Midnight Bride

With a man she didn’t know, had never even seen before. At least, she thought she’d never seen before. She’d tried to remember what had happened to her, how she’d come to be here in this condition, but every time she’d tried, the pain in her head had become unbearable.

She watched Caleb as he ate, amazed at his appetite and his ability to accept this situation so calmly. As if strange women fell at his doorstep all the time. Which, considering the man’s looks, might very well be the case.

“Thank you for the clothes and the, uh, other things you bought for me in town today,” she said, appreciative of the boots and jeans and denim shirt he’d picked up for her. She hadn’t tried them on yet, but they appeared to be the right sizes. He’d also bought her some personal items which included, much to her continued embarrassment, underwear and toiletries. “Please be sure and keep the receipt so I can reimburse you.”

He took a long swig of milk, then set the glass down with a clunk. “That might be difficult since I stole most of it.”

“You what!”

He looked at her with the patience one reserves for a child. “I couldn’t very well buy ladies’ clothes and underwear without raising a few eyebrows. Pinewood is a small town. Everyone knows who I am, and that I live alone. Unless I want people here to wonder if I’d picked up some unusual habits, I thought it best to be discreet.”

“Stealing is discreet?”

“Necessary. If it makes you feel better, I dropped a few bills behind the market counter. Judy will find it, and since she owns the store, it will go into her pocket.”

An honest crook. That should make her feel better, but it only increased the burning sensation in her stomach. In spite of her discomfort, she was pleased with the clothes and other items. Having a few things of her own gave her a small sense of identity. Other than the sweater and skirt she’d had on when he found her, which Caleb had washed and hung up in the shower to dry, she had nothing. Even her shoes had been lost in the storm.

She rubbed her feet together, thankful for the socks he’d given her to wear. They were way too big, but soft and warm, like the thermal pants and cotton shirt she also had on. His thermal pants and cotton shirt. Her stomach fluttered at the thought.

“Is Judy a friend of yours?” she asked cautiously.

He shrugged, then scooped up some spaghetti sauce with a piece of bread and took a bite.

Suddenly worried, she poked at a green bean. “Close personal?”

One brow raised, he looked at her.

She straightened and lifted her chin, irritated he was making her inquiry so difficult. “This is a rather delicate situation, Caleb. I’m in your home, wearing your clothes. I believe I should at least be prepared for the possibility of a jealous lover bursting through the door.”

“Ah.” He chewed thoughtfully. “You think Judy will be upset we took a shower together?”

“We did not shower together!”

“We didn’t?”

“Not like that, and you know it.” He was teasing, making jokes. Her fingers tightened around the fork in her hand. “You may find my anxiety amusing, Mr. Hunter, but I find it extremely uncomfortable.”

“Sarah, Judy is eighty-four years old and has no teeth.” He made an effort to look serious, but it was a weak one. “Are you really that embarrassed I saw you naked?”

She nearly choked. How could he be so blas&e2; about this? “Showering with a strange woman may be an everyday occurrence for you, but I assure you it most certainly is not for me!”

He smiled. “I find that extremely encouraging.”

Flustered, she drew in a sharp breath and glared at him. “You know what I mean. I don’t shower with strange men.”

His smile slowly faded. “Well, you can’t really be sure about that now, can you? Unless you remember something and you’re holding out on me.”

It was back. That look of mistrust. An imperceptible tightening of his voice and mouth. And his eyes. A cold flash of wariness and doubt. She had the inexplicable feeling that anyone who might cross this man would find themselves in serious danger.

“I don’t remember anything, Caleb. I wish to God I did. I could be a beautician or a grape picker for all I know. But whatever I am, I’m not like that, I mean, I’m not a, uh, I’m not—”

“Loose?” he supplied.

She blushed furiously. “Yes.”

Caleb sighed. “Just my luck. A beautiful, sexy woman falls into my arms, and I can’t do anything about it.”

Sarah straightened in her chair and stared at the food on her plate. “Don’t tease me like that,” she said quietly.

“Like what?”

“I’m not beautiful, and I’m certainly not sexy.”

She had to be kidding, Caleb thought, watching Sarah push her green beans into a little mountain. Her blond hair fell in natural waves around her heart-shaped face, and wisps of the silken strands framed her wide, soft blue eyes. He knew women who would kill for the long thick lashes and smooth skin she had. Why would she possibly think she wasn’t attractive? Even in an oversize man’s shirt and loose-fitting thermal pants she was one of the most alluring women he’d ever seen.

He took a bite of pasta and studied her carefully for a moment. She held her shoulders stiff, her eyes carefully averted from his. Her cheeks were bright red. Strange, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been around a woman who blushed.

“So what do you think?” he asked, leaning back in his chair. “What kind of a person do you think you were—are?”

She looked up at him, and he saw the distress in her eyes. “I don’t know.”

“A secretary, maybe? Having an affair with the boss, who tries to off you before his wife found out?”

Her eyes flashed blue fire. “Certainly not! I would never have an affair with a married man.”

“A housewife, then?” he went on. “With six children, married to a double-dealing drug lord whose rivals want to make an example out of you.”

Her lips pressed tightly together. “I don’t have a husband or children.”

“And how do you know?”

“I just know.”

Did she? he wondered. Was she holding something back on him? Or was the whole thing a lie? She looked so damn innocent. If she was an agent and this was an act, she was very, very good.

And if she was lying, he resolved—about anything—he’d find out. That was one thing he was sure about.

“Okay.” He pushed his plate away and let his gaze roam over her. “So what do we know about you, then?”