Hearts Are Wild (12 page)

Chapter Eleven

The next morning, Sabrina and Josh shared a quiet breakfast of bacon and pancakes, thanks to Josh’s fabulous cooking. The mutual silence between them was almost as if they didn’t want to break the peaceful spell that had settled over them. But Sabrina saw the heat, every time Josh looked at her across the table with his penetrating teal gaze. It was as if he thought he could
will
her to say, “Yes, I’ll stay.”

When they were done with their meal, he stood then walked around the table to hold his hand out to her. He looked so sexy standing there in his black T-shirt, faded jeans and black cowboy boots. Even the bruised black eye and cut on his cheek worked in his favor with his rugged good looks. All this “certified” cowboy was missing was his Stetson, but she was glad he didn’t have one on at the moment because the hat would only hide his gorgeous wavy blond hair. Man, she loved to run her fingers through that head of silk.

She put her hand in his and allowed him to pull her into his arms. As she wrapped her arms around his waist, she’d never felt more secure and loved than she did when Josh’s strong arms surrounded her. The spicy aroma of his aftershave teased her nostrils and she buried her nose in his shirt, enjoying the smells of laundry soap, aftershave and all male that commingled into an arousing cocktail for her senses.

“Look at me,” he quietly commanded.

Sabrina lifted her chin and elevated her gaze to meet his serious one. He searched her face before he spoke. “I meant what I said last night. I love you too much to let you go.”

She closed her eyes, unable to meet his gaze. When he laid a gentle kiss on each eyelid, she let out a tortured sob. The man just made her heart turn to sheer mush and her knees literally threaten to give out from underneath her.
Good thing he had her locked in a bear hug or she’d be a melted puddle on the floor at his feet.

“I’d just pick you up and make you melt all over again,” he chuckled.

Her eyes flew open at his comment as heat rode up her checks. “Did I just say that out loud?” she asked, already afraid of his answer.

“Yes, you did,” came his satisfied reply as amusement danced in his eyes. He slid his hands down to cup her rear through her jeans, pulling her full against his body. “And don’t think for one minute I’ll let you forget it, darlin’. I’ll use every advantage I’ve got when it comes to convincing you that you belong with me.”

The ruthless look in his gaze belied the lightheartedness in his tone. Sabrina resisted the shiver of anticipation that threatened to shimmy up her spine at the promise his eyes, even more than his words, conveyed.

A distinctive, high-pitched beep-beep sound outside, interrupted the arcs of sexual energy and dual displays of willpower that seemed to flow unspoken between them.

Josh frowned at the horn’s sound, then walked over to open the door. Sabrina followed him to see Dirk pulling his helmet off as he sat there in front of the house on his motorcycle, a wide grin on his face.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Dirk said as his eyes lit up. “Aren’t you just the luckiest dog around?” he said to Josh as he looked at Sabrina standing next to his friend. Nodding to her, he grinned, “Hello again, gorgeous.”

“Hi, Dirk,” she replied and held back a laugh as Josh jerked his gaze to her, jealousy and surprise evident on his face.

“You two know each other?”

She laughed. “Dirk gave me a ride to the Lonestar when I first arrived in Boone.”

“Got your rental car?” Dirk asked.

She nodded. “Yep, the very next day. Not that I’ve used it much,” she smirked. “But thanks again for your help.”

Josh walked out onto the porch, his entire stance tense. “Why did you bring your bike? I wanted Sabrina to go with me to get my truck.”

“Might’ve helped if you had mentioned that bit of information,” Dirk shot back. “Plus, I just thought it’d be fun to take my bike up the hills to get to your place.”

Feeling the tension flowing between the men, Sabrina jumped in, “It’s okay, Josh. Didn’t you say the towing place wasn’t that far away? I’ll wait here for you to get back. No big deal.”

He turned his worried gaze her way. “I’d prefer not to leave you alone.”

“No one even knows where I am. Remember we kept it a secret,” she replied with a laugh.

