Rekindle The Flames (The Men of CLE-FD Book 4)

by Toye Lawson Brown

  “Wow, you don’t remember me of all people. I’m Pam; the one that is hard to forget,” she jokingly said. “The three of us have fun together. I rib you about your age and going out and having fun with that fine stud of yours.”

  Megan’s brow went up. “What fine stud? I don’t have a boyfriend.”

  Gabrielle pushed Pam aside and gave her a death glare. “Pam is playing around, Megan. Anyhow, I heard you were moved from ICU and stopped in to see if you needed anything before I go home for the day?”

  “Funny you should ask me that.” Megan played with the hem of the end of the sheet. “What can you tell me about Ryan? Since you’re friends with him, I’m curious to know about him.”

  “Girl, you just don’t know,” Pam muttered taking a seat in one of the hard chairs.

  Gabrielle again gave Pam a glaring stare indicating for her to shut up. “Ryan is a sweetheart. He’d be the first to give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it.”

  “I got that vibe from him. It’s something else about him that won’t let me get him off my mind.”

  Pam had to snort. “Probably that fine ass body and not to mention the rest of him is fine too.”

  “Pam!” Gabrielle hissed. “One more time, okay?”

  Megan barked out a laugh that hurt her side. “Pam isn’t wrong. He is handsome and sweet. I wish I were a little older.”

  “Megan, if you’re interested in Ryan, go for it. He won’t bite.” Gabrielle urged.

  Megan’s head snapped down. “Nah, I’ll probably be discharged in a couple of days. I’m sure I won’t ever see him again. I just can’t get this nagging feeling I know him from somewhere and not the park.”

  “Did he say he’d visit you again? I can call him if you want me to.”

  “Gabby, he gave me his phone number. He said if I wanted anything to call him.”

  “Megan, did you hear what you said to me?” Gabrielle asked in a soft tone.

  “About Ryan giving me his phone number?”

  “No,” she smiled. “You called me Gabby. You didn’t hear anyone call me by my nickname.”

  Megan’s eyes widened. “Oh, my God. I’m starting to remember things. The other day I remembered graduating from nursing school. Ryan was with me when it happened. The flashback scared me at first. The psychologist was right. The therapy is working.”

  “Then, why can’t you remember me?” Pam stewed. “I’m a big part of your life and I don’t want to be left out in the cold.” Her pager buzzed in her pocket. “Not again! Every single time we have something juicy going on I get called away.”

  “Pam, I’m sure I’ll remember everything about you. There is no way I could forget someone that has a personality as lively as yours. I can see why we are friends,” Megan said reassuring an agitated Pam.

  Pam eased her tone. “Even if you don’t remember me right away, Megan. I’m gonna be all up in your face until you do. I’ll check on you later, sweetie.”

  “I feel rotten that I can’t remember her, Gabby. My memory is coming to me in pieces but not chunks. What if those pieces are lost forever?”

  “Just don’t try too hard to remember everything at once, Megan. Now back to Ryan. Are you going to call him? I know for a fact he is off today.”

  “Maybe. I wish I had a comb and a little makeup to cover the bruises on my face. I wouldn’t feel so self-conscious about calling him.”

  Gabrielle touched her hand and squeezed. Warm brown eyes glistened with sympathy. “You’re beautiful the way you are, Megan, but I can help you with that. Give me five minutes to run downstairs and then you’ll be able to make that call.”

  Later on in the day Megan asked the nurses to help her to sit in a chair. She was tired of the bed and feeling like an invalid. Besides, sitting in the chair showed off the work Gabrielle had done. She had pulled her hair back into a neat bob and applied light makeup to her face. Gabby also had purchased her a soft pink nightgown to wear instead of the faded gray hospital gown. It was a chore to get the gown on with the IV tubes and the cast, but Megan managed to get it on, and it not only made her feel pretty but better about herself.

