Womanizer (Spoilt) (25 page)

“This is good news, Isabelle.
Talk to him. Maybe when he talks about your time together it will trigger more than just your feelings, like it has with Jesse. You said you remembered the gallery and the house. It’s worth a try.”

“It’s crazy. I
t’s like I’m in love with a stranger, like being in love with a celebrity or something. Besides all that, I still don’t know whether Adele was telling the truth, and until I remember, I can’t take the chance. I’ll talk to him but I can’t trust him unless I remember. It has to be this way. It’s the only way I know how.”

“He’s hurting, Isabelle, a lot. You don’t feel that way if you don’t care.”

“I didn’t say he didn’t care. I just don’t know if he is ... honorable. What I said to him about the house today, part of me feels as though he bought the house out of guilt.”

“Isabelle, just go and talk to him.”

With a determined nod, she rose from the table and with tentative steps, joined him on the balcony.

“Do you mind if I sit with you?”

He jumped as though she startled him, before gesturing towards a chair. She couldn’t help but notice he wouldn’t look at her. “I think we need to talk.” He said nothing so she continued. “I want to apologize for what I said today. It was uncalled for. What Adele told me at the hospital was still fresh in my mind and I jumped to conclusions. I want to try and remember you and I’m asking you to help me.”

“Are you going to believe what I tell you?” His tone sounded tight as though he held back all emotion from his voice.

“Yes. You have given me no reason not to, but other people have. You’re good with Jesse and we appear to be serious about each other, so I’m going to trust my instincts.”

“What do you want to know?” His eyes still remained stuck on the horizon and his voice still hesitant.

“You said we met at a modeling shoot. Did I agree to go out with you at that time?”

“No
, because of my reputation.” She noticed he almost spat the word on the decking at their feet. “Much like now, actually.” A small smile touched his lips and seeing it again for the first time evoked a familiar tingle.

“So what happened then?”

“You changed your mind.”

“Why?”

“I stopped doing what you disapproved of.”

“Oh.” She paused for a moment to digest the information and see if it rang any bells to no avail. “Where did we go on our first date?”

“Fontaine’s.”

Mitch kept his answers brief on purpose. Not only was he surprised she was taking the time to ask him but he decided that giving too many details would create images he gave her rather than recollecting them herself.

“The Italian restaurant? I’ve always wanted to go there.”

“That’s what you said that night too.”

“Oh.” He brought his eyes to hers for the first time since she’d joined him and she smiled. His heart yearned to hold her and his hands to touch her. “Where else did we go together?”

“Jared and
Charlotte’s wedding.” She stared at him. “My brother.”

“Sorry,
I’m not getting anything yet. Keep going.”

“The park with
Jesse near your old apartment. We went there a lot.”

Recognition passed over her face and his heart sped up in anticipation.

“Did you take photos of us one day, photos you showed to Jesse on your camera?”

“Yes,” he said, hearing the hope in his voice and mentally kicking himself for it. “The first day I met Jesse. He planted himself on my lap so he could look at the photos.” He smiled at
the memory and couldn’t help see the irony of him remembering and not her.

“I had a flash of something like that when I was in the hospital.”

“You did? That’s good, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I suppose it means that what I remembered was real.”

“What do you mean ‘real’?”

“I’ve dreamed
about you.”

His heart skipped a beat. Perhaps all was not lost after all.
“Oh yeah? Care to elaborate?”

She blushed and shook her head.

“What else do you remember?”

“The photo of the desert su
nset of near the front door. It wasn’t a memory but a feeling. Then I had a flash of a gallery and Mum confirmed you have an exhibit. I don’t remember vivid images, mostly feelings.”

“It’s a start
, I guess.” Mitch hoped the disappointment wasn’t evident in his expression. “If you remember anything else you can ask me about it and I can tell you more, see if it triggers something.”

“OK, I will. Please, can you do something for me?”

“I would do anything for you, Izzy.”

“Will you please join us at mealtimes? Jesse seems to enjoy your company and avoiding each other may make it harder for me to remember.”

“Sure, if you think it will help.”

She nodded, smiled and went back inside. Excitement and confusion played havoc with his senses.

Now what?

Chapter Twenty Nine

Bad Memories

Every day Isabelle recalled little memories and images of Jesse and Mitch. There were never complete memories of events, just flashes and scenes and this continued to frustrate her. One evening Mitch had organized dinner for the four of them to celebrate Jesse’s birthday. Isabelle was grateful for his thoughtfulness as she hadn’t remembered. The restaurant seemed vaguely recognizable to Isabelle, just as all her memories were. Jesse advised her they had been there before with Mitch and this prompted a quick and short memory once again. Each time something sprung up in her mind, Isabelle tried to hold onto it but wasn’t always successful in doing so.

Although she’d begun to trust in Mitch and was impressed by his kindness and feelings for her, there was still a niggling doubt in her mind, a memory that she couldn’t quite c
apture which seemed important, just like every other indistinct recollection hovering in her mind. Aside from their polite chats, when she sought insight into a memory, she kept him at a safe distance and remained a polite house guest.

Regardless of this, Mitch had been sweet and considerate. Not once did he pressu
re her to remember. When she asked him questions about certain glimpses of the past, he filled her in with patience and she could see in his eyes what she meant to him when he spoke. Her feelings for him grew as each day passed, not because she’d started to remember but because of the man he appeared to be. Remembering his kisses and caresses, even for short moments, also had her wanting to experience them in reality. Perhaps if she did it would bring something to the surface.

