She found him sitting up on the bed, staring out the window. “Dinner is served,” she said, dropping his duffel and coming to sit on the bed beside him.
He looked at the food. “You really know how to impress a guy,” he teased.
“I’m a master at making lemonade out of lemons.”
“I can see that.”
She handed him the thermos. “You must be thirsty.”
“I am. Thanks.” He put the thermos to his lips and took several gulps, then handed it to her.
She sipped from the thermos. “At least water is one thing we have in abundance.”
Risk pointed toward the window. “Gross understatement, sweetheart.” Then he plucked up a muffin and shoved half of it in his mouth. Chewing, he said, “These are pretty good.”
“Your aunt Lottie made them. She’s living on the ranch for the time being.”
“Yes, you told me a little about her. So tell me more about you.”
What could she say? That she had a fantasy crush on him and had for a long time, even though he’d done her wrong? That seeing him injured and vulnerable had stirred up her feelings for him again in a big way? That looking into his beautiful eyes made her do foolish things? Like pretending to be his fiancée. Like making love with him. “I was a chubby young girl and have struggled with my weight all of my life.”
He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it. “You’re...perfect, April. Just the way you are.” He brushed his lips over hers tenderly, his assurance a balm to her soul.
“Thank you. I feel good about myself now, but I didn’t always feel that way.”
“Well, you should. Tell me more about you and your agency. How did you get into real estate?”
April told him more about her life, about her years in Willow County, about how her mother remarried and how she came to buy Bueller’s antique store. She ended her personal history and shrugged. “Having my own agency is a dream of mine.”
“It’s weird—even though I don’t remember, I feel like I know you. There’s something pulling me toward you.”
“You mean aside from the fact that we’re stranded here in a pretty romantic setting.”
He grinned and those hidden dimples popped out. “I like the way you think, April. But yeah, it’s more than that.”
He grew quiet then, and she figured he was sorting things out in his head, or at least trying to. They spent time munching on muffins and chips and sharing both apples as the night wore on. “If you’re still hungry, there’s more chips and peanut butter.”
“No, but what I am feeling is damn helpless.” He swung his legs out from beneath the blanket. Before she could utter a word, Risk rose from the bed. He swayed a little but then righted his balance. She found herself staring at the back half of a buck-naked Risk.
Her mouth went dry watching the last of the embers cast light on his muscled form. “Are you okay?” she asked him.
“I think so. Feels good to get on my feet again.”
He reached for the clothes she’d laid by the fire earlier and, with his back to her, gingerly put them on. She sighed in relief that he hadn’t keeled over and that he wasn’t naked anymore.
“This room is getting colder by the minute. Is there more wood?” he asked.
“Yes, but it’s outside.”
“How far?”
“By the front door. I only brought in what I could carry.”
“I’ll go get it.”
“Risk, that’s how you got hurt, going after firewood.”
“The storm’s letting up, and you said it yourself, it’s only by the front door.”
“Fine, but I’m going with you this time.”
He walked over to her and put out his hand. “I’m good with that. Let’s go.”
* * *
After retrieving the last of the wood, Risk had restarted the fire in the master bedroom and now they were bathed in warmth once again. The small blaze was their only source of light tonight, since the lantern Risk had dropped outside when he was hit had probably been pulverized by the fierce winds. Once the fire died out, it would be dawn before they’d be able to see anything in the lodge.
But they’d made do with what they had and now both sat on the floor facing the hearth, letting the warmth seep into their bones. The rest of the lodge was freezing cold, but this room was like a sanctuary.
April rose. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She took some time to wash up and then soak a towel for Risk’s head. When she came back, she spotted two foil-wrapped condoms that had magically appeared on the nightstand. Earlier Risk had been fiddling inside his duffel; he must’ve hit the jackpot, yet he hadn’t said a word about it. They were just...there.
She didn’t know how she felt about that. They hadn’t actually had intercourse yet, but the night was long and they’d be sharing the bed. She knelt beside him and dabbed at his wound quietly as she mulled that over.
He grabbed her hand and ran his lips along her palm. “You take such good care of me,” he whispered, gratitude in his voice. And then he lifted his head to look deep into her eyes. “You’re amazing, April. You’re the only real thing I know about myself.” He pulled her close so that her leg brushed over his thighs and she sat straddling him. A groan rose from his throat and he cupped her head and covered her mouth with his. Teasing her mouth open, he thrust his tongue against hers in kiss after kiss. It was tender and sweet and hot all at the same time. She could kiss him all night long and never tire of it. Risk didn’t hold back; he didn’t temper or pace himself, and he certainly didn’t seem unsure when it came to this.
It scared her a little that he’d put so much faith in her. That he’d accepted that she was his fiancée so easily, that she was the one thing he could count on in his world without memories. She’d wanted to tell him the truth, but his assumptions had been the only brightness he’d had. And resisting him at that moment hadn’t been an option for her. Tomorrow would be soon enough, she told herself.
