Kisses to Remember

by Christine DePetrillo

  He wandered to the hallway and checked out a half-bath at the base of a staircase. After opening the drawers of the small vanity, he let out a breath when he didn’t find makeup, fruit-scented lotions, or hair accessories among his toothpaste. He climbed the stairs where he expected the two bedrooms and full bathroom that greeted him. He tried the bathroom first and again came up empty of evidence that anyone lived there besides him. All he found were shaving supplies, extra toilet paper, shampoo, soap, a first aid kit, a comb and brush, another toothbrush, paste, and floss, and a bottle of hair gel which he remembered using on the handful of dates he’d gone on in the last three years.

  Encouraged, he stepped into the bedroom to the left of the bathroom. It was empty save for a few free weights and a treadmill. Even the closet was sparsely inhabited by a mere two suitcases.

  The master bedroom was his final stop. The walls were hunter green as he had remembered painting them. A queen-sized bed with a black comforter took up most of the space. One wall was lined with a tall dresser, the other with a shorter mirrored bureau. Both were painted black with antique white paint artfully showing through some cracked and sanded spots. The room’s only window looked out at the house behind him. The McGoverns’ house—Mark and Dennis McGovern who had married a year ago. Holden remembered going to their wedding and warning Vaughn to quit calling him “sweetheart” and holding his hand as if they too were a couple.

  “Jesus, Vaughn, who’s going to make sure I don’t spend all my time in the garage with a racecar?”

  Instantly, Johanna’s face appeared in his mind. She was certainly better than any racecar. He sat on the edge of his bed and picked up the cordless phone on the nightstand. He dialed Johanna’s number, and as soon as he heard her voice he decided that this house in Texas may be his, but home was with Johanna in Nebraska.

  “It’s just me,” he said.

  “Hi, Just Me.” Johanna laughed.

  “No, Johanna. I mean it’s just me here. There’s nothing in this house that points to a family and I haven’t had any memories of a wife or kids.”

  “Yes! I’m happy dancing around my office right now. Holden, this is wonderful news. You’re mine!”

  Her excitement was contagious. God, he wanted to be with her right now. To hold her. To kiss her. To make love to her. He had to finish up here as fast as he could.

  “I’m all yours.” Liking the sound of that and Johanna’s squeal, he got up and walked to his closet. “I’m going to visit DE headquarters in a few and see what’s going on there.”

  “Then you’ll come back?” Her voice was hopeful, but hesitant.

  “Johanna, I want to come back now.” He opened the closet and flipped through the shirts and pants looking for his white DE polo shirts and black dress pants. Where were they? He remembered keeping them in the closet. Folding them caused wrinkling, and he wasn’t the ironing type.

  “Holden?”

  “Huh, yeah?” Why couldn’t he find his uniform?

  “Did you hear what I said?” Johanna asked.

  “Uh, no.” He opened a few drawers on the dresser but knew that wasn’t where he kept the polo shirts and dress pants. His heart pumped a little extra hard in his chest.

  “What’s wrong?” Johanna’s tone had an anxious edge to it now.

  “I’m not sure yet, but…” He went to the other bureau and came up empty-handed again.

  “But what?”

  “I think someone’s been in my house. I can’t find my DE shirts. I know I ruined one crashing a plane, but I had three others and black dress pants hanging in my closet. They’re gone.”

  “Oh, Holden, come back now. Please. Don’t go to DE. You don’t need them. Carl will give you a job.”

  “And I’m going to take that job, but I have to know what’s going on here, Johanna. I have to put Texas in a neat little box so I can move on. With you.” He headed for the stairs.

  “I like the sound of that last part, but I’m afraid for you. The CEO of DE? Sabrina Donovan? Do you remember her?”

  He sat on the couch and rifled through the magazines looking for anything DE-related. “No. That name is still not familiar, and I can’t picture what she looks like.”

  “Think vampire with short, white-blond hair. She was pretty bitchy when I worked on the DE logo and she wasn’t much friendlier when I called looking for information on you. I think she can be ruthless.”

