Page 4

Two days later

E lla stood in front of the mirror in the hospital bathroom, feeling like she’d been handed a get-out-of-jail-free card. I’m blowing this popsicle stand. She grimaced at her reflection in the mirror, hating how gaunt and pale she looked in the clean red-and-white plaid shirt and black yoga pants Gage had scrounged up for her. She tried not to think about the horrific red sores peppering her shoulders, buttocks, and the backs of her feet and legs.

Wherever she’d spent the last five years, she certainly hadn’t been running marathons. Thankfully, the sores were healing. It would take time, but her doctor was hopeful that she hadn’t suffered any permanent skin damage. That in itself felt like another miracle.

Five whole years! It was an awfully long span of time to be missing from a person’s memories. Though her recollections were crystal clear about her life leading up to that point, the five years themselves remained hazy. It felt like she was looking at them through a camera lens that refused to come into focus. It was so frustrating.

The doctor on duty had just this morning explained that the holes in her memories were a coping mechanism. It was her mind’s way of shielding her from the pain of whatever trauma she’d endured. He’d further advised her to be patient until her memories returned. He’d also warned her that they might not come back at all.

Though Ella hadn’t shared the sordid details with him about the homicide she’d witnessed, she knew exactly what trauma he was referring to. She’d discussed it at length already with both Gage and Sheriff Luke Hawling. She had a sneaking suspicion they’d be discussing it again soon.

But she’d lived to tell the tale. That was the most important takeaway. She was alive, had a new prescription for her anti-rejection meds in hand, and was back to plotting how she was going to seek justice for her father. Like Gage, she was appalled that the Corpus Christi police hadn’t made more progress on his case yet. It sounded like they’d long since stashed his file in their drawer of cold cases.

Locating Gage Dream Boat Hefner was the first step in her plan to warm up her father’s homicide case. She was still wrapping her brain around the fact that she’d actually found Gage. Though her memories surrounding her journey to Heart Lake were still murky, the details were coming back in bits and pieces.

At some point in time —it could’ve been weeks or even months ago — she’d exited the place she’d been staying in and walked to the bank to withdraw every penny of her account in cash. Then she’d hitchhiked her way out of the city on the passenger seat of a dump truck. Somewhere along the way, she’d gotten her hands on a copy of a map depicting all the major cities and highways in Texas. That had really helped. She’d used it to track Gage Hefner from his last duty station to the town he’d retired in.

And here I am.

Waiting for the hunkiest guy on the planet to come give her a ride.

The photos her dad had shown her from Gage’s Ranger School graduation ceremony hadn’t come close to doing him justice. He was a melt-your-heart-to-a-puddle kind of guy. She couldn’t believe he was still single.

Non-biological brother, my hide! She might be missing a bunch of her memories, but she hadn’t been born yesterday. She’d seen the way he’d looked at her when he thought she wasn’t looking. Just remembering his unguarded expression when he thought she was sleeping this morning made her heart race like a whole herd of wild horses.

He saw her as a woman. Not one in the sister department, either, for which she was wildly grateful. It was his silent male admiration that had given her the boost she needed to scrape her sore, tired body out of bed and face what came next.

She bit her lower lip as she finger-combed her hair into a loose ponytail and secured it with a rubber band someone had left on the windowsill. If she was being honest with herself, she didn’t know what came next. According to Gage, she had a lot of money. Maybe she’d grab a hotel room somewhere in town until she could figure out what to do next.

A triple knock sounded on the door.

“Come in,” she called, hoping it was her favorite retired Army Ranger. She’d been moved to a regular room yesterday morning, then kept an extra night for observation. According to Gage, the security firm where he worked had kept a guard on duty in the hallway outside her room the entire time she’d been at the hospital.

He’d served the first shift. Not from the hallway, though.

She smiled at the memory of how irritated he’d looked when the next guard, a guy named Johnny, had informed him that his shift was ended and tried to send him home. Gage was sweet like that, making it clear that his interest in her was personal, not just professional. She briefly closed her eyes as she absorbed the enormous compliment he’d inadvertently handed her. It was so crazy, stinking sweet of him!

