Unchained Memories

by Dena Blake

  She cleared her throat. “I think I’ll have the Mediterranean pasta with shrimp.”

  “That sounds delightful. Maybe you’ll let me have a taste later?” JJ said with a suggestive lilt.

  “Of course. I’d love a taste of yours as well.” Amelia could throw around innuendo with the best of them.

  The hum of conversation filled the restaurant. Blake ordered a bottle of wine and a few appetizers. By the time the entrees arrived, Amelia was having a nicer time than she’d imagined. So far, the food had been good and so had the company. Apparently, she’d been unnecessarily nervous about the whole thing. After the last kiss she and JJ had shared earlier in the week, Amelia’s hormones had kicked into full gear, and all she needed to complicate her life right now was being swept away by an irresistibly beautiful woman who had a habit of pushing her buttons.

  Blake picked up the bottle of wine to refill his glass. “I thought you said you loved pinot noir?” he said. JJ’s glass was still almost full.

  “I do, but this is not pinot noir.” JJ pushed the glass away.

  He picked up the bottle and looked at the label. “That’s what it says.”

  “I don’t know what it is, but it’s certainly not a pinot. This is some kind of red swill.” JJ waved the waiter down. “Could you bring us a bottle of 2011 Carpe Diem pinot noir?” She smiled at the waiter and then, as if on second thought, picked up the other bottle and swung it his way. “Please take this away.”

  “Would you like it recorked and bagged to take home?”

  “God, no,” JJ quipped. “I’d like it poured down the sink.”

  Amelia choked, spitting wine across the table as she laughed uncontrollably. “I’m sorry.” She wiped her mouth and then blotted the tablecloth with her napkin. “She’s right. This is terrible.”

  “I order it all the time,” Blake said.

  “Maybe that’s why your social life has been so dull lately.” Amelia quirked an eyebrow up.

  The waiter brought the new bottle of wine, uncorked it, and gave JJ a taste. She nodded her approval, and he poured three new glasses.

  Blake picked up his glass, swirled it around, and studied the wine. “Now I suppose you’re going to enlighten us with what’s good about this wine?”

  JJ raised her glass to her lips and took a sip. “Umm, it’s just good.” She raised her brows.

  Amelia, captivated by JJ’s nonchalance, followed her lead and took a sip. The wine was exceptional.

  “It’s good? That’s it?” Blake stared at JJ.

  “That’s it,” JJ said easily as she set her glass down.

  Trying to head off the debate she knew was coming, Amelia glanced over at Blake and cocked her head. “Other than loving the way it tastes, why else would you drink a certain bottle of wine?”

  “Possibly because of the aged oak and citrus undertones.”

  JJ lifted a brow. “Well, this wine has limited oak undertones. That’s what gives it the soft texture.” She took another sip. “I drink it because it has an incredible taste that doesn’t bite the back of my tongue.”

  Amelia looked over her wineglass at JJ and watched her amber eyes sparkle in amusement. She let her gaze trip down to her lips, taking in their sensual fullness as she spoke. She was caught off guard by the flutter in her stomach when she looked up to find JJ staring back at her. Would she ever get used to that? When JJ tugged her lip up to one side and winked, Amelia gulped down the remaining wine in her glass. Get control of yourself, Amelia.

  “Are you okay?” Blake asked.

  “I’m fine. I just need to use the ladies’ room.”

  JJ tossed her napkin on the table. “I’ll join you.” She rounded the table and slipped her arm into Amelia’s as though they were old friends. “Are you afraid to be alone with me?”

  “No. I just thought Blake might enjoy a night out.” A total lie. She was afraid. Yet, walking arm in arm with JJ right now felt like the most natural thing in the world.

  JJ stopped in the darkened hallway, pulled Amelia around to face her, and stared into her eyes. “What are you afraid of, Amelia?”

  “I can’t”—Amelia turned her head—“look at you.”

  “Why not?”

  “When I see your lips move, I want to make them stop.”

  “Oh.” JJ leaned closer, and Amelia felt her warm breath on her ear. “What are you going to do to make them stop?”

