“Trudy? Ex-wife Trudy?” His voice turned bitter.
“Yeah.”
“Oh, she’s a piece of work that one.”
“What do you mean?” My curiosity piqued.
“She’s the reason they separated in the first place. Dec obviously doesn’t remember, and I’m pretty sure she won’t spill the beans.”
Oh, this just got very interesting. Skeletons were coming out of the closet.
“Dec was away on missions a lot, like me, but Trudy knew his goals going in. Turns out, while he was away she was getting it on with Reno. You won’t know Reno, but he went on a couple of missions with our team. He spent more time at home than us, so Trudy obviously took advantage of it.”
Holy hell. Huge didn’t cover it. I wonder if Harley ever found out. “Did Harley know about it?”
“He did when I found out and told him.”
“How did you find out?” I submerged deeper into the story as more unfolded.
“I discovered a letter Reno had dropped. The last page was open on the floor of the rundown building we were holing up in. The words always yours, Trudy caught my eye, so I read the page and put two and two together. Trudy felt guilty and didn’t want Dec to find out.”
“Wow.” I wasn’t sure what else to say.
“Wow, is right. Dec freaked. At first he denied it, but when I told him I’d read the letter, he went ape-shit. He threatened to kill Reno. He was going to confront him as soon as possible but he never got the chance.”
“Reno was killed.”
“How do you know this?” he barked.
“Declan had some memories in hospital about his friend’s death.”
“Reno was taken hostage while returning to our hideout. Dec was still pissed, but when he found out Reno had been captured, he did everything he could to save him. Put his anger aside. He was devastated when he couldn’t save him.”
“I can’t believe this!”
“It is what it is. Now you know why Trudy isn’t one of my favorite people.”
“So what should I do? Let Declan go to her?”
“I wouldn’t, but that’s entirely up to you.”
This changed everything. “Should I tell Declan, seeing as though he has no memory of the affair?” Calling Harley, Declan made him a stranger to me, but I humored Charlie.
I heard him huff out. “Wouldn’t hurt. Maybe if he can’t recall it, he won’t feel the same emotions attached to it.”
Did Trudy have an agenda now? No doubt Harley losing his memory proved advantageous to her. She knew when she asked him to stay with her that she’d cheated on him. She must be very pleased with herself. All of a sudden, I saw her in a new light. How could she betray Harley the way she had? There’s no way I could let him move in with her, knowing what I knew.
“Where do you live? I’m coming over?” His tone brooked no argument. It would be pointless in trying to dissuade him.
Giving him my address and telling him to leave it until eight p.m., I hung up and left the hospital to drive to the grocery store. My mind came alive with new thoughts.
One phone call had changed everything. I now believed Trudy wanted to get Harley back before he regained his full memory. How could she expect him to stay with her when he found out the truth?
I knew one thing for sure. Charlie could drop the bombshell again. He’d done it once. He’d do it again. I didn’t want a part of it.
I picked up some salad ingredients to have with beef stroganoff. A quick and easy meal to prepare.
Driving home, I couldn’t get Charlie’s admission out of my mind. How had Trudy and Reno kept the affair silent? I guess it had been easy with Harley being away more than his comrade.
Things were getting messy. I’d pushed for Harley to get his memory back, but now I wasn’t so sure it had been a great idea. Some things were better left forgotten. Still, running into Trudy had begun the unraveling of events, so I guess fate had won out. Nothing could have prevented it.
Parking my car in the garage, I got out, carrying the groceries.
Harley stood in the kitchen cleaning, much to my shock and gratitude. He had a cloth in one hand and cleaner in the other, and wiped down the counter tops. He looked up and smiled as I entered.
“Wow. This place looks amazing! I must say, it’s a welcome sight to see a male doing chores.” I laughed, placing the bags on the table.
“I like to earn my keep. I wasn’t doing anything, anyway.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Do you want a hand putting those away?” He motioned to the groceries.
