In Love with John Doe (10 page)

Lexi thought about the comment throughout dinner and even during the book club discussion. Though she knew Mary Karen had no designs on Jack, the thought of the two of them living under the same roof set her teeth on edge. By the smoke that had come rolling out of Travis’s ears when Jack made the comment, he felt the same.

She turned off the highway in the direction of Wilson. It was a moonless night and inky darkness enveloped the vehicle.

Addie slept in the backseat, her head lolling to one side. They’d stayed later than Lexi had planned. After their book discussion ended, the kids were in the middle of a movie they wanted to finish and the two babies were finally sleeping peacefully.

Mary Karen had brought out a couple of decks of cards and suggested they play five-point pitch. With four couples they had enough for two tables. Though Jack had obviously never played before, he quickly caught on. Before they knew it, it was midnight.

“I had fun tonight,” Jack said, his soft words breaking the stillness. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed the evening.” For some reason Lexi thought of Addie’s father. He wouldn’t have been caught dead playing cards or eating pizza with his hands. “It wasn’t anything special.”

“It was nice,” Jack said. “The kids and the cards weren’t familiar, but I liked being part of a couple.”

Lexi’s heart gave a little ping. “Sounds like that part was at least familiar.”

“I don’t know.” Jack shook his head and she felt his gaze on her. “It was being with
you
that I liked.
That
felt comfortable to me.”

“I liked it, too,” Lexi grudgingly admitted.

He reached over and took her hand. Her heart flip-flopped.

She pulled back her hand. “I didn’t want to.”

“Why not?” His tone was cool, well controlled.

“Ah, Jack, you know why.” Lexi kept her gaze firmly fixed on the road. “You’re going to be gone soon. I can’t get attached to someone who’s going to walk out of my life and never look back.”

“It doesn’t have to be that way,” he said, the words rushed and filled with urgency. “Maybe we could—”

“There can be no plans, Jack.” Lexi tightened her fingers around the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white. “Not until you know if you have a wife or a girlfriend.”

He heaved a harsh breath. “But I like you, Lexi.”

“My father used to say you have to play the cards you’re dealt.” Lexi took a deep, steadying breath. “If I had a boyfriend or a husband who’d been injured and didn’t remember his name or our life together, I’d hope that someone would be nice to him while he regained his memory. Nice…as in be his friend.”

“But no kisses or hugs or—”

“No. None of that.” She cut him off before his words could build any more sensual images in her mind.

“Where do we go from here?” he asked in a quiet tone.

“We continue as we have been,” Lexi said. “I’ll be your friend. We’ll hang out and do things together for the sole purpose of bringing back those memories. You’ll keep your hands off me and I’ll keep my hands off you.”

“We’ll play the cards we’ve been dealt,” he said, sounding resigned.

“Exactly,” Lexi said. “Now, about you moving in with Mary Karen…”

“For a minute or two,” Jack grudgingly admitted. He wasn’t proud that for those few moments he’d been tempted to disregard Travis’s feelings and do what was best for
him
. “But your friends have been great. I wouldn’t want to hurt any of them.”

Lexi hit the button for the garage door. While waiting for it to open, she studied Jack’s profile. “You obviously caught the looks Travis was sending you.”

“How could I miss them?” Jack chuckled, then sobered. “I understand where he was coming from. I wouldn’t want him moving in with you.”

His gaze met hers. Though the garage door was now fully opened, she made no move to pull the station wagon inside.

“I hope
you
understand why I can’t offer my place,” she said in a quiet tone. “It’s not that I wouldn’t enjoy having you around. It’s just that—”

“It wouldn’t be a good idea with a child in the house.” Jack smiled at the look of surprise that flashed in her eyes. “What? You don’t think I can be sensitive to all the nuances of this situation?”

“No, I—”

“You can’t honestly think I care so little about you.” Without Jack quite realizing how it had happened, the lighthearted teasing was gone, replaced by something deeper, something he didn’t want to analyze too closely. He gave in to an impulse and touched her face. “I meant what I said the other day. I never want to do anything to hurt you or Addie.”

She leaned her head into his caress and his heart filled with an emotion that was new, yet at the same time familiar.

“Mommy?” a sleepy voice sounded from the backseat.

Jack dropped his hand and pulled back.

“Are we home?” Addie straightened in the backseat, not bothering to cover her yawn.

“Yes, we are.” Lexi pulled into the darkened garage and flicked off the ignition. “I should never have kept you out so late on a school night.”

“’s okay, Mommy.” Addie yawned again. “We don’t have much going on tomorrow except for a math test.”

Jack stifled a grin at Lexi’s groan.

“I’ve got an idea.” He twisted in his seat so he could see both Addie and Lexi. “How about I get up early and eat breakfast with Addie? That way I can help her review for the test before the school bus comes.”

“Cool,” Addie said, then a frown furrowed her brow. “Do you remember how to do fractions?”

“If I don’t, you can teach me.” Jack shot the girl a wink.

Addie giggled and shifted her gaze to her mother. “See, Mommy. It’s going to be okay. Jack’s going to help me study.”

“I heard that.” When Lexi shifted her gaze to meet his, the depth of emotion in her eyes surprised him. “Thank you.”

Jack didn’t understand the big deal. He certainly had the time. Besides, he liked Addie and wanted her to do her best on the test. And, after all Lexi had done for him, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her.

His heart skipped a beat when she reached over and gave his hand a squeeze.

No, there was nothing he wouldn’t do for this woman.

“The prince is doing quite well.” Lexi smiled, remembering the bet she’d made with the nurses the day Jack was brought into the E.R. “He sends his regards to the commoners at the hospital.”