  Megan smoothed the blanket covering her legs with her good hand. Her heart was thumping loudly. She couldn’t believe she called him. Even without Gabby’s insistence, her own inner voice whispered for her to call Ryan. She slouched her shoulders and gnawed on a fingernail as worry flooded her. What if he had a girlfriend? A man like him had to be connected to a woman if not many women.

  If only she could remember what she would have done in the past if a situation like this arose. Stupid memory loss! She frowned wishing she had not made the call. Another thing that nagged her was Iona. Where was her mother? She’d been in the hospital nearly a week and no sign of her. She talked to her on the phone but had yet to see her in person.

  Her father seemed to be making excuses for Iona’s absence also. Megan did not know how to take the absence of her family members. Connor had called but did not mention visiting as her father had stated. And the last two days, her father had gone missing. So much was left hanging in the air. Where would she go once she left the hospital? To the apartment, she wasn’t sure she still had or to her parent’s house? Abandonment was becoming apparent. If it weren’t for Ryan, Gabby, and Pam, she would have no visitors or anyone to talk to her.

  She would not cry. She would not blubber like a baby and fall into a depression. She felt her bottom lip tremble but fought back with her mantra. She would not cry—Crap! The drip of a warm tear slid down Megan’s face. She actually was alone. The people who she loved most were nowhere around. Was her family dysfunctional and she imagined them to be close and loving? Whatever the case, she was an adult and had to push forward to overcome this crisis. She had the ability to support herself and be productive. She had a career as a nurse; she knew that for sure. Once she put her efforts into recovering from her injuries and regaining her memory her life would be back where it was before the accident.

  As Megan lifted her head, her eyes met Ryan’s. His eyes were soft, kind and dare she say…loving? She blinked that from her mind. He was acting friendly to her. He knew she and Gabrielle were friends, and he was extending his friendship to her. He never made any indication of anything more.

  She dabbed her face with a tissue and asked. “How long have you been standing there?”

  He was holding a bouquet of colorful flowers and a large pizza box. He set them on the tray table and knelt down beside her. “I knocked and when you didn’t answer I let myself in. Why are you crying, Megan?”

  She released a nervous smile. “Don’t mind me. I’m having a little pity party for myself. I didn’t expect you to witness it.”

  “I’m a good listener if you want to talk about what’s on your mind.”

  She rolled her brown eyes. “I wouldn’t know where to start. I’ll make a mental note to bring it up with my psychologist at the next session; although, that could be a joke in itself. My mental state is so jacked up I’m liable not to remember what the mental note is. Wow, can you say freaky? God, I just want to remember my life. Was it that bad, Ryan? Why am I asking you? You would have no clue what my life was like.”

  “Why don’t you take a deep breath and calm down before you make the monitor go off.”

  She heard herself talking a mile a minute and couldn’t stop. “I’m sorry I’m rambling. You have that look like I should be in the psych ward or a padded room. I’m not crazy, or I don’t think I am.” She burst out crying. “I don’t know what I am because I don’t know who I am.”

  *****

  Ryan took her in his arms and let her cry. He couldn’t take seeing her this way anymore and decided to take fate into his hands despite what the doctors suggested. She pulled away from his grasp apologizing. “I’m sorry. I didn’t call you here for this. I did want food and that pizza smells good.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t ever apologize to me. I’m the one person you don’t have to do that wi
th.”

  Her watery eyes searched his. “Gabby said you are the type of person that people lean on. I’m not going to take advantage of you that way.”

  He drew in a deep breath. “There is something about me that you need to know, Megan. I wanted to tell you when you came out of your coma, but I let others convince me not to do it.”

  “I knew it,” she expelled through clenched teeth. “You are married. You lied to me about the wedding ring.”

  Tension rolled in his shoulders. This could backfire and cause Megan to have a significant setback or jolt her memory forward. “I am married, but to you, Megan. We’re married and have been married for four years.”

  Silence.

  “Megan, baby, say something please,” Ryan rubbed his hands down her shoulders.

  Her eyes flickered as she stared him in the face. “I don’t believe you.”

