“This Brandon,” Nikki said. “Do you think he was there to harm you?”
Shaking her head, Elaine said, “I doubt it. He was just sitting there at the table. Probably wanted to tell me one of his, ‘I’ve changed’ stories. He always said that, but he never really did.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks and Elaine made no move to stop them. “It’s like you always said, I’m a loser. I attract losers. The only men I ever really wanted were in love with you.”
Nikki limped over to the couch. Even if Elaine slapped her, she couldn’t ignore her pain. She took Elaine’s hand. Elaine stiffened, but didn’t pull away.
“I’m sorry I said that. It’s not true. I don’t remember all the things that happened between us, but I can see why I was jealous of you. You’re beautiful, and smart—”
Elaine did pull her hand away then. “This is too weird.”
“The right guy will come along, I promise.”
“Easy for you to say. You married the king of the nice guys.”
Nikki cleared her throat as an idea occurred to her. “You know, maybe I’ve been asking the wrong people. I’m trying to figure out who I was seeing—”
“If I knew, I would’ve told Jake a long time ago.”
Her bluntness made Nikki smile. “I don’t doubt that, but is there someone you suspect? Anybody you saw me with?”
“The only guys I ever saw you with were Jake and Eliot. To be honest, I was shocked when Jake told me about the affair. I didn’t like the way you treated Jake, but I never thought you were unfaithful.”
Elaine studied her. “When you and Jake got together, we all had it pegged for a fling. The whole town was shocked when you got engaged. Then Sara cut you off, I thought, ‘well, that’s it’ but you fooled me again. You married him anyway. I’ve known you a long time, Nikki, and you changed when you met Jake. I think, in the beginning, anyway, you really loved him. I don’t know who this man could be, but he doesn’t seem to mind taking advantage of your amnesia.”
Lifting an eyebrow, Nikki asked, “So now you believe me?”
“Wouldn’t say that.” Elaine grinned. “But something’s happened to you. Amnesia, exorcism…”
She laughed when Nikki stuck out her tongue. “See, even your eloquent gestures have changed. Before, a remark like that would’ve earned me—”
“Never mind.” Nikki held up a hand. “I can guess.”
They were still laughing when Jake walked in. His eyebrows shot up and he laid a duffel bag on the sofa beside Elaine. He pressed the back of his hand to Nikki’s forehead, and then walked over to Elaine and did the same thing.
“Okay, you look like Nikki and Elaine,” he said.
“If you’d rather we fight…” Nikki winked at Elaine.
Jake lifted his palms. “No, no. That’s okay. I’m going to get a shower, try to absorb this.” He walked toward the stairs, and then paused in the doorway to grin at Elaine. “Now if we can get you and Mom speaking, maybe Jerry Springer will stop asking for an invite to our family reunions.”
Elaine threw a pillow at him.
“Don’t hold your breath,” Elaine muttered, as Jake disappeared up the stairwell.
“Catherine’s been great to me,” Nikki said hesitantly. “Maybe the two of you could work things out.”
Flopping back on the couch, Elaine said, “Ah, Nikki, it pains me to hear you say that. If we ever could agree on anything, it was our dislike of Catherine the Horrible.”
“What has she done that’s so bad?”
“What has she done?” The sharpness reappeared in Elaine’s voice. “For starters, she began sleeping with my dad when he was still married to my mother.”
“Catherine told me that wasn’t true.”
“Nikki,” Elaine warned. “Let’s not spoil our warm, fuzzy moment.”
“Even if she was,” Nikki persisted. “They’re married now. Shouldn’t you let bygones be bygones? If my accident has taught me anything—”
“My mother was dying of cancer at the time. I’m not forgiving anything,” Elaine said abruptly. She fished her cell phone from her purse and said, “I’m hungry, and I’m buying. What are you in the mood for?”
The rest of the evening passed in relative peace. A couple of times, Nikki withdrew from Elaine’s caustic humor, but she relaxed when she realized the comments were made offhandedly, without intent to harm.
