Page 41 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

Her expression tightened as she nodded.

His insides cringed, seeing the fear lurking beneath her chipper demeanor. “Last night, you mentioned a name.”

“Livingston,” she said flatly.

“Yes.” Jaxson glanced at Daddy who nodded for him to continue. “I believe I know the person you’re talking about.”

She blinked fast. “How?” she gurgled.

“I saw pictures of you online with Wesley Livingston. You were at a couple of charity events together.” Lemon’s expressionremained blankly frigid as he continued. “Does the name mean anything to you?”

She clasped her hands in her lap. “No.”

“You should get your laptop out and show her a picture of Wesley,” Knox suggested.

Jaxson searched her face. “Are you ready for that?”

She gnawed on her lower lip. A second later she straightened her shoulders, lifting her chin. “Yes, I am. I can’t keep running from this. Also, I want to go and visit my childhood home.”

Jaxson’s eyes widened. “Really?” Her determination was admirable, but he couldn’t help but question if she was rushing things. Then again, she didn’t know about her mother or the phone.

“If you don’t feel up to taking me, I’ll just borrow your truck. That is, if you don’t mind,” she added.

“I can go with you. I’ll just need you to drive.” No way was Jaxson going to let her go through her turmoil alone. Visiting her home was a huge step. He got the gut feeling that things were escalating. He was grateful that he and Lemon had bonded the night before. He’d stayed with her until she fell asleep, as he promised, then went to his own bed. Seeing her sleeping peacefully, her hair spread like gold over the pillow, tugged at his heartstrings. He was coming to realize that he’d never actually stopped loving Lemon. He only hoped their growing bond would be strong enough to carry them through whatever events lay ahead. Would Lemon resent him for not telling her about her mother’s death? What was the situation between Wesley and Lemon? Was she afraid of him? He’d protect Lemon, tooth and nail, from anyone who wished to harm her, including the pompous Wesley Livingston.

“You need to take it easy on that ankle today,” Knox warned.

“I will,” Jaxson assured him before turning to Lemon. “We need to make another stop as well.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Officer Williams called. They think they might’ve found your phone. It was in a hayfield, a quarter mile from where your purse was found.”

Her jaw dropped. “A field?”

“Yeah, why?”

A shaky laugh rose in her throat. “Last night, I dreamt of a field. There was a box in the center. I tried to open it.”

Anticipation surged through Jaxson, his words coming fast. “Your mind was probably trying to tell you where you’d lost your phone.”

The corners of her lips turned down. “Why would I drop my phone in a field? Or my purse in a ditch? It makes no sense.”

Daddy caught Jaxson’s eye, silent information passing between them. It was becoming more and more apparent that Lemon had completely lost all touch with reality when she got the news about her mom. Was Lemon strong enough to handle the news now?

There was a single knock before the front door burst open. Jaxson’s first cousin, Lexi, rushed into the room in a ball of flying hair, flailing arms, and gushing emotion. “I came as soon as I heard!” she cried, making a beeline for Lemon and flinging her arms around her. “I’m so glad you’re okay!” She plopped down on the couch beside Lemon. “I’ve been going out of my mind with worry, calling and texting. Wondering why you weren’t answering.” She threw her hands into the air. “Well, now I know the reason. Amnesia.” She frowned. “When Lucas told me what was going on, I couldn’t believe it. He said that you have no idea who you are. Is that true?”

Knox was the first to speak. “Are y’all friends?”

“Of course,” Lexi answered, like it was a fact that everyone in the room should’ve known. “Lemon’s one of my closest friends.”

“How?” Jaxson asked. It boggled his mind to think that Lexi and Lemon were close friends. Lexi was several years younger than Lemon. To his knowledge, the two of them hadn’t even been on one another’s radar when they were growing up. As far as Lemon was concerned, Lexi was just Lucas’s kid sister.

Lemon had been studying Lexi carefully. “You’re Lexi,” Lemon said with gusto as if she’d just gotten the prize answer correct on a game show.

Lexi’s eyes widened. “Yes! Has your memory returned?”

Lemon bit her lip. “No, not exactly.”

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