Pretend You'll Stay (Winter Kisses Book 2)

by Kathryn Kelly

  He seemed like a good man and she was glad she had had a chance to meet him. He had been excited about the little bag of chocolate chip cookies she had brought him.

  When she had spotted Daniel across the way, she had felt surprisingly calm. It was a shame he was no longer interested in her, because he was, indeed, a handsome man.

  A little later, as she stood at the back of the open gondola car, watching fat little snowflakes drifting down, she was surprised to find Daniel at her elbow.

  “It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “It is.”

  They stood in silence as the train started up the hill. Madison wasn’t sure what to say to him.

  “Do you feel alright?”

  She turned her gaze toward him. “Sure. Why do you ask?”

  “You just look a little tired.”

  “Thanks. I had some insomnia last night.”

  “I guess it happens to all of us. You’re still free Tuesday?”

  “As far as I know.”

  “Have dinner with me.”

  Madison wasn’t sure if it was a request or a demand. There was something serious about him today. She didn’t know him well enough to understand it, really. She was curious, though. “Ok,” she agreed.

  “Good,” he said. “I’ll see you for lunch.”

  I’ll see you for lunch, her thoughts echoed as she watched his retreating back. She considered that statement. They’d had lunch every day since she started this job. Maybe he just assumed. Well. She was kind of relieved about it. Wary, too, though.

  “Today is our last day to come all the way to Silverton,” Daniel announced later, as they made their way off the train.

  “Why?” Madison asked.

  “In winter, we only make a half-trip - up to the inn where we turn around and come back.”

  “Right. I just didn’t think it would be so soon. It’s only October.”

  “You are from Houston,” he said, with a wink.

  “I may very well be,” she agreed. “I can’t remember when I last saw snow.”

  “That must be confusing,” he said, “since you can’t remember much of anything.”

  “That’s not necessarily true,” she disagreed. “I can remember things like that. Just not things about me.”

  “Hmm. Well, anyway, since today is our last day here until Spring, I called ahead and made us reservations at the Lodge for lunch.”

  “The Lodge? Are we spending the night?”

  “Do you want to?”

  She shot him a look.

  “It’s the fancy place to eat in Silverton,” he clarified.

  “Oh, I don’t need fancy. A picnic would have been good enough for me.”

  He nodded. “I thought about a picnic, but then it snowed and I didn’t think you’d want to sit outside and freeze.”

  “Yeah,” she said, noticing that the snow had stopped, but there was a light dusting on the road. “You’re probably right.”

  “You don’t mind?” he asked.

  He looked so boyish, so innocent and hopeful. How could she turn him down? “No, I don’t mind. It’s sweet. Thanks.”

  When they got to the lodge, no one was there - except their server and the hostess.

  After they were seated, Madison turned and whispered to him, “Why is no one else here?”

  “It’ Sunday and they’re closed.”

  “What? If they’re closed, how are we here?”

  “I pulled some strings,” he said, nonchalantly, as he opened his menu.

  Madison attempted to wrap her mind around this information. Something didn’t add up. A conductor on an entertainment train, essentially a tourist ride, was able to get a private table at a restaurant on a day they were closed. She would have to collect more information in her attempt to figure this out. Even with her loss of memory, she didn’t think she would have forgotten how this was done. This was not a common procedure.

  “What would you like to order?” he asked.

  “I think maybe we should have worn something a little nicer and maybe a little cleaner.”

  “Are you kidding? I think you’re kind of sexy in your overalls.”

  She giggled. And sort of snorted at the same time. “That’s a terrible thing to say,” she said, her cheeks flushing as he stared at her.

  “No, I’m serious. I’ve never seen anyone so sexy in these company issue overalls.”

  “I think maybe you’re insane.”

  “Maybe so, but we’ll have plenty of days when we can dress up. Right now, let’s just have a nice lunch and enjoy it.”

  “Okay,” she said, and opened her menu. He really must be insane. But she may as well humor him. He must have either spent a lot of money to do this or else he knew someone well in town. He could be charming when he wanted to. Maybe someone owed him a favor.

  “Stop trying so hard to figure it out,” he said, teasingly.

  “Do you own this restaurant?” she teased.

  “Nope, just reserved it. Now,” he took her hand. “What do you like?”

  Madison studied the menu. She considered just ordering a salad, but decided that would be an insult after all the trouble Daniel must have gone to get this restaurant for their lunch. “I’d like the shrimp fettuccini,” she said.

  The server brought them a basket of bread and took their order. Daniel ordered for her and ordered a steak for himself.

  “Wine?” the server asked.

  “No, we’re on the job,” he said and the server left. “Ok, Madison McKivitz.”

  She looked at him, looked into those huge green eyes of his. His expression was intense.

  “Ok?”

  “Tell me something about you,” he said.

  “Are you being mean?” she asked.