  “You don’t get to be CEO if you’re everyone’s best friend.”

  “No, but you do get people to do whatever you want them to do when you’re CEO.”

  “I deserve to know why she would deny knowing me. Why she wouldn’t do anything about Vaughn. Why she couldn’t send someone to get me. Not that I wanted to be retrieved once you came for me, but you see what I’m saying, don’t you?”

  “I guess so, but I don’t like it. I still think you should come home. Home to me. Home to Kam. Home to Ted, who has been staring at his cabin willing it to build itself.”

  Holden let out a laugh. “I’m going to come home, but I need answers first. When I come back to Nebraska, I want it to be for forever, Johanna.”

  A moment of absolute silence came from Johanna’s end. Had they had been disconnected?

  “Johanna?”

  “I love you, Holden.” Her words melted him. “And I look forward to showing you how much when you return.”

  “Not playing fair, are you?”

  “Nope.” She let out a husky, seductive laugh that hardened him. “I’ve got to get to my meeting. Please, I know I said it before, but be careful. I nursed you back to health once. I’d do it again, but I’d rather not. I just want to enjoy you, Mr. Lancaster.”

  “Sounds good to me. Call you tonight?”

  “You’d better.”

  He hung up the phone and stared at it in his lap for several long seconds. Part of him wanted to take Johanna’s suggestion and just fly back to Nebraska. He could probably pack up some of his stuff, ship it to her house, and remotely handle the sale of his property. It didn’t make sense to rush though. He’d had a life here and should take a few days to reabsorb himself. He was starting to feel right in his own skin again, and a little time in Texas could only improve that sensation. Then he could return to Johanna as a complete man, not as some misfit stick figure.

  Plus, there was that racecar in the garage…

  He hoisted himself off the couch, meaning to check the car out further, but stopped at a series of shelves on the living room wall. A single photograph occupied one of the shelves. The other two had trophies he remembered winning in races. He picked up the framed picture and ran a finger over the two people standing on either side of him.

  His parents.

  How could you have forgotten them? He shook his head as the memory of his mother’s cancer came rushing back. God, how she had suffered. Once she was gone, it only took three months for his dad to follow her. Only he hadn’t been sick. Holden was certain his father had died of a broken heart. The man was completely lost without his wife. Holden had moved his father in with him, but the guy never perked up. After a flight one night, Holden had come home to find his father had passed while sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea—something his parents had enjoyed nightly. He now understood the bond his parents had shared.

  While looking at the picture in his hands, every childhood memory flashed like a series of rapid-fire snapshots in his mind. Baseball games, family trips, a dog named Shimmy, a big house in Dallas, the first time his father had taken him to a race, the cakes his mother used to bake for his birthday. All of it colored in the blank pages of his memory. He was warmed and lonely at the same time. He wished Johanna and Kam were with him.

  “Time to unravel the DE mystery and get back to the people that matter.” He set the picture of his parents on his carry-on bag and grabbed the keys to his rented car. The days working for DE before the plane crash were still a huge question mark. Only a visit there would unlock the memories. Only a visit ther
e would set him free.

  ****

  “Mr. Salisberg, nice to see you.” Johanna extended her hand to the man already seated at the table at Café Coeur. The only place of its kind in town, the café had a sign proclaiming “Valentine’s Best Coffee—Drink Your Heart Out.” Johanna had straightened the sign in the window on her way in. After all, she’d designed it. The red, heart-shaped mug of coffee on the sign had made the owners—twin sisters—squeal with delight. Johanna had done the work without pay in exchange for being allowed to eat and drink free at the café whenever she wanted. She held many business meetings there and drew new customers in for the sisters. A good deal all around.

  Mr. Salisberg rose from his seat as he took Johanna’s hand. “Please call me Evan. This is our third meeting, right? We can shift to first names, can’t we?” He offered her a smile, showing off bright white teeth. Too bright. Like cosmetically enhanced white. They went with his short, gelled-in-place black hair, silver-framed glasses, and tanning bed tan. Attractive, but too fake for Johanna’s taste. She much preferred Holden’s naturally handsome features.