During most workdays, Lexi barely had a chance to catch her breath much less gossip with the staff. But this Friday the E.R. had been virtually deserted. That didn’t happen very often. Lexi welcomed the break.

Rachel smiled then her expression turned serious. “By virtue of the fact that he’s still in Jackson Hole, I take it he hasn’t gotten his memory back.”

Lexi leaned back against a counter that smelled faintly of disinfectant. “Not yet. Hopefully his friends or family will come through.”

Rachel’s blonde brows pulled together. “I’ve been watching the paper and the Internet but I haven’t seen a word about a Wyoming John Doe. Wasn’t the Sheriff going to send out a press release?”

Lexi pressed her lips together. Jack had been right. His story hadn’t stood a chance. “The press release already went out. Then the attack at the water treatment plant happened and—”

“—all the other stories got pushed aside.” Rachel shook her head. “You know, I’m beginning to think if Jack Snow didn’t have bad luck, he’d have no luck at all.”

Lexi straightened. She pushed away from the counter. Her heart pounded against her ribs. “That’s not true. Jack survived an avalanche that could have easily killed him. He’s got a great place to live and friends who care about him.”

“Lex, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit a nerve.”

“You didn’t. It’s just sometimes when I think of what could have happened to him…” She took a deep breath and fought for control of her rioting emotions. “He
was
lucky. Very lucky.”

Rachel’s blue eyes softened. “He’s fortunate to have you as a friend.”

“You two are looking awfully serious.” Dr. Wahl dropped into a chair behind the nurse’s station.

“We were talking about Jack Snow and how lucky he is to have Lexi for a friend,” Rachel said, ignoring the black look the social worker shot her.

“He’s a good guy.” David shifted his gaze to Lexi. “July and I want to have you two over for dinner sometime.”

“Sounds like you and the undercover prince are an item,” Rachel teased.

David raised a brow. “Undercover prince?”

Lexi ignored the question. The doctors didn’t need to know about the wagers the nurses had made. “I’ve been trying to expose Jack to new situations as much as possible. I’m hoping something he sees or hears will jog his memory.”

“That’s smart.” David’s gaze dropped to the PDA in his hand. He studied the screen for a long moment. “I don’t think it’ll be long.”

Lexi’s heart skipped a beat. “You really think Jack will regain his memory soon?”

David looked up and blinked. “I was referring to Mr. Brown in room five. His son and wife should be here shortly to pick him up.”

“Of course,” Lexi said, feeling her face warm. “I’ll talk to them when they arrive and see if they have any needs.”

“As far as Jack Snow goes, there’s no way to predict how long it will take for him to remember his past,” David said. “It could be today or tomorrow. It could be ten years from now.”

Lexi’s jaw dropped. “You told him the memory loss would be short-term.”

“I said the vast majority are resolved in short order,” David clarified. “But his best hope is that someone comes forth and identifies him.”

Lexi exchanged a look with Rachel. Unless Jack got some newspaper or Internet exposure, the odds of someone identifying him weren’t good. Not good at all.

“I’m actually looking forward to it,” Jack said. “So far I’ve liked all your friends. There shouldn’t be any reason I won’t like this group, as well.”

Lexi bit her lip. How could she tell him that Mimi and Hank weren’t exactly like her other friends? Perhaps it was best to let him meet them and make up his own mind.

Tonight’s event was a belated engagement party for the betrothed couple. Hank had wanted the party to be held at Yellowstone. Mimi had wanted the Spring Gulch Country Club. With Lexi’s nudging they’d compromised on a party room at a local brewery.

As a member of the wedding party, Lexi’s presence was mandatory. If she was being honest she’d have to admit she’d been dreading the event. The maid of honor as well as the five other bridesmaids were all Mimi’s friends from high school. Lexi had tried to get to know them, but they hadn’t seemed interested in getting to know her in return.

While Lexi was also single, she was a mother. Almost a decade—and a world of experience—separated them. Somehow, whenever she was with them, she ended up feeling like a maiden aunt who wasn’t all that interesting.

“Lexi?” Jack’s touch on her arm pulled her from her reverie. “Would you prefer I not come?”

She shook her head and curved her fingers around his arm. “I want you to come with me. If you aren’t there, who will I talk to?”

A look of confusion crossed his face. “I thought you said all of Mimi and Hank’s friends will be there.”

“They will.” Not wanting to diss Mimi or her friends, she chose her words carefully. “Mimi is only twenty-three. Her friends are also in their early twenties. While they’re all very nice, we don’t have a lot in common. Around them I feel old and well, stodgy.”

Jack’s cough sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

“I do,” Lexi protested.

“Ah, Lexi.” Jack shook his head and let his gaze linger. Although the party was casual, Lexi had dressed up her navy sweater with a beaded necklace. Her hair hung loose to her shoulders, the way he liked it. Old and stodgy? Not this lovely creature. “I’ve never seen Mimi. But there’s no doubt in my mind that you, Miss Stodgy, will be the most beautiful woman at this party.”

Lexi’s red lips tipped into a smile. “Have I ever told you how good you are for my ego?”

“Just being honest.” Jack couldn’t help giving her compliments. There was just so much about her he liked. So much about her that he…loved?

The thought brought a frown to his forehead. Love? No way. He couldn’t be in love with her. Not possible. He’d only known her a couple weeks.

“Is something wrong?”

Jack brushed away the troublesome thought. He’d been looking forward to this evening ever since Lexi had invited him earlier in the week. Since Sarah and her parents would be heading home tomorrow, Addie was spending the night with her friend. That meant he and Lexi had the night to themselves.

“Everything is fine.” He gazed into the most beautiful amber eyes he’d ever seen. “In fact, it couldn’t be better.”