had an abundance of choices. I mean, really. He could have chosen Lexis."
"But he didn't."
"Why?" I insisted. This honestly made no sense.
"I wish I knew," Rome said sharply, as if he really did want to remember. More than anything else in the world. "Maybe if I knew, I could make sense of this...obsession I seem to have with you." My hand stilled on Tanner, that sweet proclamation ringing in my ears. Where had this determined man been when he'd first awakened? When he'd gone home with Lexis? Yeah, he'd assured me nothing had happened between them. But it had still hurt. Unlike M-Squared, he'd chosen her over me.
"If he has my memories of you, I'm not sure if he thinks he's me or he's still himself, but either way he's most likely...developing...feelings for you." His voice deepened, became more steely, with every word spoken. "I called Cody to talk some of this out, and he mentioned someone sent you flowers."
"That same someone also gave me candy." Could Memory Man have sent them?
"Candy?" An outraged hiss. "If he thinks he's me, he's going about this all wrong. I'd never send candy.
It's too cliche. When did you get candy? And if you ate a single piece, I'll - " I traced a finger along the line of Tanner's IV. "I took them to the lab to be dusted for prints and tested for poison."
A blur of movement, and then Rome's heat was radiating beside me. "Smart girl. When I leave here, I'll check on them for you, see what was found."
"Thanks. Now, smart girl that I am, you know I wouldn't ask this next question without reason."
"If you say so."
So suspicious. "Will you bring Elaine to me?"
"Sorry, but you're not getting anywhere near her, Belle."
I pushed a breath out between my clenched teeth. "Look, we both know you don't give a shit about me.
You're just fixated right now because you're frustrated at not being able to remember. That's understandable. But you lost the right to protect me when you went home to your ex-wife." His hand settled atop my shoulder, hot and firm. "I told you. Nothing happened. And I do give a shit." I shrugged from his hold, saying, "Not enough." Not nearly enough. "I need you to leave now, Rome.
Please." I just didn't have the stamina to deal with him right now.
"Guess who called me - " Sherridan's voice ground to a halt as she entered the room. She must have spotted Rome. "Oh, it's you." Yep. "What are you doing here, you traitor?"
"Hello, Sherridan. It's nice to see you, too."
"So you know me? " she asked, some of her outrage falling away and pride taking its place.
He sighed. "I've done my homework."
"Oh."
I twisted in the chair, and our gazes met. My exhausted hazel against her determined blue. She breezed to me, as warm and pretty as a summer day, and kissed me on the cheek. "How's our boy holding up?"
"He's the same." Tears suddenly burned my eyes, threatening to spill over. "Damn it!" Her eyes raked over me and she tsked under her tongue. "Well, you're worse, no doubt about it. You need a shower and another change of clothes. Which, amazing friend that I am, I brought you." The boast had the desired results: I laughed, my tears gradually drying. I was still wearing the halter top and could-only-be-seen-under-a-microscope skirt. "You brought me something a little less slutty, I hope."
"I don't," Rome muttered.
We both ignored him. I was positive I'd misheard, anyway. "Better," Sherridan said. "I figure my role on this kick-ass team is to make sure we'll all look stylish, and I take that role seriously. That's why I brought you something tres superheroey."
I cut off a groan.
"Can I see?" Rome asked.
He was fighting a grin, the bastard. I could hear the smile in his voice.
"No," Sherridan said, but she pulled a black leather catsuit from her overlarge purse, anyway, and held it up for my inspection.
I couldn't help peeking at Rome to gauge his reaction. He nodded in approval, his eyes heating as if he were picturing me wearing it. "I think that's perfect."
So the Cat Man liked the catsuit. This time, I couldn't stop my groan. I grabbed the dangling material from her fingers and stood. "What were you saying when you came in? Someone called you?"
"What?" Confusion furrowed her brow before her eyes widened and she clapped. "Oh. Yeah. Cody called me. Said he couldn't get hold of you, and hadn't been able to