Wounded at the Lake

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

  “How many more?”

  “Did you tell me around fifteen folks show up each week?”

  “About that many.”

  “I can bake two rounds, so another six should work.”

  “I’ll be more than glad to. You’re taking a load off my shoulders.”

  Chuckling, Lori put the kettle on for tea, grabbed a bowl for cereal, and sat down to eat. She couldn’t wait to start baking.

  ****

  Lori stood at the mirror in the bathroom and ran a hand through her light-brown hair. For a swift moment she felt liberated and couldn’t stop smiling. Now, if she could only put a name to the face.

  Fluffing her hair once more, she went to the bedroom. There was no way she was going to join the party. Even from here voices were loud—the music louder. Deep inside she knew she was a shy person, so she’d hide out here. Coop’s guests would have such a good time they wouldn’t notice her absence.

  A soft knock on the door made her realize her attempt to hide out might not work.

  When she called out, “Come in,” Shorty walked into the room, a shopping bag in hand.

  “I’m not attending,” Lori told her.

  “You’ll be missed.”

  “They don’t know me.”

  Shorty chuckled. “Trust me, they know you. How could they not? They’ve been looking for you for a week. They know enough.”

  “I’m not comfortable around strangers.” She knew it was true.

  “Here,” Shorty held out the bag. “I picked this up when I got your hair color, which, by the way, I like very much. It suits you.”

  “I think it does, too.” She wondered if Coop would think the same. But what did she care? She’d be out of here once her memory returned, and Coop would be nothing but a fond recollection. Would that be so? Or would his face linger?

  “What’s this?” Lori asked, as she took the bag from Shorty’s outstretched hand. “You shouldn’t buy me extras, I owe you enough already.”

  “I’ve told you not to worry about that right now.”

  Lori pulled out a scoop-necked, turquoise T-shirt. “Nice.”

  “It matches your eyes. Put it on and see what you think.”

  In seconds she had the new one on and turned to Shorty. “Well?”

  “Perfect. Now come and join us. If you don’t, once that gang gets their hands on your desserts they’ll come in here and drag you out.”

  “They wouldn’t.”

  Shorty chuckled. “Don’t take everything I say literally. Certainly not about that bunch.”

  “Okay. But if I can’t handle it, I’m coming back to my room.”

  “Understood.”

  With her hand tucked in Shorty’s, her nerves as tight as the proverbial drum, Lori walked down the hall. Country-western music grew louder with every step. Voices, too. She wanted to turn and run. If these people knew what little there was to know about her, what did they think? Did they wonder, like she did, what kind of person she really was? Did they think the worst?

  Possibly. Could she face them not knowing anything about herself? What would she talk about?

  Her stomach curled. She was ready to make a run back to her room, but Shorty held her hand and urged her on.

  They went into the kitchen. There were more women here than she expected. Wives? Girlfriends? Did one of them belong to Coop? Her heart stuttered. She reprimanded herself. It didn’t matter.

  She thought they’d be in the large den with its massive fireplace, comfortable couches, and many chairs. Instead, they hovered in the kitchen like a flock of birds, as they scarfed down the appetizers she’d put together.

  “I like this one,” a gorgeous redhead announced to all who would listen. No one did. They were too intent on their own gastronomic pleasures. Lori’s gaze swept the room until it settled on Coop who stood with Dirk and another guy who must be the other brother. Coop had a grin on his face, as he took a bite of her eggplant appetizer, and rolled his eyes. She took it as a sign he liked it.

  Her heart hummed at the way he looked tonight. In camos plus a T-shirt that stretched over large biceps, he looked more appetizing than the food she’d prepared. She was surprised to see those thick biceps were a roadmap of tats. Her breath caught in her throat. She’d never admired tattoos before, but found herself wanting to trace each and every one of them with her finger. Was she insane?