Sighing, Josh nodded in agreement and walked inside to retrieve his keys and his wallet. When he came back outside, he said, “I’ll be back in a half hour.”

She smiled up at him as he bent to kiss her before he walked down the stairs toward Dirk’s bike.

“Let’s go, stud,” Dirk teased as he tossed a spare helmet Josh’s way and laughed when his friend grunted with the helmet’s impact against his chest.

Once Josh put his helmet on and got on behind him, Dirk revved the motorcycle’s engine and turned the bike around. Before he left, he gave Sabrina a rakish grin. “Don’t worry, he’ll be back in record time. I can guarantee it.”

“I’d prefer in one piece,” she called after the loud motorcycle as the men took off.

Sabrina went inside and closed and locked the door. What could she do to occupy her time while she waited for Josh? After she cleaned their breakfast dishes, she picked up the remote and clicked on the TV for background noise as she continued to scan the house. When her gaze landed on his laptop sitting on the desk, she decided to see if she had any responses to the emails she’d sent out yesterday.

She sat down at the desk and watched the last few minutes of an old sitcom rerun while she waited for his computer to boot up. Sifting through her email, she found a few that needed immediate attention and once she’d responded to those mails, her gaze was drawn to the news update that flashed across the screen.

Eddie Clayton, the escaped convict who was recently apprehended after four hours of freedom, was just transferred to a maximum security prison today to await his trial where they will determine the additional sentencing for his latest transgressions.

When the picture of the convict popped up on the TV screen, recognition dawned and suddenly that night came flooding back to her. She’d watched the news report, saw the convict’s photo, heard the noise outside, then picked up the lantern and…and…there was a note and she’d set it down on the railing when she picked up the lantern. What did it say? Damn why couldn’t she remember more? she berated herself as she tried to recall the rest.

An idea struck her. Maybe if she could find that note, it would jog the rest of her memory. Picking up Josh’s cell phone, she flipped it open and quickly dialed the Tanners’ residence.

“Hello?” Nan answered.

“Nan? Hi, it’s Sabrina. A bit of my memory has come back but I’m hoping you can help me.”

“Oh, that’s great news! I’d be glad to help if I can. What can I do?”

“That night I was attacked, someone left a lantern sitting on top of a note on the porch. I remember picking up the note, but I can’t remember what it said. I’m hoping that maybe the note might still be there, that maybe it fell off the porch and is in the yard somewhere. Can you look for me?”

“Sure thing, child,” came Nan’s indulgent response. “Let me go look around. I’ll call you back. Are you calling from Josh’s?”

“Yes, I am, but I’m calling from his cell phone…er…which I don’t know the number,” she apologized.

“No problem. I’ve got Josh’s number. I’ll call that one back.”

“Okay.” Sabrina breathed out in relief that she might finally be helpful in discovering her attacker. She hoped Nan found that note. Of course, after that hard rain yesterday, it might very well be ruined even if she did find it.

Once she hit the “end” button on the phone, she was about to close it when she saw the “text message waiting” indicator flashing. She smiled as she pressed the button to retrieve the message. That had been sweet of Josh to think about her yesterday.

When Josh’s message popped up, she felt all the blood drain from her face.

Thinking about you. Meet me in the stables. Josh.

The familiar phrase flashed through her memory and came jolting back…
Meet me in the stables. Josh
. The exact same words that were on the note the night she was attacked.
God no!
she thought, goose bumps breaking out all over her as a shiver shot down her spine.
I went to the stables to meet with Josh. And then…
Her stomach churned.
…then I was knocked out and left unconscious while the stables were set on fire
.

Why would Josh do such a thing? Her mind frantically fought to sort through the confused and erratic thoughts tumbling through it. While her heart raced, she grabbed her belly, fighting off the waves of nausea. She felt physically ill…as if someone had just punched her hard in the gut when she wasn’t prepared for the impact.

He did pretty much admit he had a thing for Elise when she’d asked him about it in the hospital…

“
Once upon a time…maybe…
” he’d said.

