Rescuing Mary

by Susan Stoker

  Mary stiffened. Did he remember?

  “I don’t remember you doing it, but after hearing you lay into Ruth tonight, I’m guessing you aren’t so reticent when it comes to people staring.”

  She sighed. “Unfortunately, no.”

  “Why unfortunately?”

  “Because it makes people think I’m a bitch. And then they look at you with pity because you’re with me.”

  “I don’t mind that you’re a bitch. How about this, you keep calling people on their rudeness, and I’ll make sure they know how happy I am to have you at my side.”

  “Shit,” Mary said softly.

  “What?” Truck asked.

  “I’m not sure I can handle all this openness,” she said honestly.

  “I take it we weren’t exactly chatty Kathys, huh?” Truck said with a chuckle.

  “Uh, no.”

  “I like this new version of us.”

  “But you don’t remember the old version of us,” Mary said.

  “True, but if we didn’t talk like this, and if I didn’t know about your bitch mama and you didn’t know about my horrible parents and Macie, then what we had was probably based on the wrong things.”

  Boy, did he have that right.

  Before she could agree, he inhaled deeply again. “You smell so…familiar. It’s like I’m having déjà vu.”

  “Do you think that could be good?” Mary couldn’t help but ask.

  “I have no idea. But at the moment, I don’t care.”

  They stayed like that on the couch for another couple of hours. Mary told him a few details about her friends, without mentioning names or many specifics…except about Rayne. They also talked about their likes and dislikes. They discussed the movie Deadpool and had a spirited argument about whether or not it could be classified as a romance. When they finally seemed to run out of things to talk about, Mary asked, “How’s your head feel?”

  “Good,” Truck slurred.

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. I should go.”

  “Don’t,” Mary said swiftly. “Stay.”

  “I told you, young lady, that I wasn’t going to have sex with you,” Truck teased.

  Mary giggled, then said softly, “I haven’t felt this good in months.”

  “You really want me to stay?” Truck asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Then I will. You want to get up and go to bed?”

  Mary shook her head. “I’m comfortable here.”

  His arms tightened around her for a moment before relaxing again. “Me too.”

  “Truck?”

  “Yeah, Mary?”

  “We haven’t had sex together.”

  He lifted his head at that. “Why not?”

  “It’s a long story,” Mary prevaricated.

  “But we’ve slept together.” It wasn’t a question.

  “Yeah.”

  “I thought so. This feels familiar to me. You in my arms. Snoring.”

  “I don’t snore,” Mary protested, smacking his chest.

  Truck’s hand came up and flattened her palm against his chest, his thumb brushing back and forth over it, as if to calm her.

  “I’m glad,” Truck told her.

  “Glad we haven’t had sex?” Mary asked in disbelief.

  “Yeah. Because I think I would’ve hated knowing I’d been inside you and not remembering it. It makes me feel as if we’re more on the same level since we haven’t seen each other naked yet.”

  “I didn’t say that,” Mary muttered.

  His brow arched. “You’ve seen me naked?”

  She shook her head. “No. Dammit. But you’ve seen me.”

  “Fuck. I hate that I don’t remember.”

  “I’m not much to look at.”

  This time when his head came up, his eyes were sparkling with anger. “Don’t say that.”

  “It’s true.”

  “Look at me, Mare. Out of the two of us, I’m the one who isn’t much to look at.”

  Mary scooted her hand out from under his and palmed his cheek. “You’re perfect.”

  “As are you.”

  “But you don’t know—”

  “Shhhhh,” Truck soothed, cutting her off. “No one is getting naked right this second, so just relax.”

  Mary put her head back on his shoulder but kept her hand on his cheek. He was so warm and alive under her. She knew that if he’d hit his head any harder, he might not be here at all.

  “There you go,” Truck murmured. “Relax, Mare. This is the first time I get to sleep with you…and actually remember it. Let me enjoy it.”

  “Brute,” Mary complained without heat.

  She felt him chuckle, his chest rumbling under her, but she was too relaxed and happy to argue with him anymore. “I’m glad you’re here,” she told him.

