“I…you don’t want to get an infection.”
“That’s the least of my worries.” He pulled his hand away and finished doing the job. “This burn isn’t so bad. I’ve had a lot worse.”
He turned back to the stove and retrieved the skillet from the stove. “Have a seat. I promised to fix you dinner.”
“But your hand…”
“It’s fine.” He brought the fish to the table, then went back for the vegetables. He poured them both coffee and looked up with a frown. “Take your seat.”
Knowing better than to argue, Ana sank into her chair. She picked up her napkin and placed it over her lap. “This smells delicious.”
“That’s because it is. I know how to fry fish. Even under the crudest of conditions.”
He passed her the platter and Ana took one of the fillets, wishing she still had an appetite. She added vegetables and a piece of bread to her plate.
“This is good,” she said after her first bite. He didn’t say a word. He just gave her an “I told you so” smirk.
Ana continued to eat, but the conversation was pretty one-sided. She was the only one talking. What had happened? They been getting along all day, then suddenly it changed. “Jake, did I do something to offend you?”
Finished, he rocked back in his chair and sipped his coffee. “Why do you say that?”
“You’re so quiet.”
“I usually am when I don’t have anything to say.”
“You didn’t seem to have any trouble talking to me while we were fishing and even up until I went to lie down.”
Jake let the legs of his chair drop back to the floor, then he leaned toward her. “Stop playing games, Ana.”
“Then you stop playing them.” She stood. “Common courtesy would be to acknowledge that I was in the room.”
“Dammit woman, I’m trying my best to be a gentleman by keeping my distance.”
She swallowed hard, and raised her chin. “I didn’t ask you to.”
His eyes grew dark and dangerous. “Don’t play with fire, chère, you’ll only get burned.” He stood, then walked to the door. “I’ll do the dishes later.”
“Jake,” she called after him, then went to the door. “Don’t go.”
His shoulders tensed.
“I’m tired of being alone,” she said, hating herself for sounding needy. “Day after day, you leave me. Until today. Is my company so…difficult?”
“It’s the way I am,” he said tensely, raking fingers through his hair. “I don’t do well with people.”
“No, that’s not true,” she disagreed. “You allowed yourself to have fun today. I got to know the real you, without the walls.” She could see she wasn’t getting through to him. “But when you leave me…or ignore the fact that I’m around.” She swallowed hard. “Sometimes…I wish…you would had left me on the mountain.”
He stared at her. “Don’t you understand, Ana? I’m trying to do the right thing. You have a life somewhere else. When you leave here, I don’t want you to have…regrets.”
“I already have regrets, Jake. I regret that two men died in the crash. I regret that I don’t remember who I am. But I will never regret anything we share during our time together.” Her breathing grew ragged. She was so angry she wanted to cry. “Maybe you’re the one with regrets, Jake, not me.”
She stepped past him and reached for her coat, then the doorknob. “You stay here this time, I’ll leave. I refuse to drive you out of your home again.” She marched out the door, without a clue as to where she was going.
And, she didn’t care.
This was the only place she felt like she belonged. Ana found her way to the shed with Maisie and Toby. She might not have much memory of who she was, but she knew she must have had animals in her life. Horses. She knew the name of every piece of tack. How to brush and care for Toby and Maisie.
She had a strange feeling that something terrible had happened in her past, and it had been the companionship of her horse that had gotten her through it. She closed her eyes and could almost feel the powerful beast beneath her as she raced through lush green pasture. She’d loved the feel of the breeze against her face and the freedom….
Slowly her smile faded. That was a dream. Known fact; she was on a mountain top in Wales, without a memory of a blasted thing. And Jake Sanderstone didn’t want her here. Why would he? She’d invaded his home. Maybe if she weren’t so attracted to him, she wouldn’t be so hurt by his rejection tonight.
But earlier they’d been so happy. He’d been enjoying himself as much as she had. And she also knew that he was attracted to her, too. Even though she smelled of horses, her face hadn’t seen makeup in nearly a week and she hadn’t had a real bath in as long.
She moaned. What she wouldn’t give for a long hot bath with her favorite jasmine bath salts. She closed her eyes and could feel the water, smell the flowery scent. She gasped and opened her eyes. She remembered something. A large tiled bathroom with an enormous raised tub filled with mounds of bubbles. It wasn’t much. If only she could see a person. Outside of feeling she had sisters, Ana couldn’t remember anything about her life, not a man or a close friend, not even parents.
“Ana…”
She swung around to find Jake standing at the edge of the shed.
“Please, can we talk?”
“I think we both said enough,” she said.
He shook his head. “No, I need to say…I’m sorry. You’re right, I treated you badly.”
Even now, Jake still had to fight the urge to reach for her. And each day, it grew more and more difficult to stay away. “I’ve been taking out my frustrations on you.”
“I know I’m crowding you…and if I could…I would leave.” Her lower lip trembled. “Maybe if the weather is clear tomorrow, you can take me down the mountain.”
Jake moved toward her, knowing he was treading on dangerous ground. He was getting too close, but he needed to touch Ana, to hold her. It had been so long since he’d had human contact. Extending his hand, he reached for her, tugged and she came into his arms. Paradise. There was no other word to describe the feel of her body against his.
