Page 82 of Protected By the Sinner

“You’re insane. Who enjoys arguing?”

He shrugs. “Usually I have zero patience for useless fights, but ours were . . . fun.”

I shake my head slowly. “I’d like to talk to my sister.”

“That’s fine, but no cheating, Amber. Remember what the doctor said—your memories have to come back on their own. Don’t try to fill in the blanks with questions.”

“I won’t. I promise. I really hope this amnesia won’t last. How did you find her?”

“My head of security—”

“Roman . . . I get the feeling he doesn’t like me much. He always looks at me funny.”

“You two never really got along. But anyway, like I was saying, he found another phone at the scene where you were hit—besides the one you used to talk to me.”

“Why would I need two phones?”

He seems to think before answering. “Maybe that’s one of those things you’ll only figure out when your memory comes back.”

“Maybe. So you used that phone to call my sister?”

“Yeah. I wasn’t even sure it would be Elodie who answered. It was more of a hunch.”

“Well, good thing it was the right one, huh?”

He cups my face and studies me for a moment. “You’re not mad that I went through your phone without asking?”

“No. You did it to help me. I can’t force myself to remember, and if I’d called my sister before you did, I probably would’ve asked all the wrong questions. Besides, I don’t have anything to hide from you, right?”

Beau doesn’t say anything. Instead, he pulls my head to his chest and begins stroking my hair.

“It’s scary not remembering anything, but I trust you.”

“How much do you trust me, Amber?”

“Is there a measure for trust? I don’t think so. You either do or you don’t. You’re the father of my child, and that bond can never be broken. I know you’d never do anything to hurt me.”

Chapter 37

“Elodie?” I ask awkwardly as soon as she answers.

“Amber, oh my God! I was so worried.”

Her words make me nervous.

What if she starts asking questions I don’t know how to answer?

“I’m okay. Beau told me you two talked yesterday.”

There’s a sigh on the other end of the line. “I’m sorry, sis. We’ve been talking for less than a minute and I almost messed everything up. Yes, we talked yesterday, and he told me I shouldn’t pressure you to remember.” She sounds so embarrassed I feel bad for her.

“Look, I know it’s hard. It’s hard for me too, but the doctor said it’ll pass, and I believe him. I didn’t forget you, but I only remember us from a long time ago.”

“The farm?”

“Yeah, and our escape. I remember the pastor from our town and his wife hid us for a while and then sent us to live with some relatives in South Carolina.”

“Wow. I’d almost forgotten that myself.”