Lightning flashed, and the roar of thunder sounded as if the earth would crack.
Justin grabbed Ginaâs hand as sheets of rain drenched them. He pulled her to an abandoned storefront, wrapped her in his arms and turned his back to shield her from the pelting rain.
He held her closer, and she let him, pulling down his fences, laying wide his vulnerability. The rain pummeled his back, and he tucked her head beneath his chin, stroking her hair and her back as he did so. âLook, Iâ¦Somethingâs happening here, and Iââ
She snuggled closer to him, and her arms went up to his shoulders.
âGina, do you know what youâre doing to me?â
Her lips glistened, and her breathing shortened as she stared into his eyes with the hottest expression of female want that heâd ever witnessed. He would regret it, but he was human, and he wanted her worse than he wanted air to breatheâ¦.
is a national bestselling author of twenty-three romance novels and novellas. She has also written four novels and a novella of general fiction. She has worked as a journalist, a university professor and as a senior officer for the United Nations. She holds bachelorâs and masterâs degrees in sociology, and a masterâs degree in economics/ demography.
Gwynne sings in her church choir, loves to entertain at dinner parties, is a gourmet cook and an avid gardener. She enjoys jazz, opera, classical music and the blues. She also likes to visit museums and art galleries. She lives in New York with her husband.
Dear Reader,
Your continued support has made my novels for Kimani Romance outstanding successes. In the change from BET Books to Harlequinâs Kimani Press, I had wondered if you would find my titles. I, along with my fellow Kimani writers, am rejoicing that you have embraced this new line.
I hope you have enjoyed Gina and Justinâs story. After reading several newspaper reports of individuals whose lives were adversely affected by the acquisition of sudden great wealth (including one who inherited $342 million and who, two years later, was heavily in debt and without family and friends), I decided to explore the experience in this novel to demonstrate that the wise and responsible use of suddenly acquired wealth can bring happiness. I hope youâve had a chance to read Just the Man She Needs, my latest Kimani Arabesque novel, released in June 2007. John Austin Underwood would light any womanâs fire.
Warmest regards,
Gwynne Forster
To Carole A. Kennedy, who never passes up an
opportunity to show me true friendship. To my stepson, Peter, who is my solid rock and comfort and never-failing support; and my thanks to Almighty God for my talent and the opportunities to use it.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Gina Harkness watched the preacher sprinkle what looked to her like gravel over the coffin of her dear friend Heddy Lloyd. âA wonderful, loving and God-fearing woman,â he said. Common words from a minister, but they fit Heddy. At least the first two words did. Gina had no idea how God-fearing Heddy had been, but the old woman had certainly been kind and loving to Gina. The preacher said, âAmen,â and Gina rose slowly, softly said goodbye to her friend and walked slowly toward the door of the funeral home. It didnât seem proper to stride away as she longed to do. Sheâd found the solemn, almost dreary, atmosphere inside the parlor depressing. Certainly, Heddy would have detested it.
Halfway to the door, an older manâthe only other human present when the preacher said the last words over Heddyâs remainsâjoined her and walked with her to the door. âHow do you happen to know Heddy?â he asked her. She didnât question his right to ask her, for she knew he found it odd that a young black woman should be the old white womanâs only other mourner.
âI met her in the reading room of the public library about six years ago. I discovered that the library was her second home. I saw her whenever I went there. She told me she was a widow and that she had no children. She wanted to be friends, and I liked her, so we saw a lot of each other.â
âShe had no close friends, mainly because she wanted her friends to be like her, generous, tolerant and liberal. My name is Miles Strags. I was her lawyer.â
âGina Harkness. Glad to meet you, Mr. Strags. For years, I went to the movies, dinner, the theater and concerts with Heddy, saw her two or three times a week, called her just about every day, and visited her daily during her final days in the hospital, but I didnât know she had a lawyer. She didnât talk much about herself except to say jokingly that sheâd outlived everybody close to her, that she didnât reminisce and couldnât stand complainers. I loved her deeply.â
âI expect a lot of people would have cared deeply for Heddy if she would have let them get to know her,â he said.