  Amelia closed her eyes and tried to resist but couldn’t. She turned her head slowly, reached up, and cupped JJ’s face in her hands. “This.” She nipped at her bottom lip, captured it between her own, and pulled it into her mouth. Then she let her tongue slip inside JJ’s mouth and reveled in the warm abyss awaiting her. Her body thrummed with excitement. Amelia was fully engaged instantly, buzzing as tiny electrodes zapped through each one of her senses. Kissing JJ was one of the most tantalizingly sensual things she’d felt in…forever. JJ stirred feelings in her she’d purposely kept dormant for quite some time. It felt so good to feel again. They were both silent for a moment, enjoying the crackle of heat passing between them.

  “Wow.” JJ blew out in a whisper.

  “Yeah…Wow.” Amelia blinked and tried to focus.

  “You are absolutely breathtaking,” JJ whispered against her lips, then turned and went into the ladies’ room, leaving Amelia standing in the hallway still wondering how this woman could ignite every one of her senses so easily. Amelia marveled at the mixture of contentment and arousal that continued to circle through her. She didn’t know where these feelings were coming from or what she was going to do about them. Amelia liked being in control, but she’d just been thoroughly and completely kissed by the most gorgeous creature she’d met in a long time. It was the most wonderfully exciting experience in the world. She definitely wanted more.

  Amelia took a few deep breaths to calm herself before she walked the short distance back to the table and squeezed her brother’s shoulder. “I have to go,” she said, and floated out of the restaurant.

  * * *

  Julie answered the door in her pajama pants and T-shirt. Amelia had called her from the parking lot after she’d left the restaurant, and, as always, Julie had told her to come on over. Amelia’s mind was still whirling. She couldn’t go home. She needed to sort this out and needed Julie to help her do it.

  Julie’s eyes widened as she surveyed Amelia’s dress. “Wow, you look nice.”

  “I was out to dinner with Blake.”

  “You put on that knockout dress for your brother?” She scrunched up her face. “That’s a little creepy.”

  Amelia let out a chuckle. “Yeah, it is. JJ was there too.”

  “Ah, the forbidden fruit.” Julie slid down onto the couch and patted the spot next to her. “So why do you think you can’t seem to stay away from her?”

  “I don’t know. There’s just something about her. She’s beautiful, smart…and outrageously sexy.” The view of Jillian walking away from her tonight in slow, confident steps had made Amelia acutely aware that Jillian seemed to have some sort of clandestine power over her. She had gone from nothing to ninety in under three seconds flat.

  “I’m with you there.” Julie nodded and pulled her lip up to one side. “What about the kissing?”

  “Off the charts.”

  “Well then, I suggest you remove the restriction and get whatever this attraction is you have for her out of your system.”

  “I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

  “Why not? As you said, she’s beautiful, smart, and sexy. She’s bound to be an exciting adventure.”

  “She’d be more than an adventure, and I think that would be very dangerous for me.”

  “Oh.” The word came slowly from Julie’s lips. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, then sprang up off the couch and moved toward the kitchen. “You want a glass of wine?”

  “Sure. Do you have any pinot noir?” Amelia smiled, thinking about the wine interaction between JJ and Blake earlier in the ev
ening.

  “I have chardonnay and chardonnay.”

  “Then I guess I’ll have the chardonnay.”

  Julie poured them each a glass and handed one to Amelia as she sat back down on the couch.

  “I need you to help me get her out of my head, Jules.” Amelia took a drink of her wine before setting her glass on the coffee table.

  “Okay, how can I help? More work? Play? What?”

  “Definitely play.” She scooted closer to Julie and leaned in to kiss her.

  “Whoa.” Julie put a hand on Amelia’s chest. “Not this time. The only way you’re going to get this woman out of your system is to let whatever this is run its course with her.”

  “I don’t know if I can do that, Jules.”

