The Goodbye Bride (12 page)

“I was just passing through. I was going to spend one night here on my way up to Lubec. But I stopped at the Roadhouse for dinner, took one look at Zac, and knew I wasn't going anywhere.”

Eden's brows hiked up. “That fast, huh?”

Lucy smiled wistfully. “Yes, ma'am. Chemistry galore.”

“That must be hard, living under the same roof now. Unless the chemistry disappeared with your memories.”

“Oh no. It's still there in spades. Only it's worse now because the feelings are there too, and Zac's built a big ol' wall around his heart. I guess I deserve that though.”

“You don't remember what happened at all?”

“I've no clue. I have wracked my brain. You know, I don't even care if I remember all the stuff that happened in Portland—and I know that's awful harsh since there's a man there who was hoping to marry me. But I don't want to remember him. I want things to be like they were before I left. I want to fix this with Zac, and there's no way that's happening if I can't remember what went wrong.”

“Is he open to that?”

Lucy gave a humorless laugh. “No. But I can't help but think . . . Anyway, I'm staying, and he's just going to have to get used to the idea.” She drew in a few ragged breaths. “So . . . have you told Beau we're walking together?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Lucy waited for more, but only the sound of their footfalls on the boardwalk broke the silence. It didn't take a sociology degree to put two and two together.

Lucy gave a humorless laugh. “Well, I guess that says it all.”

Eden flashed a sheepish grin. “Look, you know Beau. He's very protective of his brothers. One's in a war zone, and he's helpless to protect him, so the other's getting laser focus right now. Lucky Zac.”

“Lucky me.” She didn't want to think about Beau and his grudge. “Zac told me Riley joined the marines. Do they communicate with him much?”

“Yeah, they Skype and e-mail. Riley's not very good about writing back, so it's mostly Skype. It's been hard for Beau to let go. It's times like this, you just gotta trust God, you know? He's got it all under control.”

Lucy admired Eden's faith. She just radiated with it. Lucy's own spiritual walk wasn't anything to write home about. Sometimes she felt she was just going through the motions.

“Easier said than done,” she said.

“For sure. We try so hard to control things, but it's just an illusion.”

Lucy didn't feel like she had any control lately. And honestly, the thought of handing it all over to God made her squirm.

She sucked in a deep breath, stretching her lungs, then blew it out. “So how did you and Beau end up together?”

“Strangely enough, I was just passing through too. We had car trouble, Micah and I, and someone stole all my money. It was winter, naturally, and we didn't have food or a place to stay the night or anything. We had the clothes on our backs and a broken-down car I couldn't afford to repair. I was desperate for a job.”

And Lucy thought she had it bad. No wonder Eden was sympathetic to her plight. “What did you do?”

“I showed up on Beau's doorstep, a shivering, desperate mess, looking for a job at the tree farm. He turned me down flat.”

“He didn't.”

“That's okay.” Eden quirked a brow. “I broke into his outbuilding and made myself comfortable.”

Lucy laughed.

Eden shot her a wry grin. “Unfortunately, he found us. Although I guess it wasn't unfortunate after all because it worked out. Miss Trudy had just broken her leg, so she needed a caretaker and Beau offered me the job.”

Lucy gave her a mock grimace. “And you took it?”

Eden's laugh tinkled like wind chimes. “Somebody had to do it. And I was the only one desperate enough to agree.”

“Amazing the decisions we make under duress. And you and Beau just hit it off?”

“It wasn't quite that simple. I mean, of course I was drawn to him right away—have you seen my fiancé? But I tried to ignore it. I had too much going on in my own life, and he was dating Paige. But after a while he broke up with her. We started confiding in each other and, well, you know how that Callahan charm works. Just sucks you right in. Before I knew it, I was head over heels.”

Lucy sighed. “Yeah. I know what you mean.”

Eden shot Lucy a sympathetic look. “Sorry. I didn't mean to bring you down.”

As they entered town, they slowed their pace. Up ahead a jogger approached. Lucy recognized the long, lithe figure of Morgan LeBlanc and bristled at the sight. The woman had made no secret of her crush on Zac. She'd come into the Roadhouse, flirting subtly, even after they were engaged.

Her short honey-blonde ponytail swung behind her, and a few tendrils had escaped, framing her beautiful features. Her generous breasts bounced with each long stride. Lucy's own sports bra was managing her B-cups just fine.

Morgan smiled only at Eden as she passed. “Hi, Eden.”

“Hi, Morgan.”

Lucy clamped her lips together at the snub.

“That was Morgan LeBlanc,” Eden said after she'd passed. “Her daddy owns the
Harbor Tides
.”

“I know who she is. She was always flirting with Zac.”

“Oh . . .”

Something in Eden's tone made Lucy look her way. Her new friend was biting her lip and avoiding her eyes. “What aren't you telling me?”

Eden lifted a shoulder and gave her a weak smile. “Nothing, really.”

Lucy continued to drill her with a look. There was something Eden wasn't saying, and she was going to press until she found out what it was.

Eden darted a glance off her. “Okay. She and Zac might have gone out a time or two recently.”

Something pinched hard inside. The thought of him with any woman was enough to drive a stake through her heart. The thought of him with Morgan made her want to jump off the nearest cliff. With ankle weights.

You have no right to be jealous, Lucy Lovett.
Hadn't she been engaged to another man only a week ago? Still, it wasn't like she remembered any of that.

“How recently?” Lucy asked.

“A couple weeks ago, I think. I'm sure it's nothing serious.”

Morgan had doubtless been thrilled when Lucy left town. The woman reminded her of a stalking leopard, quiet and subtle, with long, sharp claws that knew how to get the job done. She could just imagine Morgan's arms curling around Zac's waist, her lips
pressing against his neck. How handy that she wouldn't even have to rise up on her tiptoes.

