by Sara Orwig
He leaned closer. “Ava, this has been a hell of a day except for you. If we can catch just a few minutes of bliss, I’m ready to go for it. You’re the best thing in my life today. You looked like an angel when I first saw you—I still see you as an angel in my life. Maybe an angel with the hottest kisses. Come here, Ava,” he coaxed in a deeper voice, drawing her to him, and she couldn’t tell him no when she wanted desperately to kiss him. When his warm lips touched hers, her heart thudded.
His mouth covered hers, claiming her in a fiery kiss, while his arm circled her waist and she kissed him in return.
She finally raised her head. “We shouldn’t—”
“Yeah, we should,” he whispered, kissing her between words, “and we’re not going to cause disasters because of one or two more kisses on a cold, rainy night.” He wrapped his arms around her to hold her as he took possession of her mouth again.
She slipped her arms around him, and his hard, muscled body against her felt wonderful. Her heart pounded and she wanted to stop thinking, stop trying to do the smart thing, the right thing, and just kiss for the next hour.
Instead, she thought about how she would get hurt again. She had no idea what was waiting for him back in his real life.
Seconds, minutes, she didn’t know how much time later, but she finally leaned away and he let her go.
Breathing hard, they both gazed at each other for a moment. She turned away from him so she wouldn’t go right back into his embrace.
“We have to stop,” she said. “I would bet my cabin and land that there is a woman in your life.” She took a deep breath and faced him again.
“We can still have cocoa and sit and talk,” she said and her words were breathless while her heart still pounded. She wished she sounded light-hearted, just cheerful and friendly, instead of out of breath as badly as if she’d just run a marathon. She couldn’t even stop looking at him. She didn’t want him to know how she really felt, how attracted she was to him, though she suspected he knew full well.
He took her hand. “C’mon, skip the cocoa. Let’s just sit by the fire and talk.” He released her hand and she nodded. He left space between them as they went to the family room and sat in front of the gas logs.
She sat in a wooden rocking chair while he sat facing her near the other end of the hearth. Looking solemn, he sat with a lot of space between them.
From outside they heard the distant rumble of thunder and the pitter-patter of rain. It sounded as if the storm was letting up. But she didn’t know if this was the third storm predicted, or if another was to come.
He cast his eyes toward the window. “Thank goodness I’m not sitting out on that slope in this weather in the dark with nothing. No shirt, no memory, no wallet or identity—even worse, no marvelous, sexy kisses,” he said, and his voice had dropped deeper as he turned to gaze at her with a look that made her hot.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come over here and sit by me? That’d keep me awake on this cold, rainy night,” he said. This time his voice was lighter and she heard the hint of laughter.
“Thanks, but I’ll stay seated right where I am,” she answered. “It’s safer that way. Especially since, like I said, we don’t know if there’s a woman sitting somewhere worried about you in this storm.”
His smile vanished. “You’re right. Well, we will try to do the smart thing so we’ll sit by the fire with several feet of space between us.” He settled back in his seat. “Go ahead and tell me about yourself. You’ve told me a little, but I’d like to learn more.”
“I’m not that interesting. I’ve had an ordinary life in a lot of ways. I like helping people, so that’s why I have the business that I do. I love kids and want kids in my life. Also, I like my independence, so I enjoy having my own business.”
“You sound like a city person, but you have several horse pictures here. How did you get interested in horses?”
“My grandparents had this ranch, so I spent time with them when I was growing up. I’ve liked horses since I was young.”
She talked and he listened, sometimes asking more questions. After a moment of silence, she focused on him. “When do ranchers put ear tags on calves?”
“When they’re born. Why?”
“I just wanted to see how you would answer my question. The answer’s not important. What’s significant to me is you knew what I was talking about. You didn’t have to stop and think about it to answer me. Try this one—what rodeo event do you like best?”
He looked startled and then smiled. “For the first time I remember something. Coming out of the chute during a rodeo. I was riding a horse. I’m glad it wasn’t a memory of bull riding.” He looked at her intently. “Maybe this is the beginning of the return of my memory.”
“We’ll hope so.”
“Also, it’s another small indication that I’m a rancher.”
“I agree. If you remember one thing, you might recall something else. Remember, though, Molly said to just relax.”
“I can think of some really good ways to relax if you want to help.”
She smiled. “You’re flirting again. We were going to avoid that.”
“You bring it out in me. It’s rather harmless so far and a whole lot more fun than trying to jog my memory.”
“I think you’ve stayed awake long enough,” she said, standing. “I’ll turn off the gas logs, turn out the lights and we’ll go to our rooms. If you want me in the night, just call.”
One corner of his mouth curled slightly. “You can count on it, darlin’,” he drawled. “I can tell you right now if that’s all I have to do, you’ll get a call.”
She smiled. “Stop teasing. You know what I meant. If you have a problem—a real problem that has nothing to do with lust or kisses or crawling into bed together—then don’t hesitate to call me. Otherwise, remember all the reasons we should keep our distance from each other.”
