by Sara Orwig
Maybe it was because of the storm and all the events of the day that it just seemed that way at the time. The instant that thought came she knew better. She was tingly all over just thinking about their kiss. And it didn’t have one thing to do with the storm or his rescue or the struggles they’d had getting out of the canyon.
“If you don’t want to talk about it, we won’t, but was your fiancé someone you had known a long time?”
“We’d been together more than a year,” she replied, then paused to take a sip of her water. “We had a big church wedding planned, at least big to me—about two hundred guests. Two weeks before the wedding he told me he had met someone else and it was instant attraction and love.”
“Two weeks? Maybe you’re better off not married to a guy who would change like that.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Logically, I know that’s true. I’ve told myself that, too, at least a hundred times, but it doesn’t make the hurt go away or make any of it easier to accept. I had presents to return, letters to write, people to call. He walked and that was that.”
“I see why you don’t want any more complications in your life right now.” They ate in silence for a bit and then he leaned back. “Well, tell me about how you entertain yourself out here without TV and internet.”
Before she could answer, they heard the first ping of hail hitting the house. The hail came faster, the hailstones larger.
“Oh, damn, this must be the next storm coming through,” he said. “Thank goodness we didn’t have this before you came to my rescue. I’d—”
His words were cut off when a big hailstone smashed through a window on the south side of the room. As glass shattered on the floor, another hailstone broke another window, and she bolted. “I better get towels,” she said, rushing from the room.
She could hear another window shatter as baseball-size hailstones struck the glass. She rushed back with towels and went to get a broom and dustpan to sweep up the broken glass.
When she returned, he took the broom from her. “Let me do this.”
“I don’t think you’re supposed to exert yourself.”
“I’m not. This is nothing,” he said.
She started to argue, but one look at him and she turned away. “I have plywood that will fit the windows and we can fasten it to the window frames with duct tape to keep rain from coming in,” she said. “It’s on the other side of the porte cochere, in my workshop,” she said as she pulled on a thick, tan jacket.
“I’ll go with you,” he replied, walking with her. She was intensely conscious of him close beside her.
“You may want a jacket because it’s cooler out.”
He shook his head. “I’m okay.”
He was more than okay. He reached out to open the door for her and she smiled at him.
“Thanks,” she said, glancing into his brown eyes and feeling as if they had made physical contact. And again, against every one of her warnings to herself, she was instantly conscious of him close by her side, aware it would be just the two of them at her house tonight and maybe several days and nights. The mere thought caused her insides to flutter.
* * *
As she passed so close to him, he caught a faint whiff of some enticing perfume. His pulse jumped and he longed to hold her in his arms again. He was very aware of her close by his side as they rushed to the garage without having to get out in the rain and then he followed her into an adjoining workshop.
“There are the sheets of plywood we can put over the windows so it doesn’t rain in. I’ll get the duct tape and the toolbox,” she said and he barely heard her. His gaze went over her face, her smooth soft skin, her rosy mouth. Instantly, he thought about kissing her. Her kisses were hot, sexy, unforgettable. She bustled around him, getting a big roll of gray duct tape off a shelf, then picking up a toolbox. She put those things down and turned to the stack of thin plywood.
“If you can carry the toolbox and tape,” she told him. “I’ll take four of these boards just in case another window breaks.”
“I’ll take the plywood, you get the tools and tape,” he said. He picked up the pieces of plywood, watching the sway of her hips as she walked past him. Watching her just made him want her more. He had to leave her alone, avoid hurting her. It was the least he could do, given that she might have saved his life. But it was impossible to stop thinking about holding her and kissing her. He almost groaned aloud.
When they went back to the kitchen, she set down and opened the toolbox. “One winter we had an ice storm and tree limbs snapped and fell. One broke through a window on this end of the cabin and another on the other side. Gerald has a man who works for him who’s a good carpenter and they cut this plywood to fit my windows. It should keep out the rain until I can get new windows installed.”
“Thank goodness you have it or we’d be floating by morning. Doesn’t look like this storm is going to stop any time soon.”
“I’m afraid you’ll hurt your shoulder if you hold the plywood while I tape it to the window frame,” she said as she helped him lean them against a kitchen chair. But he picked up one plywood board and carried it to a window where rain was blowing through the jagged opening.
“I’ll be okay,” he said as he rested the bottom of the plywood on the window frame. She cut strips of duct tape and stood there seemingly wondering how to get around him to apply the tape.
“Come here, duck under my arm and then you’ll be close enough.”
He raised his arms and held up the board and she stepped into the circle of his arms to apply the tape. She was as close to him as possible without being against him. As she moved, she brushed against him and he caught another whiff of her perfume. He was too aware that when she had the tape in place on two sides and he could let loose of the plywood, all he had to do to hold her was wrap his arms around her and draw her that last inch or two that separated them. Why was she so tempting to him? His head pounded and his shoulder still ached and he shouldn’t feel all this hot attraction that she stirred constantly with no effort on her part. To the contrary, he suspected she didn’t want to feel it at all.