“Thank you. I’ve got a few things for dinner but I’ll go grab a shower before I start.” Should I mention Charlie’s visit? Better to warn him. “I got a phone call today from someone you know.”
“Oh?”
“Charlie O’Donnell.”
It took a moment to register as his brain shuffled through the muck. Realization had him stand rigid. “How did he get your number?”
“Ah, Trudy gave it to me. I kinda called him.”
Expecting him to be mad, he surprised me by walking to the cupboard under the sink and placing the cleaner and cloth inside. His shoulders relaxed. When he stood back up and faced me, he leaned his butt against the countertop. “And why would you call him?”
“To help solve the riddle that is you.”
Smirking at me, he asked, “And what did Charlie have to say?”
Not wanting to give away anything, I replied, “I explained about your shooting and amnesia and he wanted to drop by. He’s coming over at eight p.m. tonight. I hope you don’t mind.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, he puffed out, “He’s game. I guess I don’t mind, but it’ll be a little awkward.”
“That’s why I bought this.” I fished out a bottle of red wine from one of the bags.
Harley chuckled. “You think of everything, don’t you?” He stepped toward me with purpose but I couldn’t stick around. I needed that shower more than ever.
“I’ll take that shower now. Can you finish putting these away?”
He stopped and frowned, nodding, his eyes revealing disappointment. God. I knew I teetered between hot and cold, but I didn’t have a clue about anything when it came to Harley.
Standing under the warm spray only served to melt away a small percentage of tension in my muscles. I didn’t really feel like having a visitor tonight. In fact, I wanted to down a glass of wine in my pajamas while watching television. With each second the shower spray pummeled me, fatigue took hold. We’d had two emergencies brought into the ICU back to back this afternoon and we’d been short staffed with two people calling in sick. Char and I had been run off our feet. Even with my expensive flats designed for people who stood on their feet all day, my calf muscles were tight and achy.
Perhaps when our guest arrived, Harley could serve the wine so I could put my feet up. I could only hope.
Drying off and donning a pair of lightweight sweatpants and a tee, I moved back into the kitchen. Another surprise. While I’d been indulging in the shower, Harley had prepared a large salad and went about finishing it off with some cashew nuts on the top. Damn, this man proved handy.
“Oh my God! You cook too?”
“I guess I do. I can’t remember cooking, but I knew without a doubt how to throw a salad together. You like?”
Moving closer to look at the colorful masterpiece, I shrieked. “I love it! Thank you so much! I wonder what else you can do that you don’t know about.”
I hadn’t meant it to sound sexual, but Harley took it that way, stepping into me and fingering my wet hair while leaning one hand on the table. “I know how to do this,” he whispered, lifting my face with one hand. “And this.” His lips found my forehead. A slow, soft kiss feathered my brow. “And I think I remember this from earlier.” Dragging his mouth lightly down my nose, he sealed his lips over mine. It took my restraint away and eased the remaining tension the shower hadn’t been able to.
Just a kiss, right? After the day I’d had, I needed something and this seemed to be working, even though I didn’t want it to. Not really. Well, maybe a little.
He led and I followed. Gently as if I would break. It wasn’t a full on snog but more of a lazy, butterfly in the tummy inducing slow dance. He hadn’t kissed me this way before and I liked it. Unhurried and loving, as if we had all the time in the world. His chest beat heavily against mine. I opened my eyes and risked a peek. He’d plunged into the moment. Dense lashes brushed across his cheeks, lids lowered. I closed mine again, savoring the feel of him. The smell and taste. His tongue only served to sporadically search for mine, and each time they met it served more as a peck before he pulled it out again. It started to drive me insane. He knew how to lead, teasing me to want more. I did want more. So much more, but again I had to pull away.
“Harley. We need to finish dinner. It’s nearly seven. Charlie will be here in an hour.” My puffy lips made the words sound strange. Or maybe they were strange because they were the exact opposite of what I really wanted to say.
His face was a map of desire and I seriously wanted to dissolve into him but we couldn’t.
