In Whispered Promises, Brenda Jackson introduced readers to Dex Madaris, a man in love with his ex-wife. In Tonight and Forever, we met his brother Justin, a handsome widower fighting to forget the past. Now, in Eternally Yours, a third Madaris brother, Clayton, takes center stage as a lady's man who begins to see love in a whole new light.
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Editorial Reviews
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Your bed or mine?"
Clayton Madaris glanced up from his meal and gazed into the eyes of the woman who'd asked the question. She was beautiful, and her sensuous proposition was something any man would jump at. No hot-blooded male in his right mind would ever think of turning it down.
So why was he contemplating doing just that?
An impassive expression masked his handsome features. His hesitation had nothing to do with the fact that he'd just met her that morning. Like him, she was an attorney attending a convention in D.C. He had come to enough of these conferences to be prepared for the expected. One would be surprised just how many unmarried, as well as married people took advantage of the three-day convention to engage in short, no-strings-attached affairs. In all his thirty-five years, there had never been a time when he'd been hesitant about making love to a willing woman, granted the situation wasn't a risky one.
So what was wrong with him tonight?
His dinner companion undoubtedly was wondering the same thing and had no plans to stick around and find out. He sensed her agitation with his silence. Her eyes narrowed. "I won't make the same offer twice," she said quietly. There was a feverish edge to her voice.
Clayton nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving her face. He knew her type. She was a woman hungry for physical intimacy. Her eyes had sent him silent, intimate messages all day. There was no doubt in his mind that although he'd just disappointed her by not jumping at her offer, she wouldn't give up on him. She would make the offer again.
His smile was slow. "Sorry. Not tonight…"
Evidently not happy with his response, she pushed her plate aside and stood, giving him a measured look. "Perhaps another time, then?"
Clayton stared up at her before answering. "Perhaps."
After she left he simply sat, quietly eating the rest of his meal and drinking his coffee.
A short while later, after taking care of the dinner bill, he rode up the elevator alone to the fifth floor. During the ride he tried coming to terms with his sudden lack of interest in an affair. It wasn't like him to turn down any woman's advances or not make a score or two of his own. It definitely wasn't his style. Enjoying the opposite sex was something he had been overly fond of doing since his first time with Paula Stone when he'd been sixteen.
So what was his problem now?
The huge metal elevator doors swooshed open. Taking a deep breath he stepped out and began walking down the long hallway leading to his room. Opening the door to his suite, he walked into the sitting area, then through open double doors to the large bedroom.
He leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb, looking at the king-size bed. No one, especially those who considered him a player of the third degree, would believe he'd actually slept in the huge bed alone. And definitely not by choice.
He smiled as he pushed himself away from the door. There's a first time for everything, he thought, removing his tie and jacket and going into the bathroom. Peeling off the rest of his clothes, he stepped into the shower, dismissing the fact he'd taken a shower just before dinner.
Since becoming an attorney over ten years ago, he'd discovered his most soothing moments were in the shower while warm water caressed his skin. It was during that time he possessed the ability to blank out any thoughts other than those needing his undivided attention. In the end, whatever plagued his mind was usually put in perspective. At the moment, he needed to think about why he'd just refused an offer of no-strings-attached sex.
Adjusting the water, he picked up the scented soap and lazily lathered himself as he mentally analyzed the situation.
For some reason, he was becoming bored with the way his life was going. Somehow he was getting tired of his routine of chasing and bedding women. He twisted his lips in a wry grin. Now that was a laugh, especially since the main reason he had constantly shunned any sort of commitment with a woman was the fear of that very thing—boredom. He was the type of person who found any kind of routine deadly. He'd always been afraid of committing himself to someone only to lose interest with that person and end up feeling trapped.
His thoughts fell on his two older brothers, Justin, the physician, and Dex, the geologist in oil exploration. Both were happily married and neither appeared bored. If anything they seemed to be having the time of their lives with their wives, Lorren and Caitlin. Was it possible he'd been wrong? Was there a woman out there somewhere who could forever excite, stimulate and amuse him?