“Hey, you.” Her eyelids popped open at the sound of Gage’s voice on the other side of the door. “Ella?” His voice took on a more urgent note, presumably after he found her hospital room empty.

“I’m in the bathroom, Ranger boy,” she sang out.

“You okay?” he called anxiously.

“The jury’s still out on that.” Dragging in a breath, she opened the bathroom door and returned to the icky white and chrome, antiseptic-smelling hospital room. She wasn’t going to miss this place one bit.

“How do I look?” She gave a tottering twirl in the center of the room, wanting to kiss the feet of whoever had invented flip-flops.

“Fishing for compliments again?” The way Gage’s brown gaze darkened with appreciation told her all she needed to know. He liked how she looked — flip-flops, pressure sores, and all.

“Maybe.” She stuck her tongue out at him. “Guess I’ll have to ask Johnny his opinion, since you seem to be charging extra for yours today. ”

“Please don’t.” Gage stepped in her path so quickly that her breath got clogged in her throat.

She had to tip her head back to drink in all of his broad-shouldered, military-guy hotness. “Don’t what?” She knew she was baiting him, but she couldn’t resist.

“Don’t ask Johnny.” He rested a large hand ever-so-lightly against her waist, treating her like precious china the way he always did. “I don’t like the way he looks at you.”

Her heartbeat sped to careening heights at his show of possessiveness. “Are you making that request as my bossy, non-biological brother or as something else?” she taunted.

“Just don’t.” He reached around her with a hooded look to give her ponytail the gentlest of tugs. “I said please,” he reminded.

“Oh, in that case…” She lifted a hand, intending to give him a friendly pat on the shoulder. However, the bruises on her upper arm stopped her from raising her arm that high. She settled for patting his chest instead. Unless she was mistaken, he flexed his impressive muscles there for her benefit.

He must’ve seen the way she’d winced, because he covered her hand with his, holding it a prisoner against his chest. “On a scale of one to ten, what’s your pain level this morning?”

“About a fifteen.” She rolled her eyes at him.

His fingers tightened on hers. “What can I do to help?”

“For starters?” She made a face at him. “Help me get a cell phone. Then a hotel room. After that, I’m gonna need some more clothes, and maybe a pony. I’ve always wanted a pony.”

An answering chuckle rumbled out of him. She felt it in his chest before it sprang free. “I bought you a burner phone on my way here.” He let go of her hand and reached into the back pocket of his jeans for it. “Already got my number on speed dial for you.” He held it out to her.

“You’re so thoughtful.” He was, and she was more grateful than words could express without bursting into fat, squishy tears. Trying not to weep was the sole reason she was cracking jokes right and left. “I love the case, by the way.” She wrinkled her nose at the plain black phone that clearly wasn’t in a case. “Were they out of flowers?”

“What kind of flowers?” he shot back without missing a beat.

“Daisies. Definitely daisies.” She fiddled with the cell phone, adoring the fact that he’d brought it to her before she’d asked for it. “Not that I’m complaining, but why a burner phone?”

“Because they’re harder to hack and track.” His jaw tightened. “I just found you. Don’t want to lose you again.”

Her heart fluttered at his words. “I seriously doubt there’s a big enough hotel in this town to get lost in.”

“I’m not taking you to a hotel.” He lightly rested his hand on the small of her back. “Until the police find Billy Bob Bolander and bring him in for questioning, I don’t think it’s safe for you to be out there alone.”

“Now that you mention it, I’m not exactly feeling like taking on the world again just yet.” She tipped her head gratefully against his shoulder. “So, if you’ve got a bunker to spare…”

“I’ve got something on the other side of town that might fit the bill.” He grinned down at her. “Assuming you’re up for a short road trip. Fair warning. It’ll take us a good ten minutes to get to the other side of town. Eleven minutes if we hit Heart Lake rush hour.”

