Returning Home (15 page)

Without asking, Jeff slipped his arms around Hope and moved to the dance floor.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice rough. Gen-
tly
, he raised her chin and tenderly wiped away the tear that slid down her pale cheek. Sniffling, she swayed against him, smiling
faintly
.

She felt warm and all woman, the sexy dress silky against his skin. The scent of her tantalized him, musk and female and some other, unidentifiable fra
grance that, from this day on, would always remind him of her. Now, more than ever, Jeff wanted to tell her. He remembered everything, there were no longer any barriers between them. He should tell her.

Closing his eyes and swaying to the music, Jeff was exactly where he wanted to be—with Hope in his arms. Suddenly, Jeff realized he was afraid. Part of him thought—hell,
knew
—once he told Hope he was back to normal, she would leave Dalhart.

It had to be more than his stupid, careless fling with Heather ten years ago that drove her away.

Something else had happened to cause Hope such pain. Something, he had a hunch, that involved him. He didn’t intend to let her know he’d regained his memory until he found out what.

Closing her eyes, Hope let herself relax in Jeff’s strong arms. Never had he seemed more wonderful to her, desirable and sexy and vulnerable all at once. And never had he seemed more out of reach.

For a moment there, a foolish, heartbreaking moment, standing by his side, she had allowed herself to pretend. They were Class Sweethearts, Homecom
ing King and Queen. Lovers. Promised to each other from that day forward, soon to be married. The future had stretched out, rosy and certain, or so she’d thought. They would go to college, marry, and get fantastic jobs, a great house near Dallas or Houston, and settle into a life of domestic
tranquility
.

And they would have children. They both had wanted children. A boy and a girl—the perfect family. How naive she’d been. How foolish.

How wrong.

Fate had chosen to deal her—them—another hand entirely. Though it had nearly killed her, she’d somehow survived, though part of her heart would remain forever buried in the dark, soft earth along with her beloved little girl.

And Jeff could be nothing more than a memory of her high school days. Soon she would leave here. This time, she wouldn’t return—ever.

Returning to their seats, Hope avoided looking at Jeff. She sincerely prayed he would get his memory back, that he would move on and rebuild both his hardware store and his life.

Then the DJ put on a song. It was
their song
, an old

Randy Travis ballad. After she’d left town, whenever it came on the radio, she’d changed the station.

Though she didn’t want to, Hope let her gaze travel to Jeff. He watched her, hunger and yearning plain on his handsome face. He dipped his head, once, then held out his hand and whispered, “Please?”

It was the
please
that did her in. Trying to pretend the icy shell she maintained around her heart wasn’t melting, Hope rose and placed her hand in his. Her skin tingled from the touch.

On the crowded dance floor, other couples made way for them. Exactly as he’d used to do at those long ago high school dances, Jeff led her to the middle. Flashing her a lopsided smile that tugged at her heart
strings, he pulled her
gently
into his arms.

Around them, the music swelled and dipped. Most couples shuffled and swayed, a few did a modified, slower version of the Texas two-step. For Hope, every
thing paled to a shade of gray—everything that is, but the virile man in her arms. She could only see the man who looked at her as if he would like to kiss her savagely, consequences be damned.

Flushed and breathless, she jerked her gaze away just as the song ended.

Stepping away from him, she told herself that she felt relief. She turned, meaning to head back to their table, when Jeff stumbled, grabbing her shoulder for balance. Concerned, she helped him right himself, her heart pounding. Another song started, a faster one this time, and he flashed her a devilish grin.

“Come on,” he mouthed, over the thump of the music. Without waiting for her to answer, he wrapped his arms around her. “You’re my lifeline, darlin’.” His voice was a sexy murmur, his breath hot upon her ear.

Hope’s pulse stuttered, her stomach felt fluttery.

Jeff was flirting with her, even calling her
darlin'.
Hearing the endearment started a slow heat burning in her, even if he had no possible way of knowing. She shot him a glance from beneath her lashes. Did he?

Though she knew she should move away, head back to the relative safety of the table, being in Jeff’s arms felt like heaven. What could be the harm in staying for one more song?

No harm at all, she decided, giving in to the feeling with a sigh. If there would be her own personal form of hell to pay later, then so be it

When the music ended this time, Hope stayed put, head on his shoulder, her eyes half closed, knowing she wore a dreamy smile on her face. Jeff kept his strong arms locked around her. She felt not the slight
est inclination to move.

Around them, most of the others were doing vari
ous forms of country and western dances. Hope could kick up her heels with the best of them, and would have, if any other man were holding her.

