Forgive and Forget (4 page)

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“You expect me to believe you brought me up here out of the goodness of your heart?” Something dangerous flashed in the man’s silver eyes. Before Joe had a chance to figure out what it was, the guy threw a hand out and grabbed Joe’s arm. He jerked Joe hard against him. “Maybe you brought me up here for something else.” His eyes dropped to Joe’s lips before moving back up. “I don’t have any money. Were you hoping I’d repay you some other way?”

The realization of what the guy was saying boiled Joe’s blood, and he shoved the stranger away from him. Of all the nerve! “Are you kidding me? I drag your heavy ass up here, welcome you into my home, and you accuse me of trying to take advantage of you?”

The man narrowed his eyes again, his head cocked to one side as he studied Joe. “Why else would you help me? What’s your motive?”

“Motive? Who are you? Columbo? How about to help a fellow human being? I know it’s hard for you to trust anyone right now, so I’m going to ignore your insult, but you’re lucky I’m the one who found you because I’m probably the only one dumb enough to listen to you when you said no cops. I sell pies. I’m not an evil mastermind.” He motioned around him to his small but cozy apartment. “This isn’t exactly Meteora.”

The man arched an eyebrow. “
For Your Eyes Only
?”

Joe threw his hands up. “Oh,
that
you know? Great. I feel much better now. That’ll come in handy during our James Bond marathon.”

“All right, I get it. I’m sorry.” Once again, Joe found himself under the man’s scrutiny, and it made him feel uncomfortable. It was as if the guy was mentally taking note of every hair out of place on Joe’s head or each tiny wrinkle in his pants. “Where’s your remote control Lotus Esprit Turbo?”

Joe felt the heat rising in his cheeks, and he suddenly found it difficult to keep his gaze in one spot, especially on the grumpy—not to mention astute—mystery man standing across from him.

“Holy hell, you
have
one?” The guy let out a laugh.

“Maybe.” Joe crossed his arms over his chest, and glared at whatever-his-name-was. That’s what he got for helping a guy out. “It was autographed by Roger Moore and auctioned off for charity,” Joe replied with a sniff. “Besides, it’s not like I play with it.” Why the hell was he explaining himself to a guy he’d found facedown in the dirt? His expression must have said as much, because the laughing stopped.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. Here you are helping me, and I’m being a jerk.” The gentle words got Joe’s attention, and he found himself caught off guard by the man’s arresting smile. It was certainly a far cry from his previous menacing growls. It was like the guy had two personalities. Oh God, what if the guy
had
two personalities? “I think it’s kind of sweet, actually.”

“Now you’re just messing with me.”

“No, I’m not. I really do think it’s sweet. Then again, you seem like that kind of guy. I apologize for insulting you earlier. I don’t come across guys like you often.”

If it hadn’t been for the completely open and honest expression, Joe would have thought the guy was trying to pull one over on him. “How do you know?”

“I don’t know. Gut feeling. Feels like I should listen to it.”

“Okay, well, there’s not much we can do until Jules has a look at you. Unless, uh… well, I suppose you can still go to the hospital. I could call a taxi and take you down there.” Was it too much to hope for?

“Not going to happen.” There was no hesitation in his reply, and the light in those bright silver eyes dimmed. “No cops, no hospital. I know it sounds crazy, but all I know is that it’s really important they don’t know I’m here. If I go there, I don’t know what’ll happen to me.” He took a step toward Joe, his expression softening as he pleaded. “I promise to behave myself. I know you have no reason to trust me or keep helping me, but… just give me a little time. At least until something comes to me. Please. Whatever’s going on, I know if I go out there without knowing who or what’s after me… I’m not going to last. I
need
to remember.”

Wow. Not ominous at all. “I don’t know.” Joe rubbed his hands over his face as he paced the living room. This was crazy. Helping the guy out one night was one thing, but letting him stay here until he recovered his memory? What if it didn’t happen? What if he was lying? Joe felt like a jerk for saying it, but he had to think about Bea, Donnie, and Elsie. Not to mention his customers. The last thing he wanted was for someone to get hurt because of him.

“I want to help you, I really do, but if you’re right and someone out there is trying to hurt you, how do I know they won’t come after me and my friends? I can’t let you, or anyone else, put them in danger.” He hated how the man deflated before him, but it was the right thing to do, wasn’t it? Maybe it would convince his new friend to speak to the proper authorities.

