by Pat White
Mom grabbed the ceramic pig cookie jar and plopped it in front of her, then poured a glass of milk. “You’ll be okay while I’m gone?”
“I’ll be fine.” She tapped her fingers to the table.
“Love you.” Her mom placed a kiss atop her head, and Annie smiled back at her.
“Love you, too.”
Her mom grabbed the bread and left.
Annie needed a little alone time. The farm had been swarmed by locals for the past few weeks, well-wishers and those curious about their hometown celebrity genius.
But the only thing Annie was curious about was what had happened to Agent Sean MacNeil. To think she could develop a vaccine for a deadly virus, but she couldn’t heal one man’s soul.
“Some genius,” she muttered.
Then again, he was so damn stubborn. Determined to keep anyone and everyone out of his heart. Mulling over that scene at Pinewood, she figured out that he was protecting her, driving her away for fear he’d hurt her.
Hogwash. He was a typical male who’d acted in a completely justified manner when he gone after Raymond.
She dunked an oatmeal cookie, more convinced than ever that Sean did, in fact, love her. If only he could let go of the shame he wore like blinders, he could see the truth. But nothing she said or did would open his eyes. He’d have to learn that lesson himself.
She suspected he wasn’t all that great a student, at least not when it came to forgiving himself.
The front door creaked open.
“Mama?” Annie called.
“You wouldn’t believe who I found coming up the drive.”
God, not more visitors.
She popped the cookie in her mouth and turned. She froze in midchew. Sean. Dressed in tight-fitting jeans, a navy blue FBI T-shirt and cowboy boots, he looked even better than she remembered.
“Hi,” he said, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets.
She moved her jaw, trying to finish the cookie so she could speak.
“Not talking to me, huh?” he said.
Putting out her finger, she took a sip of milk and swallowed. “I was eating a cookie.”
“What kind?”
“What?” she said, shocked that he was standing in the kitchen doorway.
“What kind of cookie?”
“Oatmeal raisin.”
“My favorite.”
He smiled, and she thought she’d cry.
“Sean, have a seat. We’ve got lots of cookies.” Mama gave him a nudge from behind, and he sat at the table across from Annie. Mom smiled and disappeared down the hall.
Annie found herself alone with Sean. Then a horrible thought seized her.
“Is this a follow-up visit?” she asked.
He grabbed a cookie from the jar. “I’m on vacation. Thought I should stop by.”
“Oh.” That didn’t really answer her question. “Let me guess, you brought divorce papers?” The words tasted bitter on her tongue.
“Since your signature was forged the marriage isn’t—” he hesitated “—real.” He placed his cookie to the table and traced his finger around it. That simple but familiar movement made her breasts feel heavy with wanting.
“I really screwed up, didn’t I?” he said.
“That depends.” She leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you here to close the case or kiss me?”
“What?” he glanced up.
“I love you. No formulas, no research, no equations. Just love.”
Sean took a deep breath. She really loved him. She’d said as much at Pinewood, but he couldn’t believe her through the haze of shame.
“I don’t know why.” She stood and paced to the window overlooking the farm. “You’re a jerk. You married me against my will, used physical intimidation more than once, told me you didn’t care about me and dyed my hair orange.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, wishing for better words, healing words.
“I’ve forgiven you for most of it, but the hair? Do you know I’ve tried three rinses and none of them worked? I’ll have to make a trip to Lucy’s Luscious Locks two towns over. They’re experts at—”
“You’ve…forgiven me?” he said.
“Except for the hair. You’re going to have to do something pretty amazing to make up for that.”
“Annie.” In three strides he was holding her, his lips brushing against her delicious orange hair. She loved him. All the gut-wrenching pain seemed to dissolve at the thought of living his life with this in credible woman.
“I don’t deserve you,” he mumbled into her hair.
“You’re right, so I’ve got a proposition for you.”
“What?” He leaned back to look at her. He trailed a strand of neon hair from her cheek. Touching her skin, her beautiful, sweet skin, humbled him in a way like never before.
“I have lots of experiments planned for the next sixty or so years and I need a human guinea pig, someone about six foot, two hundred pounds…with very, soft lips.” She pulled his mouth to hers. The kiss was tender and sweet.
And simply perfect.
She broke the kiss and gazed into his eyes. “Bottom line? We belong together, Agent MacNeil.”
“You are one smart woman, Annie Price.”
He sealed her offer with a kiss and wondered what experiments she had in mind.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-2557-2
SILENT MEMORIES
Copyright: © 2006 by Pat White
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Books by Pat White
Cast of Characters
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Copyright