“I don’t want you to go, chère. If it were up to me, you would never…” He stopped himself before he said too much.
She raised her head, her blue eyes filled with hope. “You want me to stay?”
“I don’t have any right to want anything.”
“You have every right, Jake,” she said. “I told you before there isn’t a man in my life.” Her hands moved up his chest. “There can’t be. Not when I am having these feelings about you. And don’t try to act indifferent to me. Not when your heart is pounding like a drum.” She gently cupped his bandaged hand and kissed it, then placed it over her heart. He lost all capability to breathe, feeling her full breast against his fingers.
“I don’t want to leave you,” she confessed.
If he didn’t back off now, it would be too late. Ana wasn’t his to take, and it would be worse to hope, then later lose her anyway. He pulled back. “We have to stop this, Ana. We need to think about what we’re doing. Please.”
“Jake, why are you denying what you feel?”
He could almost taste her, her lips were just inches from his. “Because we can’t allow anything to happen.”
“Just a kiss…Just one.”
He couldn’t turn her down. How could one kiss hurt? That was what he told himself, but when his lips touched hers, he knew that one would never be enough.
Ana had never experienced anything like Jake’s kiss. His masterful mouth coaxed and teased hers, filling her with a need that made her body throb. His arms tightened, pulling her against his body, leaving no doubt that he desired her.
Ana reached up and raked her hands through his hair at the nape. Her breasts flattened against his chest, adrenaline pulsing through her body as his tongue pushed into her mouth, tasting, stroking, greedily demanding more. Her breasts grew heavy and her nipples tingled as the new s
ensations rushed over her, frustration, hunger, and other cravings she couldn’t name. She twisted closer, and he groaned deep in his throat.
Then Jake suddenly broke away. His eyes still smoldered with desire, but she also saw his regret.
“Dammit, Ana,” he rasped out, his features drawn tight as he gazed at her mouth. “This is a mistake. It wouldn’t be right.” He turned and rushed off into the night.
Ana watched as he walked away from the cabin into the woods. She glanced down at the dog. “Go with him, Max. He needs you.” The animal didn’t hesitate and took off after his master.
Ana wanted to cry. Once again, she was alone.
Chapter Six
Ana rolled over in bed and snuggled deeper under the blanket to fight off the cold. She opened her eyes to see it was still dark outside. Good, she could sleep a little longer. She curled up for warmth and started to drift off again when an annoying rhythmic noise wouldn’t stop. It almost sounded like…rain.
She jerked up, climbed to her knees on the mattress and looked out the window over the bed. Pulling back the musty curtains, she found a depressing sight, a virtual downpour going on outside.
“No,” she cried. “This can’t be.” The rain was so heavy, it streamed down the window.
Suddenly the door opened and Jake appeared. Shirtless, his hair was mussed and his eyes filled with sleep. He looked so…irresistible.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, rubbing his hand over his stubbled jaw.
“It’s raining.”
He gave a glance toward the window. “I see that. But you should be used to that.”
“Well, it’s becoming tiresome.” Her fists clenched. “I thought I’d be leaving today….”
He shrugged. “Well, I guess not. Looks like you’re stuck here for a while longer.” He started to walk out, making Ana even more furious. How dare he dismiss her like that?
Ana scrambled off the bed and went after him. “Wait just one minute, Jake Sanderstone.”
He paused, then slowly turned around and tossed her a stern look. She swallowed back her nervousness. She wasn’t going to let this man intimidate her any longer. No matter how wonderfully he’d kissed her. A remembered warmth spread through her body as she relived their encounter in the shed. She was already angry that it had cost her a sleepless night.
“Is there something you want?”
You, she thought. “Yes, there is. I know your patience is wearing thin, but you need not behave like…like it’s my fault. We’re grown adults, we should be able to be cordial to each other.”
His eyes took on a challenging glint. They turned dark and serious. “Being cordial is the last thing on my mind, chère. Not after that kiss.”
More heat pulsed through her body. “I thought…you wanted to forget about it,” she said, fighting to control her breathing.
“Hell, I want to forget a lot of things.” He ran his hand over his face, the bandage still covering his burned palm. “Can we not discuss this?”
She folded her arms, trying to fight the blush to her cheeks. “You’re the one who brought it up in the first place. We should find a way to deal with it.”
“There’s no dealing with it,” he snapped, “because we’re going to forget it ever happened.”
That hurt, but Ana wasn’t going to let him see it. “Fine, we’ll forget it happened as long as you at least make an effort to be civil.” She took a breath. “Like it or not, I’m here until you take me down the mountain, or someone comes for me.”
“I know that better than anyone,” he said. “Is that all?”
“Yes, I believe so,” she said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get dressed and go feed Toby and Maisie.” She glanced down at her bare legs, then looked up at Jake to see him staring at her. Suddenly it felt as if he could see through her shirt. With a tilt of her head, she pivoted and walked to the bedroom.
Jake was tempted, but this wasn’t a joke. He was attracted to Ana. Big time. Damn. That kiss was another huge mistake. He never should have touched her. What was he going to do about it? He knew what he wanted to do, but he had to control that impulse.