  “Not at all. Just tell me anything. You said you couldn’t remember seeing snow in a long time. You ordered shrimp fettuccini. You know you like fettuccini and you must know you like shrimp. You made chocolate chip cookies and gave some to Mike. He said you made them from scratch. Did you do it from memory? Or did you use a recipe? You know things about yourself, Madison. You just have to figure out what those things are.”

  She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “It’s not that easy. I don’t know until it comes up. I can’t just spontaneously know. It would be so much easier if I could. But it just doesn’t work that way.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, taking her hand. “I don’t mean to upset you. Just to support you. If you never remember who you used to be, that’s ok with me. I happen to like who you are now. Even if it’s totally different from who you were. Which I kind of doubt.”

  He entwined his fingers with hers. His gaze was locked on hers. On the one hand, she felt a little like a fly in a web. On the other hand, she felt a little like a spider - powerful. She had his attention and she had to confess, at least to herself, that she liked it.

  “I think maybe I like shopping for clothes,” she said.

  He laughed. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”

  “Well, it kind of surprises me, since I picked a job where I have to wear overalls.”

  Daniel laughed – hearty male laughter.

  Madison smiled, liking that she could make him laugh.

  “I have an idea,” she said.

  “Tell me.”

  “Why don’t you tell me about you.”

  “Ok, what do you want to know?”

  “I wouldn’t know what to ask. Just tell me what you like.”

  “Ok. I have a dog named Rover.”

  She laughed. “Rover?”

  “Hey, don’t make fun of the little guy without even meeting him.”

  “I’m looking forward to meeting Rover. What kind of dog is he?”

  “He’s a golden retriever. And he will absolutely love you. At least if you let him lick you.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “He’s at home.”

  “What does he do all day when yo
u aren’t there?”

  “He sleeps.”

  She laughed. “How do you know this?”

  “Because the couch is always warm when I get home.”

  “So, you think he stays there all day?”

  “What else would he do?”

  “Whatever dogs do.”

  “You like dogs?”

  “I do. I think I also like cats.”

  “Uh oh. Rover chases cats from the yard.”

  “Well, you never know. He could have a soft spot for them.”

  The server brought them salads, then disappeared.

  “I think you’re a vegetarian,” he said.

  “I like shrimp.”

  “You can still be a vegetarian and eat shrimp. I knew a girl once, one of my professors actually who called herself a crusto-vegetarian. She only ate shrimp and occasionally fish, but never touched beef, or pork, or chicken.”

  “That sounds kind of like me.”

  “I think so, too,” he said. “I like beef.”

  “I noticed.”

  “Does that make you ill?”

  “Only if you make me eat it.”

  “Never.”

  “You have a house?”

  “I sure do. Do you want to see it?”

  “I would like to see it.”

  “That can be arranged.”

  “Daniel?”

  “Yes?” It was at that moment that the server appeared next to the table with their entrees. Both were steaming hot.

  “There might be something to this private dining,” Daniel said. “You were saying?” He cut into his steak and Madison was thankful that he had gotten it well done.

  “I was just wondering... I mean…” She took a deep breath and plunged forward. “I don’t want to cause any problems with you and your girlfriend.”

  “What girlfriend?”

  “I don’t know. The girl you were with last night.”

  “I was with two girls, but neither one of them is my girlfriend. One of them is married to my best friend, and the other one is dating another good friend of mine.”

  “Oh. I just thought....”

  “You thought that I must have a girlfriend.”

  “I guess so.”

  “You and everyone else.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that everyone I know, including Mattie, by the way, is always trying to set me up. In fact...” his voice trailed off.

  Madison took a big bite of shrimp. It really was some of the best food she had eaten since, well, since she could remember.

  “I think Mattie was trying to set me up with you.”

  Madison struggled to swallow. She hoped she didn’t choke. “You think that’s why she hired me?”

  “I kind of do.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “It’s okay. I pretended I wasn’t interested.”

  “You pret....”

  “Yeah, she never suspected.”

  “You pretended?”

  He winked at her. She just sat there, holding her empty fork. Watching him. Was he toying with her? Was he serious?

  “I didn’t even sign your hire papers until today.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I think she was waiting to see what I thought about you.”

  Madison swallowed hard. “And you had to sign my papers because?”

  “Because I’m your supervisor.”

  “Which means you can’t be, um, interested in me.”

  “As far as she knows. I don’t date co-workers and I don’t date passengers.”

  “Daniel,” Madison said, looking at him earnestly. “You have me completely confused.

  Daniel set down his fork and placed his hand, palm up, on the table between them. She placed her hand in his. “I don’t want to date you, Madison McKivitz. I want to marry you.”

  Madison felt a little dizzy. “You want to what?” She was having trouble with her ears.

  “I want to marry you. I don’t have a ring to offer you, but I’ll take you in to Denver to pick out something. Anything you want. I think it’s better when the girl picks out her own ring, don’t you?”

  Her ears were ringing and she was grateful that she was sitting down.

  “Daniel,” she said, holding on to his hand. “You don’t know me. You can’t marry me. Even I don’t know me. I can’t marry you.”

