“It’s what a parent does.” She shrugged and studied her toes gripping the edge of the coffee table to keep from gazing at Holden.
“I should remember if I have kids, shouldn’t I?” He huffed out a breath and raked his hand through his hair. The strands stood straight up for a moment then fell back into place perfectly. Little lines of worry creased the corners of his eyes, and Johanna wanted to soothe them away.
“Give yourself time, Holden.” You can stay here as long as you want. Please stay.
“I could even be married.” He looked to Johanna, then down to his left hand. “No ring.”
“I did notice that.” It had been one of the first things she’d noticed about him when she’d seen him in the hospital. “But maybe you don’t wear one. Lots of guys don’t. Guys who work with their hands.” She reached across the cushion between them and took Holden’s hand. Running her fingers over the small scars and calluses, she said, “These look like hands that have seen some work.”
An awkward moment stretched between them as Johanna smoothed her fingers over Holden’s palms. Catching herself, she stopped and forced her hands into her own lap.
“But if I had a wife and kids, wouldn’t they be looking for me? Wouldn’t they know my flight plan if I’m really a pilot? Wouldn’t the hospital be able to find them if they existed?” He’d appeared so calm these past two days, but clearly the amnesia was weighing on him. Johanna tried to ignore the part of her that was happy no one appeared to be looking for him.
That made Holden more hers than anyone else’s.
Chapter Eight
He’s out of the hospital.
Sabrina stared at the text message from Aaron. She’d put him in charge of keeping an eye on the Holden situation. Obviously, her assistant was the only one she could trust to get anything done. The fool she’d hired to damage the engine of the corporate plane had let her down. She’d certainly paid for more than getting the job half done. One dead pilot wasn’t enough. She needed two.
That doctor had told her Holden had amnesia, and she’d assumed he’d be in the hospital for at least a few more days. How had he escaped a crash like the one he’d been in with only a concussion and minor scrapes and bruises? She’d seen pictures of the plane taken by the team she’d sent out to clean up the mess. It had been good and mangled. No reason Holden Lancaster should still be alive. None.
After looking around the conference table at the San Fran execs still hashing out the details of the first shipment of altered DE products, she texted Aaron back.
Where?
A moment passed before he responded. Graphic designer picked him up.
Sabrina recalled the phone conversation she’d had with Johanna Ware. The question was did Ware still think Holden worked for DE? If she did, she might decide to help him remember what he’d forgotten. What he was better off forgetting.
This wouldn’t do.
What do we know about her? she texted.
A link to a website appeared on the touch screen. She clicked it. WareTeez. com came up, and Sabrina vaguely remembered visiting this site when deciding whether or not to hire Ware to design the DE logo. She was again impressed with the woman’s work, but this only told about Johanna Ware professionally. Only displayed her skills and her gorgeous photo. Holden was no doubt more than happy the red-headed beauty had come to his aid.
An angry coil of jealousy unrolled inside Sabrina’s gut. Holden was supposed to be hers to fuck.
What else?
Another link came up on her phone. This one was to a newspaper article. The headline read Local Banker Alex Ware Arrested, Daughter Killed in Crossfire. Now this was something. Sabrina skimmed the article long enough to find where Alex was doing his time.
Time to shake things up. She detailed her wishes to Aaron and set her phone on the conference table. Johanna Ware would regret getting involved with Holden Lancaster. Sabrina would make sure of it.
****
“That’s too much syrup, Pep!” Kam’s giggles wafted down the stairs, and Holden stretched out his legs on the couch. His feet hit something solid, so he raised his head to find Miles sleepily blinking at him.
“Hey, dog.” Holden sat up and Miles licked the bottom of his bare foot. “Uh, thanks.”
The dog jumped down from the couch and did that all over body shake that dogs do. He then inched up toward Holden’s face and pushed his wet nose into Holden’ cheek.
“You make a great alarm clock, Miles.” Holden scratched around the dog’s ears until a pink tongue lolled over canine teeth. “Do I smell French toast?”