“I understand. You’ve done plenty for me already, and I’m grateful for that.” The guy walked over to the couch and sat to put on his boots before picking up his jacket and searching his pockets. He gave Joe a sincere smile that reached his eyes. He didn’t seem upset or even irritated that Joe was casting him out. “Thanks. I’ve gotten this far, right? I’ll be fine.” His expression turned to one of embarrassment. “I feel like a real jackass asking, but could you maybe spare a few dollars for something to eat? Looks like my memory isn’t the only thing missing.”

Oh for crying out loud.
Before Joe could put any rational thought into it, he nodded. “Stay.” What was he doing? Was he nuts? He didn’t know the first thing about this man. The circumstances of how and where Joe had found him should’ve been enough for him to walk away from this mess. Actually, the mention of “dead” should have had Joe speed-dialing the cops, but something about the guy, the genuine look of vulnerability and distress, had all of Joe’s wires crossed.

“Really, Joe, it’s okay. You’re right. If I’m in danger, it’s possible I might bring that down on you.” He looked down at his knuckles and sighed. “From the looks of it, I can handle myself in a fight.”

“Yeah, because that worked so well the last time,” Joe muttered. “Look, it’s fine. All I ask is that you stay up here. No wandering outside or downstairs. Not until we know a little more about what’s going on. Deal?” Maybe if he kept his new friend out of sight for a while, they’d figure something out.

“Really?”

“Yes.” Joe held his hand out. “Have we got a deal?”

Joe stood stock-still as strong, muscular arms squeezed him tight. That, along with the feel of the guy’s breath against his skin, sent an unexpected tingle through Joe’s body. His new friend pulled away, his timid smile catching Joe off guard.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to get all touchy-feely on you. I’m just really grateful.” He headed back to the couch and the warmth Joe felt went with him. “Are you all right?”

Joe looked at him blankly. “Huh?”

“You were humming something, and you got this sort of faraway look in your eyes.” Despite the concern in his voice, the guy looked rather amused.

“Oh uh….”
Fudgebunnies! It’s a little early for him to find out you’re a nutcase, Joe. Keep it together.
“Sorry, my mind just wandered. It does that a lot. Don’t worry about earlier. Say, uh, we should probably think of what to call you, until you can remember your name.”

“Any suggestions?”

“Me?” Joe looked him over. Tall, handsome, rugged, thick biceps, and a nice full bottom lip. A name suddenly popped into his mind, making him smile. “Chris. Like that actor. You kinda look like him. Darker hair, though, and uh, not Australian.” He motioned to his bicep. “It’s the arms.” Wait, did he just say that? Now that he thought about it…. He cocked his head to one side and frowned. “Except you don’t look like a
Chris
. You look more like a Tom. Yeah, I like that better.”

“Um, okay. I remind you of Chris but look like a Tom. Tom it is, then.”
Tom
let out a husky laugh. He looked amused.

What had he gotten himself into? Joe felt himself grinning like an idiot. “All right, Tom. You sit tight and stay awake. I’m going to go downstairs to check on Bea and the kids, then I’ll get you something to eat, if you think your stomach’s up to it.” He’d started toward the door when Tom called out to him.

“I hate to be a pain, because you’ve done so much for me already, but can I ask a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Would you mind if I shaved, maybe had a shower? I don’t like looking like I just crawled out of the gutter. Even if that’s sort of what I did.”

At least Tom had a sense of humor.

“Right. Sorry, with everything going on, it slipped my mind to offer.” Joe crossed the living room into the hall to the small closet. He grabbed a couple of towels and tossed them at Tom on his way to the bedroom. He returned with a pair of pajama bottoms and the loosest T-shirt he owned. “Here you go. I’ll see about getting your clothes washed. We’re roughly the same size. Except for the shirt.” He motioned the span of his own far less muscular chest. “That’s the biggest size T-shirt I own, so it should fit.”

“Are you sure it’s okay for me to stay?” Tom asked, looking uncertain.

“Positive.” Joe went back into his room unable to understand why he was being so accommodating.
You keep telling yourself that, Joe.
He promptly told himself to shut it and pulled out a warm blanket and fluffy pillow. Walking back out into the living room, Joe set the bedding on the couch. “There you go. I’ll be back in a few minutes, after I check on the shop and send everyone home.”

