Chapter Nine – Mallory
CHAPTER NINE
Mallory
Boom!
My hand flew to my mouth to stifle the scream that nearly escaped. Piper was snuggled up on the sofa next to me as we sat in the nearly pitch-dark house.
“Goodness! Does it always storm like this?” I asked as I stroked the dog’s fur.
I’d heard one storm while I was in the basement, but it must have been muffled due to the fact I was underground, because it didn’t sound like this.
“I hope your dad doesn’t try to drive home in this.”
Another loud crack of thunder, and that time, Piper jumped, making me feel a little better about my fear of the storm.
The sound of a vehicle pulling up to the house had Piper leaping from the couch and looking out the nearest window, while I attempted to peek carefully. I was relieved to see Liam’s truck. Piper bolted for the front door and started to bark like crazy. She clearly loved her daddy.
I could barely see Liam’s outline as he ran from the truck and up the steps to the house.
The door opened, and I smiled in relief when I saw him.
The sight reminded me of the night he’d rescued me, when I opened my eyes just enough to see water dripping off his cowboy hat and that reassuring smile.
Which, I was now positive, made every woman who saw it swoon.
“Did the electricity go out?” Liam asked, taking off the hat and hanging it on a peg. Next, he took off the raincoat, shook it to remove the excess water, and hung it on the hook next to the hat.
“No, I just wasn’t sure if I should turn on any lights. I didn’t want anyone to see them and think someone was home.”
He laughed. “Trust me, no one is going to see them, and even if one of the ranch hands saw lights on, they wouldn’t think to question it.”
“Okay,” I said as I stood. “That’s good to know.”
Piper sat at his feet and stared up at her dad. “You hungry, girl?”
“I wasn’t sure when she ate.”
“That’s okay. She eats whenever I wake up, and then normally dinner is around four or five. But sometimes I’ll give her a little snack, like a quarter of a cup. Not every day.”
“Would you mind showing me where her food is?”
Liam hit his forehead. “Yes! Right. I need to give you a good tour of the house. I’m not used to anyone living here, sorry.”
I shrugged. “Totally okay. I peeked in a couple of the rooms, but stayed out of your bedroom. And even though you said I could use your office, I brought your laptop out here instead.” I nodded toward the kitchen table, where the laptop still sat.
He waved me off as he headed toward the kitchen. “I have nothing to hide. Snoop away.”
“Oh, I hope you don’t think I was snooping. I honestly wasn’t.”
Liam laughed, and it warmed my chilled body. “I know you weren’t. Come on, let me show you where the dog food is kept.”
Once we were in the kitchen, he grabbed one of the cabinets—and a whole bank of them opened together, like a door. “The pantry is behind here, hidden.”
My mouth fell open. “That is the coolest thing I think I’ve ever seen.”
He chuckled and winked at me. I refused to pay attention to the way my stomach dipped at that wink.
“The dog food’s in here, as well as a lot of other food. Please help yourself to any of it.”
I walked into the massive walk-in pantry and let my eyes roam the shelves. “You have a sweet tooth.”
“I do, that’s why I love this pantry. Out of sight, out of mind, but I know it’s here if I want some.”
My finger ran along a row of breakfast cereals, then I took in another shelf full of junk food. He had everything…and when my eyes landed on a bag of miniature Reese’s Cups, I gasped.
“I like these. No, I love these!” Turning to look at him, I pointed to the bag. “Liam, I know that I love these! They’re my favorite candy.”
A wide smile erupted on his face at the discovery, and without even thinking, I launched myself at him. He caught me, then barely managed to keep his footing before I took us to the floor.
“I remembered something else!”
He spun me around with a laugh, then set me back down on the floor. “That’s great, Mallory! Grab the bag—oh, and the black licorice. We’ll have those as snacks tonight for movie night.”
“Movie night?” I asked, grabbing both bags and following him out of the huge pantry.
“Yeah. I thought maybe we could start watching movies, and maybe they might help trigger certain memories.”
“Good idea. It would be nice if more important memories started coming back, no matter the method.”
I set the candy on the kitchen island then slipped onto a stool while Liam opened the freezer and took out something covered in tinfoil.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Getting dinner ready to go into the oven. Sorry, I know I said I’d make steaks tonight, but this will be easier.
Randy gets off between four-thirty and five, and it’s about a fifty-minute drive or so from the station to here.
I figure if I get this lasagna in the oven now, it will be ready by the time he gets here. ”
“You made lasagna?” I asked. Again, confused how I could remember what that was, but not who I was.