But this was Jeff, and for the moment she was
exactly
where she wanted to be, secure and snug in his arms.

Another song came on, an old Whitney Houston tune.

“Remember how you used to love this song?” Jeff’s sexy voice murmured in her ear. “It seemed like you were always singing it, dancing around the lake whenever it came on the radio.”

Hope froze. Slowly, she stepped back, not com
pletely out of his arms, but far enough that she could search his face. “You ... you remember?”

A flash of confusion, chased by fear, crossed his face. “Odd and ends,” he admitted, sounding reluc
tant, which surprised her. “Something came back to me when the DJ played this song.”

“What about that Randy Travis song? What do you remember about it?”

With a rough exclamation, he pulled her close and held her. Unbidden, her body swayed in time to the slow beat of the music. Heat flashed between them.

Suddenly, achingly conscious of how well his hard body melded to hers, Hope tried to catch her breath. “Do you remember it at all?” she repeated, her voice sounding high and nervous, even to her. If he remem
bered this much, it wouldn’t be long until he remem
bered everything. She would have to get ready to get out of town on a moment’s notice. She didn’t plan on sticking
around to answer the inevitable questions that were certain to come.

“Of course I remember it.” His voice was a deep bass rumble, underneath her ear. “It was
our
song.” She stifled a sob, barely noticing when the DJ put on another song. She took one step backwards, then another. Finally, Jeff dropped his arms, though he kept his eyes locked on hers.

“I think,” she swallowed, already turning to leave the dance floor, “I’d like to sit this one out”

If he made a response, she didn’t hear it He didn’t follow her to the table.

Charlene hurried over the moment Hope sat down. “You two looked fabulous out there!” Rolling her eyes, she jabbed a long scarlet fingernail at Hope’s shoulder. “Talk about chemistry! Anyone can see you two still have it”

Wildly, Hope glanced around for Jeff, praying he hadn’t heard Charlene’s remark.

“He’s around here someplace,” Charlene drawled. “You seem awfully tense. Why don’t you relax?” Hope forced herself to unclench her hands. She

took a swig of her drink and began tapping her toe in time to the insistent beat of die music. “There,” she scowled at her friend, “I’m relaxed. Are you satis
fied?”

Charlene began to laugh. After a moment, Hope felt her own lips curve into a reluctant smile. “You’re right This is ridiculous.”

“Tell me what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Hope said as she raised her head and glanced around the room.

Up went Charlene’s left eyebrow. “Really.”

Hope glanced around the crowded room once again. “Ok,” she sighed. “Everything. I don’t belong here. And I don’t feel well.”

The sound of Jeff’s deep, silky voice sent a tremor through her. “Then let’s get you out of here and into
bed.”

Chapter Ten

“Jeff!” Charlene squealed. “Hope was just looking for you. Bet you two want to be alone. Toodle-oo.” She waved, and walked off to mix with the crowd.

Face flaming, Hope looked up at him. Surely he hadn’t meant. . ..

“No, Hope,” Jeff laughed
softly
, taking her elbow in a firm grip. “If you don’t feel well, I’ll bring you home. I’m ready to leave, anyway.”

Hope couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disap
pointed. She allowed herself to be led from the room and avoided looking at anyone.

The boisterous merrymaking of the class of 1988 faded as they made their way down the hall. Outside, the night air seemed cool. Hope shivered. Immedi
ately, Jeff pulled her close. She couldn’t summon up the will to protest.

Once inside his truck, Hope realized her headache was fading.

“Are you okay?” With the key in the ignition, Jeff turned to look at her.

Suddenly, she realized she wanted nothing more than to kiss him. “Yes, I ... It must have been a tension headache. I can hardly feel it now.”

Resting one hand casually on the steering wheel, Jeff nodded. “Do you want to go back?”

“No!” Her horrified gaze flew to him. “I don’t” “Then home it is.” He started the engine, which rumbled to life.

“We can’t go back to Charlene’s house.” She had to raise her voice to be heard over the sound of the truck. “At least, not yet. She’ll be so disappointed if we come back this early.”

“I know,” Jeff said and turned down a dirt road,
nearly hidden from the main highway. “We’re going to my place.”

His place. Hope felt a sudden surge of excitement Suddenly she knew what she wanted to do. She wanted, one last time, to make love to Jeff, to the man she loved.

Jeff turned to look at her, narrowing his eyes. Glad he couldn’t read her mind, she laughed out loud. “What?” His deep voice sound husky, sensual. She told herself it was only her overheated imagina
tion. “The stars,” she said, seizing the first thing that came to mind. “It never fails to amaze me how clearly I can see them when I’m out here.”