“Okay.” Tom beamed. The guy really had one hell of a smile. It was hard to associate that with the evidence of violence marking the man’s skin. “And thanks again. This is really decent of you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

To think this day started like any other. This morning had been like any other morning, this afternoon like any other afternoon, and now? Now he had a tall, dark, handsome stranger in his bathroom, wearing his pajamas. Under normal circumstances, that alone would have been cause to celebrate. Except these weren’t normal circumstances, and Tom wasn’t upstairs on account of Joe taking him up on his flirting. As if a good-looking guy like Tom would even flirt with someone like him. Not that he was interested or anything, he was just—Joe didn’t get a chance to finish the thought. The moment he stepped foot into the empty café, he was ambushed.

“So who is he?” Donnie asked, trembling with anticipation.

Definitely time to cut back on the kid’s caffeine intake.

“Ah, now there’s the question we all want to know the answer to,” Joe replied, looking around the shop, happy to see everything was in tip-top shape and ready for the next day. Not that he had expected any less from his motley crew. He could always count on them to man the ship while he was away. Beside him, Elsie wrung her hands nervously.

“He didn’t tell you?” Elsie asked him.

“He didn’t know.” Joe sighed and leaned against the door.

The three exchanged glances before Bea peered at him. “What do you mean he didn’t know? Didn’t know what?”

“Anything. Poor guy can’t even remember his own name.” Joe walked over to one of the two large glass windows and pulled down the heavy canvas shade, securing the small ring over the tiny hook in the wooden frame. “Guess he got whacked a little harder than we thought.”

The two youngsters’ eyes widened, and it was like he’d walked into some Broadway production. He went to the next window to pull the shade down on that one.

Donnie looked a little too excited for his own good. “You mean… he’s got
amnesia
? I read about that.”

“Baloney,” Bea huffed. “Amnesia’s something you see in those old Hollywood movies. It’s not real.”

“’Course it’s real. Wouldn’t be a medical condition otherwise.” Joe smiled sweetly and pinched Bea’s cheek. “What you mean to say, my dearest, is that you think he’s full of it.”

Bea slapped his hand away, her gaze boring into him as he headed toward the back of the shop. “He’s stringing you along, honey, and you’re letting him.”

Joe waved his hand dismissively, ignoring that last statement. “Listen, don’t you fret your pretty little head. Jules will be here as soon as she can, and she’ll tell us what’s what.”

“I tell you, there’s something sinister about that boy,” Bea insisted.

“That’s why you shouldn’t watch so many soap operas. This isn’t some ‘wealthy heiress gets pregnant with the stableboy’s baby’ scandal. He’s just some poor guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Joe remembered the look on Tom’s face when he realized he couldn’t remember. How could Joe ignore the pain the man was in? “What am I supposed to do, huh? Kick him out? You should have seen his face. He looked so… lost. He’s a nice enough guy, I think. I can’t shove him back out into the gutter. Where would he go? What if something terrible happens to him?” The thought made him feel sick to his stomach. “I can’t picture him ending up sleeping on a bench or some dank alley with rats and fleas, and what if he got sick and—”

“All right already,” Bea grumbled. “Geez Louise. Now who’s been watching too many dramas? I’ll tell you one thing: I’m not going home while he’s sleeping a stone’s throw away from you. He might knife you in your sleep. Steal your shoes.” She stomped over to pick up trusty ole Silver, and Joe released a groan when she came out swinging. “I’m taking first watch.”

“You’re kidding.”

“If Bea’s staying to watch over you, so am I,” Donnie declared, chest all puffed up like a baby bird. “I’ll take second watch.”

“I’ll take third,” Elsie chirped.

Dammit all. This was the last thing he needed right now. As if a sixty-year-old woman and two spindly adolescents would be any match for a guy of Tom’s strength. Joe appreciated their concern, but if Tom was dangerous, Joe couldn’t allow his friends to put themselves in harm’s way. The decision to allow the man to stay in his apartment had been his, and he would deal with the consequences.

Walking up to Bea, he gingerly took the old aluminum baseball bat from her hands, and turned her away from the kids. “Bea, I know you all mean well, but let’s be practical about this. You saw the man. As much as I can confidently say Tom—that’s what we’re calling him by the way—poses no threat, if he did, do you really think Donnie and Elsie would stand a chance?” Bea opened her mouth, but Joe was quick to cut her off. “I promise you, I’ll be careful. I need you to keep things running as usual. I’ll be a little late downstairs tomorrow since Jules is coming by.”