  “I’ve never known you not to go after what you want, Amelia, and she’s definitely something you want.” Julie pulled her knee up under herself, creating space between them. “I can’t help you with this one. Not that way. In fact, I can’t do that with you anymore at all.” Julie shook her head and looked at her lap. “Do you have any idea how hard this is for me? Watching you fall in love with someone else.” Julie’s voice was barely a whisper.

  As Julie looked away, Amelia caught a glimpse of something in her eyes she’d thought was gone long ago. She reached over and lifted Julie’s chin to regain eye contact. “What do you want from me, Jules?”

  “Honestly?”

  “Always.”

  “I want what any girl wants. That all-consuming love that pulls you into a blissful fog of infatuation, lust, and need. I want someone who forgets there’s work to be done at the office. Someone who calls me first when something happens in her life, whether it’s good or bad. I want more than anything for someone to burn for me like you do for JJ.”

  “Wow.” Amelia took a gulp of wine. “I…”

  “I know that was a lot of information. Don’t freak out on me. I don’t want any of that from you now.” Julie rubbed Amelia’s shoulder. “There was a time when I did. When we were married, I wanted all of it from you, but we both found out you couldn’t give it to me.” Julie took the glass from her, set it on the table, and held her hands. “I do still want that…and I want it for you too.”

  “Is this your not-so-subtle way of telling me you’re seeing someone?”

  Julie tilted her head. “Since you brought it up.”

  “What? Who?”

  Julie took in a deep breath. “Would it bother you if I dated Darcy?”

  “You want to ask Darcy out?”

  “Actually, she asked me out, and we’ve already gone out a few times.”

  Wow. Amelia dropped back into the sofa cushion. “I didn’t even realize you two knew each other that well.”

  “We’ve been seeing a lot more of each other since I’ve been mentoring at the high school, and then there was that night at the bar a couple of weeks ago. I’ll stop if it bothers you.”

  Amelia could see by the spark in in Julie’s eyes that she didn’t want to stop. “No.” She shook her head. “You should go out with her. She’s a sweet girl.” Amelia rubbed the back of her hands with her thumbs. “You deserve someone who pays attention to you like she does. I’m just not good with relationships, Jules.”

  “Maybe it just takes the right one. You don’t want to admit it, but you know that weird little flip-flop feeling you get in your belly every time you see JJ? That’s love.” Amelia stared at her and didn’t flinch. “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. I never thought I’d see you like this.”

  “Like what?”

  “Off center, unstructured. Completely, hopelessly in love.” Julie swiped at the tears forming in her eyes. “You need to give this one a shot.”

  “I haven’t felt like this in a long time, Jules. I can’t think straight. My head is spinning all the time.”

  “Oh, honey.” Julie touched her cheek. “Love does that. It makes you dizzy, throws your mind into a contented haze. It opens you up to everything life has to offer. Passion, excitement, adventure. It changes your life.”

  “It’s scary as fuck.” The last time Amelia felt like this, she’d lost everything in what seemed like a second. She didn’t know if she could risk it all again.

  “It is incredibly scary.” Julie chuckled. “But scary can lead to wonderful. Love is so much more than a happily-ever-after, and you’ll never regret it. I promise.”

  “What if it doesn’t work out?”

  “Amelia.” Julie blew out a breath and tilted her head. “Don’t worry about the ending. Just enjoy what’s happening while it’s happening.” She held her glass up. “To new beginnings.”

  “For both of us.” Amelia clinked her glass against Julie’s. “Wherever they may lead.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Julie stared out her office window at the sparse traffic traveling Main Street. Not many people were up early on Sundays in town unless they were going to church or had forgotten to buy eggs for breakfast. Her conversation with Amelia the night before had concreted the fact that Julie had to help Jillian and make sure her story was on the up-and-up. Julie had given Amelia permission to move forward with Jillian, not that she needed it. Yet Julie could see she was still hesitant, even though she was clearly falling in love with her. Julie’s stomach churned. Her whole existence was about to change. Amelia wasn’t in love with her anymore, but she’d always been there. Would that change?