They went to bed early, with Elaine deciding to bunk down on the couch. Jake and Nikki climbed the stairs together and he took her in his arms as they stepped inside the bedroom.
“Thank you,” he said. “Thanks for trying to make peace with Elaine. I know it can’t be very comfortable for you.”
Nikki laughed. “Actually, Jake, I was more comfortable around Elaine this evening than I am with most of the people I’ve talked to lately. I can count on her to tell me what she really thinks.”
“Yeah, she’s never been one to hold back,” Jake agreed.
Slipping her arms around his neck, Nikki said, “And I don’t want to fight anymore. I can’t stand all the conflict. I just want to settle in to ‘happily ever after’ with you.”
After he made love to her that night, Nikki lay awake, listening to Jake breathe beside her and prayed that a fairytale ending was in the cards for them.
November 14
“Well, Cinderella, are you ready for the ball?” Catherine asked with a smile as she pulled the bedroom door shut behind her.
“I can’t wait!” Nikki wrapped her hair in a towel and laid her makeup out on the dresser.
The stalker had been quiet for the past three days, and Nikki dared to take his lack of activity as a good sign.
“I brought you something for your hair,” Catherine dug in her purse. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to. I just saw it and thought it would match.”
She pulled out the bronze clasp and handed it to Nikki.
“Oh, it’s perfect.” Nikki hugged her mother-in-law. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, dear,” Catherine said. “Now, let’s see if we can fix it in your hair.”
***
Jake gave Zeke an amused grin when he saw his stepfather glance at his watch for the third time.
“You know how those two are lately,” Jake remarked. “No doubt Mom’s up there filling her in on all the pre-party gossip.”
He stood to freshen up Zeke’s drink and heard Nikki’s laughter on the stairs. Jake looked up at her, and his breath caught in his throat.
Never, not even on their wedding day, had he seen her look more beautiful. The bronze gown brought out the tawny tone of her skin, and she was radiant, as if lit by the glow of a thousand candles. That smile – her smile – beckoned him, and Jake felt an almost painful stab of longing.
“You look incredible,” he said, and reached to take her hand. She winked at him, the sparkle in her eyes mesmerizing him.
“You’re not so bad, yourself, Mr. Hawthorne,” she said
“Do I look incredible, too, Jake?” Catherine teased. “Over here, your dear old mom.”
Jake finally tore his gaze from Nikki to acknowledge her. He bent to place a kiss on her cheek. “You always do, Mom.”
“Well, what about me?” Zeke asked, and turned in a slow circle.
They all laughed, and the men helped the ladies with their wraps. As they headed out to the limo Zeke had rented, Jake whispered, “I love you” as he placed a hand at the small of her back and helped her inside the car.
***
Jake could tell the Marshall estate left Nikki awestruck, and it made him a little sad. This was the kind of place he wished he could give her, the kind of place she deserved. He tried to tell himself the money didn’t mean anything, that it was the love that mattered, but the thought felt hollow. He always felt out of place in her circle, although his mother had fallen easily into it when she married Zeke. Then, there was the very real possibility that her lover would be here. Would the stalker find security in the
sea of faces, maybe even talk to Nikki…maybe even talk to him?
The thought nagged at Jake. He hated feeling so helpless.
Nikki rolled down the window as they approached the mansion. The huge fountain in the front lawn looked almost magical in the moonlight, sparkling with the reflection of the Christmas lights of the two large trees on either side of it. Jake wondered what kind of staff it took to service a place like this.
A butler took their invitation and announced their names. As they moved to the ballroom, a throng of people immediately surrounded Nikki, inquiring about her health and commenting on her dress.
Jake was having a hard time taking his eyes off her, struggling to remain attentive when someone else was speaking to him. He couldn’t help but feel proud, and more than a little amazed, that this lovely creature was his wife and that she was here with him.
What would his life have been like by now if it weren’t for that accident? Would he be standing here, miserable, watching her on the arm of another man? The thought of losing her now was unbearable. Jake hadn’t thought it possible, but he was more in love with her now than he’d ever been before.