  “Thank you for defending me against that scary woman,” Truck returned. “I don’t know why she couldn’t figure out that I wasn’t interested.”

  “Because you’re a catch,” Mary told him. “Of course she wanted you.”

  “But I’m with you,” Truck complained.

  Mary felt warm inside at his words. He hadn’t known he was with her when the other woman had come on to him, but something wouldn’t let him be attracted to her regardless. It felt good. Like hope. Hope that they might work out after all.

  “Yes, you are,” Mary agreed.

  “I’m glad you’re here too,” Truck told her. “Now, go to sleep.”

  “Yes, sir,” Mary said cheekily.

  “That’s more like it,” he said with satisfaction.

  “Don’t get used to it, Trucker. I’m not usually so compliant.”

  In response, he hugged her and ducked his head so his nose was in her hair once more. Mary had no idea why he liked smelling her shampoo so much, but she wasn’t going to complain.

  Chapter Ten

  Truck woke up like he always did, all at once and completely awake. He had no idea where he was, but he knew he was comfortable and something smelled delicious.

  Without opening his eyes, he inhaled deeply—and just like that, an image flashed through his head.

  * * *

  He was sitting behind a naked woman in a bathtub. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and holding a washcloth, running it over her arms. The woman was sniffing quietly, and he knew she was crying, but trying to hide it from him.

  Truck felt helpless. When he’d heard her crying, he’d entered the bathroom without a second thought and had only taken the time to whip off his shirt before joining her. The scent of the shampoo he poured into his hand wafted up to his nose as he gently massaged her head. There were only short little strands of hair poking up through her bald scalp, but she didn’t react as he worked the shampoo over her carefully.

  “I’ve got you,” he said soothingly. “You’re okay.”

  But it was obvious she wasn’t okay, and Truck had never felt so helpless in his life.

  * * *

  “Good morning,” a voice said, and Truck would’ve jumped ten feet in the air if he wasn’t as well trained as he was.

  As soon as the woman’s voice sounded in his ear, the vision disappeared. Truck wasn’t sure if he’d been dreaming or remembering. He didn’t know any bald women, or at least hadn’t met any since he’d been back home. The images didn’t make sense.

  He looked down at the woman in his arms. Mary. The night before came back to him, and he smiled. “Morning, Mary.”

  She beamed. “You remember me.”

  Truck chuckled. “I should hope so, considering you lured me into your home and kept me prisoner by pinning me to this couch all night.”

  She giggled, as he’d intended. “Are you hungry?” she asked. “I can make us something.”

  “I need to go,” Truck told her regretfully. He didn’t like the look of sadness that appeared in her eyes at his statement.

  “Oh, okay. Sure.” She tried to sit up, but Truck tightened his arm around her waist to keep her where
she was.

  “I know it’s Sunday, but I arranged to meet the guys for PT this morning. I think you know as well as I do that if I don’t show, they’ll freak. They’ve been a bit…protective of me. But just because I’m leaving, doesn’t mean that I want to go.”

  The hollow look in her eyes cleared and she nodded. “You’re right. I’m just being selfish. I’ll see you later, I’m sure. I know my friends will be wanting to talk to me too.”

  “Don’t let them talk you into staying away from me,” Truck warned. “Because it won’t work. I know where you live and…um…where do you work?”

  Mary laughed. “At Central Bank, downtown.”

  “Right. I know where you live and work. There’s nowhere you can hide from me.”

  “I don’t want to,” she admitted somewhat shyly.

  “Right. So let’s go and deal with our friends then we can figure out when we’re going to see each other again.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Truck helped Mary stand up…and couldn’t take his eyes from her ass when she was finally upright.

  “Are you looking at my ass?” she questioned, putting her hands on her hips.

  “Yup,” Truck admitted unapologetically.

  “Whatever,” Mary said, rolling her eyes. “The bathroom is down the hall to the right,” she informed him.

  Still grinning, Truck leaned down, kissed her on the forehead, then headed down the hall.

  When he came out a few minutes later, Mary was waiting for him.

