One Southern Cowboy - Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,38
brushed his fingers against her arm. It tickled her skin, sending tingles of awareness over her. She chewed on her bottom lip, compiling her thoughts. “I was in the bedroom of an estate. Somewhere near the ocean. I was getting ready to attend a banquet. I had brought a gold gown to wear, but a man changed it to red.”
Jaxson tensed. “What man?”
She bunched her brows. “I’m not sure. I never saw the man’s face. A maid was there, helping me. She said the man’s last name.” She searched her memory. “I can’t remember,” she sighed in frustration.
“What else happened?”
“I was furious that the man had switched my dress. It seemed like it was a form of manipulation and control. The maid told me to wear the dress.” Echoes of her fear returned as she swallowed hard. “The maid told me to get away from the man and the estate. At first, I thought the maid was older, but then she transformed in front of my eyes, and I realized she was young and beautiful. And incredibly sad.” A shiver ran down her spine.
He rubbed her arm. “Are you okay? You’ve got goosebumps.”
“Yeah,” she sighed, “I’m okay.” Sinister shadows crowded around her, threatening to rip away her sanity. She sucked in a breath, willing herself to continue. “My dream changed, and I was walking up a long set of stairs. I heard a woman crying. I was terrified to open the door, but I forced myself to do so.” Her stomach twisted. “Then, I fell.” She was glad it was dark enough in the room so that Jaxson wouldn’t realize that she had tears in her eyes. “You came in and woke me up.” Her voice hitched. “I have no idea what any of it means. Was it just a dream … or my memories trying to surface?” She blew out a frustrated breath. “I have no idea.”
“Either way, you’re safe here with me,” he murmured into her hair.
She rested her head against the curve of his shoulder. She reached for his hand, lacing her fingers through his. “Thank you.”
He sounded surprised. “For what?”
A smile tipped her lips. “For being you. It can’t be easy for you to deal with my memory loss. And your ankle and bruised ribs. I’ve completely disrupted your life, and yet, you’ve been so patient and understanding.” She turned to look at him. “Have you always been so altruistic?”
“Not hardly.” A low chuckle rumbled in his throat. “I have ulterior motives.”
Her voice lilted. “Oh?”
“Yep, I have you back in my life.”
Her heart practically melted. “Tell me about us,” she implored. “We must’ve been so in love.”
“Not at first.”
“Really?”
“You couldn’t stand me, at first.” He laughed wistfully. “I’m afraid I was a bit of a terror in junior high, tormenting you relentlessly.”
She grinned. “Really? I wish I could remember.”
“No, you don’t,” he said quickly.
“Tell me something you did.”
His voice shot up an octave. “Why would I want to incriminate myself?”
She grinned at how his voice got higher pitched anytime he was excited or nervous. “Just one incident. Please.”
“Let’s see. Okay, you got these new designer jeans. You were flaunting them around.”
“I hardly think I was flaunting them,” she retorted.
“Hey, I’m the one telling this story.”
“Okay. Continue.”
“As I said, you were flaunting them around. A peacock couldn’t have been any prouder.”
She guffawed, nudging him slightly.
“Watch it,” he warned.
“Oops. Sorry,” she said contritely.
His voice grew recollective. She didn’t have to look at him to know that he was smiling. “You were about the cutest thing I’d ever seen in those tight jeans, showing off those long legs.”
She warmed at the compliment, nestling closer into his shoulder.
“Back then, you wouldn’t give me the time of day. I was gangly, awkward. You were gaga over Trevor Phillips. He was a senior and the starting quarterback at the time.”
“Ah, so it was all about the quarterbacks,” she mused playfully.
“I guess so,” he chuckled. “Anyhow, I got tired of watching you try to get Trevor’s attention in biology, so I grabbed a lighter from one of my buddies. I sat behind you and held the flame up to your back pocket.”
“What? That’s terrible! I’m sure I was livid.”
“Yes, ma’am. You didn’t realize what was happening at first. Then, you felt the heat. You jumped up out of that seat and nearly turned yourself inside out to see the back of your jeans. Afterwards, you called me every name in the book. Slapped me hard in the jaw. This got you a round