He slid his legs over the side of the couch and stood. Looking around the basement, he decided it was a good place for him to bunk while he was staying here. A little secluded from the family. From Johanna. A wise move.
After she’d touched his hand on the couch last night, he hadn’t been sure he’d be able to tear himself from her company. One thought of sleeping with her on that same couch and his mind formed mental images best left to adult programming. Her fingertips had been so soft, silky. What would they feel like combing over his…
What are you doing? Playing a dangerous game, that’s what he was doing. A game he couldn’t win. He reminded himself that he was here in Johanna’s house temporarily. This wasn’t permanent. This wasn’t his home. It was limbo, an in-between place until his damn memory decided to make an appearance. Was it going to come back in little drips? A remembered construction ability, a recalled fascination with racecars. How long was this going to take?
How long would Johanna let him stay?
She’d told him to take his time with his memory, but surely that didn’t mean he had an unlimited invitation to hang out in Nebraska. Did it?
“Save some for Holden, Pep.” Kam’s voice reached him again, and he visited the bathroom. When he came out, he spotted a pile of clothes on the armrest of the couch. He slipped on the blue T-shirt and jeans and climbed the stairs.
In the kitchen, Ted and Kam sat at the table in the middle of a French toast feeding frenzy.
“Hey, Holden!” Kam popped up from his seat and pulled out a chair for Holden. “In another few minutes, there wouldn’t have been any French toast left. Pep is eating enough for an entire army.”
“Johanna’s French toast is heaven.” Ted waved a piece on his fork, then shoved it into his mouth.
“Where is Johanna?” Holden gestured to her empty seat across from him, a seat he wished was full.
“Mom’s working for a few hours this morning,” Kam said as he poured orange juice for Holden. “Then we’re going shopping for birthday party supplies, and you’re coming!” The boy’s eyes shined with pure joy.
“Good luck to you.” Ted passed the platter of French toast to Holden. “You’d better eat up. Sounds like you’re in for a tough day.”
Kam slid the syrup toward Holden. “Don’t listen to Pep. Shopping with Mom is fun. There’s usually ice cream. You might not remember ice cream, but you’ll want to eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
“I can’t wait then,” Holden said.
“Guaranteed you’ll be singing a different tune by the time you come back home,” Ted said.
The word home echoed in Holden’s head, and he pushed it out of his mind. Tried to anyway. This wasn’t his home.
“Where do you go for lumber and such around here?” Holden asked. Focusing on Ted’s cabin might get his head on straight, a head that did ache so much this morning.
“Parker’s Lumberyard. I already told Johanna you’d want to make a stop there and to Reggie’s Building Supply Company across the street from the lumberyard.” Ted leaned back and peered out one of the back windows. “I can make a call today and have that rubble removed. Got a buddy who owes me a favor.”
“Great. I’ll make a list of what we need to get started.” Holden liked having a task, a plan to follow. Not remembering parts of his past and not knowing what the future held made him feel aimless. Building Ted’s cabin ga
ve him a purpose. Hopefully it would keep him from thinking so much about Johanna and her soft fingers.
He bit into a piece of French toast and let out a groan. He pictured Johanna’s soft fingers making this breakfast.
“Told you,” Ted said. “Heaven with a sprinkle of cinnamon right there.”
Damn. Cabin building was not enough to keep Holden from thinking about Johanna.
“You tell Parker and Reggie to put everything you buy from them on my account. When my insurance check comes in, I’ll square them away.” Ted finished his breakfast and handed his plate to Kam who was already cleaning up. “I’ll put in a call to my electrician and plumber buddies unless you know that stuff too.”
Holden stopped mid-chew and paused for a moment. C’mon, man. Think. He shook his head. “I don’t remember. Sorry.”
“No need to be sorry, kid. You’ll be doing enough just building the structure. Besides, my buddies would probably kill me if I farmed the work out to a new guy.”
Holden nodded and finished his juice. His mind was Swiss cheese. He was pretty sure he hated Swiss cheese.
