She rushed into his arms, surprising him once again. “Oh, Mac.”
Her joy was contagious. He held her a moment, squeezing his eyes shut and relishing the brief contact.
She pulled away quickly and grinned. “This is good.”
“Very good. What else do you remember? The shoemaker’s name? The town in Italy? When did you get the boots? Were they a gift?”
Jane smiled again, shaking her head. “I don’t know any of that. I can’t recall anything else, but this is a good sign, isn’t it? Should we call Dr. Quarles and let him know? Maybe there’s something I can do to help my memory along now.”
“Not a bad idea. We’ll give him a call later.”
“Oh, Mac.” Jane fell into his arms again. She pressed her head to his chest and he took her in, holding her tight. They stood between Trixie’s Toys and Fashion Fare in the middle of the mall, like two teenagers crazy about each other. “Thank you.”
She looked up and kissed his cheek.
“What’s that for?” he asked, guarding his heart from the unwelcome sense of loss he experienced in that one moment, when he thought Jane might have regained her full memory.
“For being here. For helping me. For giving me your support.”
“It’s my—”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Jane’s face.
“Pleasure. It’s my pleasure, Jane.”
She smiled again, big and wide, and Mac nudged his misgivings away. True, she was his case and it was his job to help her, but he finally admitted to himself that he’d do everything in his power to help Jane, whether or not it was his job.
The thought unsettled him. Shook him to the core.
The woman had gotten under his skin.
Tonight, tomorrow or the next day, she might regain her full memory. Then she’d be gone.
“I feel so safe when you hold me, Mac. Like everything’s going to be all right.”
Mac felt just the opposite. When he held Jane, he felt like nothing in his life would ever be the same.
She pulled away, grabbed his hand and tugged. “Come on, you have summer shoes to buy me.”
Jane spread out her new clothes on the bed, arranging the blouses and slacks, the jeans and shorts, making outfits, mixing and matching. She’d been happy with her purchases, realizing that with one week’s worth of clothes, she could actually put together nearly a month’s wardrobe. All in all, she’d done a decent job. And she hadn’t cleaned Mac out, either. She’d been prudent, checking price tags, making sure that she could justify the cost of each piece.
“Wow!” Lizzie knocked on the open door, then came bounding into the room, her soft brown gaze lit with pleasure as she scanned Jane’s clothes. “Would you look at all this! These are great, Jane. I love the raspberry outfit. It’ll look great with your hair and eyes.”
Jane couldn’t help smiling. “It was fun, and so sweet of Mac. You both have been so kind.”
Lizzie flipped over a price tag, then gave Jane a look of admiration. “Great deal. Did this blouse come in other colors?”
“About five others.”
Lizzie smiled. “Mac loved it, you know.”
Puzzled, Jane frowned. “The blouse?”
“No, silly. Taking you shopping.”
She blinked and her voice rose slightly. “He told you that?”
Lizzie shook her head and wispy auburn bangs fell into her eyes. “Big brother would never admit to actually enjoying a shopping trip. But,” she said, looking deeply into Jane’s eyes, “he didn’t complain. Not once. I think my brother likes you.”
Jane’s face warmed considerably and she knew a flush of rosy color reached her cheeks. She felt obliged to comment. “He’s a nice man,” she murmured, though she could describe Mac in much more accurate ways. Strong and steady. Protective yet guarded. Dependable. Commanding. And, oh yeah, sexy as sin. He had a way of looking at her lately that made goose bumps erupt on her arms, and when he held her close, simmering heat spread throughout Jane’s entire body.
“That’s it? You think he’s nice?” Lizzie stacked some of Jane’s clothes on top of each other and made room for herself on the bed. She sat down, crossed her legs and leaned back, bracing her palms behind her.
“Yes, I do.” Jane lifted a white, sleeveless summer dress and put it on a hanger. It was a last-minute purchase, an item Mac had encouraged her to buy. She’d need at least one dress, she figured, so she hadn’t argued about it. She hung up the dress in the closet, then turned. “What are you getting at?”
