Page 79 of His Forgotten Colton Fiancee
“I remember this—there were times I wanted to give up because it seemed so overwhelming. It was a dream to own Good Eats, a silly dream when I could have made money working for someone else. But I needed my business, needed to prove to myself and others I could do this. I’m not rich, in fact, I can barely pay the rent. But even though I’ve lost mostof my memory, I know who I am.”
Quinn drew in a breath. “I’m Quinn Colton, a woman who fights to the end and doesn’t surrender. I’m not giving in to this amnesia and I’m not giving in to whoever attacked me. They will not win.”
West reached over, cupped her cheek. “No, they will not.”
A fierce pride and longing filled her. “And I’m not losing you, either. You may have secrets a footdeep, but if I cared about you enough to agree to marry you before all this happened, then this Quinn, the new Quinn, accepts that love. Even if she can’t remember it.”
Her mouth was warm and soft beneath his own as he bent his head and kissed her. West smoothed away an errant curl from her face. “Let’s take a break and go fishing.”
Her nose wrinkled. “You were serious about that?”
“Absolutely.”
West found two fishing poles in the closet and a tackle box filled with lures, and a battered khaki hat with hooks stuck in the band. He plopped it on her curls.
“Perfect fit,” he teased.
“I can’t believe you’re going to take me fishing.”
“Of course. We made a deal about dinner, and I am always serious about fishing.”
Fishing provided a way to relax and free themind. West hoped it would help Quinn remember.
An hour later, both of them wearing waders and flannel shirts, they arrived at the creek he knew to be prime fishing territory.
Standing at the creek’s edge, he showed her how to fly cast, sending the lure upstream so it floated downward. Fat speckled trout swam lazily in the current, but none bothered to nibble at the lures. Sunshine warmedhis face as he reeled in the lure, and the cooling breeze from the canyon made it a perfect August day. Back in Red Ridge, the temps would be climbing past the high eighties, but here was paradise.
Quinn cast her line, reeling it in too fast. Rex barked at a daring trout that swam close to shore and began frisking in the icy water.
“Rex! Stop scaring the fish,” West ordered. “Go find.Squirrel!”
The dog bounded off into the woods. Quinn laughed. “You seriously taught him to hunt squirrels?”
He grinned. “If we don’t catch dinner, I hope you know how to cook squirrel.”
“You’re teasing.”
“Huh.” West dipped his head and gave her a brief, but sizzling kiss. “Maybe we should skip dinner and go to bed early.”
“Woman cannot live on love alone,” she quipped. “Sheneeds tofu, too.”
Quinn laughed at his crestfallen expression.
He showed her how to fly cast once more, and let the lure wriggle to attract the trout. And then her line tugged.
“I got one!” Quinn spun the reel, her face alight with pleasure.
“Great job! I’m cooking dinner tonight.” West fetched the net.
It felt wonderful to be there with her, no problems, no one pestering them.Before leaving, they would explore Pine Paradise. But for now, he’d remain in this snug illusion that all was well.
Although in his heart, he knew it was not.