  “What are their names?” Truck asked.

  “Who?”

  “The guys’ women.”

  “Oh…um…I’m not sure—”

  “Mary, after last night, it’s more than obvious to me that the women you were with are all connected to my teammates. My head isn’t going to explode if you tell me.”

  “How does it feel this morning?” Mary asked.

  “It’s throbbing. Now tell me.”

  “Stubborn,” Mary grumbled under her breath. “Fine. Rayne, Harley, Casey, and Wendy.”

  “Who’s with who?”

  Mary looked at him for a beat, then said, “I guess their names didn’t jog your memory, huh?”

  “Mare, if yours didn’t, and you said we were together—even if the togetherness was complicated—there’s no way the names of women who belong to my friends would make me suddenly remember the last three years.”

  “Whatever,” she huffed. Then added, “And they don’t ‘belong’ to your friends.”

  Truck grinned. “You know what I mean.”

  “Whatever. I hate when guys say that.”

  “I apologize. Now, who’s with who?”

  “Why do I have the feeling that you’re just apologizing to appease me and the second my back is turned, you’ll be telling people I belong to you?”

  “Because you’re smart? Now stop stalling.”

  Huffing out a cute breath, Mary rolled her eyes then told him what he wanted to know. “Rayne’s with Ghost. Harley’s with Coach. Casey and Beatle are together, and Blade is Wendy’s boyfriend.”

  “And Hollywood? I know Fletch is married…even if it’s hard to believe.” Truck pushed.

  Mary held up her hands. “No, they’ll kill me if I tell.”

  Needing to know now, Truck backed Mary up against a wall and clasped her wrists in one of his hands above her head. He tilted her chin with his free hand and pressed his body against hers. “I’m not going to freak out, no matter what you tell me. I just need to know. It’s driving me crazy. Hollywood’s not acting like normal. Is something wrong? Is he okay? What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Easy, Truck,” Mary soothed, not trying to get out of his hold. “They’re fine. Hollywood hasn’t been around much because his wife just gave birth.”

  “Holy shit!” Truck said, dropping his hands and staggering back. “Hollywood’s married? And he just had a kid?”

  “Yeah. A girl. She’s adorable. Kate. His wife’s name is Kassie.”

  “Wow. Seriously? Hollywood married. That’s crazy. I never thought he’d settle down.”

  “Fletch’s wife is pregnant too,” Mary said gently. “She’s due in about a month and a half and is having a difficult end of her pregnancy. Her name is Emily.”

  “Damn,” Truck said, trying to absorb what Mary was telling him. “I didn’t know she was pregnant.”

  “And they have another daughter. She’s eight. She’s Emily’s, but Fletch adopted her. Annie is amazing. She’s refreshing and cute and exasperating all at the same time.”

  “Annie,” Truck mused.

  “Do you remember her?”

  Truck shook his head. “No. But I feel kinda the same weird feeling inside when I hear that name as I do when you’re in my arms.”

  Mary blinked up at him but didn’t comment.

  “And now it makes sense why Ghost asked me over in Africa if I knew anyone by the name of Rayne, and then spit the other names at me. Thanks for telling me,” Truck told her.

  Mary flung herself at him, and Truck caught her by reflex. “You’re gonna remember, Truck. I know it.” She looked up at him. “I just hope you don’t regret anything when you do.”

  “None of that,” Truck scolded. “I told you I wasn’t going to have sex with you yet, so there’s nothing to regret.” He didn’t like the look of unease on Mary’s face and wanted to tease it out of her.

  Luckily, she smiled up at him, and he relaxed.

  “That’s right, Trucker. I’m not that kind of girl.”

  “I know it. And with that, I really do need to go. I’m already late and I can feel my phone vibrating like crazy in my pocket. The guys have probably already called the cops and reported me missing.”

  Mary smiled. “Okay. I’ll text you some more details about the women, okay?”

  “I’d like that.”

  “It won’t be everything, but just a few important things about them. Maybe you can get all the details from the guys. They won’t be happy I told you anything.”

  “Tough shit. I’m happy you told me. And that’s all that matters.”