“That looks good.” Ted pointed to Holden’s stitched arm. The angry, puffy redness that had surrounded the cuts had gone away and so had the itchiness.
“My headache is gone too,” Holden added. “Just a little soreness in the ribs still.” He peeked under the table where Ted’s leg was propped on Johanna’s chair. “How’s that feel?”
“Like someone used it as a baseball bat.” Ted shrugged and moved his leg off the chair. “I know I’m an old man, but I usually don’t feel it, you know?”
“You’re not old, Pep.” Kam dropped soapsuds on the kitchen floor when he turned around from the sink.
“Thanks, kid. You’re not short either.” Ted elbowed Holden as if to say, Watch this.
Kam’s body stilled by the sink, his mouth hanging open. “That was mean, Pep. Mean.”
“Maybe your mom will buy you some stilts for your birthday.” Ted roared with laughter. “What do you think, Holden? Think he’ll ever grow?”
“I was a short kid,” Holden said. “Now I’m over six feet tall.”
Kam studied Holden for a silent moment. “Do you really remember being a short kid?”
Holden dropped his gaze. “No.”
“Thanks anyway.” Kam glared at Ted. “You, however...” With super-speed, he grabbed the kitchen sink hose and fired a spray of water directly at Ted.
His aim was off a bit, and though Ted did get the brunt of the assault, Holden’s neck took a hit as well. Water dribbled down his skin and soaked the shoulder of his T-shirt. He held up the empty French toast platter and used it like a shield. Kam’s laughter mixed with Ted’s and before he knew it, Holden was laughing too. Really laughing. Laughing like he belonged among these people.
****
Johanna couldn’t concentrate on her work with all that male laughter going on out in the kitchen. What are they doing in there? She wanted to be bothered by it, but in truth, it was music to her ears. Kam’s high giggles blended so well with Ted’s low guffaws and Holden’s raspy chuckles. She closed her eyes and committed the sounds to memory.
When Alex and Kallie were here, they used to laugh all the time. They couldn’t get through an entire meal without someone doing something that made the rest of them erupt in laughter. Watching Kam and Kallie interact with each other had been akin to watching cartoon character antics.
Holden’s voice rose above the laughter. “Truce! Truce!”
She smiled and wondered if Holden had slept okay in the basement. It was comfortable down there, but so…remote. She had liked walking past the guestroom knowing he was just beyond that closed door. Downstairs was a galaxy away.
Just as well. She didn’t need temptation a door down from her bedroom. And Holden Lancaster was temptation in a handsome package. Simply running her fingers along his palms last night on the couch had caused a heat to grow deep inside her. A fire only Holden could both start and extinguish.
“I’m telling Mom what you said, Pep!” Kam screeched.
Johanna finished up the estimate she had been working on and hit send on her email. She’d managed to tie up a few loose ends so she could spend the majority of the day with Holden.
With Kam, she corrected.
Yes, Holden would be tagging along to get started on Ted’s cabin and buy some clothes as he’d asked, but the day was about Kam and preparing for his birthday. As long as she remembered that, she’d be okay.
After pushing away from her desk, she left her office and entered the kitchen. The floor by the sink was covered with soapsuds, and the table was streaked with lines of water as were Holden and Ted. Miles was lapping at a puddle on the floor.
“Exactly what is going on out here?”
The three males froze at the sound of her voice. Johanna wished she had a camera to capture the guilty expressions on their faces. Priceless.
“Mom, Pep said I was short.” Kam let another stream of water loose on Ted.
Ted held up his hands to block the spray. “He is short.”
Johanna looked at Holden who shook his head. “I am not involved in this.”
“Your shirt is wet,” Johanna pointed out.
“I’m merely a casualty caught in the crossfire.” Holden’s neck was dotted with water droplets, and Johanna had the urge to lick them off his skin.
She focused her gaze on the bubble-covered floor. “Well, Kam, these two men are on the injured list, so I’m afraid clean-up is on you, sweetie.”
Kam shifted the hose nozzle to aim at Johanna, a devilish grin on his normally sweet little face.
