His Unforgettable Fiancée

by Teresa Carpenter

  “Fine. The coffee has kept my body alert.”

  “Ah. And what’s your mind been busy with?”

  “Nothing. Everything.”

  “Well that narrows it down. Was wondering if I’m lying mixed in there somewhere?”

  “Yes. I discounted it.”

  Silence met her response. And then in a hoarse voice, he asked, “Why?”

  “The evidence supports your claim.” She told him truthfully, and more hesitatingly, “And I trust my gut.”

  “I’m glad.” He turned to stare out his window. “Because I’m trusting it, too.”

  She eyed his profile before focusing on the road again. “Then for both our sakes I hope it holds true.”

  “Do you have a job lined up in San Francisco?” Now she felt the weight of his gaze on her. “Is that why you’re headed there?”

  “I prefer the city.” Amenity was easier in the city.

  “Me, too.”

  “Another clue?”

  “Yeah, let’s call it that.” He sipped his coffee, then dropped the empty cup into the holder. “Losing the election causing you to question your career choice?”

  “My ego took a hit.” She lifted one shoulder, let it drop. “I’ll shake it off.”

  She hoped.

  “Good. You’re better than the lot of them.”

  “Really.” His endorsement tickled her, bringing out a rusty smile. “And you base your accolades on what exactly?”

  “On my observations. Everyone we talked to liked and respected you. It was a busy night, a holiday they were working, yet they thought enough of you to remember it was your last day and to wish you well in future endeavors. You would have won the election if you put a little effort into it. They’ll be missing you soon enough.”

  Hmm. What he said made sense. And she liked it better than her version where they were all thinking good riddance. People did like to know their opinion mattered. Maybe she should have campaigned a little.

  Too late now.

  “Yes, well, on to the next adventure.”

  “And what will that be? Do you have a job offer?”

  “I have options.” Her future loomed ominously ahead of her like the fog creeping up on the west side as she took the off-ramp in Santa Rosa. “A town in the next county over offered me an undersheriff position.” The city was bigger than Woodpark, but not by much. “And there are always patrol positions in San Francisco.”

  “You don’t sound too excited by those options.”

  “The undersheriff is a higher rank, but San Francisco holds more appeal. It’s a dilemma.”

  The truth? Neither of them appealed to her.

  “The undersheriff position holds some appeal, except for the location. I’ve seen too much of the world to be happy in a small town.”

  “Then why run for sheriff?”

  Because she thought she’d found acceptance.

  She explained how she got the job. “The people were decent for the most part and seemed to like me. For a while I felt like I belonged. But the election results don’t lie. I wasn’t one of them. The mayor’s brother-in-law was one of them.”

  It was an old lesson, well learned. And yet she’d fallen for it again. The need to belong. As a child she’d suffered with every base change until she learned to Bubble Wrap her emotions. And as an adult she’d stayed in more than one relationship longer than she should have.

  Her last boyfriend let her catch him cheating so she’d finally get the hint. Not one of her more stellar moments. Rather than fall into the pattern again, she’d stayed single for the past two years.

  “A position in San Francisco holds a lot of appeal locationwise. It’s a beautiful place with so much history and culture. The problem is it’s an expensive city to live in and a beat cop doesn’t make much.”

  “It would be a step backward for you.”

  There was that. “I don’t mind working my way up, but I really wanted something more, something to challenge my mind.”

  And she wanted a home. Someplace permanent. She appreciated what she’d seen of the world, and had more countries she longed to visit. But more than anything she wanted a place to come back to, a place to call home.

  “I’ll figure it out.” She pulled into the clinic parking lot. “We’re here.”

  * * *

  While JD had another MRI she found the cafeteria and got a cold soda. The idea of caffeine didn’t bother her. When her head finally found a pillow, nothing would keep her awake.

  Figuring she had a few minutes, she took a seat at a table, leaned her head against the wall and fell asleep.