  Her attention went to the other two men. Dirk was similarly dressed and bore his own colorful tats. One arm was missing from the elbow down. Her heart lurched. Why hadn’t she known? Was she so involved in her own dilemma she didn’t notice? Surely, she wasn’t that insensitive. It took a minute to wrap her head around it. No doubt he’d gotten it during the war. But why hadn’t she known? Then she realized he must have worn a prosthesis every time she’d seen him. A good one. She smiled when she saw the upper half of his missing arm was as fully decorated as the other. He was amazing.

  The tall dark-haired man next to them had on a pair of black slacks and a white dress shirt open at the collar. She wondered if that was his idea of casual.

  He hit Coop in the ribs with an elbow.

  Coop turned his head in her direction.

  ****

  Fuckin’—A. Where had this woman come from?

  Coop hardly recognized her. Her hair was a pretty light brown. The shirt made her turquoise eyes large enough to drown in, and it dipped just low enough to make his mouth water. The plate in his hand was dropped on the nearest counter as he walked toward her. “You look amazing.”

  “Shorty was kind enough to help me.”

  Still stunned, he cleared his throat. “You don’t need any help.”

  “Hey, boss. You gonna introduce the pretty lady?”

  The challenge coming from Marshall made everyone chuckle.

  “Gang. This is our guest, Lori.”

  Silence.

  “Hi ya’ll,” Lori drawled.

  That was all it took. They surrounded her like bees to honey. Even Carrie stood close by so she could get a word in every so often.

  “My name is Carrie. Shorty told us you did the appetizers. Is that true?”

  “These are delicious. Never tasted anything like them.”

  “You can stay at my house,” Buster put in when he had a chance.

  “Hey. Are you insinuating I can’t cook?” His pretty wife with short, curly dark hair put in.

  “You’re in so much trouble.” Carrie laughed.

  In seconds, they were laughing and talking, introducing themselves and their wives or girlfriends, asking questions. Nothing about her amnesia or the reason she’d ended up here. Just normal, everyday things like: “Heard you like the dogs? How’s that working out? Are you afraid of them?” From another: “Hope you stick around for a while. We could get addicted to these appetizers real fast.”

  Doc bulldozed her way through the crowd. “How are you doing?”

  “Fine.”

  The doc pushed Lori’s hair aside to examine her Band-Aid-covered injury. “Almost well.”

  “Yep.”

  “You’re looking good.”

  “I’m doing good, thanks to you and Shorty.”

  “We’ll talk later,” Doc promised.

  Coop waved Matt over. “Lori, this is my brother, Matt. Don’t let him fool you with his staid temperament. He can get riled up when the need arises. Matt, this is Lori.”

  Matt took her hand and shook it. “I’ve heard your story. I’m sure you’ll know all you need to soon.”

  “Thank you.”

  Coop left her with the gang. He was still stunned at how a change in hair color had altered her appearance so drastically.

  “Lori is a hit,” Dirk told him. “Wait until they get a taste of her desserts.”

  Coop and Matt turned on him. “Have you been snitching again?”

  Dirk held up a hand. “Not me.”

  But he said it with a grin that told his brothers the truth. With a sweet tooth like his, Dirk couldn’t pass up
sweets.

  Coop squeezed two long tables together in the large den so they could all sit together for the meal, which ended up more boisterous than ever. It seemed that everyone wanted to talk to Lori. Who could blame them? She was a ray of sunshine.

  As was their custom, when the meal was over, the brothers took on the cleanup. In no time dishes were in the dishwasher, tables and chairs put away.

  Matt came into the den rubbing his hands together. “Who wants to lose their next paycheck?”

  “No one wants to play poker with you, Matt. You always win,” Carrie said. Though her voice was petulant her face had a mischievous grin. She shook a small bag of pennies at him and headed to a table in the corner. “I’m going to clean you out tonight.”

  Doc, Shorty, and two others joined them, and the game was on.

  Marshall, Buster, and two of the older ex-SEALs hired by the firm for surveillance, found another table to play dominoes.

  Others sat around talking comfortably, letting the music wash the past week away.

  Coop pulled a chair up next to Lori and a couple of the ex-military who were sticking to her like glue.

