“Alayna, thank you for coming by the hospital to see me and spending time with me here.”
Alayna shrugged, her oversize sweatshirt falling slightly off her shoulder. “You’ve been a sister to me for years. You helped me with picking makeup and dating. We were close.”
“So we talked about boys.”
Alayna blushed. “We did. Or rather the lack of boys in my life. I’m so shy, dating is tough for me.”
A twinge went through Shana’s heart. “Dating is tough for anyone in their teens and twenties... Honestly, relationships are tough when you’re an adult, too.”
“I’m sure amnesia doesn’t help,” Alayna said with eyes full of sympathy.
“I have so many questions.”
“I’m glad to help how I can.” Alayna paused, staring off in the distance. “Maybe you can help me with something, too.”
“What would that be?”
Alayna chewed at her bottom lip, her eyes full of shadows. Whatever she wanted to talk about seemed to be weighing heavily on her. She looked away for a moment, then back with an overbright smile.
“Will you help me with my fashion sense?”
That wasn’t the sort of request Shana had been expecting. It felt like a dodge. “I thought you already had a gown chosen for the gala.”
“I do, but that’s more of a costume since it’s got the whole steampunk theme. I’m talking about the day-to-day kind of stuff. And regular special events, like a rodeo.”
Intrigued, Shana sensed Alayna was circling closer to her deeper concern. The rodeo sounded specific, like a place she planned to see someone she wanted to impress.
“Of course, I’m happy to help. But are you sure there’s not something else you want to talk about?”
Alayna shook her head quickly. “Nope. It’s just tough stepping out of the shadow of my mom and older sister. You’re not quite as...um, well...pushy.”
“I think you’re lovely.”
Alayna crossed her arms over her body, swimming in the oversize sweatshirt. The young woman looked down at her feet, shaking her head from side to side. “I want to be a knockout.”
“Is there a guy in the picture?”
“I’m nineteen. Guys are all I think about.”
“I do remember that time of life very well.” Shana angled closer, their bodies effectively turned away from Glenna. “Now tell me about you and Aiden Steele.”
A rush of scarlet colored Alayna’s cheeks.
Here.
This was the opportunity she’d been waiting for.
Only, the window for sharing evaporated before her eyes. Alayna opened her mouth to reply but inhaled sharply as her mother, Jeannie, approached from the hall.
Shana felt her sister-in-law turn rigid as she mumbled, “I’m going to help Glenna change the baby’s diaper. She deserves a break.”
Just like that, Alayna moved as quickly as an Alaskan dogsled team cutting through the ice.
Jeannie’s silvery-blond hair feathered around her face as she walked closer. “Teenagers,” she laughed lightly. “It’s hit or miss on when she wants my attention.” Jeannie patted a pillow on the sofa. “You should take it easy. Put up your feet.”
“I’m following the doctor’s orders to the letter.”
“That doesn’t stop me from worrying.”
“I understand.” Shana paused, wondering if there was a way to help the mother and the daughter. Clothes shopping had a way of soothing a teenage soul. “Alayna asked me to go shopping with her for something to wear to the rodeo. Would you like to come along? We could all have lunch together.”
“That sounds delightful.” Her mother-in-law smoothed her hair before continuing, “Are you sure my daughter won’t mind?”
“Why should she?”
“Asserting her independence has made things prickly between us.”
Even from the brief time she’d known this family, Shana could see how tight the Mikkelsons were. They were there for each other. And yes, that felt a little claustrophobic to her at times, especially growing up as an only child, but she also couldn’t deny she’d once wanted something like this. “I can tell she loves you.”
“I don’t doubt that. It’s just a stage of life, and I’m trying not to push it. Certainly my remarriage didn’t help ease the path.”
Now that the subject of Jeannie’s marriage to Jack Steele had come up, it seemed a good time to mention the budding romance between the two teens living under the same roof. While Shana had initially been reticent to share details with Chuck, upon further reflection, it seemed wise to bring up the matter with Jeannie.
Shana placed the throw pillow on the glass coffee table and propped up her feet. Maybe if she focused on the teen’s love life, she could stop thinking about her own convoluted relationship.
* * *
Even after supper, long past when his family had left, Chuck couldn’t shake the memory of the tender fullness of Shana’s lips on his, which was crazy. She was his wife of four years. They’d kissed more times than he could count.
But that brief brush—at her instigation—had moved him like no kiss he could remember.
He’d tried to put it out of his mind all day. To no use. Shana’s touch burned deep into him, reawakening all of their years together—the good years when their love had been flame-hot.
Chuck pulled two antique bowls from the cabinet. They’d been his grandmother’s. Shana always admired the divots in the purple Depression glass. He’d secured them from Glenna for a Valentine’s Day gift for his wife three years ago.
Passing a bowl to Shana now, he wondered what item would tip her memory. When would they open the Pandora’s box of their past, their complications?
But for now, she looked at the bowl only with admiration, like she was taking it in for the first time. Those light fingers touched the rim gingerly.
Shana glanced up at him through those thick lashes.