  Of course it would. Her best friend and ex-wife could possibly leave her and move halfway across the country with another woman. She felt a tear stream down her face and wiped it from her cheek. Stop. You don’t know that will happen, and you’ll be happy for her if it does. She saw the familiar Honda pull up in front of the building and plucked a tissue from the box on her desk. She wiped her nose before heading to the bathroom. She couldn’t let Jillian see her in any kind of vulnerable state. This was her best friend’s life she was messing with, and she needed to be sure Jillian wasn’t going to tear her heart out.

  Jillian was waiting in her doorway when Julie returned from the bathroom. “You shouldn’t leave the door unlocked when you’re here alone.”

  “It’s fine. We’re in Oklahoma, not New York.” She glanced at the door to see that Jillian had flipped the deadbolt after she’d come in. She left it that way just in case Amelia decided to make an unannounced appearance, although she had no idea what excuse she’d come up with for her being at the office alone with Jillian on a Sunday. “Have you seen Amelia this morning?”

  “No. I imagine she’s still in bed sleeping. It’s the crack of dawn on Sunday. Besides, how would I know?”

  Julie raised her brows and gave her an unrelenting stare. “You’d better be careful with her.”

  “Whether you believe it or not, she means a great deal to me.”

  Julie stilled and took in a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. “I’ll come after you if you hurt her.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “For what? Showing up? Or scarring her for life?”

  Jillian shook her head. “For being the reason she couldn’t love you.”

  Julie straightened her shoulders as the words reverberated loudly in her ears and hit deep in her gut. “She loved me.”

  “Not like she should have.” Jillian offered a tentative smile. “I know because I can’t do it either.” Jillian moved toward her, and the room suddenly got smaller.

  “Don’t.” Julie squeezed her eyes closed to stop the tears and went behind her desk. She’d promised herself she was going to move on, and she was damn well going to make it happen. Even if it meant helping Jillian. “Let’s get to work. Were you able to get the papers?”

  “Yes. I had them emailed to me, but I haven’t had an opportunity to print them.”

  Julie clicked a few keys on her keyboard, got up, and motioned to her chair. “Pull them up and we’ll print them.”

  Jillian typed in her credentials and waited for her mailbox to open. She looked over the scr
een at Julie. “Is your computer always this slow? There seems to be a lag when I’m typing.”

  “No. It started acting up a week or two ago after I updated it. I think it might have been the patches I installed that slowed it down.”

  “Have you defragged it lately?”

  “Have I what?”

  “Run a defrag on it. It takes all the tiny bits of memory and throws them into one place. Your drive is fragmented above ten percent, so it will probably help your response time.” She clicked a few more buttons, and the printer whirred. “I can run it for you after we’re done here.”

  She rounded the desk to see what Jillian was talking about. “Uh, okay.” She looked at the box on the screen indicating her C drive was nineteen percent fragmented. “How do you know all this?”

  “I did a story on computer repair shops.”

  “Oh.” Julie wasn’t sure if she should let her do it or not, but it seemed plausible. “Okay, thanks.”

  Jillian clicked a few more buttons and got up. “It should be done in about fifteen minutes or so.” She picked up the papers from the printer. “Where do you want to do this?”

  Julie pointed to the small, rectangular wooden table in the corner of her office. “We’ll have more room to spread out over there.” Julie pulled the file from her desk, followed Jillian, and sat adjacent to her.

  They went through the line-item expenses one by one, noting only a few discrepancies that could be corrected easily. Nothing that would account for a lack of thousands of dollars. The expenses matched exactly, but from Jillian’s paperwork, they could see that all the money wasn’t making it into the foundation account.

  Julie pinched the bridge of her nose. “From this, it looks like Amelia might be siphoning funds off the top.”

  “She wouldn’t do that. Would she?” Jillian’s voice went up, her disbelief evident.

  She answered Jillian immediately. “No. Amelia would not take from the kids. She would beg, borrow, and steal for them, but she would never take from them.”

  Jillian looked at the bank statements. “These numbers are different.” She pointed to the account number on the statement and then the one on the paperwork.