“Dare I ask what’s on the other side of town?” One minute’s worth of rush hour sounded heavenly compared to being stuck in the hour-long bottlenecks in downtown Corpus Christi.

“Since you already dared to ask,” he pointed out in a scoffing voice, “I’m just gonna tell you outright that I’m taking you to my place.” He ushered her out the door and into the hallway. “Assuming you don’t have any objections.”

“Maybe I have an objection,” Johnny Cuba drawled. He was lounged against the wall outside her room, looking sports magazine centerfold-worthy in his black cargo vest and combat boots. His black security ball cap was turned around backwards.

“Nobody asked you.” Gage shoulder-bumped past him.

Johnny’s good-humored laughter followed them down the hallway. “I’m gonna miss you, Ella,” he called after them.

“I’m gonna miss you, too.” She smiled at him over her shoulder. “Thanks for all the watch-dogging.”

He gave her a two-fingered salute, grinning from ear to ear. “Woof!”

Gage stalked ahead of her down the hallway, looking like he had steam coming out of his ears.

She followed him into the elevator. “I’m not sure what you’re so cranky about.” She stuck her tongue out at him. “Shoot, Gage! If I didn’t have a five-year crater in my memories and burst into tears every time I think about my dad, I’d probably be flirting with you.” She got all misty-eyed again at the mere mention of her father.

He leaned against the wall of the elevator, towering over her on the short ride down. “I’d probably be flirting back.” The steam was no longer coming out of his ears.

“Only if you’re still single when that day comes,” she sighed, thinking about all the counseling sessions she had on her schedule during the coming weeks. He’d insisted on it.

“I’ll still be single.” There was no hesitation in his answer.

And just like that, they were officially not yet dating with the unspoken promise that they would be at some point in the future.

She reached for his hand, liking the way his long fingers instantly tangled with hers.

Instead of taking her to the Ford Bronco he’d mentioned that he owned, he led her out a side exit to a boxy black vehicle. It looked like it belonged on the movie set for Terminator.

“New wheels?” She was wildly impressed by the look of them.

“Company wheels,” he corrected, as he assisted her into the front passenger seat. “It’s got an armored body and bullet-proof glass.”

She was unable to hold back a shiver at the realization that he considered such amenities necessary. “Please assure me you’ve got a bunker with my name on it somewhere on your property.”

“What I have is a guest house.” He gave her a lazy smile as he took his place behind the wheel. “The guy I bought my place from had it built for his in-laws. It’s located behind my farmhouse, fully furnished, and wired with a new security system. You’re welcome to stay there as long as you want.”

“Wow!” She blinked at him. “Thanks!” It was such a kind offer that she was having a hard time coming up with one of her usual pithy responses. “Just let me know what you want in the way of rent.” She had no idea what the going rate was for rent in a town this size.

He looked offended by her request. “It’s a guest house,” he reminded, “and you’re my guest.” He drove out of the medical center’s parking lot.

She lifted her chin. “I still plan to contribute.” Thanks to the way he’d safeguarded her father’s estate, she could well afford it.

“Fine. Dinner’s on you this evening.”

Her lips parted in protest. “That’s not enough?—”

“And lunch,” he interrupted with a wink.

“Gage!” She caught her lower lip between her teeth. As badly as she wanted to accept his generosity, she didn’t want to take advantage of him.

“All joking about rent aside, there’s something I could really use your help with.” He leaned one elbow on the console between them as he cruised around the sparkling lake that the town was named after.

She hadn’t been joking about the rent, but they could circle back to that later. “If it keeps me busy, count me in.” Anything was better than holing up inside her room and marinating in her grief. She gazed out the window at all the gorgeous lake homes and boat docks flying past her window. The ones with upper-level balconies probably had the most incredible views. It was too bad Gage didn’t live on the lake.

“About a month ago, I signed up to volunteer at the new Heart Lake Animal Rescue Sanctuary.” His voice was wry.

“Really?” Her head spun back in his direction. “When did you find time for that?” It sounded like he worked all hours of the day and night for Lonestar Security.