He glanced over to where a circle of her friends swept her away and didn’t even feel jealous to see an old boyfriend talking to her. She met his eyes and smiled, and he smiled back. Jake realized he trusted her now, in a way he never really had before.
The pre-Nikki had known he was jealous and had sometimes used his jealousy to punish him. How he had hated that throaty, sexy laugh that she reserved for other men when she was angry at him.
But now, she didn’t seem interested in playing games. Her smile, her touch, and especially the way she looked at him, promised him he was the only one she wanted. Jake had, in his heart, arrived at the point where the why and who of her affair didn’t really matter that much to him.
If it had only been an affair, and this man hadn’t hurt her, and wasn’t still trying to hurt them, Jake could let the past die, even though there was still the nagging fear in the back of his mind about what she’d feel when she got her memory back. Now his reasons for finding out the identity of her lover weren’t because of how she had hurt him, but because of how this man had hurt her.
“Hey, J-man, how’s it going?” Eliot punched his arm.
“Better than ever.” Jake nodded a greeting at Eliot’s wife. “Hey, Kelly. You look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you, sir.” She bowed in a mock curtsey to him.
It was true. Her brown eyes danced, and she held tight to Eliot’s arm. Jake was glad to see things seemed better between them, too. For a while, he had sensed a strange tension between them and could tell something was wrong with Eliot, but his friend hadn’t been able to talk about it. Now, the couple seemed almost like newlyweds again.
“I’m going to go say hello to Nikki.” Kelly kissed Eliot’s cheek and they watched her join the circle around Nikki.
“Nothing new from the stalker?” Eliot asked quietly.
Jake shook his head.
“You still have no suspicion as to who it might be?”
“Not a clue.”
Jake felt an arm lace through his and turned, expecting to see Nikki, but it was Elaine. The swelling had gone down on her face and she looked much better.
“Hey, guys! Some shindig, huh? I do believe this thing gets bigger every year.”
Elaine, too, had chosen a silk gown, except hers was aquamarine.
“Hi, gorgeous.” Jake brushed a kiss across her cheek.
“Hey, sis. Who are you here with tonight?” Eliot asked.
She rolled her eyes a little, and said, “No one. Your spinster sister is traveling solo.”
Jake grinned. “That’s good news for Rick Montebelle, I guess. He asked me earlier if you were dating anyone.”
“Oooh!” Elaine shivered with mock delight. “Rick Montebelle. Sounds promising. Who is he?”
“You remember,” Jake prodded. “I introduced you to him one day at the office.”
Elaine gasped. “You mean the beautiful man with the gorgeous amber eyes?”
“Yeah, that’s how I usually describe him,” Jake said and Eliot laughed.
She scanned the room. “Which way did he go?”
“Last I saw, he was being led around by the widow Cheever,” Jake said.
“Well, I suppose the only charitable thing to do would be to go rescue him.” Elaine winked and gave them a little wave as she strolled away.
“Glad she seems to be getting out of this funk she’s been in,” Eliot said. “I went to the jail and talked to Brandon.” He cast a sideways glance at Jake. “He won’t be bothering her again.”
Jake nodded. He, too, had put in a visit.
Darcy arrived. She caught Jake’s eye and waved, then made her way toward them.
“You look ravishing, my dear.” Eliot kissed her hand and bowed extravagantly.
“Yeah, Darce. You look great,” Jake added.
“Thank you, thank you.” She patted her hair. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”
“But we only mean it with you.” Eliot smiled.
“Keep it up, you charmer, and we’ll put Kelly on the road,” Darcy teased.
She was at her element at a party, Jake thought with a grin.
“So, are you traveling solo tonight?” he asked.
“Sure!” Darcy exclaimed with a coy wink. “I want to dance with all the boys. Including the two of you, so be sure to save me one.”
“It’s a promise.” Eliot grinned.
Darcy blew them a kiss and was off, a flash of bright red in the crowd.
