I leaned back against the pillow and turned my head, staring right into Anna’s dark eyes. Which, now that the light was on them, I realized weren’t as dark as I’d thought. They were more amber than black. And they were really pretty like the rest of her.
“Hey,” I said in a low, smoldering voice. I was already starting to figure her out. She giggled, which is exactly why I’d done it.
“Hey.” She matched my energy. At least, she tried. But I could already tell being a shameless flirt was not in her wheelhouse. My hair fell into my eyes, blocking my view. She reached over and brushed it back, sending more happy feelings down to the gut region. “Your mom is going to be upset when she sees you. She hates it when your hair gets in your eyes.”
I tucked her hair behind her ear. Hey, if she could do it, so could I. While I was there, I let my fingers trail across her cheek. I was right. Her skin really was like velvet. “My mom’s coming?”
She nodded and reached up for my hand that was now trailing down her jaw. She pulled it against her chest. Double hand holding with this stunner? Absolutely, yes.
“She should be here in a few hours,” she said.
“Do I like my mom?”
“Yeah. She’s a really good lady. And your little brother is coming. Colt. He’d be fifteen now?” Her eyes darted up, doing the math in her head. “Yeah. Fifteen.”
“And I like Colt?”
“I think so. You used to, for sure. You were really protective of him.”
We stared into each other’s eyes and I hated that I couldn’t remember her.
“Please tell me you don’t have a boyfriend, Anna Dupree.” It came out like a prayer. There was nothing I wanted more. Not even getting my memory back.
Now her fingers were brushing over my cheek, not at all like someone who had a boyfriend. “It’s complicated.”
“Tell me?”
But she didn’t. She just stared into my eyes. “I missed you, Blue Bishop. So much.” The way she said it stabbed me in the chest. I’d hurt her. Maybe we’d hurt each other.
I pulled her hand to my mouth and kissed her knuckles. “You don’t have to miss me ever again.”
She smiled just barely. “Is that how this is going to go? You’re just gonna come shooting back into my life like you never left?”
“Yes. One hundred percent.” She giggled but I was dead serious. “I don’t know that guy who left you. But he was a complete fool. This guy though. He might not know much…” I shrugged. She laughed and it came straight out of her nose as an adorable snort. “But I know he’s never leaving you again.” I blew out my breath, a little overwhelmed. “I think I had a love-at-first-sight moment when you walked in here. Is that how it went the first go ’round?”
She sighed. It was so cute. “Yeah. For me at least. And I think for you too. That’s what you said anyway.”
“You didn’t believe me?”
“No. I did. But then you left…”
Again with the unpacking.
“Well, I’m never leaving you again,” I repeated and I knew it was true. Whatever had kept us apart before, it wouldn’t happen twice. I wouldn’t let it.
Her head tilted. “Blue,” she said in a hush. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
I studied her. There was a freckle above her right eyebrow, a tiny scar over the left one. Her eyes were so serious. Man, she was gorgeous. With all my might, I tried to remembersomething.
“Stay with me,” I said. “Don’t leave when my mom gets here. I don’t know her.”
She adjusted her head on the pillow. “You don’t knowme.”
“Yeah, I do,” I whispered. “I just can’t remember. But I know I do. I can feel it right here.” I lifted our hands and bumped them against my breastbone. “Tell the truth. I know you, Anna Dupree. Don’t I? Like way deep down inside?”
She paused for two heartbeats. “Yeah. You do.” She gave me a gentle smile. “And I know you too.”
“So, you’ll stay?” I needed her to. Desperately.