  “It’s true. I’ll show you our marriage license if you want to see it. Baby, the doctors, didn’t want to overwhelm you with too much information. They were hoping you would recognize me. When you didn’t, it broke my heart to pretend we were strangers. I should have been the one sitting by your side, not your father. I should have been comforting you through your pain.”

  Tears ran down her face. “You have to go.”

  He frowned. “What, you want me to go?”

  “Ryan, I can’t process this with you here. I need to be alone to think.”

  “Please don’t shut me out. We can work on getting your memory back together.”

  “I can’t shut you out if I don’t know who you are. Thank you for the flowers and food, but I want you to leave now.”

  She turned her head towards the window to avoid looking at him. Ryan stood up. “Fine. I’ll go, but I’ll be back. I’m not letting you forget what we have together, Megan. I love you, and you love me; you will remember that.”

  She snapped her head around to look at him. “If that’s true, then we will find our way back to one another.”

  “That will happen sooner than you think, babe.” He leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers. He felt her lips part and her soft tongue slip inside his mouth. That was enough. He wanted to give her enough just to tempt her. He pulled back, and her eyes were still closed. “Sleep well, my love.”

  She didn’t answer as he walked away feeling her eyes on his back. He frowned. Yep…she’s coming back, but is not close to 100% yet.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Megan had been home from the hospital for a week and was making progress on her own with her recovery. Her organs, as well as her memory, were healing properly. Pieces of her memory were falling into place, creating a familiar puzzle. Once she stepped foot in her childhood home and saw her mother, her memory expanded. She remembered when Connor got married. She remembered how to drive but couldn't practice with only one working arm. She remembered Pam. Everything was falling into place except Ryan. She did remember the kiss, though: a kiss that had stayed on her lips for more than four days.

  She was sitting on the sun porch, enjoying the weather when her father joined her. “Nice day out today. Do you want to go for a walk in the park?” he asked her.

  “Maybe later, Dad.” She used her toes to push the rocking chair gently. “What's going on between you and Mom?”

  “Everything's fine between us, Megan.”

  “Ha, that's a lie. Where's the love, Dad? I don’t remember this coldness between you two. I’ve seen you take her in a corner and whisper. I also think I heard arguing the other night.”

  “Sweetheart, couples argue. We’re fine, and you don’t need to worry about us. Anyhow, have you talked to Ryan lately?”

  She nodded. “Only for a minute today, he had to respond to a call. Dad, why is he the missing link to everything? He claims we are in love, and I do feel a stir when he is near me. I don’t know what it is. Whenever he is around me, my knees go to mush, my heart races, and I sweat. I guess what I’m experiencing is more lust than love.”

  “Megan, the man does love you. He’s put up with a lot of chicanery and tantrums from you and Iona. Maybe that’s why you can’t remember. You want to forget the stuff you put him through.”

  “I can’t see me being a pain in the ass. Everyone says I’m such a nice person.”

  “You are, but you’re spoiled rotten to the core. I can say that because I’ve had a hand in spoiling you. When you don’t get your way, you throw a fit and demand until people, including Ryan, would give in to you.”

  “Maybe I should go home. There could be something in the house that might trigger the neurons in my brain to snap together.”

  “You should go home. The less exposure you have to Iona, the better.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “It will all come to you and when it does, have a barf bag by your side. I have to run to the office to catch up on some work. Do you want to come with me to get out of the house?” James asked.

  “Okay, I may be confused but not stupid. You don’t want me alone with Mom. I deserve to know why.” Megan saw the vein throbbing in her father’s temple, something she had never seen before.

  “We’ll talk about that later. Get your purse; we’ll get a bite to eat and see a movie after I’m done at the office.”

  She winked at her father. “A date with my handsome dad, on a Friday night, what more could a girl ask for?”

  “Then, how about going to a movie with an old friend instead?” Iona’s voice had drifted onto the porch before she did. She raised her elegant shoulders. “Well?”