Suddenly, he stopped kissing her. “April?” She opened her eyes to the firelight dancing in his. “The fire’s gonna die down soon, and there’ll be a chill in the air. Maybe we should get into bed now.”
She swallowed past her misgivings. She wanted this, wanted to be held and loved by Risk tonight. Unlike the last time, she knew nothing would come of it. “That’s a good idea,” she whispered.
Rising to his feet, he tugged her along, and they both climbed into the bed. He gave her the side closest to the fireplace.
His arms came around her to gather her up close, and with her back to his chest, she finally relaxed. She liked being held by Risk, liked the safety he presented, the warmth of his body against hers. Today had involved a crazy set of circumstances: the storm, racing to the cottage, Risk losing his memory. Now that they were in bed together, a sense of peace stole over her, which was crazy, because they were low on food and had no idea what the morning would bring.
Cocooned by his strong body, she fell into the cadence of his breathing. She felt one with him and absorbed that feeling with each beat of her heart. But minutes later, when she thought he might have fallen asleep, his lips pressed against the nape of her neck and everything relaxed in her body suddenly jolted alive. She gave her approval with a sigh that Risk picked up on immediately. His hand came to the top of her rib cage, and his fingertips teased the underside of her breast. She ached for his touch, for him to continue his pursuit, and he didn’t disappoint.
Effortlessly, Risk helped her off with her sweater and unfastened her bra. Then his hands were on her, and it was thrilling having him caress her in such a reverent manner, as if she were solid gold. Her body heated to a beautiful flame that Risk stoked with kiss after kiss. And then he turned her to face him and brought his mouth to her breast, moistening it, bringing the tip to a pebbled peak.
She was eager to touch him as w
ell, and as she fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, he helped her lift it over his head. Then her palms flattened on his powerful chest and she kissed her way up his torso, her lips on his hot skin. And then their mouths melded again, the kiss fiery and frenzied, and they both groaned, rocked by the impact. They were equal partners: when he gave, she took, and when she gave, he took.
“I found protection, sweetheart,” he murmured between kisses.
“Thank goodness,” she whispered softly.
Seconds later their clothes were off and Risk was sheathed. She was ready for him, her body dewy and welcoming.
His lips came down to crush a kiss to her mouth at the same time he moved inside her. Sensations rocked her, her body recalling the feel of him, the fullness and total thrill. “Are you good?” he asked before thrusting again.
“So good.”
He shifted, and his body covered hers. She kept pace, each thrust exciting her more and more.
Risk took complete control, and she followed him, her body in sync with his, her heart nearly bursting from her chest, her breathing hard and fast. He seemed to know what she needed, when she needed it, and soon she found herself melting, her body giving way, her world going up in flames.
“Risk,” she cried out.
And then she splintered, shattered. Her entire body combusted, and Risk was there to catch her as she floated down. His kiss held promise, and she was ready for him, ready to give back all he’d given to her. It didn’t take long for Risk to follow, his face a mask of pleasure as he made that one last final thrust. And it was an amazingly wonderful thing.
* * *
In the early morning, Risk rose and dressed quietly, then placed a soft kiss on April’s forehead as she slept. He might not know anything about himself, but he did know he was damn lucky to have found a woman like April to love. She was caring and fun and beautiful with those long curly locks and bright blue eyes. She’d been extremely attentive to him and tried her best to encourage him, even though his mind was like a blank chalkboard ready to have the memories filled in. At least he had April to chalk in some things, and that had been a big help. He’d connected with her on many levels, but their time in bed was off-the-charts good.
While he didn’t want to disturb her sleep, he was curious about the lodge and wanted to explore a bit. Without a sound, he made his way out the door and down the hallway to the lobby area. There he checked out the floors and walls, looking for any permanent storm damage, and then checked out the big triple-wide bay windows. Outside, the rain was down to a drizzle, which was encouraging.
“Risk?”
He turned to find April in the doorway, her arms folded across her sweater. “April, you’re cold. Come here,” he said. “I’ll keep you warm.”
She walked over, and he folded her into his arms.
“I woke up and you were gone. I didn’t know if you were feeling okay or not,” she said.
“Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. I’ve got a hard head. Empty, but hard. I didn’t want to disturb your sleep.”
“You mean like you did last night?”
He laughed. Round two had been just as inspiring as the first time. Neither of them had gotten a lot of sleep, April doing her best to keep him awake. In the morning, she’d finally fallen asleep, and he might have dozed some, too. He was pretty sure he didn’t have a concussion. Being with April was the best balm to his soul. She was his connection to his real life, not the one he’d had for less than twenty-four hours. “Hey, I didn’t hear any complaints at the time.”
She smiled. “No, no complaints.”
He hugged her tight.
“So why’d you get up so early?” she asked.
“I got curious about the lodge. I mean, that’s why we came here, right? You’re my Realtor, and we need to check it out and see if it’s a worthy investment.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“So, you want to do that?”
“Sure. Let’s do it.”