“Aw, shucks. I thought maybe we would have a fun, memorable night. If it turns out that I’m single, I’m going to want to come back and do this night over.”
She smiled again and he came to his feet. She was beginning to think he moved in the same level of society as her family and she wondered where his home was.
When they went to their suites, he walked to the door of his and turned as she started to walk to the door of her suite. His fingers closed lightly on her forearm. “Come here, I want to tell you something,” he whispered in a husky, sexy drawl that stirred butterflies in her stomach.
“Whatever you have to tell me, I can hear you from here.”
“C’mon, Ava,” he coaxed in his drawl that kept the flutters going. “Soon, we’ll go our separate ways and this night will just be an old memory,” he said as he stepped closer. “It’s been a bad time in some ways. Kisses help.”
She could resist what he was saying to her, but she couldn’t resist the look in his brown eyes. Or her memories. Taking her hand lightly, he drew her into his embrace and wrapped his arms around her. As he pulled her close, she didn’t object. Her gaze was held by his and by the look of desire in his eyes. Earlier, she had tried to avoid another kiss, but now her heart raced, her lips tingled and she wanted to be in his arms. She wanted to kiss him and be kissed, to feel desired again after the devastating breakup that had made her feel so inadequate. His kisses made her forget the hurt and embarrassment, the heartache and pain, the colossal rejection.
Finally, she tilted her face up to his and his mouth pressed against hers. Her heartbeat raced while she held him tightly and kissed him in return. As his tongue stroked hers, she wrapped her arms around his narrow waist. He bent over her, kissing her into oblivion, into blazing desire, while she pressed her hips against him. Never had she known kisses as sexy as his. Or as dangerous.
They were playing with dynamite by kissing and everything could blow up in their faces. Did she want to get hurt
even more than before? She knew the answer to that one. No, she did not.
Leaning away slightly, she looked up at him. “This is the biggest folly. Go home, find out who you are and what your commitments are. What your lifestyle is. Then we can think about kisses when you have answers about your life. Right now there are too many questions.”
He was silent, as if fighting an inner battle. She fought her own battle, stating what they should do, but wanting to kiss him. From the start he had been a good guy. He had been kind, helpful, trusting and trustworthy. He had been considerate, grateful for what she had done and was doing for him. Her first feelings and judgments about him had been good.
His hand ran down her back, down over her bottom. His hand was light as it drifted over her, but she tingled with his touch. She wanted the barrier of clothing out of their way. She tried to cling to caution, again reminding herself silently that she didn’t even know who he was. She shouldn’t be kissing him until she knew whom she was kissing. And even then, she didn’t want another broken heart.
She stepped away from him while they both were breathless. He looked as if he could devour her. She felt as if she wanted him to.
“I’ll say good night now and I’ll see you in the morning. And not before,” she said, walking away and too aware he stood watching her. He looked as solemn as she felt. His teasing, flirting and ready smiles had vanished.
“You can come tuck me in and make sure that I’m doing the best for my injuries,” he said in a deep voice.
Glad he was back to teasing, she turned to smile at him. “You’re doing fine without my help,” she said. “I hope you wake up tomorrow and remember your past and your current status. I’m glad I could help you today.” She blew him a kiss. “Goodnight, stranger,” she said, hoping to remind him of one big reason why the night had to end this way.
She stepped into her suite, closed the door and closed her eyes, momentarily remembering his kisses that had nearly melted all her resistance. He was far too good-looking and sexy. She knew as soon as Gerald got through to the sheriff, they might have answers about her new houseguest. A houseguest who had the sexiest kisses she had ever experienced.
How much longer could she guard her heart and continue to resist him?
Four
“Bill Smith,” he said softly as he looked at himself in the mirror. But that name, or any other, didn’t spark any memory.
He walked over to the bed, removed his boots and shed his shirt. Instead of lying back, he sat there, his hands on his thighs, thinking of the woman who’d just walked away. Ava had called him “stranger,” to remind him of his status and why they shouldn’t kiss. He didn’t have any memories, but he couldn’t imagine he had known any woman who was sexier than Ava. She set him on fire with her kisses. He wanted her—in his arms and in his bed for the rest of the night. But Ava had been hurt badly by the jerk who walked out on her, and he didn’t want to hurt her further. Especially when she might have saved his life.
He could have been in bad shape out in the storm all night in a canyon, where trees were uprooting and falling and land was sliding down into the swelling creek that ran through that canyon. He wouldn’t have had anything to eat and no potable water to drink. No way to defend himself against any sizable wild animals. There were probably coyotes, snakes and heaven knew what else out there.
Instead, here he was in this comfortable suite. Until this storm was over and the creeks and rivers went down. Thanks to Ava Carter.
Ava. Her big blue eyes captivated him and her silky blond hair made him ache to touch it. He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t keep from wanting her naked in his arms.
But every bit of wisdom he could summon told him to avoid intimacy at all costs. He didn’t want to hurt her in any way.
