“What? Is she okay? Where is she now?” He started toward the door. “That damn animal seemed fine in the corral.”
“She’s okay...I think. I sent her back to the cabin. But it wasn’t T.J. She totally zoned out, claimed she had a flashback or something, that she has amnesia from a car accident.”
Taking advantage of his brother’s stunned silence, he dialed the phone with shaking fingers.
“Who you callin’?”
“Her doctor.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.” He slammed the receiver on the desk. “Answering machine, damn it. Apparently he’s on vacation.” Nick ran his hand threw his hair. “Guests are scheduled to arrive in a matter of hours. And now I find out there’s something mentally wrong with Darcy.” He sucked in oxygen. “I’m not sure if she’s stable enough to keep employed here.”
“Come on, you can’t fire her.” He shook his head with a grim set of his lips. “She’s not a nutcase. So she’s had some sort of head trauma.” Big shoulders lifted. “In the month she’s been here, this is the only incident I’m aware of. We’ll get through this. We’ll help her figure this out.” The calm one stuck his hand out palm up.
His gaze strayed to Sam’s hand. The scar from the chainsaw wrapped all the way around to his palm. He’d gotten lucky the blade stopped before the teeth cut it completely off, a feat the doctor claimed was thanks to Nick’s quick thinking and fast action.
To this day, Nick remained clueless as to exactly what he had done to stop the chainsaw, but in his book, he hadn’t intervened soon enough.
That accident never should have happened.
And Trent never should have been shot.
“I don’t want to...but I can’t take the chance on any more accidents.”
“Like the one with the Millers?” Tanned skin with a jagged white line across the center swiped a letter from the desk. “Why didn’t you tell me we’re being sued?”
Chapter Ten
“Damn.” Nick hit the cabinet and paced the floor. “It’s nothing for you to worry over. I’m working on getting it straightened out.”
“Yeah, I know. Mr. White called looking for you.”
He directed every ounce of his attention on his brother. “What did he say?”
“Not to worry. The Millers have no supporting arguments. Turns out Mrs. Miller sued another ranch last year. White said he does have to wait for a review counsel or review unit or some crap.”
“The National Advertising Review Counsel and the Children’s Review Unit?”
“Yeah, that’s it.” He nodded and reclaimed the seat behind the desk.
Darcy was right. Tension built along his neck. A cracking sound filled the air as he forced taut muscles one way then the other.
Was her memory returning?
“He wants to meet with you the day after tomorrow.”
Nick shook his head. “I’ll be out on the camping trip with the Lynwood group.”
“I’ll meet with him then.”
“No. I should handle it. You go on the outing, but remember to keep Darcy close. This is her first time out and with the incident today—” Was he really considering letting her go?
“Nick—”
“No. I don’t want any problems.”
“Nick—”
“I’ll tell her to sit this one out. There’s plenty to keep her busy here. Chris can go in her place. Besides, I’m not sure what the right course of action is with her right now.” He walked over to the window. She’d be upset, but she’d understand. The chance of her hurting herself, or someone else, was too great a risk.
“Nick!”
His head whipped around to frowning brown eyes. “What?”
“I’m going to handle White. Don’t worry, we’ll get things straightened out.” He came out from behind the desk and sat on the edge in front of Nick. “But you should have told us. You need to realize you’re not alone here. We’re all in this together. Trent, Chris, you, and me.”
Shaking his head in denial, a jackhammer started working on his temples.
“When are you going to quit taking everything on yourself? We aren’t teenagers anymore. We’re old enough to take on the pressures of the business.” His self-appointed counselor scowled. “And stop staring at my hand. I moved the guard on the blade, not you.”
His head snapped up to stare at his brother. “I was supposed to watch you.”
“You were twelve at the time. Jesus, Nick, we all did stupid stuff.” He grabbed an envelope off the desk. “Now let me deal with the attorneys. You go on the overnighter.”
For him to relinquish his stress to his siblings went against every grain of his being. Taking care of them had hung on his shoulders for as long as he remembered. While his father and mother handled the growth of the ranch, it was his responsibility to keep the younger brothers in line.
“No.”
“You can argue with me all you want. Your mind won’t be on anything other than Darcy anyway.” Sam leaned on his thighs looking to his brother with a raised brow. “You wanna tell me why that is? Don’t get me wrong, I’m concerned about her too, but you’re close to irrational at this point.” He glanced out the window then back to Nick. “Heard about the kiss at the Lonesome Steer...”
Nick pinched the bridge of his nose. Tension rose at amazing speed, threatening to snap him like twig. He rubbed the back of his neck.
“You have strong feelings for her? I mean enough to jump in head first?”
He crossed to the window and stared unseeing out the glassy plains. His siblings had no idea how much he cared for her. Hell, he was having a hard time grasping the level in which his emotions rose himself.
“We’ll help with her amnesia, take her to a doctor, whatever, but you have to stop taking everything on yourself. Christ, I’m thirty years old. It’s about time you realize you aren’t responsible for me anymore.” Sam placed a hand on his shoulder and grinned. “I like Darcy. I’d like to see you two get together.”
