of disappointment and embarrassment. It was best that he just leave any thoughts of him and Bridget alone. “It couldn’t possibly work, could it, Biscuit?” he said softly. He tossed a quick glance over to the animal beside him. His pet barely opened her eyes, quickly resuming her soft snores. Darwin shook his head. Even his dog couldn’t be bothered with the traumas of his love life.

  Chapter 5

  The downtown production studio where Darwin’s show was being taped was just minutes from the Space Needle in the Seattle Center. It was a new, digital, state-of-the-art facility, and as Bridget eased her Cadillac CTS into an empty parking space, she couldn’t help but be impressed.

  A stint in family court had worn on her last nerves that morning. One father’s continuous refusal to pay support for his four children by three different mothers had been more than enough to set her on edge. When the fool had actually accused her of conspiring against him to make points with the prosecutor, she’d been ready to quit on the spot. She’d had enough of representing clients who clearly knew they were wrong and expected her to just overlook their more glaring faults to help them get over on someone else. When the judge had ordered him to be incarcerated pending payment of some thirty thousand dollars in child support arrears, she hadn’t bothered to protest. The man had deserved that and more.

  She knew that before the day was over he’d post his cash bond, go right back to his dental practice and be at the firm’s door three months down the road trying to explain why he’d bought a new boat instead of paying little junior’s school tuition. The entire drama had put her one hour behind schedule, and by the end of the court session all she could think about was that she was late for her appointment with Darwin.

  A young man who mumbled his name met her in the lobby, gesturing for her to follow behind him. Leading her past a row of immaculately furnished offices, he guided her through a vast warehouse area where an ample supply of props was being stored. Toward the other end of the open room were a series of construction areas where craftsmen were hard at work building elaborate sets. Her guide stopped briefly to tell someone named “Kevin” that he had a date with “Linda” the following night. The two men exchanged pleasantries before he remembered his mission to get Bridget to wherever Darwin was.

  They moved down another labyrinth of hallways, past a room labeled as the makeup department and on through the studio’s commissary. The aroma of something spicy tickled her nostrils and Bridget suddenly remembered that she hadn’t eaten since Darwin’s dinner the night before.

  When she was adequately lost, her guide ushered her through a closed door and then turned toward her, drawing his index finger up to his lips.

  “They’re in the middle of taping. We have to be very quiet,” he whispered, his words rolling over his tongue like marbles across a slick floor.

  Bridget nodded, staring toward where he pointed as he eased her over to an open area to stand. Darwin was engaging, and as she stood there watching him, she couldn’t help but smile, a wide grin filling her face.

  The man was clearly at ease behind the large counters where he was preparing the meal of the moment. He spoke casually into the camera as if he were having a conversation with an old friend. As he explained the dicing and slicing of a vegetable melange that would top slices of a seasoned roast, she found herself wanting to rush to the kitchen to join in, to learn, to be a part of his experience. She knew that anyone else who watched the show would feel the same way.

  Darwin pointed into the camera, his signature smile beaming over his audience. “So, let me show you how it’s done!” he chimed warmly.

  “And that’s a wrap!” someone else shouted amidst a wave of applause. A team of technicians suddenly moved to prepare the space for the next filming.

  Darwin waved in her direction and Bridget found herself waving back, her excitement bubbling over.

  “Hi!” he said, moving quickly to her side. “I thought you’d stood me up.”

  “Not at all. I apologize, but I was held up in court. I called but they said you had to go on set and couldn’t take any calls. I hope I’m not intruding.”

  “Not at all,” he said, squeezing her hand beneath his palms. “I’m glad you came.”

  He smiled again and Bridget could feel her resolve melting like ice under a summer sun. She’d spent the entire ride over insisting to herself that she would not let Darwin have any effect on her and here she was, standing like soft butter before him.

  A tall woman with a mane of auburn hair that skimmed the crest of her buttocks suddenly pulled at Darwin’s elbow. The voice was deep and thick like molasses as she purred the man’s name.

  “Darwin. That was absolutely perfect. If you do that every time we are sure to have a hit on our hands.” The woman’s gaze moved from Darwin to Bridget. She extended a limp hand. “Hello, I’m Ella Scott, Darwin’s producer and the associate station manager here.”

  Bridget returned the greeting. “Bridget Hinton. Mr. Tolliver’s attorney.”

  The woman smiled, seemingly content with Bridget’s response. “It’s very nice to meet you. Have you been in practice long?” Ella asked.

  “A while now.”

  “So, you’re from Seattle originally?”

  “Born and raised. You?”

  “I’m fairly new to the area. I was born and raised in a very small town a few hours from here.”