  “Sure. You can call me Johanna then.”

  “Wonderful.” He gestured to the seat across from him and Johanna eased into it, settling her laptop case on the floor beside her.

  One of the twins came over. Meri? Or was it Dina? Johanna could never tell until they spoke.

  “Hiya, Johanna.” Definitely Meri. “Haven’t seen you in a while.”

  “I know. I’ve been…” She pictured Holden and her insides got all tingly. “I’ve been involved in a pretty big project.” Not necessarily a lie. Falling in love was a project. One she was so happy she’d taken on. Getting that phone call from Holden saying he was free to be with her, and more importantly, that he wanted to be with her had made her heart soar. She’d been holding her breath since he’d gotten out of the Bronco and walked into the airport.

  “I hope he comes back,” Kam had said from the back seat.

  “Me too, baby. Me too.”

  And now he was coming back. If…no, when everything went smoothly at DE, he’d be back in her arms.

  “Well, it’s good to see you,” Meri said. “What can I get you?” She looked at Evan first, assuming he was a client like she always did, but her gaze lingered on his face for a moment longer than necessary.

  “I’ll have a decaf coffee and what do you suggest from that case over there? I’ve been eyeing it since I walked in and am incapable of making a decision. It all looks good.” He let his gaze roam down the length of Meri then back up to her face.

  “It is all good,” Johanna said. “Meri and Dina work magic with sugar and flour.”

  Meri knocked a fist into Johanna’s shoulder. “Thanks.” She looked back at the pastry case then back to Evan with a grin. “You look like a serious pie man. Am I right?”

  “You are.”

  “Our blueberry pie is what I’d suggest for you then.” Meri smiled, pulling her dark hair over one shoulder, and Evan smiled right on back.

  Johanna sat back in her chair, enjoying the subtle flirting unfolding before her eyes. Nice, she thought. Everyone should be in love like me. She squashed down the urge to sigh contentedly and grabbed her laptop.

  “The usual for you, Johanna?” Meri put her pad away in her apron.

  “Yep. Thanks.”

  As Meri walked away, Evan leaned in closer, his gaze still following the slim-formed, dark-haired owner. “You come here often?”

  “I conduct a lot of business here, yes.” Johanna powered up her laptop, preparing to present her design options to Evan who owned a chain of vegetarian restaurants called Peppers. She’d eaten at the local one several times and though she was undoubtedly a carnivore, she’d enjoyed the food.

  Evan shifted in his seat. “Is that waitress—”

  “Available? I can check.” Johanna winked at Evan and his cheeks pinked. “And she’s not just the waitress. She’s half-owner of this fine establishment. I bet you two would have a great deal in common to talk about.” She flipped her laptop around and said, “Here look at these and I’ll be right back.”

  She got up, but Evan grabbed her wrist. Quickly letting it go, he said, “You’re going to ask her if she’s available? Just like that? Right now?” He was like a schoolboy and the nervous edge made his pale green eyes widen. Evan was definitely cute, and so was Meri.

  “I’m going to ask her twin.” She patted his hand. “Don’t worry, discreet is my middle name.”

  Evan turned his attention to her laptop screen while she located Dina behind the pastry case.

  “Pssstttt,” Johanna hissed.

  Dina glanced up. “Oh, hey, stranger.”

  “Howdy. Is Meri seeing anyone?” She hated to jump right into it, but she did have a business meeting to get back to.

  Dina smirked. “Why? You finally switching teams?” She clasped her hands under her chin and fluttered her eyelids. “If you are, you know you’ve got the wrong twin. I’m the one you want, gorgeous.”

  Dina had asked Johanna out when they first met. Johanna had been with Alex then and had politely declined the offer. She couldn’t help being flattered though. Dina and Meri were practically Greek goddesses with their long, dark hair and olive skin. The fact that Dina found her attractive gave her ego a boost even if she didn’t sway that way.

  “No. I’m still straight, Dina, but thanks.”

  Dina’s shoulders slumped. “Rats.” She huffed out a breath and wiped the counter behind the case. “Meri is currently unattached. Why?”