Even if he were looking for a relationship, Ana wasn’t his type. Besides, even with no memory, she had commitment written all over her. Just knowing that, he should turn and run the other way. But he couldn’t, they were stuck. Together.
At that moment he decided, just as soon as the rain stopped, he was going back to the crash site. There were answers there, somewhere. There had to be more clues, more information on the pilot. Why was a Black Knight flying that plane? The big question was what was Ana doing with him?
Jake wanted to believe she was an innocent bystander, but he’d come from a world in which everybody had an angle. People used people to get what they wanted, to survive. He hadn’t trusted anyone in a very long time, and a woman…Forget it. As a young boy, trust had been a luxury. The only person he’d been able to depend on was himself. His father had taken off long before Jake’s birth. Even as a boy, Jake had been his mother’s caretaker.
No, he wasn’t very trusting when it came to people, but he’d learned how to avoid getting hurt. Just so long as he kept his distance from Ana. He’d let her get far too close last night. Somehow he had to wait this out, then when he got her off the mountain he could go back to normal. He’d been content for months before Ana’s arrival, he could be content again. That’s what he had to keep telling himself. Maybe he’d even start to believe it.
Ana finished her chores quickly. Feeding the horses and cleaning out their stalls was all she could handle today. She wasn’t in a good mood. Spending time in the shed only reminded her of Jake’s rejection. So she decided to spend the rest of the day in the bedroom, reading. She’d avoid Jake Sanderstone. That didn’t mean she wasn’t going to think about him. She hated it, but that was exactly what would happen, she’d relive the kiss again and again. Great. How pathetic could a person be?
She ran back through the heavy rain and onto the porch. She shook off most of the water then opened the cabin door. After hanging up her coat, she stepped out of her boots and turned around to find Jake at the stove.
He looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Have a seat, breakfast is nearly ready.” He held out a cup of coffee.
Surprised at his change of attitude, she decided not to mention it. “Thank you.” She took the mug and their fingers brushed. A charge surged through her, but with effort she only smiled.
“You hungry?” he asked.
Suddenly she was. “Famished.”
“Good. I’m making pancakes.”
Her mouth watered. She hadn’t eaten much last night. “Sounds good. Do you need some help?”
He shook his head. “No, just sit down. You did enough chores already this morning.”
She took a sip of her coffee and slid into her chair. “I hear that you’re a good cook.”
“That’s what they say.” He scooped up the cakes, then moved the griddle from the burner. He brought the stack to the table. “But, I’d rather have my guest tell me.” He pulled out the other chair. He offered her the platter. After she took two, he stabbed the remaining cakes. “I can make more.”
“I don’t want you to use up all your cake mix on me.”
He shrugged. “I can get more.” He poured syrup over the stack.
She placed the napkin across her lap.
“You know, you do that every time.”
“Do what?”
“Put the napkin on your lap,” he said pointing. “It’s like second nature to you. And the way you speak and handle yourself shows me that you’re educated. Either that, or you’ve gone to one of those finishing schools.”
“I believe it’s common practice to use a napkin.”
“Of course, but with you, it’s also the way you do things. The way you hold your fork and knife.” His gaze raised to meet hers. “That suit you were wearing when I found you had a designer label. Maybe you worked for the Penwyck government.”
Ana took a bite and after swallowing she said, “Are we playing guess my occupation?”
“Sure beats sitting around with nothing to do.” He shoved a forkful of pancakes into his mouth.
“Why don’t we talk about you?”
He shook his head. “I’m not very interesting.”
She cut another wedge out of the stack. “You were with the FBI. I wouldn’t say that’s dull.”
Jake stiffened. It hadn’t been. His job had been deadly serious. “I had top secret clearance. There are a lot things I still can’t talk about.” Jake didn’t like where this was going. “Why don’t we change the topic of conversation to something else.”
“Like the weather?”
They both laughed. Suddenly the gloom lifted, and Ana smiled. She was a beautiful woman, and she stirred feelings in him that had been dormant for a long time.
“I know it’s been pretty miserable here for you, and I haven’t helped.”
“It’s understandable. You came up here to be alone…and all of a sudden I showed up.”
“It hasn’t been that bad.” He found he liked talking with her. “I wish I could have gotten you down the mountain. Your family has to be worried sick.”
She frowned. “I suppose. I don’t mean to sound heartless, but when you have no memory of anyone…it’s hard to miss them.” She looked so sad, then she blinked and smiled. “What about your family?”
“There was just my mother and me. She’s been gone a long time. In my line of work, a family man isn’t best suited for the undercover jobs.”
“You never wanted a family? Children?”
Jake wanted a lot of things, including the woman across from him, but that didn’t mean he’d ever get it. “I doubt I’d make a good father. I didn’t have much of an example.”
She sighed thoughtfully. “I want children.”
Jake watched her face light up. “You’d be a good mother,” he said, not realizing he’d spoken out loud.
She gave him a surprised look. “How would you know?”
“I’ve seen you with Toby and Maisie, you’re a born nurturer.”
The Princess Has Amnesia! (Crown & Glory Book 5) Page 7