She had a huge reason to want to resist any attraction between them. She had been hurt badly. What a jerk she had been engaged to. She deserved better.
He was a total stranger to her and he’d lost his memory. In addition, he looked as if he’d fallen down a mountain, while she was heartbroken over her groom walking out at the final hour before the wedding. They had every reason to feel nothing, even more reason to avoid any kind of attraction. So why couldn’t they resist each other?
At this moment, ignoring all common sense, he wanted her in his arms, close against him. He wanted to kiss her again. As he thought about their kisses, he could feel the sweat break out on his forehead.
She glanced at him over her shoulder and ducked under his arm.
“I’ll finish taping this one because it isn’t tight all the way around,” he said, getting another pair of scissors to cut strips of tape. They worked silently and quickly, then moved to the next window and went through the same process again. And again he fought the same urges.
They had one more window after this one. As he stood trying to resist hugging her, he wondered if he would remember for the rest of his life opening his eyes to see a cowboy hat above big blue eyes and golden hair and a beautiful face leaning over him, and his first thought had been to wonder if she was an angel. But, as he’d told her later, angels didn’t wear cowboy hats.
His memory was interrupted and he was back in the present as she bumped against him. He held the plywood with one hand while he steadied her with his other hand, placing his hand on her hip. He held her like that for a moment and looked down at her as she looked up at him, and he felt ensnared, unable to move, look away or release her.
His heart drummed and he knew what he should do. Walk away. He also knew what he wanted t
o do. Tighten his arm, lean over her and kiss her again.
“I—I need to go,” she whispered, breaking the spell she had on him. His hand nearly shook, a faint tremor filled with longing, but he released her.
She was breathing as hard as he was and the look in her eyes indicated she was fighting temptation as much as he was, which just made him want her more.
She shook her head, broke their eye contact as she stepped away.
When she returned, she taped the plywood quickly, working silently.
“There,” she announced, then walked away and gathered up the duct tape and the toolbox. “We’re finished and now it won’t rain in. I’ll just get the floor a bit more cleaned up. Thanks for your help.”
All the time she had talked, she had looked at the plywood, at the floor, at the other windows on the east side of the room. She hadn’t met his gaze at all and he realized she was making a deliberate effort to look away. Which was probably better, considering the sizzling attraction that seemed to flare between them with the least provocation.
He had no idea whether there was a woman in his life, but he was absolutely certain, without remembering anything, that there had never been a sexier kiss than Ava’s.
“We’ll put this toolbox away tomorrow,” she said, setting it on the end of a long kitchen counter. “You sit and watch while I put the dishes in the dishwasher. It won’t take long. Then let’s go to the family room and turn on the logs.”
“Sounds good to me. But let me help with dishes. I won’t do anything that hurts badly or anything strenuous.”
Working together, he was conscious of each time he touched her hands with his as he handed dishes to her. He fought the temptation to reach for her and kiss her one more time, certain that there would be another time to follow. It was an effort to keep his hands to himself.
In a short time they went down the hall to a room with tan leather furniture and imitation logs that she turned on in a large stone fireplace with a high mantel. The room was cozy and comfortable with closed shutters, so they couldn’t watch the storm, but they could hear the thunder, wind, rain and hail, and he knew the weather would keep him marooned at her place at least through tomorrow.
Above the mantel, he noticed a large framed photograph of horses running in a fenced pasture. “That’s a beautiful picture.”
“Thank you. That’s one way I entertain myself when I’m here. I have a photography hobby.”
“You’re very good at it,” he said, looking again at the picture. “I have no idea if I have any hobbies and I have no idea what interests I have. It’s a weird feeling and a very uncomfortable one to not know anything about my life.”
“I’m sure. Molly said to let the worries go and relax. Your memory will return.”
“That’s easier said than done, but I’ll try.”
“I’m worried about tonight. You have your own suite, but I don’t want you to lapse into a coma and no one would know it.”
“Oh, Ava, we can solve that one. You’re most welcome to join me and keep an eye on me all night long,” he drawled and she laughed, a faint sound, and gave him an irresistible smile. A smile that made him want to hold her and kiss her.
“You keep that suggestion to yourself,” she replied, laughing again. “We’ll not pursue it. What I had in mind is, since I’m the only person with you, I think we should stay awake a bit longer. I don’t think you should go off alone yet and I don’t think you should go to sleep yet.”
He sighed and looked serious again. “Okay, doc. Let’s continue to sit in front of the fire. That I can do if it makes you happy.”
She smiled at him. “Good. I’m glad you’re cooperative.”
“For the pretty lady who rescued me, I can be very cooperative,” he said to her in a husky voice that changed the moment completely.
“You’re flirting again,” she whispered as she shook her head. “We weren’t going to do that when you don’t know what ties you have in your life.”
His smile vanished. “You’re right. You’re constant temptation, Ava,” he said softly and lapsed into silence. Why was she such a temptation? From the first moment she had entered his life, and he was aware of her big blue eyes and her silky blond hair, he hadn’t been able to keep from wanting to flirt, to touch her, kiss her. She didn’t want him to because of the hurt in her past. He knew he shouldn’t because he didn’t even know his past. So why couldn’t he see her as a stranger, a pretty face, a nice person—and nothing more?