God, she looked gorgeous in leggings and a silky blouse, one hip leaning against the counter. Casual or glammed up, she always took his breath away.
He caught himself and moved toward the freezer. A few hours ago, he’d ordered more fresh-churned ice cream, this time lemon, determined to keep her as satisfied as possible.
He set the ice-cream container on the kitchen island adjacent to the blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Shana fished spoons out from the nearby drawer and handed one to him, their fingers brushing ever so slightly.
Reminding him again of the sensation of her lips. The curve of her back.
As if that memory had, in fact, wound its way to the forefront of Shana’s mind, too, he noticed a faint blush rise and spread in her cheeks. There was something oddly comforting in her reaction.
He scooped lemon ice cream into her bowl, then his. Cradling his bowl in his hand, he leaned by her still-thriving bouquet, his knee brushing Shana’s leg.
She spooned an extra helping of berries on her ice cream. “I wanted to reassure you about your sister. The opportunity arose to talk about the situation with your mother.”
“What did Mom have to say?” He was still edgy and worried about Alayna. Of all of them, she’d been especially lost since their father died.
Shana looked down at her bowl. “Your mother said that Alayna and Aiden are both over eighteen, but since they’re living under her roof, she’ll keep watch and make sure they understand the ground rules of her house.”
Some of the tension eased from him. He wasn’t completely reassured, but at least his mother could keep an eye out. “That sounds like my mom.”
Shana swallowed the spoonful of ice cream, the tip of her tongue swiping at the corner of her mouth in a tempting sweep. “So you approve of how I handled it?”
“I trust you.” He’d always trusted her. It was Shana who’d come to the marriage with deep is
sues about trust, issues that had driven a wedge deeper between them with each passing year.
She stared into her bowl, quiet for too long.
Ah, that damn trust word.
Even without her remembering their marriage, this was still a sticking point between them. “I understand that trust is difficult for you because of your father.”
Clutching the bowl with both hands, she adjusted her weight. He noted the tension in her jaw. Pain seemed to paint her slender face as a forced smile dusted her lips. “That’s putting it mildly.”
Maybe with the clean slate of her lost memories he could make some headway on this subject, handle it better than they had in the past. He covered her hand with his. “Your father is one person.”
Her lips thinned. “One amoral person who completely fooled my mother and me for so long.”
He linked his fingers with hers, and she didn’t pull away. Promising. “I want to be understanding.”
“Because I’m pregnant. You don’t want me to leave with your child.”
Damn, she was sharp. And too close to the truth for comfort.
He chose his words carefully. “So let me get this straight. Your father was dishonorable. And I’m in trouble for being honorable.”
She pulled her hand away. “I would never take your child from you or keep you from seeing each other. If this pregnancy comes to term and we find we can’t live together, I would work with you to put a plan in place for coparenting.”
He could see her agitation in the way she mashed the berries in the bowl. The last thing he wanted was to put stress on her. He couldn’t take another health scare like the one they’d just been through. “Fair enough.”
Tension faded from her body. “Thank you. Let’s focus on my helping you find the employee from your company who went missing. You want me to look into things, but you keep delaying the start of my investigation.”
“I just want to make sure you’ve recovered.”
“The doctors say I’m fine. I feel fine. You should know. You were at my checkup.” She smiled, her blue eyes sparkling more than the most valuable jewels. “Now, let’s talk.”
“The missing employee—”
“Milla Jones,” she verified, “who disappeared somewhere in Canada—”
“Yes, her. Before she disappeared, she made it clear she was against the merger going through. She also said she wasn’t the only one spilling secrets. There was a traitor in our family—on the Mikkelson side.” The sweet taste of ice cream palled on his tongue at the thought of that accusation being in any way true. “This traitor supposedly played a part in the plane crash that killed Jack Steele’s first wife and his daughter Breanna. What’s worse, the Jones woman intimated that Breanna Steele was actually still alive.”
She gasped. “What a horrible thing to say if it’s not true. How awful to give the Steeles hope that way.”
“After the crash, the Steeles ran DNA tests from teeth found at the wreckage. The tests came back a match to Breanna’s. Additional tests were run since she had a twin—Naomi Steele Miller.” He thought of how much he and Shana wanted a child and how devastating a loss like that would be, a wreckage so fiery that identification came down to teeth.
Protectiveness surged through him. He would move heaven and earth to keep his wife—his family—safe.
She rubbed her forehead. “What would lead this Milla person to make up something like that, then?”
He fought the urge to massage her shoulders. Or ease the tension in a more pleasurable way.
“There are any number of reasons she could manufacture a story like that. To cause trouble. To drive a wedge between the families so the merger falls through. My first guess would be she was paid by a rival who stands to benefit.”
“Such as?” she pressed, shifting against the counter, drawing his eyes to the slim length of her legs.
“Johnson Oil.” The obvious answer. Johnson Oil was their main competitor in Alaska. “Before the merger, we were all on even footing competitively. Johnson is no match to the merged Alaska Oil Barons, Inc., though. If we pull this off, it’s going to be a boon.”