Lizzie shot her a mischievous smile. “Mac needs a woman in his life.”
“Oh, Lizzie. And you think it’s going to be me?”
“You like him, Jane. I can see how you look at him.”
“Of course I like him. He saved my life, took me in.” With a sweep of her hands, she gestured to the clothes on the bed. “He put clothes on my back. I’m grateful to you and Mac, but there’s no future for us, I’m afraid. I don’t know who I am. Mac is right to guard himself from the likes of me.”
“So you don’t think he’s a great guy?”
“Lizzie, Mac is a great guy and he certainly doesn’t need you matchmaking for him,” she said softly. “So why are you? And what about your own love life?”
She let out a deep, gloomy sigh. “What love life?”
Jane sat down next to her. “What about Deputy Brody?”
Lizzie shrugged, but her eyes lit just at the mention of his name.
“Tell me,” Jane said gently. “I’d love to help.”
“It’s just that…I think he’s afraid of what Mac might say.”
“Lizzie, you’re a grown woman and you have a right to make your own choices in life. Besides, Lyle Brody is a decent man, from what I’ve seen of him. Why would Mac object?”
Again, Lizzie shrugged. “It’s complicated.” She searched Jane’s face for a moment, as if deciding whether to confide in her. “I want to see Mac happy, for one. He deserves it. He’s been alone too long and, well, I’d feel like I’d be abandoning him. Sure, he’s overbearing at times and we butt heads on occasion, but I know in my heart that he’d give his life for me. He’s a great brother.”
Jane understood Lizzie’s loyalty, to a point. And while she thought it wonderful that Lizzie and Mac shared such a special bond, she wondered about her own life. Did she have a brother somewhere searching for her? Was there anyone out there willing to lay down his life for her? It was moments like this when Jane felt so alone, so lost. The hollowness inside ate at her at times, until she had to mentally obliterate those feelings of despair before they took her down.
Jane had hope now. She’d remembered something today. It had to be just a matter of time before her memory returned. She clung desperately to that hope. She’d tried to speak with Dr. Quarles this afternoon, but he wasn’t in his office. Tomorrow she’d make an appointment to see him.
“Mac wants you happy, Lizzie. I’d bet my last dollar on it.” Then she grinned. “If I had one, that is.”
Lizzie smiled too, only briefly. “But there’s more, Jane. And I’m not sure Mac would appreciate me talking about this.”
“I understand,” she said, though she was dying to know what else Lizzie had to say.
“Of course, if you forced it out of me, then I couldn’t be blamed.”
Jane grinned again, realizing why Lizzie was a favorite among her students at Winchester High. She was so childlike in her own way, but still a woman with needs and desires that shouldn’t be ignored. Lizzie deserved to have a life of her own. She deserved a man to love, a home and a family. Jane had a hard time believing that Mac would deny her those pleasures.
“I’m officially forcing it out of you. I’ll take all blame. I’m not giving you a choice.” She winked and nodded.
“Okay,” Lizzie said, picking up the shoe box holding Jane’s new, strappy tan sandals. She lifted the lid off, then replaced it. “Ask me about Lyle.”
“Why doesn’t Mac want you to see
Lyle Brody?”
“Well, because you’re forcing me, I’ll tell you. Mac was married to Lyle’s sister, Brenda Lee.”
The air rushed out of Jane’s lungs. She felt empty, deflated, and she couldn’t quite understand why. She’d known that Mac had been married once, but speaking about it, giving the woman a name, made it all seem so real. Jane had no right to feel even the slightest bit of jealousy, but she did, and the fingers of that emotion inched up her spine in a slow crawl. “Oh my.”
Lizzie breathed deeply and nodded. “You see now. The breakup wasn’t pretty, and of course, Lyle’s just as protective of his sister as Mac is of me. They respect each other professionally, but Lyle is Mac’s ex-brotherin-law. Makes it kind of tricky, doesn’t it?”
“And you’re in love with Lyle, aren’t you?”
“I think I could be, Jane. But we haven’t been able to explore the possibilities.”