  It seemed only an instant later she opened her eyes. She yawned and blinked her watch into focus. An hour had elapsed.

  Wondering when this night would end, she did a few stretches—oh, yeah, that felt good— gathered her soda and headed back to emergency. Clear down the hall she heard a ruckus going on and hurried toward the sound.

  “You can’t keep me here against my will,” JD declared. He sat on the side of the gurney facing the doctor, a plump woman in a white lab coat with lovely mocha-colored skin and beaded black braids clipped atop her head.

  He was refusing to be admitted at the doctor’s request. Stubborn man.

  “It’s just for observation.” The doctor spoke with resigned patience.

  “You said there was no additional swelling,” JD pointed out.

  “No. But you’ve sustained a severe concussion.” The woman responded. “I highly recommend you be admitted for tonight and possibly tomorrow. Head wounds are unpredictable. It’s for your own safety.”

  JD pushed to his feet. “I’m fine. I have the pain medicine the last doctor gave me. I can take care of myself.”

  “Sir, I really advise against leaving.” She shifted her bulk to block his exit. “You need bed rest. Trauma of this magnitude requires time to heal. At this stage just being on your feet walking around could result in more damage.”

  The mulish look on JD’s face revealed what he thought of her suggestion.

  “JD,” Grace interjected softly, “the night is almost over. Why don’t you rest for a few hours and I’ll come get you in the morning?” The stars knew it was what she longed to do. He could lie down and be out in a heartbeat. She still needed to find a hotel and check in before her head found a pillow.

  His shoulders went back and he gave one slow shake of his head. “I hate hospitals. I’ve spent too much time in them already tonight. I’ll rest better somewhere else. Anywhere else.”

  She sighed. He meant it. The tension in those wide shoulders, the clenched jaw, the faint flicker of panic in his emerald eyes told her his dislike went deeper than memories. He really intended to leave.

  “You’ve done enough,” he told her. “Thank you for all your help. I can take it from here.”

  It was the wrong thing to say. He tried sliding past the doctor, but she had her moves on, keeping him pinned while signaling to a nurse.

  “Sir, we really can’t release you without adult supervision. This level of traumatic brain injury results in disorientation and confusion. You represent a danger to yourself and others.”

  JD did not back down. “I need you to get out of my way.”

  “Get security.” The doctor instructed the nurse.

  Time to defuse the situation. “Doctor, we understand your concern. Of course he won’t be alone. He’s been lucid all night. You’ve confirmed the swelling hasn’t gotten any worse. He’s clearly determined to go. Won’t causing him mental duress be worse than allowing him to leave?”

  Faced with his stubborn determination, the doctor saw the sense in Grace’s calm argument. “You’ll be with him?”

  JD opened his mouth. She shot him a don’t-you-dare glare.

  “Yes.”

  “And you’ll bring him back in the morning?” The doctor pressed.

  Green eyes narrowed. Grace agreed the physician was pushing it.

  “I’ll see he gets the care he needs.”r />
  The woman reluctantly agreed. She noted her concerns on the release form and reiterated her instructions and the symptoms to be concerned over.

  “Mismatched pupils, vomiting, excessive sleepiness.” Grace rattled off the last of the list. “Doctor, you’ve been very helpful. I think I should get him somewhere to lie down. Good night.”

  Taking JD’s arm she led him away, not releasing him until they were out the door. “Don’t look back.” She warned him. “She might change her mind.”

  “They couldn’t keep me against my will.” He bit out.

  “She’s not wrong. With the concussion you’re not thinking clearly.”

  “You told her I’ve been lucid all night.”

  “And you have. That doesn’t mean you’re making good decisions. You should have been admitted. At least for the rest of tonight.”

  Halfway across the driveway to the parking lot, Grace realized JD wasn’t keeping pace with her. She swung around to find him hovering near the exit. She started toward him.

  “Do you want me to pick you up?” Dang, she should have thought of that. She’d just been extolling his injuries but she kept forgetting how extensive they really were.