  “Was everyone here in the Navy?” she asked.

  “Not all,” Coop put in. “Some are former Marines.”

  “Tough bunch.”

  “The SEALs, especially those in this room, think they’re tough,” a man called Tom told her. “Just don’t put them up against a room full of Marines. We’ll beat the heck out of them every time.”

  Coop guffawed. “In your dreams.”

  “Who was Navy?”

  Tom looked around the room. “Matt, Dirk, Coop. Doc Louise.” He pointed to a couple of older guys who had to be in their fifties. “Those two.”

  “I’m impressed.”

  “Don’t be,” Coop told her.

  “Are you kidding? After what your bunch did in Afghanistan?” Tom exclaimed. “It’s a wonder you weren’t all killed.”

  The music was lower now, softer. Lori’s eyes were wide as she absorbed every word Tom uttered. Blabbermouth.

  “Would you tell me about it?” she asked, turning to Coop.

  Hell no, he wouldn’t tell her about it. He didn’t talk about it with anyone. Not even his brothers who’d been there and lived through that time with him. It was a subject he didn’t discuss. They didn’t discuss.

  The group around the poker table grew louder as a friendly argument broke out between Doc and Matt. The domino table wasn’t any quieter. Coop stood. “I’m going to get some fresh air.” Sitting this close to Lori, inhaling her sweet scent, watching her charm his friends, made him uneasy. Every look or touch made his heart race. None of which was normal.

  “Better grab a jacket, it’s cold out there,” Tom called after him.

  Coop ignored him and headed for the back door. Lori stood to follow him out, grabbing a jacket off the rack first.

  This was worse, he thought when he realized she was right behind him and they were alone on the porch. “Are you having a good time?” he asked, hoping the chill would send her back inside before he forgot himself and kissed her.

  “More than I thought. They’re a great bunch.”

  “I agree. You look different.”

  “I feel different tonight.”

  “Because of the hair color?”

  She shrugged and his heart did a dance. “It’s strange. Every so often I get a swift awareness of who I am. Right now, I think I look more like I should, which is different than when you found me. Do I make sense?”

  “No. But I don’t have amnesia.” He grinned.

  The air between them sparked. Attraction. Desire. Two adjectives he didn’t have in his vocabulary. He should have stayed inside.

  “I like your brother, Matt. His soft brown eyes tell me he’s a good man. His chiseled features make him a chick magnet. Does he have a serious girlfriend?”

  “Why are you asking?” Was she feeling Coop out to see if Matt was available? He wondered why he cared. This was ridiculous. Get a grip.

  “Just curious.” She stepped closer and pointed to the sky. “Isn’t that the Big Dipper?”

  He inhaled the scent of fruity shampoo and recognized the fancy soap Carrie gave Shorty last Christmas. He edged away. “It is.” For the next few minutes they had a contest to see who could name the most constellations. Lori won.

  His hand brushed her waist and he let it linger—let that shiver of pleasure pulse through him for one wonderful moment. It wouldn’t hurt. He wasn’t doing anything of a serious nature.

  Her glance mesmerized. Even in the semi-darkness her eyes pulled him in. She was beautiful. Now both his hands were on her waist and her gaze hadn’t left his. His head dipped. Her scent made him dizzy. Before he could think, he was kissing her. Desire and need pulsed through him. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted a woman.

  She put her hands on his arms and pushed back. “We’d better go inside.”

  He came back to earth in a millisecond. What the hell was wrong with him? This wasn’t the way a SEAL acted—wasn’t the way he acted. His code of ethics was the same as the SEALs’. And it didn’t include making out with a woman who didn’t know who the hell she was.

  “Sorry. You’re an irresistible woman. Not an excuse, I lost my head. It won’t happen again.”

  “I understand.” She turned to go. “Thank you for tonight,” she called over her shoulder.

  He found himself next to her, took her hand, and drew it to his mouth for a kiss. “It’s nothing. A pretty lady like you deserves more.”

  She pulled her hand away. Her lips trembled. Automatically, his arms went around her shoulders. Had he upset her? How could he make it right? “It’s going to be okay.”