  His face turned a little pale. “You think you’re already married?”

  “What? No! I don’t know. I mean, what if I have a boyfriend?”

  “Boyfriends don’t count when I’ve already proposed.”

  She laughed and had a little trouble catching her breath. “Daniel, I think maybe you’re crazy.”

  He smiled. “I am crazy. I’m crazy for you.”

  “No, this is insane.” She pulled her hand out of his and sat back to stare at him.

  “Okay, you’re right. You don’t know me. What do you want to know?”

  “Have you been married before?”

  “No.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Thirty-five?”

  “What’s wrong with you that you haven’t been married?”

  “I was engaged for five years. She died seven years ago.”

  “Oh my God. She died? How?”

  “I didn’t kill her. It was a skiing accident. I was heartbroken. And haven’t dated seriously since.”

  “Why me?”

  “Because you make me feel alive. And I don’t want a long engagement. I was engaged to Ashley for five years and we dated three before that. I don’t believe in wasting time. Life is too fragile.”

  She stared at him – speechless.

  “You already know that I went to college at Colorado State to major in economics. I’ll take you to meet my parents as soon as you’re ready.”

  “No, I can’t. I mean I’d like to meet your parents, but I can’t marry you. Not without knowing you. Not without knowing myself.”

  “Ok,” he said, putting his hands up. “Take your time. But don’t forget me when your memory comes back.”

  “Forget you? Why do you think I’d forget you?”

  “My friend, Jenni, has a master’s degree in clinical psychology. She said that people often forget their new life when they remember their old life.”

  “I don’t think I could forget you. But, then...” She turned and stared across the empty room, a feeling foreboding coming over her.

  “You probably didn’t think you’d forget your old life either.”

  “Exactly,” she said softly.

  “I’m not letting you go, Madison. I don’t care if you do have some other guy out there looking for you. He hasn’t found you yet, so he doesn’t know you all that well. Or else he doesn’t care as much about you as I do.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “No, I don’t. And I’m sorry for saying it. But I don’t plan to let you get away.”

  “You’re freaking me out a little.”

  “I don’t mean to.”

  “We should go.”

  “Yes, you’re right,” Daniel agreed, put some money on the table, and together they left the Lodge.

  “Hey, we should get you one of these,” Daniel said, pointing to some huge cat eye shades in one of the shop windows.

  In spite of herself, Madison chucked. “Don’t you dare.”

  “You said you like cats.”

  “That doesn’t mean I want to look like one!”

  “Ok, I won’t get you cat eye glasses.”

  “Thank you.”

  Mike met them halfway back to the train. “I just got a weather report,” he said. “We’re in for torrential rains.”

  They hurried back toward the train. Madison wasn’t sure what the rush was. They couldn’t leave early. They had to wait on the passengers. And she voiced that observation to Daniel.

  “You’re right. We can’t leave until it’s time, but we can make sure the engine is in order and make sure we’re alert.”


  Madison wondered how he could go from proposing marriage to her to being on alert without so much as a blink. She was still a little dazed.

  Of course, she told herself, there was no way he had been serious. She had taken him seriously only because she liked him. But he would probably never even bring it up again. Sort of like yesterday, when he had been completely attentive, then hadn’t even said goodnight. She wondered if today would be like that, too.

  The trip down had been uneventful after all. It had rained and it had rained hard. They had even seen some lightening and the passengers had sat quietly through it all, especially the ones in the open-air gondola. Several of them had moved inside to the covered coach seats, but even though the train wasn’t full, others had elected to remain outside. She had to stay outside in order to have a good view of the tracks just in case there was a fire despite the rain.

  She hurried across the track area and stopped inside to shake the water from her hair. She was cold, she was tired, and she was emotionally drained after the day’s events.

  She was halfway surprised when Daniel caught up with her before she started home. “Hey,” he said, “you didn’t wait for me.”

  “I didn’t know I was supposed to.”

  “Want to do something? After you clean up.”

  “No, I think I’m gonna just head on home, take a hot shower, and crawl into bed. Remember, I didn’t sleep last night.”

  At first, he didn’t say anything. Then he nodded. “Ok. I think I’ll do the same. Tuesday will be here before we know it.”

  She gave him a smile. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Really?” he asked and she suddenly felt bad for thinking bad things about him.

  “Yeah. See you tomorrow. I’m really tired.”

  “See you then,” he said, as she turned to walk out the front door of the depot. “Wait.”

  A surge of emotions flooding through her. She turned back.

  “I’m walking you home.”

  Relief shot through her. But after not sleeping last night, she was exhausted. And she had to process what had happened at lunch. The whole thing was surreal. She shrugged. And he followed.

  They stopped at her door. He pulled her to him, wrapped his arms around her. He stroked her hair. Kissed her forehead. Her cheeks. The corner of her mouth. Pressed his cheek against hers. “Sleep well,” he whispered in her ear, turning her toward the door.