The kiss had been wonderful, but it had caused them awkward moments the rest of the evening. They’d shared a pizza, perhaps to prove to each other that they could handle what had happened, or rather not happened, between them. But their stolen looks, averted glances and stilted conversations had sent Jane to bed early.
For both of their sakes.
Yet she couldn’t deny she’d wanted to curl up next to Mac on her bed. She wanted his arms around her, comforting her and making her feel alive and vital once again.
“This is going beyond the call, Mac. I bet this is the last place you want to be on your day off.”
Mac glanced at her lime-green tank top, his eyes holding begrudged appreciation. “It’s necessary.”
“But Lizzie said if you’d only waited until the weekend, she would be happy to take me.”
Mac bounded out of his car, slamming the door. He came around to her side quickly and opened hers. “Necessary for my general health, Jane.”
His brows rose and he shot her a direct look. She glanced down, seeing herself as he might see her. True, she’d felt packed into her clothes like a sardine, but she hadn’t realized how that might make her appear to Mac.
Up until last night she hadn’t thought he’d even given her a second look.
“You’ve got a body on you,” Mac said, walking toward the mall entrance. “And I’d rather not be reminded of it every time I look at you.”
Jane stepped down from the Trailblazer, slamming the door also, nearly having to break into a run to catch up with him. He’d infuriated her with that last comment. As if Jane had had a choice in the matter! She’d been left with only the clothes on her back. She couldn’t help it that Lizzie’s wardrobe didn’t quite fit right. Jane would have seemed ungrateful to complain.
“That shouldn’t bother you, Sheriff. You’ve got enough willpower for both of us.”
Mac slanted her a look. “Don’t be too sure of it.”
“Is that all it takes to get you interested?”
He stopped in his tracks and stared at her. “What?”
Flushed now and nearly out of breath, Jane said softly, “I think you heard me.”
“I can’t be interested, Jane. Don’t you get that? You’re living under my roof, under my protection. Whether you think so or not, you may have ties to other people. People who love and care for you.”
“Yes, I get that. I got that last night. You made yourself pretty clear.”
Mac shook his head, his expression grim. Jane frustrated him, and she was beginning to understand why. He protected his heart well. So well that he wouldn’t even open up enough to take a chance. His dedication to his profession wouldn’t allow him to compromise his position. She got all of that.
But she also got that he had everything to lose. What if she had a past, a family who was looking for her? What if she had a man searching for her? Jane could only see the small details of her life now, living here in Winchester, but Mac could see the whole picture.
She couldn’t blame him for backing off. She took hold of his hand and gave a gentle squeeze. “Listen, I’m sorry. I owe you so much for everything you’ve done.”
“You don’t owe me, Jane.”
“I do. And today, well, you’re doing such a nice thing by taking me shopping. Let’s not argue. Let’s get this over with. I promise I’ll be fast. I won’t prolong the torture.”
Mac grinned then, a quick lifting of the corners of his mouth. His teeth flashed, white and straight and her heart did that thing again. Mac had a killer smile.
“You’re really something, Jane Doe.”
She cocked her head to one side. “Do you really have Trump money?”
He laughed. “Nobody has Trump money.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on your wallet.”
He placed his hand on her back and led her inside the Winchester Mall. “I’ll bet you a week’s worth of laundry duty you’ll empty me out within an hour.”
“Deal.”
“Hey, you’re that woman with no memory, right? I saw your picture on the news early this morning,” the young salesgirl announced, scrutinizing Jane’s face. “You were found up by Deerlick Canyon. What’s it like, not remembering who you are?”
Jane’s expression faltered for a moment. “Well, I, uh, it’s not something I would wish on anybody.”
Mac stepped up to the sales counter, presenting his credit card. “All through here?” he asked.
The salesgirl, who was named Luanne, according to the pink tag pinned to her chest, took the credit card. “I heard you were injured, but no one really knows how.” She glanced at Mac’s card, then nodded. “Oh, you’re the one who found her. The news said to contact the sheriff’s department if anyone recognizes you.”
“Yes, that’s right,” Jane said, her body language telling Mac that she wanted out of this conversation.
“Well, I don’t.” Again, Luanne studied Jane’s face. “Nope. I don’t recognize you. Can’t say that you’ve ever been in our store before.”
“Thank you. We’ll keep that in mind. Could you hurry up with that,” Mac said, pointing to the card and the clothes Jane had set on the counter. “We’ve got a lot to do this morning.”
“Oh, sure.” Luanne popped her bubble gum a few times as she rang up the sale, and had Mac sign for the purchases. “I bet someone recognizes you, though. I saw your picture on the front lawn as I was pulling out of my garage.”
“On your front lawn?” Jane asked.
“Front page of the Winchester Chronicle. Boy, I can’t imagine. Must be kinda strange.”
Jane sent her a weak smile. “It’s very strange.”
Luanne slipped the clothes into a shiny black bag and handed Mac his credit card and Jane the sack. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Mac grabbed the card and Jane’s hand. They strode out the door quickly. “I guess it’s going to be like that from now on.”
“Like I’m in a fishbowl and everybody’s suddenly got the urge to stare at the weird fish?”
Mac squeezed her hand once before letting go. “Not weird, Jane. Intriguing. You’re a mystery here, that’s all. We’ll run the news spots a few days and if no one steps up with information, we’ll take another route. You won’t enjoy your celebrity too long.”
“Celebrity? More like freak show.”
Mac shook his head. There was nothing freaky about Jane. Although she found herself in a precarious situation, she’d held up remarkably well, despite the meltdown she’d had last night. She was a strong woman, Mac surmised, and someone who certainly knew how to put herself together. He wasn’t an expert, but he’d waited and watched as she tried on clothes, picking out colors that emphasized her pretty complexion and showed off her flawless figure.
She had class, he’d give her that, and a good sense of style. Even though the highly anticipated and newly built Winchester Mall couldn’t compare with big city shopping centers, so far Jane had managed to pick out the right clothes to suit her personality.
Unfortunately for Mac, she looked just as sexy in them. It didn’t matter that the clothes were her correct size and there wasn’t a designer label to be had; Jane still looked like a million bucks.
“Where to now?” she asked.
Mac glanced down at her black leather boots. “C’mon. We’ve got to get you some decent shoes. Summer’s just around the corner.”
“I’m not ungrateful, but Lizzie’s shoes hurt my feet. They are just a little small for me.”
They strode toward a store called the Shoe Salon, a small intimate shop that carried nothing but finely detailed women’s shoes, the displays themselves nearly a work of art. Mac figured Jane wasn’t the department store type. And he also figured she’d be glad to get into something less confining. “I bet those boots can’t be any more comfortable than Lizzie’s shoes,” Mac said.
“Actually, my boots are the most comfortable shoes I own. They’re from a little town in Italy. The shoemaker only makes two p
airs a month. He makes a mold of your feet and customizes accordingly.”
Mac halted abruptly. “What?”
Jane continued walking. “I said, the shoemaker makes only two—”
She stopped and turned to him, her eyes rounding in complete surprise. She stared at Mac for a moment as realization dawned. “Oh my God.” She dropped her shiny black bag right where she stood. “Mac, I remembered something,” she whispered. Then she repeated, louder this time, her face breaking out in a big smile, “I remembered something.”
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 ne
eds 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.”
Dynasties: The Elliotts, Books 1-6 Page 71