“Don’t look so surprised. I’ll have you know, I’m a good cook. I think I already said that once.”
Laughing, I held up my hands. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Would you like me to make a salad?”
“That would be awesome.”
I made myself at home in Liam’s kitchen as I gathered everything I needed for a salad.
It should’ve felt strange working alongside him, given that we barely knew each other.
Instead, it felt easy and right. It was like I had been living here a year, not a day.
Well…three, if you counted the days I was asleep.
“I’ve got some work to do in my office for a bit. Are you okay with the rest of this, or do you need help?”
Waving him away, I said, “I’ve got it. I find it relaxing to chop up veggies. Go work.”
He looked unsure for a moment, then nodded. “If you need anything, just give me a shout. I’m just down the hall.”
“I will.”
Liam stood there, almost looking unwilling to leave. “Did you print out a shoe-size chart?”
“I did. I’m a six and a half.”
His hand rose to the back of his neck, and he started to rub it. “Did you make a list of clothes?”
“Yep. Left it on your desk.”
Smiling, he gave a short nod, then finally turned and headed down the hall.
I glanced down at Piper and shrugged. “Come on, girl, let’s finish this salad.”
After I’d cut up all the veggies and mixed them in a bowl, I used Liam’s laptop to look up recipes for a homemade dressing.
He had a few bottles in his refrigerator, but I really wanted to try my hand at making something.
When I found a simple lemon-garlic vinaigrette recipe and confirmed Liam had all the ingredients, I quickly got to work.
I even found a cute bottle to put it in before placing the finished dressing in the fridge.
“What about rolls or garlic bread?” I said to Piper, who looked up at me and licked her lips, making me laugh.
Liam’s pantry was insane! I absolutely loved it, which made me wonder what my own kitchen looked like. It appeared I liked to cook, so I imagined I had a big kitchen. As I perused the shelves, I frowned. Why couldn’t I remember?
I held up my ring finger and didn’t notice a tan line or any evidence of a ring, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything.
Crouching to pet Piper, who’d followed me into the pantry, I stroked her soft fur. “I think if I had someone in my life like that, I wouldn’t forget them. Right?”
She let out a soft whine.
“Or is it because I find your dad so handsome, I’m hoping I don’t have anyone waiting on me back at home?”
That time she barked, and I laughed.
“That’s it. I’m convinced you know what I’m saying.”
She barked again.
“Right, let’s figure out the bread situation.”
Liam had a loaf of whole wheat bread in his pantry, and also everything to make bread, but I didn’t have time for that.
As I turned to walk out of the pantry, I ran smack into a solid body.
“Oof!” I said as strong hands grabbed my arms to steady me.
“You okay?” Liam asked with a slight chuckle.
I slowly lifted my gaze to see him smiling down at me. It was hard to ignore the zip of energy that raced through my body at his touch.
“Um, yes. Sorry, I was looking for something in your pantry to maybe make some rolls or garlic bread.”
When he winked, my knees became weak. He needs to stop winking at me. Did he even realize how often he did it? He dropped his hands, and I had to force myself not to sway.
“I’ve got you covered. I have garlic rolls in the freezer. I’ll heat some up. Randy should be here soon.”
My heart started to beat faster in my chest as I worried the hem of my shirt with both hands. “And you’re sure you trust him?”
Liam looked back at me with a reassuring smile. “I wouldn’t have asked him here if I didn’t. I know how hard this is for you, Mallory. Well, I don’t, but I can imagine. If we’re not going to the police to file a report, we need help, and Randy can definitely help us.”
Biting nervously on my lips, I nodded. I knew he was right. I couldn’t hide out in Liam’s house forever. I needed to figure out who I was, where I was from and, most importantly, who’d kidnapped me.
Watching Liam move around the kitchen made me feel so at ease, and I soon found myself busy setting the dining room table with plates and bowls and silverware. I was slowly figuring out where everything was in the kitchen.
“I think I like to cook.”
Liam grinned. “If you want, we can plan out some meals so you can try your hand at cooking. I, for one, will not complain.”
Giggling, I watched as Liam placed the rolls in the second oven. “I’d like to do that. I wish I could go with you to the store.”
“Maybe you can. We can put you in a disguise.”
“Really? Do you think so?”
He shrugged. “Sure. If anyone asks who you are, I’ll say you’re my cousin Mike who doesn’t like people.”
Laughing, I asked, “You’d make me a guy?”