All I Want Is Forever Read online

  A tall, imposing figure rose head and shoulders above the crowd around him. His smoky topaz eyes gazed straight into hers. With at least twenty feet between them, she felt the impact of his presence. She hadn’t seen him in at least five years. Distance in neither space nor time had lessened his effect on her. Six feet four inches tall, Derrick Guillory radiated power. His hair was longer than she’d ever seen it before. The tight dark bronze curls lay in waves combed back from his face. He wore a light tan suit and crisp white shirt, with a silk tie the color of vintage burgundy. The suit coat stretched across a broad chest and shoulders. Derrick stood against the wall allowing the flow of humanity to pass him by. More than a few women turned to give him a second look. Derrick caused a stir without noticing. His electric gaze never left Talia’s face.

  “Whoa, what’s up with this?” Jarrod stared at her, then followed her gaze. “Talia, you look like a ghost just popped up in the crowd.”

  “He’s real enough,” she whispered.

  Talia could have added an unwelcome one. Except that the tingle spreading up her spine felt pleasant. Derrick brought the good and the bad with him, as always.

  “What?” Jarrod looked at her.

  “Nothing,” Talia mumbled low. She brushed a hand across her brow.

  Jarrod frowned as he continued to scan the crowd. He moved closer to her protectively. “If it’s someone you don’t want to see, then let’s get out of here.”

  As if he sensed what was about to happen, Derrick strode forward. He moved with the grace of a seasoned running back, easily shortening the distance between them.

  Jarrod caught sight of Derrick seconds later and walked in front of Talia.

  “Okay, this brother obviously doesn’t see me. I’ll make sure he does,” Jarrod said.

  “Wait, I know—” Talia tried to moved around him, but a large woman bumped into her.

  “Hello.” Derrick’s basso voice rolled out like quiet thunder. “Talia,” he said simply.

  Talia stepped from behind Jarrod a bit breathless, but not from being jarred by the solid, fleshy woman. “Hello, Derrick.”

  “You know each other?” Jarrod said in a flat voice.

  “From home, in Louisiana,” she said slowly. “Derrick Guillory, this is Jarrod Thompson.”

  Talia stared at Derrick. The strong line of his jaw made him look like a man both dangerous and exciting. The muscular frame encased in expensive fabric made him look like a beautiful African warrior prince dressed in Western clothes.

  “Hi.” Jarrod did not look pleased, but he stuck out his hand anyway.

  “Hello.” Derrick shook it briefly. Both men seemed eager to break contact.

  “An old friend from home, huh?”

  Derrick looked Jarrod straight in the eyes. A slow, easy smile spread across his face. “We go back a long, long way.”

  “Is that right?” Jarrod tightened his hold on Talia’s arm. “What brings you to the big city?”

  “Business,” Derrick said shortly, then glanced at Talia. “Your office said you’d be with Senator Collins. I took a chance I would catch you before you left.”

  “Oh.” Talia could not stop looking into his eyes.

  “We’re on our way to another meeting,” Jarrod put in.

  Talia snapped out of her reverie. “Let me catch up with you later, Jarrod.”

  “But you know these folks don’t like to be kept waiting,” Jarrod said with an edge to his tone.

  “I’m sure you can answer all their questions. I’ll call you,” Talia said pointedly.

  “Fine, I’ll call you later. Tonight. Remember, we have plans later this week.” Jarrod strode away, looking back over his shoulder at them.

  Talia watched him leave through narrowed eyes. His possessiveness rubbed her nerves raw. She’d set him straight soon enough. “Right,” she tossed after him.

  “I get the feeling your friend was talking about more than a meeting,” Derrick rumbled. He wore an impassive expression.

  Talia faced him. “How did you find me so easily?” She swept a hand out. “This place is like a maze.”

  “I’m an investigator. I’m good at finding people.” He smiled, revealing dazzling white teeth against his smooth, brown skin.

  The effect of such a stunning contrast made Talia gasp. She looked away from his face to recover. “I see.”