“I guess you can’t see them in Dallas.”

“Not too well.” Though the words sounded trivial, she fancied she could hear the raw need in his voice, a desire that matched hers. She prayed she wasn’t wrong.

They pulled up to the ranch house, lit by a single
spotlight
The wide porch looked welcoming. She could imagine sitting on the wooden rocker, a tall glass of lemonade in her hand, Jeff next to her, and two children playing at their feet

Damn. Hope blinked. Where had that thought come from? She glanced nervously at Jeff, but he was climbing out of the cab.

She let him pull open her door, let him help her out too, relishing the feel of his rough hand holding hers. Before the night was over, she planned to find out what it felt like to have his hands all over her body, in places no man had touched since she’d left him.

As long as she could protect her heart, she would be all right, she told herself. She could have him, touch him, feel him, love him the way she used to do so long ago. She could do the things she’d dreamed of doing so many times since. No man had ever measured up to her memories of Jeff; somehow, she doubted any man ever would. And she would have this one last memory, one
last shining moment of brilliant happiness, to sustain her the rest of her life.

It would have to be enough. It was all she could possibly hope for.

“Let’s go inside.”

“Ok,” she said, casting one final look of longing at the wide porch. Hope leaned into him, enjoying his masculine strength, and began remembering what used to arouse him. She
silently
planned her seduc
tion.

Something had changed between them in the car, and Jeff didn’t want to even hazard a guess as to what it was. Desire, hot and urgent, clouded his mind. Ever since he’d seen Hope in that form-fitting, sexy dress, looking as lovely and desirable as he’d ever seen her, he’d wanted her.

He could have sworn he saw desire smoldering in her dark eyes every time she looked at him, an invita
tion in the sultry smile that lifted her lips.

Wishful thinking. All Hope wanted was to get the hell out of Dalhart. She’d made that plain from the start

Dancing with her, holding her lush body close in ways that seemed both intimate and familiar, had been sheer pleasure and pain. He’d found himself wondering if she’d noticed the degree of his arousal. He’d been hard as wood, still was, in fact Watching her sweet hips sway as she walked down the hallway in front of him, he wondered if he could slip away and take a cold shower.

No, make that an
icy
shower.

“Jeff?”

Heaven help him, even her voice seemed like a throaty sensual invitation. He cleared his throat keep
ing his back to her as he fiddled with his stereo system, trying to find something bland and non-suggestive to play. He
settled
for elevator music.

“Do you have any Kenny G?”

Great. The exact opposite of what he’d been trying to find. Swearing softly, he slipped the CD into the player and the seductive moan of the saxophone filled the room.

He turned around and nearly bumped into her. She stood a mere five feet away from him, her face lifted, eyes hopeful.

Moving closer, she held out her arms, resting her hands
lightly
on his shoulders. “Dance with me?”

He could have refused, another man might have without a thought. How simple it would be to murmur an excuse, slip away from her, and pretend the sparks didn’t still blaze between them.

But her full breasts pushed softly into his chest and the sweet scent of her enveloped him. Without a word,

he gathered her close, moved his lips over the top of her silky hair, and began to move to the music.

With a soft sigh, she wrapped herself around him. “You feel good,” she murmured.

Blood heavy, heart pounding, Jeff wondered if she knew what her sensuous movements were doing to him. If she kept it up, in a minute she was about to find out.

“Mmmm.” Eyes closed, she let her head fall back, exposing her long, creamy throat. He fought the urge to press his mouth there, to taste her silky skin. He fought the urge and lost

She tasted of musk and woman and mysteries long ago forgotten and now just remembered. She tasted of heat and silk and desire. Need clutched him, raw, elemental. He felt it flare between them, knowing without a doubt that she wanted him as badly as he wanted her.

And, oh, how he wanted her.

“Jeff.” Hope opened her eyes. He saw the fire smoldering in them, the stark desire for him, making him forget all reason.

“Jeff,” she said again, making his name a cry of need. Her lips parted and he claimed her, raking his mouth
across hers, taking her in a hard, brutal kiss that left no room for hesitation.

Now was the time, he told her with that kiss. Now was the time to stop, to cry off, to make excuses and run like hell.

But Hope did none of those things. She met his savage onslaught with a fierceness of her own, open
ing her mouth to welcome him, her tongue mating with his in a way that left no room for doubt.

As if doubt had ever existed between them.

She sagged against him, as if her legs had gone boneless. With one easy motion he scooped her up

in his arms. She was so small, so light, so perfectly female.