Maybe he hadn’t gotten over Elise like he’d led her to believe. Leaning forward, she put her hands on her knees for support as she forced her rapid breathing to slow, even breaths. She’d never felt so bereft and betrayed in her life.
No, no, no! He said he loved me
, she argued with herself as she squeezed her eyes shut. But try as she might to keep her whirling mind at bay, snippets of things that Josh had said and done to keep her sequestered, to keep tabs on her whereabouts came slamming back to her.

“
You don’t remember anything else?
” he’d asked her in the hospital, an urgent look on his face. “
She’ll stay with me
,” he’d insisted… “
I’m taking a personal interest in your well-being.
”

Was his initial worry for her insincere? Had he really just been trying to protect himself initially, to cover his tracks once he realized his plan had backfired?

“
…I was hoping to avoid telling you this…to keep you from worrying, but the escaped prisoner has an alibi. It seems he was busy breaking and entering in another house while you were attacked. So that means whoever attacked you is still out there… I don’t want you out of my sight any longer than necessary. Your memory could come back at any time.
”

Did he say those things to evoke fear in her? To keep her with him so he’d be the first one to know if and when her memory came back? She opened her eyes, trying to rationalize it out. But he’d seemed upset to think Colt was being blamed.

“
Maybe it wasn’t you they were after.
” He’d said to her in the hospital.

Yet his declaration of love for her had appeared so sincere during the storm. Could it be he regretted what he had done? Had he unintentionally fallen in love with her throughout this whole mess?

Damn, I’m so confused.
Her body shook all over as she took gulps of air and silently prayed,
Please don’t let me hyperventilate. I can’t pass out now.

Josh’s phone rang, the sudden sound wringing a gasp of surprise out of her. She quickly stood up straight and almost passed out as her vision blurred. Blinking to regain her equilibrium, she shoved the cell phone in her back pocket and walked over to pick up Josh’s cordless phone, pushing the “talk” button.

“Hello?”

“It’s me,” came Nan’s familiar voice. “Well, I found a note but the note I found looks like a phone number. This must’ve been the phone number that police officer give you yesterday. Her name was Renee O’Hara, right?”

“Yes, that was her name.” Sabrina frowned in confusion. “Hmmm, that’s very strange because I know I picked up her note after I dropped it…”

She trailed off as realization dawned as to what might have happened. Sabrina ran over to Josh’s bedroom and rummaged in her suitcase for her dirty clothes from the day before.

“You there?” Nan asked, her voice sounding worried.

When Sabrina pulled out the note she’d stuck in her jeans’ pocket yesterday she slowly opened up the crisp paper and then called out in a shocked voice, “Ohmigod, I had the note from the person who attacked me in my pocket all along. That must’ve been the note I picked up from underneath the bushes instead of the one from Officer O’Hara.”

“What did the note say?” Nan asked, sounding excited.

Sabrina’s voice trembled and she responded with a sob, “Oh, Nan…the note said
Elise, meet me in the stables. Josh.
I went to the stables to let him know Elise wasn’t home. Josh must’ve been the one who attacked me.”

“Lord, child! Josh? I can’t believe it! Are you saying that he attacked you thinking you were Elise?” she asked, sounding incredulous.

“I know it sounds crazy, Nan. I can’t remember being attacked. All I can remember is reading the note and heading for the stables and now I have proof as to the only other person who was in the stables that night right here in my hand,” she finished with conviction as she tucked the note in her pocket.

Sniffing back the tears that threatened to fall, she straightened her spine, trying to put on a strong front. “I need to call Officer O’Hara right away. Can you please read her number to me?”

“Where’s Josh now?” Nan asked.

“He’s gone to pick up his truck that was towed yesterday while he fought a fire in town.” With her memory partially returned, her fear spiked at the thought of Josh returning home. She wouldn’t be able to pretend nothing was wrong. “I need to get out of here,” she said, her voice frantic.