REMEMBER ME (Secrets of Spirit Creek Book 1)

by Linda Style

  He knocked hard to be heard over the music. The dogs barked.

  “It’s open,” Tori called out. As he went in, he saw Tori sitting on a stool in front of the easel, her paint, some brushes in a can and a phone on a table at her side. The blinds on the large picture window were closed, but the moon shone through an arched window above. The light in the studio seemed subdued, not the kind of lighting he’d think an artist would want for painting, but then he noticed she wasn’t painting.

  She turned to look at him. “Did you talk to Mac?”

  “It’s all worked out. We’ll be done by nine. He’s going out of town, so I get a reprieve for a few days, too.”

  “And your other appointment?”

  She meant the one with the shrink. “Next week.” He hadn’t gone into detail when talking to Tori about the visits to the psychiatrist, mostly because he wasn’t sure if he knew what to make of them himself. He’d been able to tell the shrink some things that he couldn’t tell anyone else. Like the animosity he felt whenever he thought about his father. The sadness when he thought about his mother. Even though he didn’t remember them, the emotions were real. “After Mac and I finish, I’ll be all set.”

  Right now, he wanted to go inside and take a look at her paintings, but he didn’t get the sense that she wanted him to. “What are you working on?” he asked.

  “I’m not. I started, but I’m just not in the mood.”

  He glanced at the wall where the painting he liked had hung, but it was gone. “Where’s the painting?” he asked, surprised.

  Turning, she swiveled off the stool and walked toward him, her long, lithe legs capturing his attention. His gaze traveled up and over the soft curve of her hips, small rounded breasts and slender neck to her partly shadowed face. She wasn’t wearing her glasses, and her hair fell softly around her shoulders, moving in sync with each fluid step. He imagined her amber eyes at half-mast, a prelude to seduction.

  “I like to change the pictures out once in a while,” she said, walking past him. “I just haven’t decided what to put in its place.”

  The dogs quickly brushed by and bounded toward her bedroom. “But I thought that was your favorite—”

  “It is.” She motioned toward her easel. “If you’d like to try your hand at it, go ahead.”

  He looked at the easel, then back to her. “Really?”

  “Sure. If you want to.”

  “I do. But only if you show me how.”

  She gave him a look that could’ve withered steel.

  “Okay,” he said. “Maybe some other time.”

  After a slight hesitation, she tipped her head. “I’m going to bed. I’ll be ready to leave at nine. Since you don’t have to be back right away, we can stay overnight at my parents’ house.”

  She hurried down the hall, stopped at her bedroom door and glanced over her shoulder. “The paints are right there if you get the urge.” Then, smiling, she said, “Good night.”

  “Good night,” he said, but barely got out the words before she’d gone inside and shut the door. Standing there in the hallway, he couldn’t stop seeing her face—like a photograph stamped on his brain. He kept getting that sense of déjà vu…that they’d been together before. But oddly, not as the same people. It felt…almost as if they’d been in another life together.

  Yeah, Crusoe. You’re totally whacked. He started down the hall to his room. He’d been cooped up too long and was getting delusional. He hadn’t said anything to the shrink about Tori and the feelings he’d been having, but maybe he should. The only person he’d confided in was Mac, whose motto, Linc quickly discovered, was “Just do it!”

  Back in his own room, Linc sat at the table, then turned on the laptop to make a list of names and numbers to take along. But he kept thinking about the painting. Tori had just told him how much it meant to her. Why would she take it down? Why would she say one thing and do another?

  But then, women probably did a lot of things men didn’t understand. Maybe one day he’d remember.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  TORI AWOKE the next morning with a kink in her neck and her nerves in knots. She glanced at the clock. Two hours before they were to leave. After quickly showering and dressing in jeans, a black and white plaid shirt and boots, she pulled her hair into a ponytail and was ready. All she needed was to throw some clothes in an overnight bag.

