Forget Me Not

by Brenda Jackson

  She lifted a brow. She understood the angry part but... “What were you afraid of?”

  He looked down at his feet a second before glancing back at her. Then she saw it. There was vulnerability in his eyes she hadn’t detected before. She watched how he drew in a deep breath before crossing the room to stand in front of her.

  “I had fallen in love with you, Ashley, weeks ago. And I had made decisions but I couldn’t ask for a future with you until I could put my past to rest. Namely, if there was a former wife out there. I couldn’t do that to you.”

  He paused a moment and then said, “I discovered there was and it was you. I felt the only possible reason for you not to tell me the truth was that my worst fears had been confirmed.”

  “Which were?” she asked, dropping her arms to her sides.

  “That I’d been a lousy husband. I’d hurt you and mistreated you in some way. If that was true it meant I would be the last person you’d want to hook up with again. That also meant you did what you did for revenge or greed. Hell, I don’t know. I didn’t want to think that but I did and I’m sorry. I am truly sorry. I also had this fear that now that you’d found me you would want me to go back to being Devon, a man I don’t know and who I doubt I’d ever be again even if I regained my memory. I didn’t know how you’d feel about that.”

  Ashley tried calming her mind from reeling at his words of love to her. He’d just admitted to falling in love with her. That was what she’d wanted. Had hoped for. Had prayed for.

  Reaching out, she took hold of his arms. “You weren’t a lousy husband, Ray. You were the best. You and I had a good marriage. Everything I told you about us was the truth. The one time there were problems in our marriage, we dealt with it together. Our love kept us strong. I would not have worked so hard to regain a place in your life, in your heart, had you not been worthy of my love and affection. I would not have worn your ring so long after losing you if I had bad memories of the time we shared together.”

  She smiled through the tears she couldn’t hold back any longer. She knew what she said next would be important to him. It would be important to him as much as it would be to her because she knew what it meant.

  “I fell in love with you all over again as Ray Sullivan. I know and accept there is a possibility you might never get your memory back. You’re different from Devon but I accept you as the man you are. You were a good man as Devon. I got to know you as Ray and I love you, but I still love Devon, too. It doesn’t matter what you call yourself—I will still love you and call you my husband.”

  “Oh, baby, and I love you.” Pulling her into his arms, he lowered his mouth and kissed her in a hot, deep mating of their mouths.

  She slid her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss even more and totally aware of his scent of the sea, the heat of the arms holding her and the magnitude of the desire they were feeling for each other.

  When they broke the kiss, they just stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, trying to catch their breaths while her head rested on his chest. She’d meant what she’d told him. It didn’t matter what he called himself. He was still hers. Her husband.

  She lifted her head to look up at him. “I am claiming you as mine, Ray.”

  He used his hand to softly brush against the side of her face. “And I am claiming you as mine.”

  He swept her off her feet and carried her into the bedroom.

  * * *

  HE COULD HAVE lost her. That thought was racing through Ray’s mind as he put Ashley on her feet near the bed. At that moment he promised himself he would never do that again. Even when he hadn’t truly known and understood, she had been his rock. And from this day forward he would always love her and cherish her.

  Ray quickly removed her caftan and then removed his own clothes before carrying her to the chair. He sat and at the same time she straddled him, bringing her body down on his hard erection.

  He wanted to look into her face with every stroke he made into her body. He wanted to see her every expression, hear each one of her groans. He began moving at the same time she did. He clutched tight to her hips, and they rode each other hard while staring into each other’s eyes.

  “I love you,” he said, his words somewhat choppy from the quick intake of breath.

  She smiled and whispered, “And I love you.”

  He doubted he would ever tire of hearing her say that to him. He felt his stomach knotting just seconds before his guts began shivering. The erection buried deep inside of her began throbbing to an intensity he’d never felt before—for the first time he was making love to his wife and the woman he intended to make his wife again.

  “Ray!”

  She called his name and threw her head back. He leaned in and placed a kiss at the middle of her neck. She was moving her body so fast that he had to hold on tight to her. Otherwise they would tumble out the chair. They didn’t. But they shared one hell of an orgasm that seemed to last forever.

  When the spasms for both of them subsided, he kissed her deeply and stood with her in his arms. “Now for the bed.”

  And as he stared deep into her eyes, he gave her a silent promise for what would be one hell of a night.

  * * *

  ASHLEY WOKE IN the middle of the night and panicked when she found the place beside her empty. Glancing around the room, she spotted a naked Ray standing at her bedroom window, admiring the view at daybreak. Usually she was up by now, but thanks to him, she’d had a late and a very vigorous night.

  Wondering what he was thinking, she eased out of bed and joined him at the window. “Beautiful view, isn’t it?”