Dropping his head for a moment and sucking in a deep breath, he nodded and managed to pull himself together, marginally. “Need a hand with the stroganoff?” I think he needed a distraction, but he’d already made the salad.
“No. I’ll do it. You go shower if you want.”
Running his index finger down my jawline, his eyes stuttered before he pulled himself away and left me alone.
Gah! That man! He’d truly rooted himself under my skin and I wasn’t sure I could restrain myself anymore. Pouring us both a glass of wine and taking a healthy swig, I grabbed the pan out of the cupboard. After it heated I threw in the meat and seared it before adding the rest of the ingredients, allowing it to simmer for ten minutes. Removing it from the heat, I poured in the light sour cream at the end.
I hadn’t heard the shower switch off, but Harley appeared a few minutes later dressed in a dark blue pair of jeans and a black Nike tee. Hot damn. The man filled out that shirt like nobody’s business. The wine glass stopped mid-sip due to my shaking hand.
“Dinner smells amazing.” He gifted me with a stunning smile. I had to put the glass down before I dropped it. Turning back to the pan, I lifted two plates down from the overhead cupboard. Piling on some stroganoff and salad, I handed him his plate and filled mine.
Sitting down together had an intimate feel, one I soaked in to my core. If and when Harley moved back to his apartment, I’d miss him. My decision to deter him from moving in with Trudy would wait until after Charlie broke the news. I was sure on hearing it, he wouldn’t want to, anyway. Would he feel any betrayal or would the words wash over him like a light breeze? We’d soon find out.
“You’re a great cook, you know that, right?” Harley mumbled in between shoveling food into his mouth.
“Judging by the way your stashing that stroganoff away, it’s either your favorite or maybe, and I’m stressing maybe, I’m an okay cook.”
“Woman, stop selling yourself short.” He paused before studying me. “Did Nick never tell you?”
“No,” I whispered, realizing he never had. We barely ate together, and even if Nick had eaten his while poring over his computer on the rare occasion he came home when I ate, he’d never complimented me.
Loudly placing his fork down on his almost empty plate with a clatter, I raised my eyes to his.
“You’re not seriously considering taking that asshole back, are you?”
“Wow! Say what you really think, Harley.” I placed my own fork down somewhat quieter and took a sip of wine.
“It’s true and you know it. He’s all about himself. He can’t see what’s right in front of him. Take him back and nothing will ever change.”
The truth glared at me. I didn’t want Nick to even return to pick up the remainder of his stuff, but I knew he would in the hopes Harley had gone. He’d return any day now. At any given moment he could walk through the door. The idea of it soured my stomach.
Sighing out my agreement, I said, “He wasn’t always bad. Not in the beginning.”
As his jaw hardened, I cut him off, “But I have to agree. I need to let him go.”
He relaxed at my statement. “I got your back, okay?”
When I didn’t immediately respond, he placed his large hand over my small one. “Hey. I’m here for you one hundred percent. The same way you have been for me. I promise.”
I like hearing his vow of support. To have him swear his loyalty. Apart from my father, I hadn’t had that, ever.
“Thank you.” I smiled, genuinely grateful.
Suddenly remembering my request to have him call some security companies, I asked, “Did you find someone to come and fit an alarm?”
“Yep. I called four or five companies. Securaguard sounded the best in regards to the system for the price. They were fully booked until Wednesday, so I’ll stay until then.”
Relieved I’d soon have some protection and secretly cheering I’d have Harley for longer, I stood to clean up, noticing the time had gotten away. Charlie would be here soon and the kitchen needed tidying. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“No drama. Now you go sit down. I’ll clean. You’ve been on your feet all day.”
My God. If he kept this up, I’d never let him go.
Following his advice, I took my refilled wine glass into the living room and settled in to await our visitor.
At exactly eight o’ clock sharp a motorbike pulled into the driveway, followed by a loud rap on the door. Harley, who had joined me, found my gaze with a questioning look in his eyes. I nodded and he stood and walked to the door.