She was beautiful, capable, kind, intelligent and oh, so incredibly desirable and sexy. Just the thought of her made him break into a sweat and wipe his forehead. He could get hot, physically hot, hard and ready, just thinking about her.
He hoped that his memory would return soon. It couldn’t be too soon to suit him.
Who was he and where did he come from? Who was in his life? The questions plagued him. Molly had told him to let it go. To relax and let nature take its course.
She said not to push it trying to remember. But he couldn’t go on like this forever.
He looked at his hands. He had one small scar on the back of his left hand, and calluses on both. Because of that, they seemed convinced that he was a rancher. Or a cowboy. Plus, he remembered coming out of a chute on a horse at a rodeo. But how could he be certain?
Restless, he stood and paced around the room, then switched off the lights to go stand at the window. Constant lightning lit up the yard. She had lots of trees and landscaping in her fenced-in yard that probably hid rattlesnakes.
That thought surprised him and he didn’t know where it came from. He had to be a Texan. Why would he think about rattlesnakes? His head still pounded and he reminded himself again that Molly had told him to try to avoid stress and worrying about his memory loss.
He sighed and wished Ava was here with him. A night together would surely keep him positive and relaxed. Oh, man, a night with Ava. What a thought. Not one conducive to sleep and peace of mind.
He walked back to the bed, propped up pillows and stretched out to watch the rain. He was physically tired, but his mind was whirring and he knew sleep wouldn’t come for a while. He wanted to sink into thoughts about Ava and recall each breathtaking kiss that made him want one hundred more, made him want to get to know her. Really get to know her.
He closed his eyes, taking the memory further and envisioning her soft body pressed against him as he carried her to bed and made love to her for hours. Then, they’d sleep, and eventually wake up, and he would take her again.
He raked a hand down his face. Why was he torturing himself? He needed to leave her alone. He needed to get his memory back or use what wits he still had and get out of her life as soon as possible.
“Damn,” he whispered in the silent darkness and wondered if she was doing as poorly at sleeping. He hoped with all his heart they weren’t isolated, shut away in her cabin for days. If they were, could he exercise enough self-control?
If she changed her mind about sex, would it complicate his life terribly? There was no way he could say no to her. He tried to shift his thoughts elsewhere because that line of thinking wasn’t going to help him drift off to sleep. He got up and walked over to the mirror, looking at himself again, hoping that his eyes or his hair or his mouth would remind him of who he was, where he’d come from. It was pure hell not to know what was going on in his life and why he had been out in the boonies in a big storm.
But when he looked in the mirror, he didn’t have a clue about himself. He prayed he would wake up tomorrow and have some answers. Despite everything he’d forgotten about himself, he knew he would never forget kissing Ava.
“Leave her alone, buddy. Don’t complicate her life or your own,” he whispered, wondering if he was way too late for that bit of advice.
* * *
Ava woke to the tempting smell of coffee brewing and the sound of raindrops hitting her windows. Startled, she sat up and remembered her houseguest and the past day and night. It was still raining, so they would still be cut off from any communication with the outside world. Would this rain last all day? Two days?
She felt that each day that her houseguest couldn’t try to contact someone or at least check with the sheriff of Persimmon, the stranger ran a risk of someone missing him badly.
When she recalled his kisses, her pulse jumped. Briefly, she was lost in memories of his strong arms holding her and his kisses demolishing the defenses she had kept around her heart. She had avoided getting involved with another man since her engagement crash. Until now. She’d taken foolish risks in kissing the stranger because he was exactly that—a st
ranger. He didn’t know himself and she certainly didn’t know anything about him. She stepped out of bed to shower and dress, and then she’d go and see if he was better this morning. Had any of his memories returned?
* * *
He was sipping the hot coffee he’d brewed and watching it rain when footsteps caught his attention and Ava walked through the door. When she did, his pulse raced.
Looking gorgeous, she was in jeans and a pink short-sleeved sweater that had two open buttons at the throat. Her straight, silky blond hair fell to her shoulders. She had on cowboy boots and she made his heart pound just looking at her.
“Good morning,” he said, standing and smiling at her, fighting the urge to cross the room, wrap his arms around her and kiss her. He tried to remember the lectures he had given himself last night about kissing her and doing anything that might cause her more heartache. Intellectually, he knew what he should do. Physically, he yearned for her. “You look fantastic.”
“Thank you. Another rainy day, I see. The coffee smells great,” she said, entering the kitchen.
“You sit and I’ll get your coffee. What do you want in it?”
“Just black, please,” she said, sitting across from where he had been sitting.
He placed a cup of coffee in front of her and went around the table to sit facing her.
“You look a bit better than yesterday. Your black eye has improved slightly and that bump you had is gone. How’s the memory?” she asked.
“A few random things that are insignificant. Not people, nothing that’s really a help. Before you got up, Gerald stopped by. He said he might take me to Persimmon to the sheriff if we can get out of here. Judging from the pouring rain and what you’ve told me, I don’t think we can get out.”