Now that Carol had recovered and was able to walk again unassisted, she decided to get some fresh air and took Jess
e to the beach. Isabelle wanted to take this opportunity to relive a kiss and see what it produced. She found Mitch sitting on the balcony, looking out of the blue-green ocean as the bright sun warmed the sand. She noted he seemed to sit out here a lot and wondered if he found solace here. The quiet lashing of the waves against the shore and cliffs created a relaxing ambiance and she could feel her worries drain away when she joined him until nerves crept up and bit her.

The past days had been painful yet hopeful for Mitch. Isabelle seemed to be remembering little things and she appeared to have warmed to him. This did little to reduce the ache in his heart and his longing to touch her. Seeing her gaze at him with a vague recognition also tore at his chest. Gone were the loving gazes and happy grins, but instead were casual, confused glances and polite smiles. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could persevere without forcing the issue. He wanted to push aside the barrier he’d been forced to put up and take what was his.

Mitch watched the waves crash
ing into the shore and he could hear Jesse’s happy voice in the distance at the beach with Carol. All of a sudden he noted that this meant they were alone. This realization sent him crazy with the urge to forget about his decision not to pressure her and take what he wanted, then demand her memories return with passion and tenderness. Reliving their nights together in his mind was like rubbing salt into an open wound but he couldn’t control the thoughts invading his mind. If only Isabelle had the same problem.

When he heard footsteps behind him, it took all his willpower to still the erratic thumping of his heart and remain seated.

“It’s so nice out here. I can see why you spend a lot of time here, besides avoiding me, of course.”

“I’m not avoiding you. I just keep my distance so I don’t jump you.”

His smile was a quick ironic one. This was the first joke he’d made in weeks. Her spontaneous laugh sent shivers over his skin to hear it again.

“I’ve had a few more flashes and I was wondering if you could help me.”

“Of course. I always do. Why are you asking me this time?” He held his breath, not just because of what her answer would be but also because she smelt like vanilla and it reminded him of their first date. He wished he didn’t remember too. His senses were overloaded as her scent engulfed him.

“These memories are different from the others and I don’t want to make things more difficult for you than they already are.”

Isabelle placed a hand on his thigh and he stiffened. His breath caught again. This was the first time she’d touched him since the accident.

“
It’s OK,” he said breathing out, “go ahead.”

Noticing his voice had deepened into a throaty tone increased her urge to kiss him. When she stood up, then sat on his lap, she heard his breath catch again and desire filled his eyes. Throwing her arms around his neck she sought his full lips. A loud groan emitted from deep in his throat and he returned her kiss with intense passion. The build-up of tension inside him seemed to be released into his kiss.

Hands became buried in each other’s hair and warmth crept through her veins. The feel of his lips against hers, though forgotten, nevertheless felt familiar. At that moment she knew, without remembering, that she was in love with him. His hands
cupped her face and eased her back so he could look into her eyes. Everything she needed to know could be found there.

Her eyes, heavy with desire, had become a brilliant green and he groaned again. The feel of her lips, her hands on him again, was driving him crazy.

“
Izzy, if we keep doing this, I’m not going to be able to stop.”

“I don’t want you to,” she whispered.

Disbelief shadowed his thoughts for a moment before he brought her lips back to his to kiss her with tenderness at first, before deepening the kiss. His imagination had been nowhere near as good as the real thing and he became impatient for more. The days of tension and built up desire went into overdrive and it took all his control to stop himself from throwing her to the deck and taking what he wanted. He wanted to savor her and pushed aside the urge to rush. Holding her in his arms, he stood and carried her to his room, the room originally going to be theirs.

He took his time, just like their first time as, in essence, it was for her again. For him, experiencing it fresh through her eyes would be absolute bliss and it would be the only good thing to come from her accident. He relished every morsel, every inch of her skin and took delight in watching her experience him again. Mitch couldn’t believe he
was loving her again.

Her satisfied smile as they lay together side by side afterwards filled him with hope. Starting again had its benefits after all.

“Now I know why we are together,” she
said, her tone teasing and relaxed.

“You were prett
y happy the first time round.” He grinned. “It got better, too.”

“Everything felt foreign but familiar at the same time. It was like r
ecognizing someone’s face but not knowing their name.”

“I’ve missed you so much. Even though you are living here, it wasn’t the same. I missed
us
.”

Before his eyes a shocked and dismayed look passed over her face and she frowned as though she was seeing something she didn’t like. She sat up and her expression changed to disgust.
What just happened?

“You did it again.
You lured me in again. You took advantage of the fact that I don’t remember what you did. Adele was right about you!”

“
Izzy, babe, what are you talking about?”

“After the first time
, you didn’t turn up at a shoot we had together. Then the morning after that I caught you flirting with some girl. It’s not clear but I remember …” She climbed from the bed and started to dress. He sat on the end and wondered the best way to approach the situation. This she remembered.

“Do you remember there was an explanation?”

“No.” Almost dressed now, she stared at him with continued disdain. He rose and started to dress too, just in case she fled.

“I don’t want to hear it,” she spat out. “I obviously fell for your lies the first time and I’m not going to be fooled again. I knew there was something bothering me and why I was reluctant to believe you were honest and genuine.”