  “I love small towns. Is it one I know?”

  “Coulee City?”

  Bridget nodded. “That’s near Colville and the Indian Reservation, correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s a lovely community.”

  Ella shrugged, then resumed her conversation with Darwin. “Darwin, I have some suggestions that we should discuss later. But I loved the show. Just loved it.”

  “Thank you, Ella. I appreciate that.”

  “Well, if you two will excuse me, I’m going to see if I can sneak me a little taste of that meal you prepared before the crew e
ats it all up. We can meet at three o’clock, Darwin,” she said, not bothering to wait for a response. “It was nice meeting you, Ms. Hinton.”

  They watched as Ella rushed off in the other direction. Darwin pressed a palm against Bridget’s elbow. “Let’s go to my office,” he said, leading her back toward the maze of offices.

  As they entered his personal space, he closed the door behind them, gesturing for her to take a seat on a plush leather sofa that lined one of the walls. Darwin pulled up a chair directly in front of her, leaning forward with his elbows against his thighs, his hands clasped together in front of him. For a brief moment he sat staring at her, oblivious to the time that ticked too quickly away.

  He’d noticed her the moment she’d walked into the studio. His heart had skipped one beat, and then a second, and he had barely been able to pull his baked dish from the oven without dropping it. It felt like puppy love and he was enjoying every minute of it. He hadn’t felt anything like this since high school and the homecoming queen, Cassandra Tripp, who’d been his date to the senior prom.

  Bridget wore a sharkskin denim blazer with a chic white blouse beneath it and dark slacks. Her hair was pulled back into a slick ponytail that hung just below her shoulders. As always, he was taken aback by her bright eyes, the slight dimple in her full cheeks and the most intoxicating mouth he imagined any woman ever possessing. As he sat staring he could see the flush that suddenly flamed her face.

  Bridget eyed him curiously. “Are you okay? You’re staring.”

  Darwin could feel himself blush. “Sorry. I…” he stammered, searching for the words to ease the moment.

  Bridget shook her head. “There’s nothing caught in my teeth, is there?”

  Darwin laughed. “No. Your teeth are perfect. Absolutely beautiful, in fact. The prettiest smile I’ve ever seen.”

  Bridget rolled her eyes, smirking.

  “Don’t pay me any attention. I get stupid around beautiful women.” He chuckled.

  “Then I’m scared,” she responded coyly. “From what I hear you’ve made being around beautiful women a personal mission.”

  “Has my brother been talking out of turn again?”

  She shrugged and then they both burst out laughing. Bridget shifted the conversation. “Do you want to talk about your contracts?”

  Darwin shook his head. “Not really. Were there any problems?”

  “Just a few items I think need to be clarified.”

  “I’ll tell you what. Call the attorney here, do that lawyer thing you guys do, and when it’s fixed where you like it, I’ll sign.”

  “Don’t you want to know what the issues are?”

  “No. I trust your judgment. I know you’ll take care of me.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  Darwin leaned in closer, his hand falling against her knee. “Well, we’re almost family, aren’t we? Sort of like kissing cousins or something.”

  She eyed him warily. “Kissing cousins? I don’t think so.”

  A smug smirk crossed his face. “Okay, we’ll leave out the cousins part, but the kissing…”

  “Like you kissed my best friend?”

  Darwin was only slightly taken aback by the comment. He cleared his throat before responding. “For the record, your friend kissed me. I did not kiss her.”

  “That’s not what it looked like. In fact, it looked like the two of you were getting quite cozy with one another.”

  Darwin shook his head, his smile still full and wide. “Am I in trouble? Because I don’t think I should be. Your friend was flirting with me. It was absolutely shameless!” he said, his tone teasing. “And it happened how many years ago? Don’t I get a reprieve for good behavior or something?”

  She studied him carefully, noting the gleam of mischief that flickered in his eyes. “That depends.”

  “On what?”

  “On whether or not you plan to go around kissing my best friend again.”

  His head moved from side to side. “Never. But I do hope I get to kiss you. I really would like to kiss you. Someday. Someday soon, maybe?”

  Bridget eyed him with amusement. “Darwin Tolliver, are you flirting with me?” she asked playfully.

  A wide grin filled his face again. “I’m trying. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Bridget placed her hand over his and gently moved it from her leg back to his own lap. His touch had been burning, sending a shiver up and down the length of her spine.

  “You don’t need to tease me, Darwin Tolliver. Like you said, we’re almost family, so you can trust that I’ll represent your interests. Besides, I thought we considered each other friends.”

  “But I can’t flirt?”

  “That depends.”

  “On?”

  “On whether or not you’re planning to cook dinner for me again.”

  “Is that all?”