  He glanced down at her nakedness and smiled. “I like the one I’m looking at now better.”

  She couldn’t help but grin at that. “I won’t complain if you think that way.”

  He took her hand in his. “There are so many questions I want to ask you. Although I don’t remember, I’d like to try to piece together what might have happened that day, three years ago. Will you tell me?”

  She lifted a brow. “Now?”

  He chuckled. “No, not now but later.”

  “Yes, I’ll tell you.”

  He nodded. “For now I need to know why the hell I got the word sunflower written across my back.”

  She laughed as she eased closer to his side and placed his arms around her. “We met in college on a blind date set up by your roommate who was in one of my classes. That first date, you gave me a sunflower because you’d somehow found out it was my favorite flower. From that night on, you would give me sunflowers often just because. On our honeymoon, we decided to mark each other. It was my choice for it to be a sunflower.” She chuckled. “You flatly refused to have a flower on your back, so you opted for the word.”

  He nodded, grinning. “I figured it meant something. Now I know.”

  “Any more questions?” she asked him.

  “Yes. How did I get so lucky to end up with the same woman twice?”

  She smiled. “I guess you can say it’s been one of those forget-me-not situations. It was meant for our paths to cross a second time and to fall in love all over again.”

  He turned toward her. “Yes, I think so, too. What about getting married all over again? Do you think that’s possible, Ashley? Will you marry me and become Ashley Sullivan?”

  “Ray,” she said as happiness filled her to the brim. “Yes, I will marry you and become Ashley Sullivan and live here in Catalina Cove with you. I love it here.”

  “Then I guess you’d be glad to hear that as of yesterday, I put a deposit down on this place. The owners decided to sell. I was able to get this and the house next door.”

  “The house next door?”

  “Yes. Bryce found out they were about to list it and told me about it. We made them a good offer for it before they did. I sweetened the deal by offering a cash payment.”

 
“Cash?”

  “Yes. I was able to use the money I was saving for that boat.”

  “But didn’t you use it for the boat? I saw it and it’s beautiful.”

  “No, I didn’t have to.” He then told her about Reid LaCroix and how he’d come in as an investor.

  “Oh, Ray, that’s wonderful!”

  “I think so, too. And just so you know why I took him on as an investor when you also offered to be one, it’s because I didn’t want to mix business with pleasure. For me, you were my pleasure.”

  He paused a moment and then he said, “In a way it worked out for the best because this house is an investment opportunity. For us. It’s one where both business and pleasure are welcomed. We’ll be a team. We can live here starting out, and when we begin having children, we can do what Kaegan did and demolish the houses and build our dream home. One big enough for us and our family. I meant what I said about wanting kids, Ashley.”

  “And I meant what I said as well. And since we’re both wide awake, now is as good a time as any to tell you the details of the day of your accident.”

  They got back in bed, and while he held her, she told him everything she knew. What happened after their last conversation would always be a missing block until he remembered. She also told him of Devon’s relationship with her parents—namely, her mother—and of his close relation to his cousin, Kurt, and how Kurt had called her not long after talking to him. She also told him about just how wealthy he’d left her and they discussed how they would handle him “coming back from the dead” with their family and friends.

  “I wonder who was driving your rental car that day when it went off the bridge. That person might have family somewhere looking for him as well,” she said.

  “Considering how I ended up in the hospital, forgive me for not really giving a damn.”

  “The hardest part of rekindling a relationship with you was trying hard not to call you Devon.”

  He chuckled. “You did once, while we were making love.”

  She was shocked. “I did?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oops. I tried not to, honestly.”

  “Now I understand,” he said, placing a kiss on her lips. “However, at the time, it did rub me the wrong way. I had been trying to impress you with my bedroom skills and for you to call out your dead husband’s name left a sore spot. But I’d recovered by the next time I saw you.”

  “I’m glad,” she said, cuddling up closer to him.

  She knew this was just the beginning for them. There was a chance his memory might never return and if that happened she was okay with it. He could relive those memories through her if and when he wanted to. She was happy that they had a wedding to plan and she had a feeling being married to this man would be just as wonderful the second time around.

  EPILOGUE

  The first week in December

  RAY GLANCED AROUND the backyard of Shelby by the Sea. Finally, his wedding day, and it hadn’t come soon enough to suit him. However, he wouldn’t complain and would admit the three months prior had been interesting and eventful.

  He’d discovered just what a likable guy Devon Ryan had been. One who’d definitely shot straight from the hip and that was what everyone had respected about him. Ray got reacquainted with family and friends he didn’t remember, and it seemed everyone had a “Devon” story to tell.

  And if he hadn’t gotten along with his mother-in-law before, he was certainly getting along with her now. According to Ashley, they had her father to thank for that. He’d met Ashley’s three friends, Emmie, Suzanne and Kim, and liked them as well.