“Don’t even think about it.” She wagged a finger at him.
“Do it,” Ted urged.
And just like that, a whip of water lashed out at her. Hitting her square between the breasts, her shirt was instantly soaked. “Kam!” Her hands did little to block the torrent.
“I’ll save you, my lady!” Holden jumped to his feet with the French toast platter. He stood in front of Johanna, catching a gush of water in the stomach before he put the makeshift shield into position. Water slapped the plastic platter and sprayed out in six different directions.
Johanna huddled behind Holden, her hands clamped onto his waist as she ducked for cover. This war was making a mess of her kitchen, but she hadn’t played like this in so long. So long.
“We’re moving in,” Holden called over his shoulder. He inched forward with Johanna hiding behind him. Soon they were directly in front of Kam, water making a loud smack against the platter.
Holden reached his arm over the platter and grabbed the hose. Kam let out a squeal as Holden turned the nozzle on the boy.
“I didn’t want to have to do this, Kam,” Holden said, “but you’ve left me no choice.” He hosed Kam down completely.
Trapped in a corner to the left of the sink, Kam sank to the floor, his arms over his head while he laughed until he gasped for air.
“Do you surrender?” Johanna asked, still gripping Holden’s waist though she had no need to.
“Yes, yes! I do!” Kam let out a cough and slicked his soaked hair back with his hand.
Holden released the nozzle and the water shut off. “Wise move.” He made as if to put the hose back in its place at the sink, but he did a quick about-face and hit Kam with one more blast. He high-fived Johanna and threw Ted the dish towel.
“You started this.” Holden pointed to Ted.
“Guilty, but it sure livened things up, didn’t it?” He grinned as he wiped his face.
“We don’t normally behave this way in front of company,” Johanna said as Holden wrung his T-shirt into the sink. When he turned around, he raked a hand through his dark, wet hair as Kam had, but the effect was totally different. Time stood still as she gazed at him. Holden’s eyes were a brilliant blue with his hair all pushed back from his face. She’d never seen anything quite so piercing, so sensual. She wanted him naked. The desire was burning hot, demanding
.
“Holden’s not company.” Kam’s voice snapped her out of her fantasy.
“What, honey?” She shook her head and folded her arms across her chest once she realized her T-shirt was wet and plastered to her breasts. Her taut-nippled breasts.
“Holden. He’s not company. Not really.”
Holden stood very still by the sink looking at Johanna. What is he thinking?
“Nah,” Ted added. “Anyone that comes to the rescue during a tornado, and defends your honor,” he pointed to Johanna, “when under an aquatic attack from your dwarf son is more than company. He’s at a deeper level now.”
“Well, thanks, Ted.” Holden nodded at the older man, looking genuinely touched. “I appreciate that.”
Ted saluted him. “Kam, run along and get some towels.”
Kam scrambled to his feet and down the hall. When he returned, Ted was getting up from his chair and grabbing the crutches.
“All this fun made me sleepy,” he announced. “Think I’ll get a little more shut-eye.” He whistled for Miles who had watched the battle from the edge of the living room. “What do you say, pup? Keep me company?”
Miles let out a single bark and trotted after Ted as he lumbered into the living room.
“Do you need anything?” Johanna asked.
“Just some quiet. You folks are a rowdy bunch.” He eased down onto the couch after wiping himself with the towel Kam handed him and flicked on the TV. “Wake me when you guys get back.”
Turning back to the kitchen, Johanna watched as Holden and Kam mopped up the floor. There was still some playful spritzing of each other as they worked, and her heart warmed at the sight of it. She hadn’t seen Kam that happy in a while. He wasn’t a depressed kid, but she knew he took life way more seriously than most kids his age. Losing a sibling, especially a twin, took a toll even on the most resilient souls.
After extracting a mop from the hall closet, Johanna joined the cleaning effort. Within fifteen minutes, the kitchen was back to its usual orderly state.
“Sorry for the mess, Mom.” Kam looked up at her with those big, dark eyes, water still rolling down from his hair.
Kisses to Remember Page 12