He took April’s hand, and they finished up in the lobby, noting that a few of the rocks in the fireplace were loose. But the floors were in good enough shape, just needed a little TLC, and the windows were well insulated.
The kitchen was another matter. “The tiles are chipped so the counters would have to replaced and updated.” He opened a few cabinets and checked inside. “A few of these are coming off the hinges, but the actual structure is sturdy. They’d need a little refurbishing—maybe a face-lift,” he said. He looked at April. “Do the appliances work?”
“They do. For the most part.” April made a face. “You don’t think the kitchen needs to be gutted?”
“It’s salvageable. There’s a certain charm about this big kitchen. I think it could work.”
“Really?” April smiled. “I’m glad you think so.”
They walked into the dining area next to the kitchen. “This room seems solid,” he said, looking around.
“And on a nice day, those windows bring in lots of light—you can see Canyon Lake from here,” she said. “It’s really a beautiful view.”
“I bet.”
“And we already know the master bedroom is good to go.”
“Yeah, we do know that.”
“I’m afraid the second floor isn’t in as good shape. I mean, it is, but some of the rooms sprouted leaks from the storm.”
As they climbed the stairs, she filled him in on the history of the rooms, the brother and sister team who couldn’t quite get their act together. It didn’t make any sense to him, but April seemed optimistic about the place. Her passion only endeared him to her more. This was important to her, and he didn’t want to quell her enthusiasm.
“I know the roof needs repair,” she said, “but if you decided to replace it, there’s room for negotiation with the owner.”
A sense of déjà vu took place in his head. It seemed as if he’d had this conversation before. It was only a flash, a snatch of a memory, or maybe he was just imagining it.
Still...it was encouraging. “You know something, I like this lodge. I see potential in it.”
“I’m glad you think so.” April beamed from ear to ear, and then a grumble rose from her stomach and filled the quiet room. “Whoa. Excuse me.”
“Hey, I’m hungry, too. What do we have left?”
“Not much. Potato chips and peanut butter.”
“You mean...breakfast?”
“Yes,” she said, chuckling. “Breakfast. Washed down with a big gulp of water.”
“Can’t think of anything better.”
She batted her eyes, and it was so adorable, he planted a kiss right smack on her mouth, the first real kiss of the morning. If he had his say, it wouldn’t be the last.
Minutes later in the kitchen, he watched as April gently dipped chips into the peanut butter and set them out on the table as if it was a gourmet meal. He liked her style and her lack of panic in a situation that might’ve brought another person to tears. She’d taken control, mending him, trying to keep him from freaking out. Which, he wasn’t gonna lie, was a battle. Not knowing anything about himself, his family and his past life was daunting. April filled the voids, but she didn’t overload him with facts he’d have trouble processing.
With her by his side, he was sure he’d make it through any rough patches.
She set the thermos down between them, and together they munched on potato chips and sipped water. “Looks like the storm is letting up.”
“Hopefully another one isn’t on its tail. Maybe I should try to get to the car and see how bad it is.”
“You mean maybe we should get to the car and see how bad it is.”
“We?” He began shaking his head. “No, April. You said it’s a mile to the car. And if another storm is coming, you shouldn’t be out in it.”
“If I’d gone with you for the firewood, maybe
you wouldn’t have gotten injured.”
“Or maybe we both would’ve been. At least right now, one of us has their memory.”
“The truth is, I don’t want to be left alone in the lodge,” April said, and Risk narrowed his eyes at her. She was nibbling on her lip, her eyelashes fluttering. Was she being honest? Was she really afraid?
“Okay, we’ll stick together,” he said finally.
A genuine look of relief washed over her face. Risk had made the right decision, but there were unknowns out there, and he would protect her like his life depended on it.
* * *
Early this morning, April had vowed to tell Risk the truth about their relationship. She should’ve done it the first thing, but then she’d found him exploring the lodge, and she’d gone along with it, losing her nerve. It wasn’t an easy thing to admit, that they really weren’t engaged at all, but she found him so charming and irresistible, she’d slept with him multiple times. How could she explain that away? And then how would she have explained the engagement ring on her finger? She didn’t know what harm the truth would do to his recovery. Right now, she was the only bridge to his real life.
Yesterday, she’d been more concerned about his safety, seeing to his wound and taking that puzzled and fearful look off his face. Sharing a bed with Risk Boone to ward off the cold had been necessary, and he’d told her numerous times how much it meant to him that she was there with him.
But it was wrong to let him go on believing something that wasn’t real.
Wrong to pretend they had a future.
If only it were true, because she was falling for him again.
And wasn’t that a stupid thing?
She needed to tell him the truth. Today.
“You’re not ready?” he asked, tossing his arms through the sleeves of his sheepskin jacket. “You need shoes and a coat, sweetheart. The rain’s stopped. It’s a good time to go.”
“Oh, uh, I’ll be ready in two minutes. And Risk?”
“Hmm?”
“When we get back, I need to speak to you about something.”
Stranded and Seduced Page 6