  She went to the kitchen to make coffee, which was about all she had time for, and saw Linc in the pool with Mac, both smiling and laughing. They’d developed a strong friendship while they’d been working together and anyone watching might think they’d known each other all their lives. She went outside. “I’m going to take the dogs to Serena’s.”

  Her eyes lit when she saw the overnight priority mail envelope on the patio table. “What’s this?” she asked.

  “It was outside when I came,” Mac said. “I brought it in.”

  Knowing full well what it was since she’d requested it yesterday, she picked it up and read the address. “It’s for you, Linc. Did you know that?”

  “No. But I’ll look at it when I’m finished.”

  She didn’t want to wait around that long, and she had to make sure he opened it before they left. “It looks like something important.”

  Turning, she started to go into the house when Linc said, “Okay. Can you please hand it to me?”

  She walked it over to him as he paddled to the pool steps to sit, and then she handed him a towel to dry his hands.

  “Thanks,” he said, taking the envelope, then he glanced at the return address. “It’s from a bank. That’s strange. As far as I know, I didn’t have any bank accounts before my life went to hell.” He tore open the envelope, pulled out a letter and read it.

  Tori chuckled at his self-deprecating humor. “I’ll be back after I drop off the dogs,” Tori said.

  Linc raised his head, a look of amazement in his eyes. “This is unbelievable.”

  He handed her the letter. “Here, read it. Make sure I’m not delusional.”

  “You want me to read your mail?”

  He cracked a tiny smile. “I have no secrets from you. You know as much about me as I do.” His grin spread from ear to ear. “Go ahead. Read it. It’s good news.”

  She crouched and took the letter from him, and as she started to read, he said, “I can’t believe there are people who would actually send money to a stranger. Especially someone in my…sketchy situation.”

  Tori pretended to read the letter from the bank, which explained that people who’d read about his circumstances had sent money to the hospital to help pay for his expenses and get him on his feet again. The extra money had been put into an account for him, as would any further money that came in. Tori’s eyes widened as if surprised, too, then put the letter back in the envelope for him. “That’s really wonderful, Linc.”

  “The first thing I’m going to do is pay you back for everything you’ve done.”

  Which would defeat the whole purpose of the money. “No, you’re not. I can wait. You have other things you need to do and they come first.”

  He started to object, so she said, “I’ve got to go. We can talk on the way to Phoenix. Okay?”

  Mac, who’d been treading water in the pool and waiting for Linc, piped up, “That means we need to get to work.”

  Linc was still smiling when she left. And so was she. Everything was going to work out perfectly.

  Tori gathered food and supplies for the dogs, then drove to the Cosmic Bean. She recognized some of the vehicles parked out front. Sheriff Masterson’s cruiser, Clyde Turley’s truck and Ryan’s Harley. Serena hadn’t wanted to do a breakfast menu, and when she’d first opened The Bean had offered only a continental breakfast. But because there were only five, or sometimes six, people who came regularly, she’d decided she could make a breakfast work if she kept it simple. Tori usually had breakfast at The Bean a couple of times a week.

  After putting the dogs in the gated yard, Tori took
the dog food into the back storeroom and then went through the house to the café in front. Serena’s wayward brother, Ryan, sat at one table with Lucy, a woman a few years older than he was, and who was new to town. The barrel-chested sheriff sat at another, and Clyde, the town barber, who reminded her of the barber on the old Andy Griffith Show, sat with his wife Tess, the town hairstylist. Both worked in the same shop, but, as some in town would testify, they were territorial about their individual space and clients. Two strangers sat at different tables, one reading the newspaper and the other, a guy in a suit, talking on his cell phone.

  Tori greeted the gaggle with a wave and a smile, then sat at the counter to talk to Serena.

  “Latte?” Serena asked.

  “Absolutely. To go.” Though she didn’t need to get any more hyped than she already was. “Are you sure you don’t mind taking the dogs?”

  “I’d mind if you didn’t leave them here. But you have to promise to keep me posted. I’m worried about you doing this.”