  The next thing he knew she was in his arms holding on tight. “I so hope you’re right. It feels so weird. The not knowing is crazy.”

  “I understand,” he mumbled, his face buried in her hair.

  Her heart pounded against his chest. He wanted to kiss her again, but regret made him give her another quick hug, push her away, and head back inside. He had to forget that kiss and how it made him feel shaky and wanting more. Had to forget he’d broken the code.

  He was stronger than this and forced his thoughts to the present. They still had dessert to eat. From what he’d seen on the kitchen counter, they were in for a treat.

  At least his leg was holding up against the cold. He’d learned a long time ago to take the good with the bad.

  Chapter Ten

  Lori did her best to go straight to her room, but was waylaid by more than one person offering accolades over the desserts.

  Her insides were still shaking from Coop’s kiss. She’d liked it and even now, wanted more.

  How could she?

  It was as if her heart, mind, and body had their own agenda. Had she ever been kissed like that before? She didn’t think so. Being in Coop’s arms opened her eyes and heart to what she knew deep inside she’d been missing. The way his mouth felt on hers, the way she felt in his arms, gave her a whole new perspective. Something had pulled deep inside her and for a moment she couldn’t manage to catch a decent breath. It wasn’t just comfort, it was more. Her insides had tightened, and there was an urgency—a want that went deep and was still there. She’d wanted to get closer and felt for a fleeting moment, that no matter how close she got, it wouldn’t be close enough.

  Whatever it was between them couldn’t be. Not with her past a blank. With a sigh of regret, she finally made it to her room and to bed. Images of Coop standing in the semi-darkness, his gaze finding hers way too often, kept her wide-awake.

  Stop it!

  Finally, she got up and sat on the edge of the bed. Her thinking pattern had to change. She thought of the cell phone Coop had given her. Could she conjure up anyone to call? Just that fast, a face filled her head—laughing eyes, dark hair. Lori felt closeness. Standing, she looked around wildly. What was the woman’s name, her phone number?

  Disappointment had L
ori searching through her mind again. She couldn’t remember. The name of the one person who could and would help her wouldn’t come to the surface. Standing again, she paced the room. If they were close, why hadn’t her friend called the police and reported her missing? Something wasn’t right. Was her friend in trouble?

  The cell phone was still in her hand. She looked at it, tried to remember her friend’s name. Her number. Anything.

  So close.

  Tears rushed to her eyes. She swiped them away. She would remember.

  Cell phone in hand, she slept fitfully.

  Coop’s blue eyes and her friend’s laughing ones tormented her straight into her dreams.

  ****

  The next morning the coffee pot was cold. No Shorty. No Coop.

  Had he left to take care of the dogs without her?

  She was getting better at handling them. Coop had admitted that much. Anger welled. He wouldn’t take the dogs away from her because of what happened last night. They liked her. It was mutual. She felt something when she was with them, a sense of being needed, of acceptance, and of being loved.

  She grabbed a bottle of water, put on her jacket and slammed out the door.

  Outside, she took a deep breath. It was cold, but the sky was clear and just beginning to brighten in the eastern sky. Birds flew overhead. She delighted in their freedom and hers; knowing deep down she hadn’t been this free in years.

  Was she a kidnap victim?

  It was too pretty out today to worry about her past.

  Her brisk walk took her to the pens in short order.

  “Why didn’t you sleep in?” Dirk asked.

  “Where’s Coop?”

  “Office.”

  “On Sunday?” That didn’t make sense. Someone last night had told her Coop and Dirk tried to keep their weekends free.

  “Had some leads he wanted to follow.”

  Why hadn’t he done it from home? He had an office. From what she’d seen, everything he needed was right there on his computer.

  An irrational spurt of anger propelled her to the nearest kennel. Coop didn’t want to see her. Not after that kiss last night. Had he felt it, too? Is that why he was avoiding her? Regardless, she wanted to see him to apologize and make it right. But it was clear he didn’t want to see her.