  She didn’t really see at all. Talia struggled with conflicted emotions. Part of her wanted to ask more about him and why he had made it a point to find her. At the same time she didn’t want to know. She’d run from him and Louisiana years ago. Yet no one had made her feel safe and cared for the way Derrick could. The only exception had been Mama Rose. Between the two of them they’d brought her through a dark and scary period in her life.

  “I talked to Miss Rose last week. I’m glad she’s doing better.”

  Talia looked at him sharply. She trembled from the chill that spread through her. Like Mama Rose, he could read her.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you when you visited three months ago,” Derrick added, when Talia didn’t speak.

  “I was really busy.” She looked away from his gaze.

  They both knew she’d had no intention of looking him up.

  “I need to talk to you,” Derrick said, and closed a large hand over her wrist.

  Talia looked down at the way his long fingers wrapped around her flesh. His touch sent heat up her arm and into her heart. Memories rushed in on her.

  “Please,” she murmured, her thoughts far from talking with him. “Not here.”

  “Of course not here, Talia,” Derrick replied. “Come on. We can go to B. Smith’s.” He pulled her gently, yet firmly along with him.

  “No, I—” Talia stammered, her voice barely audible to her own ears above the noisy crowd.

  She didn’t want him bringing Rougon or the past into her life in Washington, D.C. Yet his hold on her was more than physical. She’d avoided him for years for this very reason. Now Talia realized how foolish she’d been in her confidence. She’d convinced herself her adolescent need for protection and love explained his potent effect on her. After all these years she wanted to lay him down, burned to feel his lean, hard body stretched atop hers. Once they were outside, Derrick hailed a taxi. They were inside and pulling away from the curb before she knew it.

  “I hear you’ve practically conquered this city. At least that’s what Miss Rose says.” Derrick stretched one arm across the seat behind her.

  Talia cleared her throat. She resisted the urge to snuggle in the shelter of his embrace. “Well, you know Mama Rose likes drama.”

  “She’s just proud of her baby girl, and with good reason. You’ve got a great reputation. My boss kept hearing your name in meetings.”

  “Really?” Talia inched away from him to further clear her head. “What are you doing here anyway?”

  “We—” Derrick broke off when the taxi came to a stop. “Here you go, keep the change.” He handed the fare to the driver.

  Talia followed him inside the elegant restaurant. A handsome young man greeted them with a big smile.

  “Hello. Table for two?”

  “Yes,” Derrick replied.

  He led them through the large dining room to a smaller, more intimate section. They were seated at a table with fresh Louisiana irises. B. Smith’s boasted the finest nouveau soul cuisine in the city and featured Louisiana-inspired entrées.

  “Tony will be your waiter. I’ll give you time to look over the menu. What would you like to drink?”

  Talia ordered diet soda and Derrick ordered sweetened iced tea. “You’re still hooked on sugar.”

  “Yeah, I guess I should cut back in my old age.” Derrick grinned as he opened his suit jacket. He patted his flat stomach. “Gotta keep fit.”

  Talia took in the outline of his hard body beneath the fine cotton shirt. “I don’t think you have to worry just yet.”

  Tony appeared with their drinks. Talia felt absurdly grateful for t
he interruption. She gulped down the cold soda, hoping it would cool her off. Okay, try to remember you’re not a horny sixteen-year-old now. After they ordered, Derrick blasted her attempts by turning on the full strength of his presence. He gazed at her with an expression of intense, caring interest.

  “How are you doing?” He leaned toward her, one hand on the back of her chair.

  She glanced away. “Not bad. I don’t exactly run the nation’s capital. The president and Congress have some say,” she joked, hoping to deflect the real question in his eyes.

  “At least they think they do, again according to Miss Rose.” Derrick’s sensuous lips curved up.

  “I divide my time between chasing a dollar and helping a few folks who don’t have big money muscle.” Talia lifted a shoulder. “Makes me feel less guilty about helping low people in high places.”

  “Bull, you care about people. You always have,” Derrick said with quiet force. “I thought you’d be a nurse or a social worker.”

  “And take a vow of poverty? Not hardly. I had my fill of being poor and downtrodden, thank you very much,” she said bitterly.