His blood ran hot; he felt both drugged and alert, more alive than he’d felt in years. Still, he found he had to give her one more chance. He had to know without a doubt that she would not regret this in the morning.

“Are you certain?” he rasped, his voice shattered, his breathing coming hard and fast.

Her gaze flew to his, wide, full of tenderness, and heat “Yes.”

He felt the surge of his body at her words. Shifting her s
lightly
, wishing he could ease himself inside her now, he made sure she felt it too.

“Hurry,” she murmured, her mouth moving over his skin, licking
lightly
, tasting, inflaming him so that he nearly stumbled.

At last he reached his bedroom. Taking her mouth again, he eased both of them onto his bed, trying to ignore the throbbing ache of his insistent body.

Then she slipped away from him, shedding her dress in one fluid motion and he just about forgot how to breathe.

“Beautiful,” he managed, keeping his hands clenched at his sides, letting his eyes roam over her in an intimate
caress. Though an instant ago he would have deemed it impossible, he grew even harder.

Stifling a moan, he moved to touch her, driven by more than the urgent desire that fired his blood.

“Wait,” Hope purred, smiling a seductive
little
smile. She reached for him and unbuttoned his shirt with fingers that trembled.

Jeff forced himself to stand frozen, while she slowly unbuckled his belt, sliding the zipper of his pants down while caressing him through the material. He surged against her fingers, unable to help himself.

“Shh,” she whispered, running her tongue around her lips, eying the swollen evidence of his desire.

Pushing her hands away, he kicked off his boots and ripped the pants down and off. Her throaty laugh only inflamed him, and he knew he’d never wanted a woman the way he wanted Hope.

He knew, in that moment, there could be no other for him—ever.

In unison, they moved towards each other. He fought against the savage impulse to take her, to bury himself deep inside of her, to finally make her his.

“Our own personal, private reunion,” Hope breathed against his lips, her eyes half closed.

With a moan, he claimed her mouth. Winding her arms around his neck, her answering sigh was a heady invitation.

Together they fell onto his bed. Greedy, he let his hands explore her satin smooth skin, each lush curve and exotic hollow. He drank deeply of her taste, his tongue mating with hers.

She pressed against him, welcoming the touch of his hand. She was ready, honey flowing over his fin
gers, and he knew he could wait no longer.

Shuddering, he slid into her. Hot, ready, eager, she
sheathed him.

Together they moved. It was exquisite pleasure, more than merely physical. He tried to go slow, though every fiber of his being fought him.

He touched, and she caressed.

He pressed his lips against the pulsing hollow at the base of her throat, as she nibbled on his sensitive earlobe.

He demanded, and she gave.

And when he could hold back no longer, she made

a glad cry, urging him on. Like a flash of fire built in him, he could feel heat simmering inside of her.

She clenched her legs around him with a soft cry, and he finally found his release. He continued to hold her close as passion exploded.

Smoothing the damp hair away from her face, he touched a
gentle
kiss to her cheek. She mumbled something against his throat, words he could not make out. He suspected he was not meant to.

But he knew they were words of love and that was enough for now. He would tell her in the morning.

Lying beside Hope, listening to the soft, even sound of her breathing as she drifted off to sleep, Jeff knew it was time for truth. He would tell her that he’d regained his memory, that he was whole once more.

It was time to talk about everything. They would discuss what had happened in their past and what the future would hold for them. Surely, Hope would see that they belonged together. They had to be together, as surely as he needed air to draw a breath.

So he lay in the darkness and watched her, drawing strength from her beauty, finding love in the curve of her cheek, the soft fall of her silky hair.

Already he wanted her again, with a hunger that stunned him in its ferocity. For most of the night they’d made love, never seeming to tire of the other. Each time
she’d opened herself to him, he’d felt like he was in heaven. Each time he’d taken her, he’d sworn that it would be the last By all rights he should be sated, replete. It should be he who stretched out so languidly, lost now in the shadowy realm of dreams.

He grinned, feeling savage in the darkness, wonder
ing if she dreamt of him.

Moving carefully so he didn’t wake her, Jeff gath
ered Hope in his arms, breathed in the musky scent of her, and tried to sleep.

The sound of a dog barking woke Hope. Struggling to sit up, she rubbed her eyes and blinked. In a rush, it all came back to her.

Jeff. Bronzed arm stretched out casually across her pillow, he still slumbered, his expression boyishly carefree in the dim light of the early morning dawn.

A surge of emotion rocked her. It had been wonder
ful, what they’d shared.
He’d
been wonderful,
gentle
and caring and passionate and strong all at once. He had been the perfect lover, the perfect man.