  Mary grinned. “All right then. I’ll see you later.”

  Truck stepped back. “Yes, you will.”

  “Have fun storming the castle,” Mary quipped as she waved at him.

  “The Princess Bride,” Truck said. “Love that movie.”

  “I know you do.”

  “Bye, Mary.” Truck reluctantly turned and headed for her front door before he decided he never wanted to leave. There was something about the woman that made him feel protective and proud at the same time.

  “How’s Emily doing?” Truck asked Fletch later that morning when they were running along a dirt path in the middle of Fort Hood.

  His friend whipped his head around to stare at him and nearly face-planted in the dirt when he tripped over his feet.

  “Goddammit,” Ghost swore from nearby. “She wasn’t supposed to tell you that shit!”

  “Why not?” Truck asked. “Because I’m weak? Fuck that. As my best friends, you guys should’ve told me that you didn’t want to go to that bar to pick up chicks. You should’ve told me that you’ve all got women of your own. I thought we never kept secrets from each other. What happened to that, huh?” Truck stopped running and his friends all followed suit. “Is that how we operate now? Because that’s not what we did three years ago. We told each other every-fucking-thing.” He was breathing hard, and not because of exertion.

  “Wow, this is kinda eerie,” Beatle remarked dryly.

  “Shut up, Beatle,” Fletch admonished then faced Truck. “Of course it’s not. But this isn’t exactly a normal situation. We didn’t want to make you have a setback. And I’m not sure it was that smart of Mary to blab.”

  “Don’t,” Truck warned, glaring at Fletch. “Do not badmouth Mary. She’s the only person who’s been honest with me since I got back here.”

  “Honest, huh? Did she tell you that you were—”

&nb
sp; Fletch’s mouth was covered by Ghost’s hand before he could finish his sentence.

  “More secrets?” Truck asked, frustrated with his friends. He had no idea what Fletch had been about to say, but he had a feeling it was big. Huge.

  “We were only doing what the doctor told us to,” Ghost said. “He warned us that if we all told you at once that we’re married or have girlfriends, it could be harmful.”

  “So what, you were never going to tell me? You were going to continue to go out to bars with me and pretend to go home with chicks?” Truck asked.

  “Of course not,” Blade mumbled.

  “My memory might not ever come back. So were you going to pretend you’d just met Wendy somewhere and started dating her? Maybe you’d have a second marriage ceremony, Hollywood, just to keep up the pretense?”

  No one said a word, although their eyes said plenty.

  Truck knew he was being harsh and tried to rein in his emotions. “You’ve hurt my feelings,” Truck admitted in a gentler voice. “Hollywood, I hear congratulations are in order. I bet your baby girl is fucking beautiful. I’d like to meet her, if you think I can do that and not have my head explode.” He turned to Fletch. “And I was serious when I asked how Emily was doing. Mary told me she’s having a hard pregnancy.”

  “She’s okay,” Fletch said softly. “She’s had some pain recently and we’re worried that the baby might come too early, so she’s basically on complete bed rest.”

  “That sucks,” Truck told his friend. Then he turned to the others. “I’d like to meet Casey. I find it hilarious that you hate bugs as much as you do and ended up with an entomologist. I also want to meet Wendy and Harley.”

  Beatle, Blade, and Coach all nodded. “We’d like that too,” Coach said for them all.

  Then Truck turned to Ghost. “And I understand you had a one-night stand with Rayne, and then we ran into her in the middle of an op?”

  “Mary sure was chatty,” Ghost grumbled, but relented and nodded. “Yeah. Rayne’s amazing.”

  “That explains the new tattoo,” Truck said, glancing at Ghost’s leg.

  Ghost nodded again.

  Truck took a deep breath. “I get that this is awkward, and that you don’t want to do anything that will hurt me. But, guys, I’m either going to regain my memory or I’m not. The last thing I want is for you to live your lives disingenuously. You’re the best friends I’ve ever had, and I want to get to know your women for the second time. I want to hang out with all of you. I realize it’ll be awkward at first, but don’t block me from your lives.”