He nodded. “Me too.” But with her doctor being on vacation, the only way he was going to get any answers was to ask her.
He excused himself from Sam’s company and headed to her cabin. Two knocks produced no answer. Pushing his Stetson further back on his head, he rapped hard on the side of the screen door.
“Darcy?”
No response.
To hell with it. He pulled the barrier open and found her sitting on the couch with her knees drawn to her chest, a piece of paper dangling between her fingers.
She glanced up, and the pain in her features tore at his heart. Wanting nothing more than to take her in his arms, he held himself stiff in front of her. His emotions in turmoil.
“Want to talk about today?”
She lowered her forehead to her knees. “No.”
He slowly lowered his frame to sit on the coffee table across from her. “I looked over your physical. It seems there’s details missing.”
“I know.” She placed her bare feet on the floor and met his gaze. “Please try to understand. I spent over a week in the hospital. I had no recollection of my life. None. No one came to see me. No one called. Nothing.”
Her tear-streaked cheeks were his undoing. His heart sank with the need to make sure she got through this. How was it possible to fall for a woman who didn’t know who she was—and fall hard?
“I couldn’t remember a thing.” She rubbed a finger over the back of her hand.
“What does that mean? Did you have to relearn how to eat and dress? Did you know how to talk, walk?”
“No, I had my motor skills. What I didn’t know...what I don’t know is what I did before now, who my family is, my friends, or why I moved here.” She glanced at the paper she held in her fingers.
“What’s that?”
Darcy handed the pages to him. “The missing details of my physical.”
He examined the print, which clearly explained the extent of her injuries.
“I asked D
r. Sheffield to write everything on here. I planned to talk to your mom, but chickened out. I was afraid she’d fire me before I ever had the job.”
Reading and rereading the report, words failed him. Between the written information and her words, while angry with her for holding back the truth, the reality of her situation hit him. The physical and emotional pain she experienced sank in. How alone she must have felt. Still felt.
He sat next to her and rubbed a hand over her back. “We’ll figure it out.”
“We?” Her half laugh filled the room.
“Yeah. In case you haven’t noticed this thing between us”—he pointed back and forth— “isn’t going away. If anything, it’s gotten stronger. At least for me.”
“Me too.”
At her quiet admission, he closed his eyes. “God, Darc, do you realize how bad your accident could have been?” He let his fingers slide down her cheek to tuck her hair behind her ear.
She rose to her feet and crossed to the mirror on the wall, playing with her hair, angling the strands to cover the white line on her forehead. “Yes, just these ugly, puckered scars...and no memory. I’m lucky.”
Rising, his body soon filled the space behind her. His gaze met hers through the glass. Hurt and anguish shown bright in her eyes.
Nick kissed her cheek and rotated her to face him. “You’re beautiful.” He brushed the strands away from her hairline, placing his lips to the puckered flesh before pulling her into his arms. A hand skimmed its way up his torso igniting every inch only to settle over the pounding of his heart. His hold tightened as he brushed his jaw against soft skin.
Never had he experienced a need so strong. The need to protect her from whatever she may or may not find in her future flowed through his veins. He brought the white mark across her hand to his mouth. Inch by inch, he kissed his way over her digits, up her arm to her collarbone where he nipped her flesh.
She whimpered, and that’s all it took. One little sound from her and he was a goner.
Nick groaned, pressing her to the wall. Her lips fastened on his while delicate hands roved over his body, igniting him with every touch. Adrenaline surged.
Seizing her wrists in his, he placed her hands over her head while working his way down to her cleavage. He bent his knees, bringing his sights level with her breasts. Nipples puckered under the thin fabric indicated her braless state. Dizzy with the knowledge, his lips closed over the peak. The cotton barrier dampened with his saliva, and she moaned.
Frustration of not being close enough made him release her arms so his fingers could work her T-shirt up.
“Let’s go to the bedroom.”
Her whispered words penetrated his ears as if she used a loud horn. He jerked back and regarded her for a second, then before either of them changed their mind, he picked her up in his arms, making the journey in three strides.
Once in her room, he laid her on the bed. The image of her lying with her lips slightly parted, her skin flushed with desire, was sure to haunt him every minute of his day and night.
He glided the back of his hand over her beautiful cheekbones to her jaw to the pulse beating in her neck. Fingers reached out and traced the five o’clock shadow covering his face. Taking every once of control, he held still while she brought her head up and licked the skin on his neck. A chill ran down his spine as she tasted him, bringing every nerve ending to full sensitivity. He held his breath while she pushed his shirt up and kissed his nipples. His testicles drew up tight.
Wanting to give her better access, he rose up on his knees and stripped off his shirt. She moved from one muscle to the next at an agonizingly slow pace, making her way down to his abdomen, navel, then lower. The tip of her fingers brushed his engorged state, forcing him to suck in a breath. Within a second she undid his pants, tracing the outline of him through his boxer briefs.
Not able to take much more, he propelled her to lie down.
“What’s fair is fair.”
Slowly, Nick drew her tank top up her torso and kissed each exposed section. In haste, he rid her of the garment and gazed down at her body. Perfection from head to toe. He licked the salt from her skin, his teeth scraping her creamy flesh.