“Big business.” She crinkled her nose.
“No need to sound so disdainful. It’s not like we’re the only game in town. But this edge will give us the capital for innovation—such as Royce Miller’s eco-friendly upgrades to the pipeline.”
They’d brought on premier research scientist Royce Miller to implement new safety measures. In the process, he’d fallen in love with Naomi Steele. They had twin girls now. Apparently, twins ran in the Steele family.
“I get that your family and the Steeles are good people. And I’m working on trust, but it’s tough flying blind here. I wish my mother hadn’t been stuck in the airport so long for weather.”
As much as he regretted seeing Shana’s frustration, he couldn’t deny he’d been relieved that her mother couldn’t make the trip. Having Shana all to himself gave him the time he needed to pursue his quest to get her back into his bed, and secure a place in her life. Secure their future as a family.
He didn’t intend to waste an instant.
The time for waiting to make a move was over.
He spooned up some lemon ice cream and offered it to her. “Try mine.”
And before the night was out, he intended to taste her.
Six
Shana opened her mouth for the spoon, anticipation humming through her body at the intimacy of Chuck feeding her. His green eyes glimmered with promise as his gaze held hers.
What was it about this man that drew her so? Had the attraction between them always been this intense? Or was this a phantom memory due to the longevity of their relationship?
She tasted the ice cream, her senses on overdrive. The cream and berries burst along her taste buds, saturating her craving yet somehow leaving her yearning for more. More of this moment. More of him.
She wanted to accept the promise of a kiss in his eyes. To follow wherever it led with no worry or regrets.
Chuck dipped the spoon back into his bowl. “This is like when we were dating.”
She watched him take a taste from the silverware he’d just fed her with, unable to remove her gaze from him. “I wish I remembered.”
“You will,” he said confidently.
She wished she shared his certainty. She wasn’t sure how she would trust in the future with such a gaping hole in her past. “And if I don’t?”
“Let’s work on new memories, here and now.” Chuck angled closer, whispering in her ear. “I have an inside track here, knowing what you like.”
He pressed his mouth against her neck, just over her leaping pulse. The heat of his breath fanned an answering warmth to life in her. His lips traveled to her collarbone. He nudged aside the neckline of her sweater for fuller access, each brush of his lips more tantalizing than the one before. Her hands clenched into fists as she held back the urge to grab him.
Instead, she lost herself in the sensations he stirred. His mouth grazed back to her neck, then up further to nip her earlobe. He kissed her ear, taking his time. Her head lolled to the side, giving him space.
Finally, thank goodness, his lips moved to hers. Except he didn’t make contact. He just stayed a whisper away, his mouth hovering over hers.
Hunger gnawed at her.
Just as she swayed forward, he pulled away.
“That’s not fair,” she protested, her words riding a sigh of desire.
But maybe pulling back was what she needed. She wanted to trust he wasn’t like her father. Getting to know Chuck better was a step in the right direction.
“You know just how to kiss me to turn me inside out. Yet I don’t know much about you.”
He spread his arms wide. “I’ll willingly donate my body for your research.”
She took in the leanly muscular l
ength of him. “I just feel we’re on uneven ground because of my amnesia.”
He angled back, stroking aside her hair but also giving her space. “Judging by the way you kissed me, it felt like you know me, too, on some level.”
“But on so many others, I don’t.” She stirred her spoon through the ice cream. “There’s a part of me that wonders what you would do if I gave in to the temptation to kiss you now. Would we simply kiss while you respected my need for space, or would we both throw caution to the wind?”
“As much as I want to make love to you, I hear your reservation. I respect it. We’re going to take our time.” His voice held a promise echoed in his eyes.
“How much time?”
She wasn’t sure what she wanted his answer to be. Part of her longed to find out what it would be like to spend the night in his arms. In his bed.
What if passion unlocked her memories?
But the rational side of her knew that giving in now, before she knew everything she needed to know, probably wasn’t wise.
“As much time as you need.” He kissed her lips lightly, nudging the bowl of ice cream toward her. “Good night, Shana.”
* * *
Alayna kept her eyes on her bowl of caribou stew and off Aiden across the dinner table from her. And she feared her mother and her stepfather might notice her nerves, or worse yet, notice her interest. They had some convoluted notion of making them all a family, as if that was miraculously achieved by just sitting in the kitchen together for a meal rather than in the formal dining room.
Sighing, she stirred her stew in hopes no one would question her silence. She wasn’t ready to share her feelings for Aiden with them yet, and maybe that had something to do with the fact she knew they wouldn’t approve. Her brother sure didn’t. She could tell.
Picking apart her yeast roll, she half listened to the drone of her mom and Jack talking about visiting Shana and Chuck. Aiden was just as quiet, although she was in tune to every clink of his spoon against the bowl. She snuck a look at him through her eyelashes.
No one else sat at the lengthy kitchen table even though it seemed half the world lived under this roof. Jack Steele had built this huge place with private suites for his kids, the size of luxury apartments. Her sister, Glenna, lived here now, married to Jack’s son.
The Second Chance Page 7