“I didn’t.” He shook his head in self-disgust. “That’s the problem. ”

She gave a hoot of laughter. “Lemme guess. Some little puppy or kitten wrapped your big hulking Ranger self around its tiny little paw.”

“Something like that.” He smirked and kept on driving. “So, are you gonna help me out or what?”

“Ha! You had me at puppies and kittens, big guy.” She couldn’t wait to get her hands on a few cuddly balls of fur. “I could use the pet therapy.”

He looked pleased. “In that case, you’re off the hook for lunch. You still owe me dinner, though.” Reaching one long arm in front of her, he pointed out the window. “There’s the new animal rescue sanctuary.”

She stared at the trio of silver grain silos rising behind a fenced-off pasture. They were butted right up next to each other. A triangular roof connected them and extended forward to a wide, covered front porch.

“You’re sending me to work inside of a bunch of grain silos?” She was utterly charmed. She’d never before seen them repurposed like that.

“It’s a really cool setup.” He lowered his arm back to the console. “You’re going to like what they’ve done to the inside of them.”

“I can’t wait to get the grand tour,” she sighed. “How soon can I start?” She was half-tempted to beg him to pull in and give her a tour of the place right now.

“Just as soon as you rest up.” His jaw took on a determined set.

“Bossy,” she hissed, swatting at his hand.

He caught her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. “If you feel up to it, you can start next Monday. I already called and talked to them about our switcharoo.”

Next Monday was a week away. She stifled a yawn, not minding the idea of having a few days to get settled in first. For one thing, she had a ton of shopping to do. “Did you tell ‘em I’m nicer than you?”

“Yep. And prettier,” he drawled.

Her insides warmed beneath the admiration he was making no effort to hide. “How often do they need me?”

“As often as you can spare.” He gave her an assessing sideways glance. “If you choose the morning shift, I can drive you there and drop you off on my way to Lonestar Security.”

The morning shift it is. “What’ll my job description be?”

“Walking dogs, herding cats, tending to a wounded mama fox, and bottle feeding her litter of pups. Also on site is a bald eagle with a broken wing and a retired race horse named Western Storm.”

“I’m in Heaven,” Ella declared happily. “It’ll be like running that daycare I always planned to open someday, except for animals.” Her college degree had been in early childhood education. She’d been serving as the assistant director at a childcare center when her kidney health had spiraled to the point of needing a transplant.

A green semi-truck hauling a grain container was headed their way. She squinted through the windshield, wondering if it was the same driver who’d given her a lift to the diner.

Gage eyed her curiously. “Is everything okay?”

Everything in her life was far from okay, but she knew what he meant. “I was just wondering if the driver of that truck coming our way is the same guy who brought me into town. He had a green truck just like—Gage!” She stared in horror at the empty truck cab. “There’s no one at the wheel!” Not only did it appear to be unmanned, it was rolling gradually across the center line as it moved in their direction. At the rate it was shifting lanes, they would collide head on.

He dropped her hand to grip the wheel with both fists.

She kept expecting the absent driver to sit up at the last second and yank his truck back into his lane. Where was he, for pity’s sake? Had he fallen asleep? Was he lying across the seat in the throes of a heart attack?

Gage waited as long as he could, but there was no last-second correction of the truck’s route. It continued to roll into their lane, heading directly for them.

“Hold on,” he ordered tersely, yanking the wheel hard to the left in order to veer into the passing lane.

The truck rumbled past them in the lane they should’ve been in and kept going.

Gage returned to the right lane and slowed his speed. He and Ella watched through their side view mirrors as the semi-truck lumbered off the road into the ditch. The cab jackknifed into the air, and the metal container skidded onward with a screech of metal against metal. Grain erupted from the container like a golden geyser and spilled in all directions.

A cloud of grain dust rose above the accident, which Ella quickly realized was more than dust. It was smoke! Seconds later, the mangled remains of the truck and its hapless trailer burst into flames.