  “You don’t seem nervous,” Kaegan leaned over and whispered.

  He smiled. “I’m not. I’m ready to get this over with so the honeymoon can begin.”

  Sawyer leaned close to say, “This is a great spot and a fantastic day. The weather is cooperating.”

  Ray had to agree. They were standing under a huge gazebo that had been beautifully decorated with the ocean as a backdrop. Shelby by the Sea had hosted a lot of weddings in this very spot, including Sawyer and Vashti’s, but Ray was convinced today would be the best one because it was his.

  When the music began playing, Ray knew it was time, and his two best friends took their place beside him with the minister. Ashley would walk down the aisle on her father’s arm and he couldn’t wait to see her. They were treating this as a first-time wedding for the both of them with plans to honeymoon in Hawaii.

  He hadn’t been nervous before but he was nervous now. To him, this was his first wedding, and he couldn’t wait to see his bride. Bryce, Vashti and Ashley’s three best friends had deliberately kept her out of his sight for the last twenty-four hours and he’d been miserable as heck.

  He swallowed deeply when he finally saw her walking down the aisle with her father toward him. The moment he looked into her face, saw her smile, felt her happiness, he suddenly staggered backward.

  “Hey, you okay?” Kaegan leaned over to ask him.

  He glanced at his friend. “Yes, I’m fine. She looks stunning,” he said, glad everyone’s attention was focused on the bride and not on him.

  His attention was riveted on the bride as well, and the closer she got to him the more love he had for her. Deep love. Never-ending love. A love for always.

  When she reached him, her father placed her hand in his and together they turned to the minister to say the words that would bind their lives together forever.

  * * *

  ASHLEY LET OUT a deep moan when Ray kissed her the moment he placed her on her feet after carrying her over the threshold of their hotel room. Both the wedding and reception had been beautiful and they’d left for the airport right before the reception ended.

  It had been a long flight and she’d slept all the way, deciding to get her rest then. She was certain once they reached their destination they had other things to do besides sleep.

  When he released her mouth, all she could say was “Wow!”

  He chuckled. They had changed out of their wedding attire into comfortable clothing before leaving the cove.

  “This room is beautiful,” she said, smiling up at him. Of course they’d gotten an ocean view.

  “Yes, it is. Let’s go out on the balcony.”

  Taking her hand, he led them to the balcony and opened the set of French doors. The weather was wonderful and the ocean was a beautiful blue-green. He pulled her to his side. “I must say I’m a little disappointed,” he said.

  She glanced up at him, frowning. “About what?”

  “I told you to tell me everything about our marriage when I was Devon.”

  She looked at him, puzzled. “I did.”

  He raised their joined hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “You didn’t tell me about that promise I made to you on our wedding night, which is the reason we were waiting to have kids.”

  “Oh, that,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “That was a long time ago. And it doesn’t matter because you want kids now and we’ve agreed to start trying in a year.”

  He shook his head. “No, I think we should start now. A promise is a promise.”

  She frowned. “Who told you about that promise? It was my mother, wasn’t it?” Before he could answer, she said, “She promised not to tell you. That was a promise I made with Devon and not with you. Mom had no right to tell you anything.”

  He turned her toward him and leaned down and kissed her lips. “Your mother didn’t tell me.”

  Her frown deepened. She didn’t want to believe her father would have said anything or her close friends. Maybe it had been Kurt. He’d known about the promise. She hadn’t told him not to say anything because she figured such a thing would never come up in one of Kurt and Ray’s conversations.

  “Well, if Mom didn’t tell you, who did?”

  He reached out and wra
pped his arms around her waist. Looking into her eyes, he said, “I remembered.”

  She blinked. “You what?”

  “I remembered. My memory returned just like that, when I saw you walking down the aisle on your father’s arm. I suddenly remembered another time you did that same thing. If you recall, as Devon I’d always said seeing you coming down the aisle to me, looking so beautiful on our wedding day, was one of my most cherished moments in my life. It was the same again today and that’s what sparked my memory. I remember everything. Including how I landed in the hospital but I don’t want to talk about it now. I just want to celebrate what would have been our five-year wedding anniversary and now our marriage. And just like I intended three years ago, I want to make a baby.”

  Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her back inside and headed straight for the bedroom.

  She looked forward to a wonderful future with the man whose heart she’d somehow managed to capture a second time around, and she was looking forward to their future together in Catalina Cove.

  * * *

  Fall in love with Catalina Cove all over again in Finding Home Again, the story of Kaegan and Bryce, from New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson and HQN Books.

  ISBN-13: 9781488096495

  Forget Me Not

  Copyright © 2019 by Brenda Streater Jackson

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.