  Megan saw a shadowy figure move in the corner of her eye. Just as she was about to take a second look, James’ small groan of disgust caused her to look at him. His nostrils were flared, and his jawline was tight. He was angry that Emin was there. James Jones never verbally displayed his anger, but anyone with eyes could see it when he was mad. He knew Emin had to see it today.

  James stood up abruptly. “Iona, we have to talk now!”

  “James, don’t be rude to a guest in our house. Emin is here to visit Megan. Show some kindness.”

  “It’s fine, Iona. Mr. Jones has every right to be upset. I am here uninvited again, and I'm interrupting a father-daughter moment. Please, Mr. Jones, accept my apology.” Emin extended his hand to James.

  James folded his arms across his chest, unmoved and unimpressed. “Yes, this is the second time this week. Exactly when do you plan on returning to work, Emin? After all, you’re what - a second or third-year associate? I can’t imagine your firm is happy that you’re away so often.”

  Shoving his hands in his pockets, Emin leaned against the banister. “I’m not with that firm any longer. I work for my family’s business. I head up the legal department for our import business based here in Cleveland.”

  “Huh, that’s a lot of responsibility for someone with little legal experience. You should think about spending more of your time in the office getting acclimated with the laws of the business instead of sniffing around my daughter who happens to be married.”

  “James, stop it!” Iona scolded.

  Megan struggled to stand up from the rocking chair. She gave up after losing her balance and slumped back in the chair. She watched her father tower over Emin, waiting for lava to erupt from his smoldering head. She had no idea why he was so upset. He and Emin had always been friendly in the past.

  James escorted Emin and Iona over to the far corner of the large deck. Megan couldn’t hear what they were talking about or see James’ face. She would have to read Iona’s face to get an idea of what was going on between the three of them.

  James’ lips barely moved as he spoke. “I’m here to tell you right now don’t fuck with Megan. You think you’ve grown some balls by coming back to Cleveland, Emin. I’m here to tell you I will cut those bastards off and display them on my bookcase like a trophy.” He stabbed a finger in Emin’s chest. “Whatever business you have with Iona, get it over with and leave Megan out of it.”

  “Mr. Jones, you mi
ght want to back off me,” Emin said, pushing his hand aside. “I’m not here to cause any trouble. You’re right; I do have business with your beautiful wife. She made me a promise, and I’m here to collect.”

  “Correction: my ex-wife,” James barked.

  Emin chuckled. “It doesn’t matter to me if she’s an ex-wife or not; she owes me, and I’m not leaving without my purchase or the return of my $3,000,000. Mr. Jones, there will be trouble if I’m refused either of them. I’d prefer Megan’s hand in marriage over the money if that helps you with making a decision.”

  James frowned. “Son, you don’t know what trouble is. I don’t care what connections your family has or that you assume it is enough to frighten me. So that gall you’re exhibiting is scary to someone who doesn’t know you, but it doesn’t faze me.” He brushed the imaginary dirt off the lapels of Emin’s suit jacket and smiled sinisterly. “Once my wrath is in motion, you and everyone close to you will feel every ounce of it. Are you sure you want to find out exactly what I’m capable of doing?” Emin swallowed and moved away from James’ grip. “That’s what I thought. Now be a good boy, say goodbye to Megan, and never show your face around here again.”

  “James, what has gotten into you?” Iona questioned.

  He snarled at Iona. “You weren’t given permission to talk. You're aware of what I have in store for you, and you'll get it as soon as Megan is on her feet. Now, both of you get the hell out of my face before I forget I’m a mild-mannered man and show my true colors.”

  Megan couldn’t read the expression on any of their faces. Emin smiled as he knelt down beside her. When he touched her hand, a chill spread through her whole body, making her shiver. It was 89-degrees outside, and there was no wind or fan nearby to cause her to have goosebumps. This was the second cold reaction she’d gotten from his touch. When he visited her days ago, she got the same sensation.

  Emin thumbed his finger over her hand and her fingers involuntarily jerked. “Megan, we’ll have to catch that movie later, I have to take care of something at the office.”

  “Emin, what were you arguing about with my dad?”