Lucy sighed hard. “Sometimes I wish the amnesia had wiped out Zac's memory too.”

Eden chuckled, giving Lucy a quick squeeze around the shoulders. “Come on, let's head over to Frumpy Joe's. I think we could both use a big plate o' carbs.”

Lucy couldn't seem to shake off the dark mood as they walked toward the café. Inside she began burning with irritation over her whole situation. Bad enough she had a brain injury and had lost the only man she'd ever loved. Not to mention the whole town, including Zac's family, seemed to be against her for something she couldn't even remember. She had no money, no job, and, oh yes, the love of her life was dating Morgan LeBlanc.

The diner hushed as Lucy and Eden entered a few minutes later. Lucy felt every eye in the place settle on her as the hostess led them to their seats. An older woman peeked around her friend to gawk at Lucy as she passed. Heat climbed the back of her neck, and she could feel her blood pressure increasing by the second.

Okay, enough of this. She stopped as they reached the corner booth and whirled around, facing the patrons.

“All right, now. That's it.” A few more eyes turned her way, but the frustration burning inside outweighed any embarrassment she might feel. “Yes, I ran out on Zac Callahan last year, barely a week before our wedding vows; yes, it was a terrible thing to do; yes, I do have amnesia, thank you very much; and no, I don't remember leaving him. Oh, and yes, I'm still in love with him, but don't you worry, he's not about to trust me again after what I did even though I don't even remember doing it. That about cover it?”
Her eyes drifted around the room, boldly meeting the chagrined stares of the customers. She nodded once. “Good.”

She turned and lowered herself into the booth across from Eden, her heart racing and her cheeks flooding with heat. Her hands shook as she picked up her menu and opened it in front of her.

The sounds of chatter and the clatter of silverware slowly resumed. Who cared if they were talking about her? At least now they had their facts straight.

Eden lowered her menu, her wide eyes peeking out above it. “I can't believe you did that,” she whispered. Her brown eyes sparkled with delight. “That was totally awesome!”

Chapter 14

S
aturday mornings were quiet at the Roadhouse. The place had been hopping last night, a Red Sox game on maximum volume, pool games going in the back room, and the jukebox cranking in the background.

Lucy cracked an egg, and it slid into the buttered skillet with the others. Zac was up and about; she'd heard the shower running, heard his footsteps overhead. He was avoiding her. She had to do something, and soon. It was obvious he regretted bringing her back. She couldn't cook enough breakfasts to make it worth his while.

She'd seen the town doctor the afternoon before. He'd given her a clean bill of health, but no assurance that she'd ever regain her memory. Just as well. She wasn't so sure she wanted it back anymore.

She was sliding the eggs onto plates with the toast when the Roadhouse phone rang. Should she answer it or let voicemail pick it up? After three more rings, she picked up the kitchen extension, ready with a greeting. But Zac was already answering.

“Hi, Zac, it's Marci.”

“Hey, Marci, how you feeling?”

“Not so good. I have bad news. I went to the doctor yesterday and found out I have mono.”

“Oh boy.”

“Yeah. I can't come back until my symptoms are gone. I'm so sorry.”

Lucy's conscience got the best of her, and she quietly hung up the extension. Poor Marci. Lucy'd had mono the summer she was nineteen. She'd been down for two months.

Two months.

Zac would be short a server. He couldn't fill in for Marci that long. That meant he'd have to find a temporary replacement. A thread of excitement wound its way through her. This was just the thing to tide her over until she found a permanent job.

She carried the plates out front where Zac was finishing up on the phone. She set the plates on the bar and took a seat across from him.

“Take care, Marci. All right. Bye.” He hung up the phone and spared her a tight smile. “Morning.”

“Good morning. I made you some eggs.”

“Thank you. I think I'll take it upstairs and catch up on the news.”

“Zac,” she said as he turned to go. “Can we talk a minute?”

He carried reluctance in the rigid line of his shoulders as he set the plate down, not bothering with a seat. “What's up?”

“You know I've been looking for a job. I haven't had much luck. There doesn't seem to be a thing open at the moment.”

“Maybe you should just—”

“I was thinking maybe you could use some help around here.”

His eyes showed retreat before his words confirmed the
notion. “I don't really have any openings, Lucy. I think it might be best if—”

“I know about Marci,” she blurted. “I heard her on the phone.”

Something in his eyes shifted, making the color turn steely gray. His mouth tightened, and his left eye twitched. “You listened to my phone conversation?”

“I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, honest. I was just answering the phone, but you beat me to it.”

“And you couldn't just hang up?”

Guilt pinched hard. She'd already invaded his home, his life. “Sorry.”

“This isn't working.” He took the plate and turned toward the hallway.

Lucy followed him, her face heating. “I know. I know you don't want me around, but I can't get my own apartment till I get a job, and I can't find anything, so maybe if I could just fill in for Marci until she comes back? By then I'll have another job, but the sooner I get a paycheck, the sooner I can get out of your hair.”

Zac turned at the base of the steps, looking down at her with those intense eyes of his.

She was closer than she realized, crowding him. She took a step back, remembering a day when he would've drawn her closer.

Zac stared down at Lucy's face. She pleaded with her eyes even while she retreated a step. Lord knew at one time he'd been willing to give her anything she wanted. One look, one touch, and her wish was as good as granted.

But not now. He didn't trust her anymore. And he sure didn't want to get sucked back into the vortex of her love.

“This is pointless, Lucy. You could wake up with your memory tomorrow and be on your way back to Portland.”