He shuddered at the way his thoughts were going; shocked that he could even consider such a thing. His credo in life for the longest time had been "The only men who aren't fools are bachelors." But he couldn't help wondering why lately he had been subconsciously longing for more than a little black book filled with the names of available women.
As the water from the shower pounded his body, he tossed the problem around in his mind, pulling it apart, analyzing and dissecting it. But he still couldn't come up with any answers.
With a groan he turned off the water and grabbed a towel. Stepping out of the shower, he began drying himself off. There were a lot of questions to which he needed answers. And he knew those answers wouldn't come from taking just one shower. The main problem might be that he had been working too hard lately. Too many court cases and too many late nights spent poring over them. A tired body occasionally filled the mind with foolish thoughts. And what could be more foolish than the notion that he was longing for a steady relationship with a woman?
Clayton shook his head to clear his muddled mind. What he needed was to get away for a while. He had some vacation time coming up. And it was time he took it.
Syneda Walters looked across her desk at the elegantly groomed woman sitting in front of it. She schooled her expression not to show her irritation and annoyance—or her pity. Bracing her elbows on the arm of the chair, she leaned forward. "Ms. Armstrong, I hope you'll reconsider your decision."
"But he has told me he's sorry about everything and really didn't mean to hurt me. He's been under a lot of stress lately. He loves me."
Syneda sighed, letting her well-manicured fingers run agitatedly over the desk surface. She could barely restrain herself from calling the woman all kinds of fool for letting a man abuse her. Yet the woman sat defending a man who evidently got his kicks using her as a punching bag.
Rubbing the ache at the back of her neck, Syneda stared beyond the woman and out the window. It was a beautiful day in early May. The midday sun slanted across the sky and reflected off another building. Its golden rays gleamed brilliantly in the blue sky. She watched as a flock of birds flew by and wished she could somehow fly away with them.
"Ms. Walters?"
Syneda's eyes again rested on the woman's tear-stained face. The bruises hadn't quite faded and were not adequately concealed with the use of makeup. "Yes?"
"You just don't understand."
Syneda allowed her eyes to close for a moment. Then pushing her chair back she rose and sat on the edge of her desk facing the woman. "You're right, Mrs. Armstrong, I don't understand," she replied quietly. "I don't understand several things. First, how can a man who claims he loves a woman physically hurt her the way your husband has repeatedly hurt you? Second, how can a woman who cares anything about herself let him do it and get away with it?"
Mary Armstrong blew her nose in a well-used napkin. "But he's my husband," the woman implored, pleading understanding.
Syneda didn't give her any. "He's also your abuser. Look, Mrs. Armstrong, you've only been in the marriage for three years and he's doing this to you now. What do you think he'll be doing to you three more years from now?"
"He'll change."
"That's what you said a few months ago." Syneda gave a disgusted shake of her head. "It's time for you to make changes. Don't live under a false conception you're worth less than you really are. Don't ever believe you deserve to be beaten. No one deserves that. And please stop thinking you're nothing without him."
There was a moment of silence in the room. Then the woman spoke. Her voice quavered with indecisiveness. "What do you suggest I do?"
"As your attorney I suggest the first thing you should do is get some counseling. And I highly recommend that you bring charges against your husband."
"Will he be arrested?"
"That's a good possibility."
The woman's face paled. "What will happen to his practice? He's an outstanding member of the community."
Syneda let out a huff of breath that was more disgust than anger. "He's also an abuser. As far as his medical practice is concerned, if I were you I'd let him worry about that."
"He loves me, and he's sorry that he's hurt me. I can't let him lose everything. I can't do that to him."
Syneda stood. "Then there's nothing I can do. We'll be more than happy to help you, Mrs. Armstrong, when you're ready to first help yourself. Good day."
Syneda continued to gaze at the closed door after Mrs. Armstrong had left. She let out a deep sigh of frustration. She was not having a good day. To be more specific, it had not been a good week. It had started with the case she'd lost on Monday, and the week had gone downhill from there.