  “No.” He closed the gap between them. Surprised her when he bent to kiss her cheek. “Thanks for all you’ve done. I wouldn’t have made it through the night without you.” He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. “But I can’t take advantage of you any longer. It’s time to say goodbye.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “GOODBYE?” GRACE REPEATED. Then, more forcefully, “Goodbye?”

  “Thank you for everything.” He turned to walk away.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” She jumped into his path, pointed her finger toward her Escape. “You don’t like hearing the truth so you’re just going to walk away? Forget that noise. Get in the vehicle. Now.”

  He scowled. “You’re no longer the sheriff and I’m not your prisoner. I appreciate your help. But I’ll be fine. The test tech gave me the address for a local shelter. I can take it from here.”

  “No.” She blocked his attempt to walk by her. “You can’t. I just vouched for you in there, meaning I’m responsible for your butt. Like it or not, you are in my care. We’ll be sticking together like sauce on spaghetti until I’m sure you’ve regained your faculties.”

  Which included the rest of the night at the very least. More likely twenty-four to forty-eight hours. At three-thirty in the morning exhaustion prevented her from thinking beyond that. The night nurse had recommended a nearby hotel. She planned to check in and immediately check out.

  This delay was not making her a happy camper.

  “I don’t like it.” He declared. He picked her up, set her aside and headed toward the street. “Good luck with the job search.”

  In a heartbeat she stood in his way, hand to his chest. “You don’t want to mess with me, JD. Get in the car.”

  He struck out in a defensive move. She countered and they engaged in a brief tussle. He knew karate. And he was good. She was better. And she wasn’t injured. In a few moves she had him on one knee. She released him.

  “I’m sorry.” He ran a hand over his neck. “I didn’t mean to fight you. It was instinct.”

  “I get that. But stop battling me.” Weariness dragged at her. “Neither of us has the energy for it. Listen, I can’t let you wander off alone. If something happened to you or to someone because of you, I’d feel responsible. There’s a hotel a few blocks away. Let’s just go there for the rest of the night and see how you’re doing tomorrow.”

  He walked by her toward the parking lot. “Let’s go, then. I’m beginning to see why the citizens of Woodpark voted against you.”

  Grace flinched. Okay, that hurt more than it should have. She’d stood by his side all night and the first time she challenged him he struck out at her. She understood he was upset with the circumstances more than with her. Still, it felt personal.

  Following after him, she clicked the locks open. They traveled the few blocks to the hotel in silence. Unfortunately, the hotel the nurse recommended looked small and shabby. Thankfully it had a sold-out sign in the window, taking the choice of staying there out of Grace’s hands.

  She was tired enough not to care where she laid her head tonight. Still, she preferred not to suffer regrets in the morning. A quick scan on her phone for local hotels brought up several national chains. She went with Pinnacle Express because they were known for their good service. She plugged the address into the GPS while JD called and made a reservation.

  Given the need to monitor his health and his attempt to walk away, she told him to make it one room with two beds. He lifted one brow but didn’t question her.

  When they reached the room, JD disappeared into the bathroom. She heard the shower turn on as she tossed her duffel bag on the nearest bed. Energy gone, she dropped into the only armchair to wait her turn. She had barely closed her eyes when she heard the door opening. Dragging heavy lids open, she watched him stroll across the room in gray knit boxer briefs.

  He moved like poetry in motion. Graceful, muscles flowing with every step. So beautiful that for a moment she wondered if she was dreaming. The ugliness of his scar stripped the dream quality away. She sat up.

  More alert, she noticed he moved carefully on his way to the bed. He didn’t acknowledge her, simply sprawled out on his stomach and went to sleep. He didn’t even cover up but lay with his tight, knit-clad butt facing her and went to sleep. Already soft snores filled the silence.

  Shaking her head she set her phone alarm to wake him in a few hours to check him out. Yeah, that was going to be a joyous chore.

  Let him sulk.