  “I promise to call. And I’ll be fine. If you knew Linc like I’ve gotten to know him, you wouldn’t be worried in the least.”

  Her friend frowned. “It’s not him I’m worried about. It’s you.”

  Tori pulled back. “Me? What about me?”

  Serena leaned forward, one arm on the counter. Keeping her voice down, she said, “I don’t know how to say this other than to just say it. You’re getting in deeper and deeper. You’re getting emotionally invested, and that ain’t good.”

  Tori glanced around, too, making sure no one could hear. “I’m not emotionally invested.” She paused. “Okay, maybe I am, but how can I not be when I’m the one who caused everything that happened?”

  More frowns from Serena. “Don’t be obtuse. I’m not talking about that and you know it. You’re falling for the guy. And that has disaster plastered all over it.”

  Tori sobered. It was true. But she wasn’t falling…she was already there. And there was absolutely nothing she could do about it. “I’ll be fine. Really. I have to do this and I’ll deal with the rest later.”

  Serena raised a brow. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “Now you’re sounding like my mother, who, by the way, wants me to stay with her so I’m safe.”

  “Ew. Nothing against your mother, but I don’t want to be sounding like anyone that much older than me.”

  “Great. Then stop it.”

  “Okay. I’ve stopped.”

  “Who’s the suit on the phone?” Tori asked.

  “Some real estate guy wanting to buy Ryan’s old business for a client.”

  “It’s too bad Ry had to file for bankruptcy.”

  Serena stiffened. “It’s his own fault. I’ve done everything I can to help him and nothing seems to work.”

  “Time for some tough love?” Tori dumped some raw sugar into the latte Serena had handed to her.

  “Sometimes I wish I had it in me to do that. But I can’t. I’m the only one who has ever been there for him. You know that.”

  “I do. It’s called co-dependence.”

  Serena sighed. “I know it seems that way, doesn’t it. But this time, I’m sure it’s going to be different.”

  Tori saw the hope in Serena’s eyes. God, she hoped Ry didn’t disappoint Serena again.

  “You know there’s a parallel here,” Serena said. Or maybe a pot and kettle thing.”

  Tori arched a brow. “How so?”

  “You know how you’re always saying I feel responsible for Ryan’s problems, well, it looks kinda like that with you and your houseguest.”

  Tori gaped at her friend. “Good try, but no cigar. We’re talking about you, not me.” Even though there was truth in what Serena had said. Except it wasn’t a co-dependence issue. She was responsible…and Linc didn’t want her help. He was only there because he had no other choice.

  “Well, whatever problems Ryan’s had, I’m sure things will be different now. He seems more mature.”

  “Well, good. I’m glad. Do you know who wants to buy the business?” she asked.

  “Nope. But whoever it is must be an idiot.”

  “Maybe you ought to clue the real estate guy in on how little tourism there is in Spirit Creek and that his client would be better off buying in Sedona.”

  “I tried. He says his client loves Spirit Creek. I’d say it’s more likely he can’t afford Sedona.”

  “How about the other guy behind the newspaper?”

  “Not a clue. Probably passing through.”

  It occurred to Tori that she was getting as nosy as the town gossips she always complained about. “Okay, I’ve got to go. Linc should be done with his therapy by the time I get back.”

  Just then the sheriff walked over. “Mornin’, Tori.”

  She smiled. “Good morning, Karl. How’s the crime business?”

  “Keepin’ us busy. I’ve got nothing new for you on the gate, but I’ll keep driving by if you want?”

  “Thanks for keeping an eye out.” She was still concerned, but having Karl watching the place was comforting.

  “Just doin’ my job.”

