“You won’t recognize the place in a couple months. Come Memorial Day weekend, it’s a tourist mecca.”
“I guess that keeps you busy at the hospital.”
“You wouldn’t believe the messes people get themselves into while they’re traveling.”
She glanced down at her clothes. “Oh, I don’t know. I think I can.”
They chatted as they drove, and he recommended a place that would tow her vehicle from the mud. Lauren jottedSullivan’s Towingin the Notes on her phone.
Ten minutes later they pulled into a gravel drive. A sign out front read “Pinehaven Resort: A rustic retreat.” The drive wound back through a pine forest. Despite the serene surroundings her nerves jangled. She was late and disheveled. So much for first impressions.
He followed a truck into a gravel parking lot and pulled alongside it. “There’s Jonah now. He’s the owners’ son.”
Lauren glanced over, recognized the blue truck and the driver inside, and gritted her teeth.
Chapter 7
Present day
Jonah splashed water on his face and met his gaze in the mirror. They’d relocated Lauren to a regular room late last night, and he’d moved to the waiting room on the same floor. He’d gotten only a modicum of sleep on that chair, and his clothes were now disheveled. A shadow of scruff covered his jawline, his eyelids were swollen, and that cowlick at his forehead refused to be tamed.
But hope sprang up inside, relentless and buoying. Maybe with a full night’s rest Lauren’s memory had returned. Maybe he’d enter her room and her face would light up at the sight of him. Those green eyes would sparkle and turn to crescent moons the way they did when she laughed. He’d hold her tight and joke that someday they’d tell their kids about the time she’d forgotten him.
Common sense whispered in his ear,Ifher memory returned, they would’ve come for you.But maybe the staff had turned over and they didn’t realize he was here. Maybe she hadn’t found her phone in the bag his parents left.
Giving up on his hair, he left the restroom and proceeded past the desk and down the hall to her room. He hadn’t visited her last night, hadn’t wanted to upset her again, but they’d given him her room number. His footsteps quickened as the numbers ascended. He was eager to see her after the misery of yesterday.
There it was, Room 213.
The door was open, so he went right in. She sat on the edge of the bed, dressed in street clothes, the bag sitting at her side as if she was eager to leave. At his entry her gaze swung to him and she straightened. A guarded expression came over her face.
The hope inside him popped at her expression. He didn’t even have to ask. She still thought he was her enemy.What if her memory never comes back?His stomach turned to lead.
He forced his lips into a smile. “Morning. How are you feeling today?”
She did a quick head-to-toe scan of him. “A little better. They’re discharging me.”
“That’s great. I can take you home.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it again.
“Was the doctor in this morning?”
“Yeah, she’s the one who’s discharging me.”
“What did she say about your concussion?”
She put her hand to her throat, something she did when she was uncomfortable. “I’m, uh, not really sure. I wasn’t quite awake yet. And I’m not thinking very clearly.”
A middle-aged nurse bustled into the room with a wheelchair. “All right, young lady. We’re busting you outta here.” She glanced at Jonah. “Are you the ride?”
“Yeah.”
“Perfect.” She handed Lauren a packet. “The instructions are in here, basically a summary of what Dr. Wallis told you this morning, I’m sure.”
Lauren started to say something, then put a hand to her temple.
“Up you go!”
