I opened my mouth to speak, but Dr. Mendez beat me to it.
“My dear, there’s no reason to feel that way. I’ve known Nicholas for many years and helping anyone he knows is my pleasure. If I were you, I would take advantage of this chance to get to know Nicholas better—he’s a good man to have on your side.”
I shoved my hands deep into my pockets, feeling embarrassed. I could tell Dr. Mendez was up to his usual matchmaking ways. He’d already suggested I meet one of his nieces he thought might be just my match. “Thanks for the sales pitch, doc.”
I walked toward Selena and reached for one of the hands that rested in her lap. “Dr. Mendez agrees that you should stay and rest. So there will be no more talk of running off. Okay?”
Selena frowned as she nodded.
“Excuse me for a minute while I see the doctor out.”
I walked to the door, pulled it open for Dr. Mendez and shut it behind us so we could speak in private.
“So what do you think?”
“I think the lady will be more likely to stay longer if you don’t make her feel completely helpless. She’s feisty—that one. Once I send you the report and she forwards me the insurance card, I’ll send her a message confirming the entire cost is covered so she’ll stop obsessing about it.”
“Bill me for anything that’s left over, okay?”
“We’ll see.”
I reached into my wallet and pulled out some cash.
“Put that money away right now. I’m sure her insurance will cover it.”
“Fine.” I tucked the money away. “But tell me if it doesn’t.”
“If you can get her to relax, her memories will come back at some point. But I’ve got to warn you, these stress-induced amnesia cases can be dicey. Most likely something terrible happened, and that’s why her brain is sheltering her from it.” He lowered his voice, as if worried Selena might hear us through the steel door. “Try not to excite her too much, do you hear me? She’s likely to have some drastic mood swings, and when she starts remembering, it might be rough on you. I believe you’re rather taken with her.”
I released a nervous laugh. “She’s very lovely, but I’m just watching out for her.”
Dr. Mendez patted me on the arm and gave me a grim expression. “If you want a piece of advice, I would suggest you stop deluding yourself. You work way too much anyway. A relationship with Selena could bring some balance into your life.” He turned the knob and stepped outside, striding away too fast for me to think of a comeback line. “I’ll be back in two days,” he shouted.
* * *
When I walked back into the house, Selena stood swaying, touching her hand to her forehead.
I rushed over and steadied her. “It looks like that medication is making you dizzy.”
“I’m fine—I wish you wouldn’t fuss over me so much,” she said, slurring her words. She walked ahead of me down the hall, pausing in front of the door. She gazed at me over one shoulder. Some of the sleek lines of her neck and shoulder remained bare, while the rest were covered in cascading dark hair.
I reached around her and pushed the door open, inhaling her intoxicating, pina colada scent. “You looked like you might fall. I just want to protect you, that’s all.”
Selena stepped into the room and then turned to face me. The yellow flecks in her brown eyes entranced me. “Why? You barely know me.”
“I just do, that’s all. You’re...someone special.” I walked toward the bed and pulled back the covers.
“Special,” she whispered.
Selena brushed by me and slid in under the covers, still wearing her blue sundress. I leaned over and pulled them up to her chin, aching to find a way to replace the safety and comfort she had lost with her memory with something else. I brushed some locks of hair back from her face. “You just rest, all right. I’ll bring a warm cloth for your head in just a minute.”
* * *
When I returned to the room and placed the cloth on her forehead, Selena gazed up at me, her neck straining away from her pillows, her lips trembling and her eyes welling with tears.
“Thank you for taking such good care of me. I know I’ve been a lot of trouble.”
I brushed my hand over her forehead and the top of her head. “Relax. It matters to me that you’re comfortable and that you rest.”
Contentment welled up inside of me as I watched Selena nestle deeper into the down pillows, her lovely dark hair splayed out in all directions. She blinked, once briefly and then for longer. Her eyelids drooped shut and all the tension released from her face.