She rubbed her forehead, trying to relieve the throbbing at her temples. Even after five years she often wondered about her decision to practice family law. But then, she silently admitted, the profession she had chosen was important to her because she'd always managed to feel she had somehow made a difference in someone's life; whether it was getting them out of a hellish marriage, taking on their fight for custody rights, or in a case like Mary Armstrong's, helping them to realize options in life other than one filled with physical abuse.
A quick knock sounded at the door. "Come in."
The door opened and her secretary stuck her head inside. "I'm leaving for lunch now. Do you have anything you want ... --This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Love Bug Bites Twice As Hard,
By Luv2Read "imareader2" (Baton Rouge, LA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Eternally Yours (Arabesque) (Paperback)
Three cheers for Ms. Jackson. "Eternally Yours" is another Madaris hit! This time, bachelor Clayton Madaris gets stung by the love bug in the form of Syneda Tremain Walters. However, the bite is contagious because not only does Clayton have the love fever, but so does Syneda! In the previous books, "Tonight and Forever" and "Whispered Promises", Clayton and Syneda, both attorneys, can never agree on anything. That changes drastically when Clayton realizes how attractive Syneda is and his feelings blossoms. Syneda, hurt in the past by what she thinks is desertion by her father when her mother dies, has decided she does not need a man in her life. She and Clayton are friends and adversaries when it comes to work. They can never agree on anything. That is until love comes along and both are smitten with one another. They make commitments to each other. Each vows to the other to be "Eternally Yours" forever. Through misunderstanding and heartache, they have to deal with what love has to offer and how love affects life. Syneda and Clyaton have unexpected surprises in store for them. Clayton - because he never expected to fall "head over heels" in love and give up bachelorhood. Syneda has two surprises: (1) she never expected to need a man in her life until Clayton disrupts her planned out life, and (2) the appearance of someone in her life she never expected to materialize. "Eternally Yours" is a heartwarming, touching, and funny story of two people who deserve and find true love together. Another winner!!
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The continuing saga of the Madaris brothers,
By A Customer
This review is from: Eternally Yours (Arabesque) (Paperback)
Brenda Jackson has written the latest in the stories of the Madaris brothers of Texas. "Tonight and Forever" covered the life and love of the oldest brother, Justin. "Whispered Promises" was about Dexter Madaris. "Eternally Yours" is the story of attorney Clayton Madaris, the youngest son and a womanizer of epic proportions ,who keeps a case of condoms in his closet. Clayton believes "the only men who aren't fools are bachelors." He's seen the challenges that love has brought to his older brothers and he doesn't want to go there. Syneda Walters is also a successful attorney. She and Clayton have disagreed through two novels so you know they've got to get together eventually. While you know what the outcome is, Brenda Jackson has crafted her book to include enough plot twists to keep readers interested. There is something for everyone in this book. For those who have read Ms. Jackson's earlier books and her novella, "Cupid's Bow," it's fun to see what some of your favorite characters are up to now. For those who have NOT read Ms. Jackson before, the book is a strong stand-alone that doesn't require reading the first two books to understand what's going on. However, it will intrigue some readers enough to want to buy the other books. Ms. Jackson also includes enough spin-off characters for readers to anticipate whose story will be written next. "Eternally Yours" was well worth the wait.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Only A Madaris Man Can,
By free4lyfe "VOR" (Florida) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Eternally Yours (Arabesque) (Paperback)
Clayton, Clayton, Clayton.. he is definitely my favorite Madaris but this time the boy has met his match in Syneda Walters. Syneda had that whip appeal that made the boy throw away his case of condoms. But, being a Madaris, Clayton affected Syneda in a way she never would have expected, he was able to get under her hardnosed exterior and find the woman that wanted to be pampered and loved. Syneda suffered the pain of having her mother die when she was a child and the promise of a father that never came for her, she ended up raised in foster care unable to fully trust or love. Clayton loved Syneda the way he never thought he would ever love a woman, he wanted to help her over her pain and he sought to reconnect her past so they could have a future. Clayton is always there whether his advice is welcomed or not, but when he suffered Syneda's rejection of his love, a love he never offered another woman, he was lost. Syneda finally came to realize that she needed and wanted the protective strength and unconditional love of Clayton and together they would be too much Madaris to handle.
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