Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
The hardware store had been quiet during the last hour. Despite the early hour, long purple swaths darkened the sky. Night was minutes away. “Hey, Petey, do you need me?” Jimmy asked.
“I think we’re done for the day.” Petey came out of the storeroom, wiping his hands with a rag.
“Can we close it out? I have an appointment with Brad at his bar. I met him a few weeks ago. He wants to throw a big New Year’s Eve party and needs help. Since I’m trying to get to know people in town, I figured I’d pitch in. We’re discussing details.”
“You go on ahead,” Petey said. “I’ll take care of the store.”
“Are you sure?” He eyed Petey. The man had a strong constitution and enthusiasm, but Jimmy didn’t want his new friend to overexert himself.
Petey stuffed the rag into his pocket. “There’s nothing to do. You keep everything neat all the time. I’ll turn off the lights, lock the door, and walk home.”
“Okay,” he said. “But if you run into anything that needs tending to, leave it. I’ll take care of it in the morning.”
Petey smiled. “Dang, listen to you. Roles have switched, haven’t they? Are you taking care of me now?”
“Why the hell not? You’ve been nothing but kind. Almost like a father. It’s the least I can do.”
“All right, all right.” Petey waved a hand. “You’re gonna make me blush like a girl. Get out of here. Wanna take the truck? It’s getting cold out, and Sheriff Adams doesn’t mind if you only drive it around town. He knows your situation.”
“Nope. I’m walking. I like…” The scene flashed in his mind. “Huh?”
“What?”
“I was going to say I like walking on cold winter evenings. How would I know, unless…”
“Your memory is coming back.”
He sighed. “The image showed up for a millisecond, and it was gone.”
“Don’t worry, kid. Just be patient. Your brain will heal in time.”
“Yeah, you’re right. No point in forcing it.” He opened the door. “I won’t be late, but don’t wait for me to eat. I’ll get something at the bar.”
He stepped outside, zipped up his jacket, and shoved his hands into his jeans pockets as he started for the sports bar. A cold waft swept around him. He thrilled at the icy wind buffeting him.
Patches of a memory struggled to take shape. He strode somewhere else. Did he see buildings? A city, maybe? The wind had picked up, and he wrapped a wool scarf around his neck. The feeling of a plush scarf against his skin was a distinct sensation.
The scene faded, but the sensation remained. He concentrated on the scarf, trying to recover the complete memory, but it was lost. After a moment, he gave up. Taking a deep breath, he crossed the empty street and moved on.
The rumble of a truck engine and headlights slowed at his side. He stopped to see who was driving. The passenger window lowered… Evie Fuentes smiled at him. His heart lurched again. She had the strangest ability to make everything in him startle awake.
“Want a ride?”
Hell yes. With you, I’d go anywhere. While those were his thoughts, he gave her a stiff smile.
“Hi, nice seeing you again. Evie, right?”
What a silly show he made. As if he could ever forget her name. He’d etched it into his brain the moment he met her.
“That’s me.” She stopped the truck and leaned forward with her hands on the wheel. “And you’re Jimmy. Where are you going?”
“To Brad’s.” He jutted his jaw in the direction of the bar.
“The sports bar?”
“Yep.”
“Oh.” She pouted.
God help him, but he wanted to jump next to her and taste her luscious lower lip.
“You’re almost there. I guess you don’t need a ride.”
Wait a second. Was his sick mind playing tricks? She sounded disappointed.
“I don’t. But I’d love to buy you a drink if you’d like.”
She narrowed her eyes. “One drink? I can’t stay long.”
“Word of honor.” He pressed his palm to his chest. “One drink of your choosing, and I promise not to bug you for more. You’ll be free to go.”
“Okay.” She laughed. “You talk funny. I’ll meet you there.”
He didn’t care if she thought he talked funny. She’d accepted the invitation. That was enough to make him happy.
Jimmy walked in ahead of Evie.
Brad waved him over from behind the bar. He had a bunch of customers asking for drinks. “Hey, dude. Can you wait? I’m covering for Ted. He’s running late.”
“Take your time,” he said. “Evie’s joining me for a drink.”
“Nice.” Brad smiled. “Evie’s real cool. Order whatever you want. On the house.”
Jimmy tapped his head and perched on a stool a bit away from the crowd. Evie pushed the door in and immediately smiled. He beamed like a sappy teenager and didn’t care. She’d located him before he had a chance to wave at her.
“Thanks for saying yes. What would you like?” he asked, pulling out a stool for her.
She had no trouble sliding on top with her amazing long legs.
A hint of jasmine floated to his nostrils when she moved.