  She wouldn’t compromise her principles because he thought he was fine when medical science and personal experience told her his judgment was off right now. Better he be pouting than be dead.

  She was reaching for the energy to get up and shower when she fell asleep.

  * * *

  An insistent beeping woke Grace. She opened her eyes to a strange room dimly lit by light from a bathroom. She stretched her neck, working out kinks.

  It took a moment to remember where she was—a less than comfortable armchair in a hotel in Santa Rosa—and who she was with—a man she’d known less than six hours. A record for her. She was strictly a third-date-or-longer gal.

  She shut off the annoying sound of the alarm and ran her fingers through her hair, taming spiked ends she could feel poking out at odd angles. After one last roll of her neck, she pushed to her feet. Half-asleep, she stumbled to his bedside.

  Time to check JD’s vitals, to torture him with more questions about his friend the president and what year it was. He was so out of it he hadn’t heard the alarm going off.

  “JD,” she called his name. No movement. She called again, louder. Nothing.

  She reached out to shake him then pulled her hand back. He still sprawled across the bed, naked except for the knit boxers that clung to his hard backside. Nowhere to touch besides smooth, bare skin. Fingers curled into her palm in instinctive self-preservation.

  Already attracted, touching him seemed risky, almost a violation. But she was no longer a sheriff, just a Good Samaritan no longer bound by strict protocols. Which almost made touching him worse. Duty would drive her to see to his health.

  And this was no different. Giving a mental tug at her big-girl panties, she placed her hand on his shoulder and shook. She was seeing to his health.

  Uh-huh, so why did it feel as if she was stroking a lover? Snatching her hand back, she stood back and waited.

  He didn’t move. Dang it.

  “JD.” She shook him harder. He shifted, moving his head from one side to the other so he now faced her but he continued to sleep. Boy, he was out. Of course he’d had a long day.

  Yeah, and hers was growing longer by the minute. Wait, why was she waking him? Oh, yeah, because of the concussion.

  Half-asleep, she perched on the edge of the bed, and getting right
down next to his ear, she said his name louder and gave him another shake. He shot up, rolling over and sitting up in one smooth motion. His eyes popped open, focused on her. The wanting in them sent a tingle down her spine.

  They were face-to-face, eye to eye with nothing but knit boxer briefs and her suddenly inadequate clothes between them.

  “Grace,” he said.

  Flustered and distracted at hearing him use her name for the first time, she was unprepared when he swept her into his arms and pulled her to him.

  “Uh, JD.” She wiggled and shifted. Trying to push away? If so, she failed. The way he held her, she only succeeded in rubbing her hip against him, causing his body to react. Not good. Her hands went to his chest, ready to push him away. The feel of his skin, the heat under her hands addled her senses.

  “Oh.”

  “Grace,” he whispered, and wrapping a hand around her head he pulled her to him as he lowered his head. He kissed her softly, slowly. A gentle caress, sexy but soothing at the same time. Then the contrary man slid his tongue into her mouth and, oh, he tasted good. She fought hard to throttle back her desire, to ease the growing passion. No easy task when all she wanted was to draw him to her for a long sensual snuggle.

  He broke off the kiss, nibbled a path along her jaw and nuzzled a kiss behind her ear. She sighed and her body went limp in his arms.

  “You’re killing me here, JD.”

  He went still. And then pulled back, slowly disengaging his body from hers. He blinked once, twice. She knew immediately when confusion vanished and he became aware of where he was and what he was doing.

  Her cheeks heated when he pushed away from her, not stopping until his back hit the headboard. Could he get far enough away?

  “Uh, sorry.” He apologized. “I don’t usually grab women in my sleep.” His dark brows pushed together. “At least I don’t think I do.”

  She cleared her throat, reminded herself he was injured even though her body still reeled from the strength and warmth of his. “Don’t worry about it. Concussions—”

  He stopped her by blurting out the name of the president.

  She frowned. “What?”