He needed to get his attention elsewhere and keep it there. Think about other things and keep busy so he wouldn’t be looking at her every second.
He knew that would be easier said than done.
* * *
Looking to keep him awake, Ava had an idea. “Want a short tour?”
“Sure,” he said, standing when she did.
As they went downstairs to the basement, she talked about when the house was built. She showed him the gym, a big laundry room, the wine cellar, a huge closet with luggage, Christmas decorations and other holiday decorations. Finally, they went back upstairs and every step of the way, she was acutely aware of him. She showed him her library, and the dining room and her office with three computers, two with two screens. She had oak filing cabinets that blended with the oak paneling. Two large desks were at opposite ends of the room. While he looked at the rooms, she looked at him. He was handsome with thickly lashed midnight eyes and thick, black wavy hair. She remembered how he looked when he came back from his shower with his chest bare. And she knew how it felt to be pressed against that muscled chest.
No matter how much she knew she should, she couldn’t stop thinking about him and noticing him.
“Looks like you bring your work here with you.”
“Not often, but I don’t want to have to work and not have what I need here. I did less work when my mother and sister could be here. We all brought friends when I first had this built.”
“This is a great place to live, but out here all alone, don’t you worry about being here by yourself? This is a big house.”
“No. See the light switches by the door? Go flip the switch with the pale blue plate.”
When he did, bright lights came on outside, making the yard almost as light as inside the house. Even with the rain, lights were on all over the yard and in trees, illuminating the surroundings.
“Well, I can see why Gerald told you to turn on the outside lights. He can easily see this. I’ll turn them off before he gets into his truck and drives over here. But I get it. With these lights you can see what’s happening, but you’re still isolated.”
“I have alarms that will ring at Gerald’s. He’s not really far away and some of his cowboys are up at all hours. Also, usually when I’m here, he brings over three dogs that I like and they stay with me. They stay in the house at night.”
He smiled. “I guess you’re not so isolated. Is he bringing the dogs tonight?”
“No, because you’re here. You’re a good replacement for the dogs,” she said and he laughed. He had even white teeth and a dazzling smile.
“I hope that’s the first time in my life a woman has told me that.” He let out a small laugh and she smiled.
“Now, do you want the upstairs tour or would you prefer to just go back to sit by the fire?”
“Let’s sit by the fire.”
“Want a cup of hot chocolate?”
“Sure. I’ll go to the kitchen with you,” he said, walking close beside her to the big white-and-blue kitchen that had state-of-the-art appliances.
“Have a chair and I’ll get our cocoa.”
“I’ll help,” he said, following her to a cabinet and watching as she stood on tiptoe to get down white china cups and saucers.
“Let me,” he said, reaching up to get the cups, standing close to her and making her think of being in his arms whe
n he had kissed her.
“I know you’re doing this because Molly told you to keep me awake. How long did she say to keep me from sleeping?” he asked, leaning against the counter and watching her as she got out the cocoa.
Ava was aware of his proximity and his gaze on her. He was close beside her, his voice a deep, enticing rumble.
“As late as I can,” Ava answered, more aware of him standing close than their conversation. “She wasn’t emphatic about it because she said this isn’t her area of expertise, but she thinks that’s what we should do.”
“I’ll cooperate with you, but I have to tell you, this has been a day with both very good and very bad events. And damn exhausting events.”
“I agree. I’m glad I could help, but the storm was terrible and I’m sorry for your injuries and the loss of your belongings. Your memory should return.”
“Damn, I hope so. I don’t like not knowing who I am or anything else about myself. On the good-news side—I’ll heal. Molly said my injuries—the cuts, the blow to my head—shouldn’t be too long-lasting or serious. I’ll have a scar on my shoulder, though. She said as soon as I can, I should get a CT scan. That’s routine, just to make sure my head is okay.”
She picked up the cups and turned. At the same time, he turned to face her, and when she looked into his thickly lashed brown eyes, the moment changed. She could remember his kiss and her gaze lowered to his mouth. When she did, her lips parted while her heartbeat sped up. She looked up to meet his gaze again and could see his intent.
She couldn’t get out the refusal that she knew she should say. She could barely get her breath. He took the cups from her hands and set them on the counter. His fingers closed on her wrist. The minute he did, she took a deep breath and forgot about the cocoa.She shook her head. “We shouldn’t,” she whispered, too aware of how close she stood to him. “We agreed we wouldn’t.”
“One more kiss won’t change our lives and it’s been a long day. Kissing you was the bright moment,” he said in a husky voice. She shook her head, but she leaned slightly toward him and her lips parted again. It had been the best part of the day and she wanted to kiss again, too, even though she knew she shouldn’t, that if they kept kissing, it would be tougher to deal with what was ahead. They had no future and she wasn’t ready for any relationship. She wasn’t ready at all. “I just can’t,” she whispered, but she stood rooted to the spot, unable to move away, unable to look away.