  “That’s a lot for some men.”

  “Maybe, but it’s not a big deal for me at all.”

  “Then we have a deal?”

  Darwin nodded. “Tonight. At my place. Dinner’s at seven.”

  Bridget rose to her feet. “I’ll be there,” she said, moving swiftly toward the door. She smiled. “Thank you,” she said softly.

  Confusion swept over his expression. “For what?”

  “I was afraid that you might still be uncomfortable around me. We had a few awkward moments last night. It had me worried.”

  Darwin chuckled, his head bobbing up and down. “I thought it was just me. Glad to know I wasn’t alone.”

  “Let’s not let it happen again, either.”

  “No problem. And by the way…” Darwin paused for just a brief second. “I really wasn’t interested in kissing your friend. I just didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”

  “I know. That heifer can be shameless sometimes,” Bridget said with a sly wink. “See you later.”

  As she moved to make her exit, Darwin called out her name.

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t you want to know where I live?”

  Seconds after Bridget was out the door with directions to his home tucked into her purse, Darwin was kicking himself. What in the world was I thinking? he thought, dropping his head into his hands and his rear end into a chair. This can’t possibly go anywhere.

  But he hadn’t been able to stop himself. The woman had been irresistible and all he’d been able to think about was spending more time with her. Reaching for the telephone, he pushed the seven digits to his brother’s cell phone and waited anxiously for the man to pick up on the other end.

  Bridget sat motionless in her car, her forehead pressed against the steering wheel. She wasn’t quite sure what had just happened between her and Darwin, and although she was excited on one hand, she was scared to death on the other. Leaning back against the leather seat, she took a deep breath, wishing for the influx of oxygen to slow her rapid heartbeat.

  There had been more comfort between them than discomfort. It had felt strangely familiar in one second and very odd in the next. She was curious to know more about Darwin, to share more of herself with him, and the prospect of doing so actually had her terrified. Taking another deep breath, Bridget started the ignition and headed in the direction of home.

  Mecan was laughing into the receiver. “What’s wrong, playa? I’ve never known you to let a woman run you scared. You losing your touch?”

  “Don’t joke. This isn’t funny.”

  Mecan continued to chuckle. “You need to relax. Bridget is an incredible woman. You two have had a crush on each other since you first met. Enjoy it. This may be just what you need.”

  “Maybe, but I hope it’s not a mistake. I’d hate to ruin a good friendship.”

  Mecan shook his head. “You two need to get to know each other before you can truly be friends. You haven’t allowed yourself to do that yet. But just let it happen. I know it’ll work out for you.”

  Darwin nodded as if his brother could see him. His gaze floated to the view outside. �
�How did you know with Jeneva, Mac? How did you know she was the one and only woman you could see yourself being with?”

  The older brother took a deep breath, reflecting back on his courtship with his wife. Their relationship had blossomed over their mutual concern for Jeneva’s son. Young Quincy had been born with some mental and physical challenges that had tested the strength and fortitude of his single mother. As director of the residential care facility Jeneva had moved the boy into, Mecan had helped the struggling teenager maneuver his way to adulthood.

  Jeneva had been the most exquisite woman Mecan had ever met, and while her beauty began on the outside, it was all-consuming on the inside. She’d had spirit and fire and one of the biggest hearts of any woman he’d ever dated. It had taken an extended road trip to Atlanta, Georgia, and then back to Seattle to solidify the bond between them. From that moment on they’d been inseparable, every facet of their lives revolving around their love for each other and their two children.

  Blowing the gust of air out slowly, Mecan answered his brother’s question. “I think Jeneva said it best. We were both just standing on the right side of love and we both knew there was no other place we could ever imagine ourselves being. It’s something you feel inside you, Darwin. It’s something that moves you to get up each and every day, excited about the future. When it happens you won’t be able to explain it to anyone with mere words. They’ll be able to see it in everything you do or don’t do. And you’ll see it on her face and she’ll see it on yours.”

  Darwin nodded. “Bridget’s special, Mac. I just don’t want to mess this up.”

  Jeneva Tolliver sat with her legs crossed on Bridget’s queen-size bed. Alexa, her five-year-old daughter, sat beside her, and the two of them were watching Bridget flit back and forth from her closet to the bed. Clothes were being pulled off their hangers and tossed madly about as Bridget struggled with what to wear on her date. Her date. The thought sent a sudden wave of panic straight through her and she dropped down against the bedside, her gaze resting on Jeneva.

  “Are you all right?” her best friend asked.

  She shook her head, tears burning hot against the back of her eyelids. “I shouldn’t be doing this,” she managed to sputter, swiping at her face with the back of her hand.