  Derrick closed a large hand over one of hers. “You made it out, baby,” he said softly. “It’s okay.”

  Talia stared into his clear, dark eyes and almost got lost. She pulled back with great effort. “I’ve got a good life,” she said too quickly.

  “You’ve got a lot of friends to stand by you. That Jarrod guy for one.” Derrick let go of her hand and picked up his glass.

  “Jarrod was one of the first people who helped me in this town. He’s a real nice person,” Talia said. She shot a sideways glance at him.

  Derrick nodded. “I like the way he jumped to protect you. He’s alright. But you don’t need to be protected from me, Talia.”

  “I never told him anything, just that I’m from Louisiana and a little about Mama Rose.” Talia swirled the straw around in her glass.

  He sighed and put down his glass. “I’m not talking about him. I’ve been in town three days. I debated looking you up.”

  “Derrick, it wasn’t you.” Talia’s voice trailed off.

  “I know. You needed a clean break.” Derrick stared at his strong hands clasped together. “Things were rough.”

  “But we both made it through,” she murmured. “All that is behind us now.”

  “Is it?” He looked at her.

  “Yes,” Talia said vehemently. “Over and done with years ago.”

  “Lately I’ve been thinking about those days.”

  “Don’t,” she said. “You’re not responsible.”

  “Monette wrote to me four months ago, Talia. She’s got a new lawyer.”

  “She’s always getting a new lawyer. Another scam, a new scheme. Same old Monette.”

  “I thought you two didn’t keep in touch.” Derrick looked at Talia steadily.

  “I get a letter now and then from my half sister.” Talia frowned. “I tried to tell her about Monette. She’s too young to remember. Her adoptive parents are great people. But Alyssa had this need to find her biological parents.”

  “And you. She wanted to find her sister and brother,” Derrick said.

  “Yeah, finding Karl was easy since he was always in jail,” Talia retorted.

  “He had it bad, too,” Derrick said.

  “So have other people. They didn’t hold up convenience stores because of it.” Talia wore a hard expression.

  “Okay, you’ve got a good point. But, Talia—”

  “I really don’t want to talk about him, or anything connected to that part of my life.” She glanced around as she cut him off.

  “I only wanted to spend time with you before…Let’s have dinner tonight. There’s something you need to know before it hits the newspapers.”

  “Here we are!”

  The waiter stood at the table with two large dinner plates on a tray. He set them down in front of Talia first, then Derrick. Talia had completely lost her interest in lunch. A sick queasy feeling of dread lay in her stomach like a rock.

  “Enjoy. Need anything else? Are we good?” Tony smiled at them.

  “We’re fine, thanks,” Derrick said. He watched the waiter leave, then turned back to Talia.

  The grave expression on his handsome face gave Talia chills. “Why the big mystery?”

  “I’ve been talking to Monette for the past six months. I think you need to know what’s going on. And no, she didn’t ask me to tell you.”

  Talia gave a small, cynical laugh. The rock in her stomach crumbled. She was on familiar ground. “Like I said, one of Monette’s schemes. Okay, dinner it is then.”

  “Good.” Derrick nodded and lowered his voice as he leaned even closer. “But it’s not what you think. I’ll tell you this much, there’s a good chance Monette will get out of prison. It may take another five months, but it’ll happen.”

  “I’ve heard that before, but whatever,” Talia replied. She picked up her fork. “I refuse to let her ruin a great lunch.”

  Despite her words, Talia did not eat much of her spinach salad. She glanced at her watch. Before she spoke, Derrick got the waiter’s attention. Within minutes he’d paid for the meal, left Tony a generous tip, and escorted her out of the restaurant.

  “There’s a great Chinese restaurant called City Lights of China. I’ll meet you there at about—”

  “You don’t want me to know where you live.” Derrick gazed at her with sadness in his dark eyes.

  “I just thought it would be easier with both of us having a long day and…” Talia’s voice faded, and she sighed.

  “It’s okay. We can meet there,” he said quietly.

