Jolene and her hero both answer yes and I’m inclined to think they’re having a moment while he untangles the leather from her wrists. I’m getting hot just watching.
"Thank God I wasn't holding Jane," Jolene says, half-laugh, half-groan.
Jane fusses. Oh no, what does she want? I try putting her back in the sleigh… that’s not it. Then the stench hits me.
I hate to intrude on this moment Jolene and the reindeer wrangler are having but she’s holding the diaper bag and I have no desire to change whatever is making that horrible smell.
I step closer to them and Jolene snaps out of her trance. "Ewww." She slips free and takes Jane. "Gotta handle this."
"Bathroom's that way." The worker points down the hall. His gaze follows her for long enough, I can confirm that I wasn’t wrong in thinking they were having a moment.
While he stares at her, I start rehanging the reins that fell. "She's new to this."
"To crashing displays?" He’s grumbly.
I laugh and take pride in knowing something about Jolene since there’s so much I don’t know. "To being a mom. Wouldn't even know this place had a kid exhibit if her brother hadn't tipped her off."
"Does he work here?"
"Kind of. He's a mechanic. Comes when needed."
"Jeremy?"
"Yeah." I’m pretty sure that’s his name. Their family has a lot of J names.
Jolene emerges minutes later with Jane fresh and happy. "That was the last diaper, we better go."
So much for them getting to know each other. She rushes past, maybe from embarrassment and I fall in step.
“If you want to get his name or number, I can hold Jane.”
“I don’t have time for dating. I’m barely pulling myself together for the auction.”
My heart sinks. I’m not cute and bubbly like her. My black hair and pale skin are… beautiful. I applaud myself for the catch. I’m trying to get rid of the voice in the back of my head that seems to think I’m not enough. If I didn’t hold back so much, I might meet guys too.
It’s time I stop literally looking in my mirror and asking. “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s this woman who had a fall?”
I open my mouth to take the first step in trusting people, and tell Jolene about my amnesia, but she’s flustered, trying to find the keys in the diaper bag. Her own trauma’s a little too fresh for me to add mine.
I make a commitment to tell Jolene and our other friends about my amnesia in a few days, after the auction.
Chapter 3
Toby
“Turn in here.” I only let Dylan drive so I can keep my eyes peeled for Nikki, scanning every face instead of wrestling with traffic.
“The grocery store? You gotta take a piss or what?” Dylan flicks on the blinker.
“We’ll watch for her.”
“What?”
I sweep the lot, zeroing in on the prime spot—end of the row, clear view of the entrance. “Park over here where we can see the entrance and most of the lot.”
“We can’t just sit in a grocery store parking lot like a couple of stalkers.”
“You got any better ideas? Our only lead was a bust.” I slam my fist against the door, frustration boiling through me. Sitting still grates on me, but it's the most likely place I can think we'll have a chance encounter with her.
