“Like what?”
“Like, well, the lambicorn.”
His gaze falls to Hercules, who looks up at him, too. Stone’s expression softens. “I gotta say, this little guy is super cute. I bet when I recover my memory, I’ll discover I have an entire farm filled with creatures like this one.”
“I doubt it,” I mutter.
Cristina elbows me. “Maybe you can take Stone back to the site and see if it jogs anything. Meanwhile, I’ll look into this.” She taps the book. “Between the two of us, we’ll help get your memory back.”
“Let’s hope so,” Stone murmurs.
“Whatever this is, it’s temporary. I’ll fix it. I always do.” He considers this. “At least, I think so.”
On our drive back to the construction site, Stone pulls out his wallet and checks his ID. “It says I live in New York. That doesn’t feel right.” He turns to me. “Why doesn’t that feel right?”
“I think a lot of things aren’t going to feel right.”Like how nice you’re being to me.“Once your memory returns, you’ll get everything sorted out.”
“But I’m not a big-city guy. I’m like a tropical island, piña colada kind of guy who uses a machete to clear a rainforest. Does that sound right?”
“Well, uh—”
“Tell me about this project we’re working on.”
Relieved he didn’t force me to answer the machete-rainforest-tropical-drink-with-an-umbrella question, I happily divert. “You’re building a world-class resort right here called the Summit at Mystic Meadows.”
He folds his arms. “And how are you involved?” There’s a noise in the back and Stone peeks between the seats. “Hercules,” he says in a gentle but firm voice, “don’t eat the seat.”
“It’s fine.”It’s the least I can do for ruining your life.“He’s not going to harm anything.”
Stone turns back around. “What were we talking about? Yes! I remember! Whew. Thank goodness I remember one thing. The resort. How are we working together?”
“I’m what’s called a magical land coordinator. My job is to make sure the project works alongside the magic in Mystic Meadows.”
“And is it? Is the project doing that?”
“Oh, look, we’re here. Right back at the trailer.”
“Yeah, where I got my memory knocked out. But that’s okay, I feel it coming back. Just gotta make sure I don’t bang my head on any more hard hats. Come on, Hercules. You ready to get out?”
I park the car and we exit, heading toward the building.
Stone takes two steps and stops. “Something’s wrong.”
Oh no, here it comes. He’s remembered and recalls how much he hates me and how he was going to blackmail me, and what’s worse is now he has even more blackmail material.Want me to tell the police you nearly killed me? I will build this resort however I damn well please.
He scans the site, brow furrowed, a dark shadow passing over his face. “Why isn’t anyone working? If this is a construction site, where is everyone?”
“Well, uh, that’s a good question ...” As I flounder to tell him, an idea hits me. “Hey! Let’s go inside.”
“What? Why?”
“Because maybe if you look at the plans, it’ll trigger your memory. Help you recover some of it.”
He snaps his fingers. “Yes, that’s a great idea!”
Before I can stop him, he rushes over and scoops me up, lifting me into the sky. “You are brilliant!”
His arms are strong, and he raises me like I weigh no more than a sheet of paper. I look down at him as he gazes up at me, and there’s a beat—a stretched moment where my throat closes.