  “Thanks, Karl.” Tori actually felt a sense of relief to be going to Phoenix with Linc…even though, with him staying at her place, she felt safer than she had since she was a child. She might’ve had that same feeling with Dylan if he hadn’t been away so often. Still, she couldn’t remember a time when the feeling wasn’t somewhere in the back of her mind. It was as if she was walking with a tiny pebble in her shoe—a constant reminder that something might happen that she had no control over.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  LINC YAWNED, raised his arms and tried to stretch his legs, but the space in the SUV was shorter than he was. He’d slept most of the way to Phoenix and awoke on the outskirts of Scottsdale. Mac had worked him harder than usual so he could show Linc some new exercises to do while he was gone. “Are we there yet?”

  “Funny.” Tori looked over, then back to the road. “You probably want to stop at the bank before anything else,” she said.

  “Good idea. I was thinking about the money and how I could use it to get a place of my own, but there’s not enough to keep up rent payments for any length of time.”

  “I don’t think you should worry about a place until you have a job.”

  “It’s been what? A month? You must be sick of me by now.”

  She grinned. “It is tough.”

  He looked up, surprised, then realized she was joking.

  “But, truth be told,” she said, pausing, “I enjoy the company.”

  “It would be hell if you didn’t,” he said holding back an ear to ear smile. He enjoyed her company so much he woke up each morning thinking about her. And smiling. Morning coffee was sometimes the highlight of his day. When she came into the kitchen, the room seemed brighter, and no matter if she’d just gotten out of bed and hadn’t showered yet, or when she had, she lifted his spirits. Although she hadn’t said she enjoyed “his” company, he sensed she did. Maybe she’d enjoy it so much… No. He banished the thought. Why would anyone want someone without a thing to offer?

  Fact was, he had to move on at some point, whether he remembered or not. “Mac told me about a job I might want to apply for when I’m on my feet again.”

  “Really?” She shifted in her seat, hands tightening on the wheel. “Where?”

  “Right down the street from Serena’s café. The Blue Moon Saloon.”

  “I thought it was closed down. And what kind of job would you get there anyway?”

  “It’s closed for renovation. It should be done about the time I’m able to get around a little better. Mac is part owner and he said they need a bartender.”

  “A bartender. Do you know how to do that?”

  “Not that I know of. But it can’t be too tough. I looked up some stuff on the Internet. Just a matter of knowing proportions and what to mix together.”

  “You’d be standing a lot.”

  “True
. Maybe I could have a stool behind the bar for when I need a rest.”

  “You might want to wait and see what happens.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “After talking with your friends, you might find out you have skills you don’t know about. They might have connections that would make you want to live in Phoenix or somewhere else. Also, you have a degree, so that counts for something, and then there’s your dad in California. I was thinking that since it’s not that far to drive over—”

  “What good is a degree when you don’t remember anything related to it?”

  She gave him an uncertain look, took a breath. “Well, you could find out some stuff today and—”

  “I may never know anything, Tori. I have to start making a life somehow, somewhere. If I find out things or remember them, I’ll deal with that when I need to. Right now, I need to get a life.”

  “What about your father? You said you have an address for him.”

  “I do.” He’d even called the man, said he was with the census bureau to verify he still lived there. He wanted to see the guy, talk to him, yet something inside rebelled at the thought. “But for it bothers me. I suppose it’s because he doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

  “Yeah. I’d probably feel the same. But as hard as it might be, I think it’s a good idea to see him.” She checked traffic in her rearview mirror. “Maybe he wasn’t as bad as you think. Maybe there are extenuating circumstances. Maybe you could be wrong about him.”

  He ground his teeth. “Maybe,” he said, keeping his tone light. He did that a lot when he was around Tori, because if he didn’t, he’d seem like the pathetic charity case he really was.

  But he couldn’t escape himself or his previous life, no matter what it turned out to be.

  “So, we can either drive to Los Angeles, or fly,” she said. “The flights from Phoenix are inexpensive compared to most, and it’s less time than driving.”

  He’d already checked it out. One hour on a plane and he could be talking to his father. If all he did was find out something about himself, his childhood, it could be worth it. It was possible, as Tori had said, that there might be more to the story. His mother may have refused to let Linc’s dad see him and his brother. He wouldn’t know anything for sure unless he went to the source. “We?”