Always by Deb Stover Read Free Book Online Page A

been kind to Gordon Lane.
          "Where should I pick you up this evening?" he asked, holding the heavy box. "You didn't say."
          Flashing him a mischievous grin, she tried to ignore the pain-riddled thunder of her heart. "Same place you did last time."
     
    *   *   *
     
          Gordon brought his Jeep to a stop in front of the small Victorian house and stared. Talk about déjà vu.  
          Same house. Same Jeep. Same girl...
          No, not a girl–a woman now. Very much so. Taylor the girl had haunted him all his adult life. Now the woman she'd become was turning his simple, well-ordered life into an adult-only version of Alice in Wonderland.
          And he'd definitely followed that white rabbit.
          Remembering warm summer nights long past, he allowed himself a more leisurely stroll down Memory Lane. A stroll where hormones ran amok, and young bodies explored each other in every sense of the word....
          Gordon's blood supply redirected itself, pooling and throbbing until he had to shift uncomfortably to accommodate his responsive body. Angry with his inability to control his emotions or his physical reaction–just like a teenager–he climbed out of the Jeep and leaned against it.  
          "History's history," he muttered. No matter how sweet or painful the memories, they couldn't change the fact that Taylor hadn't trusted him. Besides, the future she'd chosen for herself didn't include him or Digby.
          Tom Bradshaw's words returned to torment Gordon. " She says she's only staying for the term of the contract, but I'm hoping we can change her mind. "
          Scowling at himself and at the past, Gordon stepped onto the sidewalk and opened the gate. The scent of roses touched his nostrils, and he remembered Taylor's dress for their senior prom. Her mother had made it and Gordon thought it the most beautiful one he'd ever seen, not that he had ever been much of an authority on women's clothing. Of course, now he realized the beauty he'd seen had been in the wearer, not the dress.  
          She'd worn tiny rosebuds in her hair. He drew another deep breath and closed his eyes against the continuing battle between past and present.
          "Enough."
          Shoving one hand into his pocket he marched up the walk and rapped on the door. He was finished dwelling on the past. Taylor was home now, but not for long.  
          The door opened and he tried to smile. Taylor stood staring at him through the screen, an expression of uncertainty making her look so much like the girl he'd last seen framed in this doorway.  
          "Good evening," he said, wishing the sun had already set. Darkness might help hide his turmoil and the pang of recollection.
          "Evening," she returned, pushing open the screen. "Come in for a second while I grab my sweater."  
          Reluctantly, Gordon followed her into the all-too-familiar living room, then she rushed up the stairs, leaving him alone again with his memories. His throat felt full and his stomach gave a decisive lurch. Damn.
          Looking around the room, he found the piano and was once again transported into the past.
          "I'm ready."  
          Then he saw her standing at the bottom of the stairs. Dressed in a print skirt and green knit top, with a white sweater slung over her arm, she looked...
          Incredible.
          He swallowed hard and tried to deny himself the pleasure of allowing his hungry gaze to linger on the shape of her breasts beneath the clinging fabric. His impudent and infuriating memory provided his imagination with her hidden attributes.
          In minute detail.
          "I hope this is all right," she said quietly, prompting Gordon to look up at her lovely face.
          "Uh, you look fine." The truth was, she looked a whole hell of a lot better than fine, but that was dangerous territory. "Sue's