Sensations washed over Jane as she thought about Mac and his marriage to Lyle’s sister. She had a burning desire to learn about his failed marriage and couldn’t resist prying, just a little. “So what happened with Brenda Lee?”
“Oh, she and Mac never really were suited for each other. Once they married, Brenda Lee thought she could change him. She wanted to leave Winchester in the dust and she thought she could convince Mac to take her away from here. Mac struggled with it for a long time, but he couldn’t change who he was. She never got that Mac was a small-town sheriff, and he’d always be one. Mac likes his life, this town, his job. He never expected that she’d demand such drastic changes. Mac couldn’t stop being Mac, not even to save his marriage.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, but Brenda Lee got what she wanted. She lives in New York now, remarried, with two children.”
“So, you’d feel disloyal to Mac on both fronts, if you got involved with Lyle.”
“Yes, that’s so true. When you entered the picture and I saw how Mac reacted to you, I can’t tell you the sense of relief I felt. Mac hasn’t been interested—I mean seriously interested—in a woman in a long time.”
“He keeps telling me that he’s not, Lizzie. I hate to break the bad news to you, but Mac sees me as his responsibility, nothing more.”
“Right, and the sun doesn’t set in the west every afternoon.”
Flustered, Jane didn’t know what to say.
“My brother doesn’t invite women into our home, whether or not she has amnesia. He doesn’t take her shopping and then buy her gifts if he’s not interested.” Lizzie reached into the pocket of her blouse and pulled out a gold box. “He wanted me to give this to you.”
Jane accepted the gilded box Lizzie shoved her way, staring at her with total surprise.
“Well, open it. I’m dying to see what it is.”
Slowly, with deft fingers, Jane pried open the box. “Oh,” she said softly, as tears pooled in her eyes. She pulled out a set of matching, stamped silver earrings, necklace and bracelet—large round hoops connected by smaller links. “I took one long look at these in the window while we were shopping. I didn’t think Mac noticed. I didn’t want him to notice, Lizzie. I couldn’t possibly expect him to buy me jewelry.”
“But he did.”
“Yes, he did,” Jane said quietly, hugging the box to her chest and hard-pressed to name all of the warm emotions whirling by. “Why didn’t he give them to me himself?”
Lizzie’s smile widened. “Probably because he couldn’t take seeing that look in your eyes. You’ve nearly got me teared up, too.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Just do me a favor? When you thank him, don’t make a huge deal about it. Mac’s not into big thank-yous. It’s enough that he sees you wearing them.”
“I’m not sure I should even accept them, Lizzie.”
“They didn’t break his bank account, Jane. And you’d hurt his feelings, big time, if you sent them back.”
Jane fingered the necklace, playing with the hoops and admiring the fine details. Of all the expensive jewelry she’d seen today, stealing glances in shop windows, this simple silver set had impressed her most. And Mac had picked up on that.
Small wonder. He had great investigative skills and good instincts.
“On second thought, I couldn’t possibly send them back. Help me put them on?” She handed the necklace to Lizzie.
“Sure, but on one condition. When I get back from my trip, you’ll help me tackle a whole new wardrobe. I need to go on a shopping spree of my own.”
“I’d love to, Lizzie. Sounds like fun. But where are you going?”
“North Carolina. My best friend, Caitlin, is delivering her baby earlier than expected. And her husband, Joe, is on a mission overseas. The marines won’t send him home anytime soon. I’m going to be her birth partner and the baby’s godmother.”
“That’s wonderful. How long will you be gone?”
Lizzie bounded up from the bed to fasten the necklace around Jane’s neck. “I’m leaving on Sunday and I’ll be gone less than a week. But long enough for you and Mac to figure out where you stand.”
Jane stood there, wearing the jewelry Mac had given her, shaking her head at Lizzie. “Mac’s going to think you’re matchmaking.”
“It’s not my fault that Caitlin had some complications. They’re taking the baby early, by caesarean section. I can’t let my friend down. A promise is a promise, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the birth.” She smiled, showing a beautiful set of white teeth, so much like her brother’s. “But I have to admit,” she added, cocking her head, “the timing couldn’t be more perfect.”