Eliot shook his head. “That girl’s a mess. This party’s not a safe place for men tonight, between her and Elaine.”
At that moment, Jake had an eerie premonition of something to come tonight, and wondered if it was a safe place for him and Nikki, either.
A few minutes later, Eliot excused himself to dance with Kelly, and Jake realized he’d lost sight of Nikki. He strode through the throng of people, searching for a glimpse of her gown. Finally, he found her with Catherine.
They were speaking with the hostess, Eva Marshall. Jake slipped up behind Nikki and wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Good evening, Mrs. Marshall,” he said. “It looks like you’ve outdone yourself this year. Thanks for inviting us.”
“You’re always welcome here, Jake,” she said. “And do call me Eva. Mrs. Marshall is my mother-in-law, and Lord knows, I don’t wish to be confused with her.”
Jake laughed and said, “No chance of that, Eva. I want to steal my beautiful wife away for a moment, if you don’t mind.” He winked at Eva and said, “I hope you’ll save me a dance later.”
“Certainly. I wouldn’t miss the chance to dance with such a handsome young man.”
She and Catherine resumed their conversation and Jake led Nikki to the dance floor.
“Alone at last.” He sighed and twirled Nikki around, making her giggle. “Mrs. Hawthorne, you are breathtaking. I thought I was going to have to beat my way through all your admirers, just to have a dance with you.”
“So I clean up good?” She batted her eyelashes.
“Mmmm hmm,” he murmured, the desire in his blue eyes making her tingle. “I don’t know how the angels in heaven could be any more beautiful.”
Nikki reached to caress his jaw. “How could I possibly have forgotten you?”
Jake kissed her, and for that moment, nothing else existed for him. This was his wife and nothing was going to tear them apart.
Nothing.
***
Nikki was having a wonderful time. She and Jake danced and danced, spinning around the ballroom like Cinderella and her prince, but the look in Jake’s eyes told her this evening wouldn’t end as the clock struck midnight. She wished they hadn’t ridden to the party with Catherine and Zeke, so they could steal away together. She didn’t care if it was selfish; she wanted him all to herself.
Kelly grabbed Jake’s arm.
Nikki shook her head. Truthfully, she wouldn’t have noticed if Santa Claus had waltzed by with the Easter bunny. She had eyes for no one but Jake.
“Too many people,” Jake shouted. “Do you want us to help you find him?”
“Would you?” she yelled.
They split up, after agreeing to meet back in the main ballroom if they found him.
Nikki walked down a long corridor and wondered if they’d have to come looking for her next.
It would be quite easy to get lost in this house, she suspected. She found herself in a large library.
“No Eliot here,” she said and turned to go back.
Nikki bumped into someone and gave a strangled cry of surprise. She hadn’t heard the man follow her in here.
She gasped and pressed a hand to her chest. “Oh, you scared me!”
“Sorry, Nikki.” The man grinned wolfishly at her.
Something about that grin frightened her.
“Excuse me,” she whispered, and tried to dart by him but he grabbed her arm.
“Hey, don’t you remember me?” he demanded.
***
“Hey, man. Kelly’s looking for you,” Jake said, as Eliot opened the patio door and stepped inside. “What are you doing out there, anyway?”
“Just getting some air,” Eliot replied, his handsome face flushed. “Which way did she go?”
He helped Eliot find Kelly, and then went off in search of Nikki. He tried to remember which way she’d gone. He caught sight of one of her friends, and asked if she’d seen Nikki.
“I think I saw her heading toward the library.” She pointed behind Jake. “Just a few minutes ago.”
“Thanks,” he said, and began making his way across the crowded dance floor.
***
“No, I don’t remember you,” Nikki said stiffly.
She could smell the alcohol on the man’s breath and said, “If you’ll please let go of my arm, I need to find my husband.”
“Jake’s doing some work for me. I’m Evan Stephens,” he slurred, his eyes raking across her chest. “I heard you were having some problems with your memory.”
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