  Talia fumbled in her purse for a business card and pen. She wrote on the back of it. “Here’s the address.”

  Derrick didn’t take it. “I said it’s okay.”

  “I didn’t mean—” Talia stepped closer and placed the card in his hand.

  “I’ll meet you at seven-thirty tonight.” Still Derrick closed his large hand around hers and took the card.

  Talia swallowed hard. The years rolled away, and she could see them together, two teenagers seeking comfort from a harsh world. The scent and sound of the bayou rushed back to her. She could almost hear the musical blending of crickets and cicadas in the sultry Louisiana summer twilight. A strong memory of the smell of gardenias in bloom hit her. They had sat on Miss Rose’s gallery many a night staring at the stars for hours in silence. Then suddenly he would wrap an arm around her. He would always be there to protect her. No one and nothing could change what was between them. Yet the fear and embarrassment her mother caused had only grown. At seventeen Talia had gotten her way out. She won a scholarship to a high school in Natchitoches, Louisiana, for academically gifted teens. Derrick had known the day she got on the Greyhound bus to leave Rougon that she was running away from him as well. He never said a word, but he knew. She’d seen it in his eyes as he stood watching the bus pull away. The next year Derrick had left town to attend a community college.

  Derrick got into a cab and waved once. He gazed at her as it drove away. Talia tried to push down the rise of an old fear. She should have known this day would come.

  Three hours later she sat in the conference room with six other staffers of Gallagher and Associates. Even on a Friday afternoon they were hard at it. Peter Gallagher liked to start out every week with a strategy session and pep talk. He ended the week with a postmortem. Both were prime reasons his firm got results on the Hill. Eileen Vargas rattled off figures she’d discussed with congressional aides. The petite brunette slapped her leather portfolio closed.

  “I think it’s dead in the water. Hell, you’ve seen the news stories. Television stories that show little old ladies taking long bus rides to Mexico for cheap medicine.” She shrugged. “I’m good, but I’m not that good.” Her remark brought laughter.

  “I hear ya. Our clients already look like a bunch of callous money-grubbers,” Bill Elliot chimed in. His Texas drawl, though softene
d after years in Washington, was still evident.

  “Big insurance companies are callous money-grubbers,” Jasmine Hellinger spoke up. She was the firm’s liberal conscience. She tossed her long, intricately braided auburn hair. Her cocoa brown face was pretty despite her deep frown of distaste.

  “Yeah, but it’s our job to convince people they’re not,” Eileen replied with a wink.

  “Real nice,” Jasmine muttered.

  “Let’s be fair. The Association of Insurers donates a lot of green to charities. And their employees are number one in volunteerism,” Bill said.

  “Sure. After they help people become homeless, they serve them warm gruel at soup kitchens around the country. How giving of them!” Jasmine retorted.

  “We all need insurance, Jas,” Eileen put in, and took a sip of kava juice from a bottle.

  “Right, right.” Jasmine waved a hand.

  They went on to another subject. Talia moved the swivel chair in half circles and paid token attention. She did manage to jump in with her own report of the week when it was her turn. Peter listened intently as she spoke. The others asked a few questions. Talia finished up with a summary of her meeting with Senator Collins. The others went on discussing strategy and the latest political rumors that might affect their lobbying efforts. Talia tried to take an interest. Instead she stared out the window, her thoughts hundreds of miles and a life away.

  “What’s got that faraway look in your eye, Talia?” Pete rocked back in his chair. His green eyes gazed at her over long fingers that formed a steeple. “You should be on top of the world.”

  Talia snapped out of her trance and blinked at him. “It’s been one heck of a long week. Guess the fallout is catching up with me. Too little sleep and too much bad coffee.”

  “Maybe you want to take time off. If you need to go home again, let me know.” Pete studied her with a concerned expression.

  “I’m fine.” Talia shook her head. “Thanks anyway.”

  “Glad to hear it. But you might still get a trip home. You’ll be interested in our new clients.” Pete wore a wide grin. “The Louisiana Association of District Attorneys, the Louisiana State Police, and the Louisiana Association of Trial Lawyers.”