Six
J ane stood at the back door, debating about going into Mac’s garage this morning. She’d heard him exit the kitchen, and berated herself for not rising earlier to catch him during breakfast. He hadn’t come home for dinner last night after their shopping trip, Lizzie explaining that he’d been called into the sheriff’s station for an emergency. And Jane had yet to thank him for his generous gift.
She wore the jewelry today, the silver pieces setting off her new sleeveless lilac blouse and lightweight black slacks very nicely. It completed the outfit, making her feel more put together than she had all week. The weather had warmed up considerably, the Colorado summer taking hold, and Jane’s new clothes lent her the cool comfort she needed. She’d even put her hair up in a ponytail, and wondered if that was something she’d been inclined to do. Was she the tomboyish, ponytail type of woman? She didn’t know, but right now having her hair up brought a cooling breeze to her neck and throat. Something she figured she’d need, if Mac were working out in his gym as she suspected.
She heaved a heavy sigh and strode toward the garage. She knew one thing about herself—her thank-yous couldn’t wait. But just as a precaution, instead of entering the garage, she decided to steal a quick peek through the window. She saw no sign of Mac in there and didn’t know if she was relieved or disappointed. Just as she began to turn away, his voice boomed in her ear.
“Looking for me?”
She whirled around and found him leaning against the fence post, sipping from his water bottle. His bronzed chest glistened under the Colorado sun, and once again he wore nothing but his sweatpants and a white towel draped around his neck.
“Oh, Mac. Yes, I was. I…didn’t want to interrupt your workout.”
“I’m through,” he said, taking a last sip from his bottle. He set it on the post and approached her.
It was all Jane could do to keep from backing away. Mac stared at her in a way that made her heart race, her nerves jangle and her lips pucker, among other parts of her anatomy. She saw his gaze flicker to her throat, taking in the necklace, then the bracelet and finally catching the gleam of the hoop earrings she wore.
“You look pretty,” he said as he came to stand before her.
She blushed, swallowing hard. Her hand instinctively reached for the necklace. It was the first time Mac had paid her a direct, unabashed compliment. “Oh, um, that’s why I came
out here. To thank you. I love the jewelry, but then you must have known that.”
He nodded, and Jane didn’t gush with thanks, keeping in mind what Lizzie had told her. “It was a nice surprise.”
“Jane,” Mac began, staring into her eyes. Her pulse escalated until she thought she’d faint. She waited for him to continue, but when he only stared, she realized it was the first time she’d seen him at a loss for words. She didn’t know what to make of it.
“Did you want something?”
He lifted one corner of his mouth, not in a smile as she knew it, but more a sardonic expression. “Not a good question to ask of a man who wants…”
“Wants? What do you want, Mac?”
As if catching himself for mistakenly revealing a real, undisguised emotion, Mac started to retreat. Jane grabbed both ends of the towel hugging his neck and tugged, refusing to let him go.
She stood toe to toe with him, looking up into his handsome face.
His eyes darkened to nearly black. Then his gaze focused on her mouth.
Swamped with heat, pulsating with desire, Jane parted her lips.
Mac groaned, closing his eyes briefly.
“What do you want?” she asked again, this time as softly as a summer wind.
“Not here,” he said enigmatically, puzzling Jane even more. Then he took her hand, tugged her along with him into the garage and pressed her up against the wall. Bracing his hands on either side of her, trapping her, he lowered his mouth on hers for a deep, long, openmouthed kiss.
Jane moaned, sighing with pleasure. She hadn’t expected this—not anything like this—but she wasn’t complaining. Though it was totally insane, she couldn’t deny Mac this kiss, or anything else he might want.
She stroked his smooth, slick skin, running her hands up and down his chest, curling her fingers into the mass of curling hairs. He was firm and well muscled, and Jane couldn’t get enough of Sheriff Mac Riggs. Her hands slid over him again and again, until he, too, couldn’t get enough. He pressed his body closer, his tight, hard erection rubbing her belly. Jane thought she’d die from the sensations.
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