Her smooth tanned skin was beautiful; I longed to skim my hand over her delicate cheekbones that slanted in toward her rosy Cupid’s bow lips. I’d experienced a lot of adrenaline rushes from business successes, but couldn’t recall ever feeling any emotion as powerful as this before. I wasn’t thinking about tackling a problem or rushing to a meeting, every electrical impulse in my mind was blissfully absorbed in studying her face and wishing that this moment would never end. I smiled and kissed the top of her head. “Having you here is good for me.”
The nasal snore I got in response indicated she hadn’t heard me. It’s just as well. I looked at her one last time, before striding back to the living room.
CHAPTER FIVE
I paced the living room floor trying to gain perspective on my situation. Why does everyone think a relationship would be good for me? So I work most of the time. Doesn’t everyone who owns a company? Selena had been a pleasant distraction from my usual furious work pace. But it was more than that. When most people stepped out of the room, they weren’t in my thoughts. But Selena had sunk deep into my consciousness. The more I tried not to think of her, the more I heard her melodic laugh, saw those entrancing eyes, and fantasized about taking her on an edgy motorcycle ride where she’d press her breasts into my back and grip my midsection so tightly, she’d leave nail marks.
She’s sleeping now. Get back to work. I dropped into my chair and clicked on the email icon on my computer screen. A long list of emails dropped into my inbox. I answered them one by one, grappling to maintain my focus.
An image of Selena wet in that yellow bikini popped into my mind. Every minute she looked to me as a protector, imagined that I was a gentleman with her best interests in mind, I’d wondered what her voluptuous body would look like with every stitch of fabric removed.
I recalled how soft and sensuous her lips had felt under mine when I’d resuscitated her. I imagined her lying on a blanket in the sand; her lips willingly open to mine. Our kisses would quickly advance from gentle to hungry and desperate. I’d taste her lips, memorize their shape with my mouth and tongue and then explore the inside of her mouth until she groaned, aching for my hard member to breach her slit. I’d savor every minute. I’d nibble on the nape of her neck, her earlobe, and trace my tongue over the line of her collarbone. I’d peel off her dress and cup her supple white breasts in my hands. I’d skim my hand over her nipples until they hardened into pert peaks and then I’d taste them. No contour of her voluptuous physique would be missed; I’d explore every delicious inch of her with my fingertips, then with my tongue and lips, touching, tasting, smelling. I imagined my fingers sliding inside the warm wet cave between her thighs.
My cock hardened at the thought, aching with want. I rose from my chair and walked into my bedroom. Imagining myself perched over her opened thighs, sliding myself inch by inch into her tight opening, I yanked off my pants and gripped my shaft, pumping it up and down. I closed my mind and imagined her moan of ecstasy, the toss of her head, the lusty golden glitter in her eyes and her parted lips as we moved together, soaring toward a pinnacle of delight.
A spurt of relief restored my equilibrium. I showered, imagining what it would be like to hold her in my arms after we made love, to feel the tickle of her hair and her warm breath on my chest, to feel her heartbeat. That fantasy floated through my mind like a cloud as I returned to my desk.
But Selena’s situation is
too uncertain, my rational mind argued. Involvement wasn’t wise, even though her attraction for me was clear as day and her Internet search confirmed she was single. There still could be a boyfriend. If she were my girlfriend, I’d be frantic to find her. And if he happened to be a murderer…I tried to convince myself these thoughts were ridiculous.
I sighed. Maybe I should call the local police in case someone’s looking for her. I picked up the phone and dialed, but the man who answered said no one had filed a missing person report. He asked for a phone number and Selena’s name in case someone inquired later on. I thought more about the stressful event that had wiped out all her recent memories. What if she witnessed a murder? Maybe her brother was murdered. Hot pain ignited in my chest at the thought of Selena suffering another tragic loss.
Felicita’s voice broke into my distracted thoughts. “Do you want me to wake Selena for dinner?”