I wasn’t surprised the guy standing outside looked just as big as Harley, if not bigger. Height-wise, he appeared a tad shorter, but overall he reminded me of a tank. His short blond buzz cut and clean-shaven oval face were typical of a soldier, but his crystal blue eyes were in stark contrast to the rest of him. They were friendly eyes that crinkled at the corners as he held out his hand for Harley.
“Dec. Man. It’s good to see you.”
Harley stood statue-still, hands balled at his sides. Things were about to get real. I didn’t know how the visit would go, but having someone else from his past appear hopefully meant more support for me while we dealt with Harley’s amnesia. Everything had escalated quickly and skeletons were slowly being dragged out of the closet. I had a feeling the three of us were going to need each other more than we knew. For now I was happy to sit back and let Charlie take center stage.
END OF BOOK 1
Chapter One
Harley
The guy standing in front of me grinned and held out a meaty hand to shake. Upon seeing his face, memories of my dream shot like liquid fire through my brain, triggering a fight or flight response. My body tensed as I processed the haphazard snapshots. Fighting. Brothers. Comradery. Loyalty. Fierce protection. Unspoken words. Instinct. An unbreakable bond, threatened by war. It all came hard and fast, slamming into me, forcing me to stagger back. I continued to watch him. He continued to smile, his hand unwavering, waiting for me to reciprocate.
Clarity cut through the hazy muck as the first emotion since waking in the hospital bloomed in my chest. This guy meant everything to me. He’d had my back without question, and vice-versa. Till the death. Details eluded me, but knowin’ he’d die for me had already been written in stone long ago and stamped into my psyche.
Regaining my composure and standing taller, a small smirk played at the edges of my mouth, which until now resembled a sharp slice of anxiety.
Sentiment swelled, the tide of my blood carrying it through my body. It seeped into the black crevices formed by amnesia.
Letting the smile engulf my face and surging forward, I embraced my best friend in a powerful hug, clapping him on the back, overcome with too much sensation. Tears beckoned, but I held them at bay as I swallowed hard and winced
. My gunshot wound protested the gesture but I ignored it, not giving a shit about physical pain because to finally feel the connection of someone other than Mac had me all kinds of happy. A person from my past overrode any and all physical aches.
“Viper.” Nothing else came out. We pulled back and scrutinized each other. His blond, buzzed hair sprouted from his scalp like new grass. Clean shaven face. Green eyes held mischief complementing the dimple on his left cheek.
“What’s this bullshit about you not remembering me?” he balked, cutting to the chase.
I moved away, motioning for him to enter, swinging my arm wide. His eyes fell on Mac and then returned to me. An eyebrow rose in question.
Shutting the door, I found Mac intensely focused on both of us, her face lit with joy at our exchange. She too felt the connection from my past come to life.
She stood before I could answer my friend and came to greet him. “Hi. I’m Mac. We spoke on the phone.”
Viper’s eyes mapped her out. Assessing. Ogling. It took a moment for him to respond as he held out his hand. “My name’s Charlie O’Dowell, but you can call me Viper.”
She nodded, taking his hand for a brief shake and pointing to the sofa. “Nice to meet you, Viper. Please sit.”
We took our places, me beside Mac in some territorial display of ownership. Viper sat on the single recliner beside us.
“So are you gonna answer me, douche?” Viper laughed, continuing his banter.
It wasn’t offensive. In fact, it settled me. Much like Mac’s presence. My subconscious knew. I needed it. Needed normal. The people surrounding me seemed like the only normal I had.
“I don’t remember much at all. Seeing you though, it triggered the memory I had of us in Afghanistan. The day Reno…”
I stopped short upon seeing Viper’s face scrunch and his eyes briefly flit to Mac before he cracked his neck and focused on me again.
“Sorry, man. I shouldn’t have brought him up,” I offered, realizing he may still be grieving.
The Lost and Found Series Page 17