  “My potential client appears to be quite smitten with her. Just wanted to see if she was in the market.”

  Dina came to Johanna’s side of the pastry case and angled her head at Evan. “He looks very doable. You know, from a heterosexual standpoint, that is. You don’t want him?”

  “Ah, no. First, he’s interested in Meri. Red-heads with fair skin are apparently not on his menu. Secondly, I’m seeing someone.” A tidal wave of warmth made a mess of her insides and she liked it.

  “Oh, really?” Dina teased. Then she patted Johanna’s forearm. “About damn time, Jo-Jo. You deserve someone nice. Even if it is a man.”

  “Men have their uses, Dina.”

  “None that I can find.” She snagged her sister as she passed by. “Meri, see Johanna’s guest?”

  “Yeah. Yummy.” Meri giggled and raised her eyebrows.

  “Well, that’s all I needed to know.” Johanna winked at Dina and went back to her table.

  Evan gave her hopeful eyes, and Johanna rather liked playing matchmaker. She wouldn’t have if she hadn’t met Holden. Before him she was pretty sure love sucked. She’d loved Alex and look where that had gotten her.

  But Holden was different. He made her believe they could have forever together.

  “Green light. Ask her to drinks or something.” Johanna sat at the table.

  “Really?” Evan’s billion-watt smile nearly blinded her.

  “Yep.” She gestured to the laptop. “So what do you think of those?”

  “I love them all.” He held his hand out to her across the table. “You’re hired.”

  Meri walked by to serve another table, and Evan’s gaze followed her.

  “Excuse me for a moment?” he asked Johanna.

  Johanna waved him off as if to say, Go get her. Normally she would have been offended at Evan’s preoccupation with Meri. He hadn’t really reviewed her designs in any detail, hadn’t considered all the avenues of what hiring her meant, hadn’t played the give-and-take business game. But today, Johanna couldn’t muster up the irritation. She wanted the job. He wanted Meri. They’d helped each other out, and she’d have plenty of time to dazzle him with her creative brilliance as they worked together to fill his business needs.

  It was about time things went smoothly for a change. Maybe her time to be content had finally come.

  Maybe she could be happy.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Holden drove the rental car
by the front entrance of DE headquarters. He’d tried to get into the parking garage, but without an ID badge, the guard wouldn’t let him in.

  “Sorry…Mr. Lancaster, was it?” The guard paused while Holden nodded. “You understand the need for security, right?”

  “Of course,” Holden said. “But I do work here. I just lost my badge.” Or someone stole it from my house along with my uniforms. He’d worn a pair of dark gray pants and a white dress shirt to try to look official, but without the badge he might as well have worn a T-shirt that said Shady Character on the front.

  “I can call inside, if you’d like,” the guard offered. “If you’re meeting someone, they can come out and get you.”

  Holden shook his head. Announcing his presence didn’t seem like a smart idea. Not as he added the pieces up in his head.

  They’ve denied that I work here.

  They’ve taken all evidence that I ever worked here.

  They cleaned up the plane wreck pretty damn fast.

  They’ve made no attempt to find me.

  No, he needed to be inconspicuous. “I’ll go home and see if I can’t find that badge.”

  The guard nodded. “Good luck.” He touched the brim of his hat and stepped back into the entrance booth.

  Holden now considered his options. He could forget the entire thing and get his ass back to Nebraska. Doing so would leave him with holes in his past. No good. He could park on the street somewhere and find another way into the building, but the front doors appeared to have security as well.

  He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he rolled past the building. He thought about driving to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and going to the DE hangar, but what would that accomplish? There’d only be planes there. Maybe he’d catch one of the pilots who must be replacing him and Vaughn, but they probably didn’t know anything. They’d probably been hired and given a nice salary to fly and keep their mouths shut.

  Holden turned down a side street and made a big square around the DE building. He had to speak directly to the CEO. She was the one who had told both Johanna and Dr. Sakala that she didn’t know him or Vaughn. She was the one with something to hide.