“No, it’s best not to wake her. It might take a while for her to sleep off that headache.”
“Yes, sir, I think you’re right. That Selena’s quite a beauty, wouldn’t you say?”
“Yes, she looks all right I suppose.”
The twinkle in Felicita’s eyes suggested she wasn’t buying my weak denial. “Hmm. It’s been a long day for you, sir. Would you like me to mix you a margarita?”
The thought of dining solo left me feeling morose. I’d never minded before. I sighed. Is this what loneliness feels like? “Thank you, but I’ll just have water with dinner tonight. And since the weather’s cleared, I’d like to eat on the patio. Once you serve the meal, you can have the rest of the weekend off.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Felicita. I want you to enjoy your Sunday with your family. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to step outside.”
She looked down the hall and frowned. “Do you hear that?”
Moans came from Selena’s room. “She must be having a nightmare. I’m going to check on her.”
As Selena’s groans advanced to screams, I raced down the hall toward her room and yanked the door open, alarmed by her heavy breathing and thrashing movements. “Please, no, please, oh, no, don’t hurt me.”
I rushed to the edge of the bed. Selena was entangled in a mass of covers. One of her sundress straps had slipped low on her tanned shoulder. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and she held her hands up in front of her face as if she were trying to ward off a blow.
I leaned over her and placed my hands firmly on her shoulders, gently shaking her. “Wake up, Selena. You’re having a nightmare. You’re safe here in my home.”
Her honey brown eyes flew open and she looked at me, wide eyed, at first and then the tense lines in her face relaxed. “Oh, it’s you. Thank goodness it’s you.” She gripped my hands and tremors of her quaking body rippled through me.
I sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hands and leaning toward her as I spoke in a soothing voice. “You’re safe. Don’t worry—I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you.”
After a moment, she released my hands and pushed herself up to a seated position, tucking a lock of dark hair behind her ear. “I had a dream that a man chased after me with a knife. And I feel sure I’ve seen him before.” Fear registered in her voice.
“It’s over now. Do you want to talk about it?”
She gazed into the distance and paused before speaking. Her voice came out in a low monotone, almost like she was in a trance. “He was Hispanic with dark, curly hair, big dark eyes and thick brows. So handsome. His eyes struck me as warm and gentle in the beginning. I felt an urgent compulsion to be near him. When he leaned in to kiss me, I could barely breathe. But then his face turned the color of coal and when he smiled, his teeth became pointed fangs and his laugh mocked and haunted and my throat constricted so I couldn’t scream when he pulled out the knife.”
I clenched my hands together, suddenly angry that she’d felt an attraction for such a monster. If she found bad boys sexy, I was seriously out of luck. “And you think you know him? Do you have any idea how?” I squeezed her hands and met her gaze, hoping she’d find comfort in my expression.
“His body was all rigid muscle—a warm solid wall. His aftershave smelled like a mix of mint and rubbing alcohol.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Okay, I’ve heard enough about how he looks and smells. Is he your boyfriend?” I was shocked to hear jealousy in my voice.
“No, I don’t think so. I don’t think I knew him well. But that attraction I felt when I first saw him was staggering.” She blinked dreamily, her long lashes brushing over the soft skin below her eyes. “It almost reminded me of… Oh, I’m talking without thinking.”
“It reminded you of what?” I immediately wished I hadn’t asked that question. The last thing I wanted to hear about was another man she found sexy. The guy she’d described sounded like a cross between Count Dracula and a serial killer, the next one might be a werewolf who preyed on old women. I ground my teeth, having never felt more like committing murder in my life. “Did he say anything or were you too busy kissing and fondling his pectorals?”
“You’re jealous, aren’t you?” One side of her rosy mouth curled up in a smile. The possibility clearly pleased her.
My arms still crossed, I angled my body away from her and frowned. “Nonsense, I’m merely trying to help you figure out if this dream has significance. Tell me what he said?”