“You’re beautiful.”
His finger traced the outside of her breasts, cupped the weight of them in his palm, and squeezed. Blood thumped through his veins to his groin. A craving greater than any he experienced spiraled deep in him. He ached, his body wanting more...now.
Her head went back into the pillow. Sweet hands touched his chest and pushed until he fell to his back. A knee angled over his body as she straddled him and traced a finger down his chest and around his nipples. His erection pulsated under her heat.
The sensations coursing through his body were exquisite and torturous at the same time. He pulled her head down to delve into her mouth. She kissed him back with vehemence while his fingers kneaded her breast, tweaking the protruding peak.
He tasted the delectable spice of her from her chest to the waistband of her jeans. The desire to explore and experience every gorgeous inch of her burning flesh prompted him to rip off her denim and panties in one fluid movement. He captured her beautiful, glowing body in his mind as he brought his closer to hers. His mouth closed over her dark nub, scraping the peak with his teeth, laving the skin with his tongue, then blowing on the sensitive area.
She hissed and grasped his biceps. “Nick...” His name came out thick and husky on her lips.
Nick set out to explore every inch of her, kissing her from head to toe, wanting to remember every sound she made, every intake of breath, every moan of pleasure passing her lips. His hand nudged her legs apart for his fingers to delve into her moist center. Her thighs parted further as he coaxed her body open.
Shivering under his attentions, she gasped and panted. He withdrew and cupped the mound arching into his palm. Needing to take her higher, his lips trailed up her quivering muscles, stopping to place tender kisses on the puckered skin so close to where he desperately wanted to be.
Nick sat back on his heels, taking a moment to compose his raging hormones. Her tanned nakedness in contrast with white sheets struck him deep. Beautiful cheekbones flushed with passion, lips slightly parted, eyelids half closed with longing remained a picture he wasn’t soon to forget. His gaze moved lower to the thin strip of hair covering the very center of her heaven. He spread her with his thumbs and inhaled her intoxicating scent before lowering.
Her hips bucked off the bed. She panted and ran her fingers through his hair, searing him to her.
Holding her with one hand on her belly, he suckled and drank in her sweet nectar, her cries of pleasure filling his ears as she climaxed. Hands roamed over him, grabbing at him, tugging him up her perspiring body. The realization he didn’t have a condom hit him like a bucket of cold water, and he froze.
“What’s wrong?” The confusion on her face caused an ache in his chest.
Resting his forehead on hers, he confessed, “No condom.”
A devilish smile lit her face before she rolled over and opened the bedside table. “I found these in here when I was unpacking.” She tossed him a sealed box of protection.
Not bothering to question where they came from, he ripped the package open and rolled one on.
Gazing down into her angelic face, he entered her at an agonizing pace. Her eyes widened and lips parted as he sank fully into her, pausing to savor the feel of her surrounding him. Cupping his buttocks, she pulled him to her, gyrating her hips against him. Losing control, he drove into her, but refused himself release until she climbed back up to the top of the ecstasy ladder.
Teeth gnawed at her lips as her head pushed back exposing the column of her neck.
Running his tongue across the salty skin, he bit her earlobe then raised his head. “Look at me,” Nick demanded.
Her gaze found his, and he watched her beautiful face flushed with passion. He drove himself into her as deeply as possible. Her body tightened, convulsing, squeezin
g him. The need for release urged him faster. He called her name as he reached his peak and collapsed on top of her.
Moments later, breathing slowed, Nick moved to lie by her side, using his arm to pillow her head. He pushed her damp hair back from her face and raised her hand to his lips.
No matter what her past, he wanted, needed to be part of this woman’s future. With the silent admission, warmth filled his chest.
He kissed the top of her head. “I wish I had been there to hold you after your accident.”
“You’re here now,” she whispered.
He pulled her closer and held her tight.
****
Darcy cuddled closer to Nick, listening to the beat of his heart as his warm skin branded her cheek. For months, no one held her, helped her face the world, her fears. Now, the man she suspected she’d fallen in love with kissed her and woke her body in the most sensual ways, emotions clogged her throat, and she sniffed.
“You cryin’?” Nick’s deep voice asked in a whisper. The side of his thumb rubbed her cheek.
“No. I’m okay.” Her lips brushed across his chest.
He moaned. “We’ll never get out of this bed if you don’t stop.”
“That’s a bad thing?” She flicked her tongue over his hardened nipple.
“I’d stay here for the rest of my life if it were possible.” He raised her chin with his finger. “You blew through my life so fast it’s taken me these past few days to realize what you mean to me.” His lips grazed hers. “A relationship between us is going to complicate things, but I don’t see any way around it. You’ve gotten in my heart, and I don’t want to let you out.” With a small chuckle, he shook his head. “I suck at this.”
She placed her hands on either side of his face and kissed him. “You’re wonderful.” The feelings that started on day one now bubbled over, and she couldn’t go on without exploring this thing between them, but she understood his concern. Their relationship deserved a chance.
Lost Memories (Honky Tonk Hearts) Page 11