Sadly, she wore the baggy jeans that women preferred these days.
He missed the sexy leather pants she’d worn at Petey’s.
“I’ll take a Heineken,” she said.
“Really? I’ll have one too. Hang on.” He got his beers from Brad and quickly came back.
He watched in a trance as she put her lips on the bottle and took a long swig, arching her graceful neck.
She was so damned attractive. He stared at the mass of fragrant hair tumbling down her shoulders in beautiful waves.
Hair so thick, a man could wrap his hand around it and tug, holding her in place for…
“Ah, that was good.” Evie put the bottle down.
He blinked back to reality.
She smiled. “There’s nothing like an ice-cold beer when you’re thirsty.”
“A woman after my own heart. Though the brand surprises me.”
“You can thank my dad. He turned me on to heavier, more flavorful beers. He usually has a couple on Sundays.”
“Why Sundays?”
“It’s a Cuban thing. My mom makes a typical chicken and rice dish. She cooks it with beer, and while the food is making, he enjoys a bottle or two.”
“I have a feeling your mom is a good cook.” He put down his empty bottle.
“She is. Maybe we’ll have you over for dinner. Unless you’re a fussy eater.”
“I’m not fussy at all.” Interesting; his conviction surprised him.
“Something wrong?” she asked. “Your face changed.”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just knew I’m not a fussy eater. You probably don’t know, but I had an accident a few months ago. I hit my head and lost my memory. Earlier, I saw a quick scene from my past. These moments are happening more and more often. I’m taking it as a sign the amnesia is going away.”
“That’s awesome. Congratulations.” She held up her empty bottle and grinned. “That calls for a celebration. I’ll have another.”
“That will be your second. Are you sure? I don’t want you to accuse me of forcing drinks on you.”
“I’d never accuse you of anything.” She wiggled her shoulders. The cute gesture melted his heart. “I’m a big girl, and I know my mind. My mind says, I’ll have one more beer with Jimmy and then I’ll go home.”
“Okay. Don’t say I tied you down.”
“That might be fun.”
Damn, she was something. His mind was a mess, but his hearing worked fine. She was flirting.
“What?”
“Nothing.” She thrust out her plump lip.
He swallowed.
“Time’s ticking.” She winked. “Where’s my beer?”
“Coming.” He jumped down, going for a new round.
The next thirty minutes, according to his limited memory, were the best he’d spent in his life.
It wasn’t just her beauty pulling him in; he felt good next to her.
Comfortable. Peaceful. Interested in her every word.
While he had about three months’ worth of boring events to contribute to the conversation, she filled in the blanks with her family history and why they’d moved here.
“Do you like life in Oakwood?” he asked. “Are the residents good to your family?”
“For the most part, they are. When we first arrived, they didn’t know what to make of us.” She laughed. “We’re a bit loud and passionate about stuff.”
“So…who’s not in the most part?”
“Sneaky. You’re trying to trick me into revealing my secrets.”
“I’m not. I swear. Besides, I’m a stranger to these residents. If I’m going to stay until my memory comes back, I want to know if they’re suspicious or accepting.”
She paused, and he saw it. She was guarding her response.
“You’re a man. You won’t have any trouble.”
“I think I understand.”
He knew, all right. The trouble was feminine and mostly isolated to Evie and a rival. Evie’s stunning dark beauty could be a threat to someone with a pale complexion and lighter hair. From his point of view, anyway.
She slid from her stool. “It’s time. I’m going home.”
“Thank you, Evie. You made my evening. I haven’t had such a pleasant time since I lost my memory.”
“See, there it is again.” She lifted her forefinger.
“What is?”
“You’re not from around here. Your accent is neutral, so it’s hard to pinpoint an exact location. My guess is a northern state. Your words suggest you’ve had an education. I suspect you’re a businessman used to dealing with others like you.”
“How about this?” He smiled. “Nothing of what you proposed sounded familiar. For all I know, I could be a horse trainer.”
She laughed, and he did too.
“Thank you,” he said again.
“So you’re staying.”
He nodded. “I have business with Brad. He understands the moment we’re living in. He wants to put a Y2K party together to celebrate the old and new millennia and include the whole town. For that, he needs to hire people.”
“That sounds awesome.” She grinned. “See you soon?”
“Whenever you want, Evie. You know where to find me.”
“I sure do.” She rose on her toes, held on to his shoulders, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Good night.” Then she took off.
Touching his face, he watched her leave.
“Evie is a nice girl.” Brad spoke at his side. “I know the Fuentes family. They’re solid and hardworking.”
“I’m sure.” He sighed. “Can we talk business now?”
“Yeah, let’s go to my office.”