“When his facial expression changed, he said he wished it could have ended differently, but that I knew too much. And that he was going to have to kill me.” Her voice trembled and then trailed off to a whisper.
“Do you remember anything else?”
“Yes. We were on the beach near where you found me today. But I’m not sure how much of this was a dream and how much of it really happened.”
“Did he say what you weren’t supposed to know about?” Maybe calling the police wasn’t such a good idea. It sounds as if she’s involved in something messy.
“Not that I remember.” She reached for her forehead. “I think I better stop talking about this. My head is throbbing again.”
“All right. I’m sure you’ll feel better if you have a bite to eat. Felicita has dinner ready if you’d like to join me.”
She pushed herself into a more upright position than before. Noticing for the first time her strap had slid all the way down her shoulder, revealing the top of a breast, she pulled the covers up higher as her face and the skin on her neck and chest reddened. “Yes, I’m starving. Please just let me freshen up and I’ll join you.”
“You might want to grab a sweater or a light jacket. Winter evenings here can be chilly.”
A smile crept over my face as I left the room. I won’t be alone at the table after all. I tried not to analyze how ridiculous it was to feel this thrill of anticipation over spending an evening with someone possibly associated with thugs. When Felicita raised an eyebrow as I passed, I turned toward her. “Selena is awake now and will join me for dinner. And I think I will take you up on that margarita offer.”
Before stepping out on the patio, I grabbed the key to the gun safe and strode down the hallway. Looking over my shoulder to make sure no one was watching, I unlocked the case and pulled out my Glock, loaded it with bullets and stuffed it into my pocket.
CHAPTER SIX
We sat out on the porch and devoured fresh grouper filets with a leafy green salad and sipped our margaritas. It had rained intermittently throughout the day, and the scattered clouds contributed to the drama of the sunset. Streaks of pink, orange and red wove their way through the sky. A pelican skimmed over the water, floating, waiting and then suddenly plunging like an arrow toward a watery bulls-eye to scoop a fish into its gullet.
“It’s a beautiful evening,” Selena remarked after Felicita had cleared our plates. The breeze blew strands of her long dark hair away from her face.
“Yes, it is. Are you feeling better now?”
She looked at me without blinking, the golden color of h
er exotic eyes entrancing me. “Oh, yes much. That delicious meal and margarita really helped. I know I’m feeling normal when I crave another adventure. Oh, look.” She pointed to a group of people horseback riding on the beach. “That looks like fun. But I’d much rather gallop than walk.” A mischievous smile pulled up the corners of her lips.
I laughed. “Would you like to take a ride?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Then let’s do it. Less than a mile down the beach, a bunch of vendors gathers to rent out jet skis, kayaks, and sailboats. And at night they bring horses and take people on sunset rides. Come on.” I stood and reached for her hand.
“Are you serious?” Her smile broadened, revealing her brilliant white teeth.
“Sure, let’s go. We better hurry before it gets dark.”
I poked my head in the house to grab a set of keys and to ask Felicita to lock up the house before she left. Then Selena and I walked hand-in-hand down the beach to where a man stood near several horses tethered to a fence.
I greeted the merchant in Spanish, gave him some instructions on how we wanted our ride to go and handed him a wad of bills.
Understanding our conversation, Selena laughed. “I can’t believe he’s going to let us go without a guide.”
“It’s amazing what people will do for you if you give them enough money.”
After we had selected horses, we mounted and walked our horses side-by-side down the beach. The setting sun had transformed the feathery fabric of clouds to brilliant pink, and most of the sky was a deep purple.
“This was a great idea, Nick. This is a perfect night for a ride. The sky is such a pretty color.”
We walked over a stretch of hilly dunes. The sand was wet from the earlier rain, but I didn’t want to run the horses until the beach smoothed out. Once we approached a flat stretch of wet, firm sand, I said, “Are you ready for a real ride?”
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