Page 80 of His Forgotten Colton Fiancee
Chapter 16
After packing their luggage, theydrove to Pine Paradise Cabins. Quinn’s stomach churned with anxiety. Maybe regaining her memory wasn’t such a terrific idea.
She might discover things about herself she didn’t like. Or her mysterious sister, Demi.
As the truck bumped and bounced over the gravel road, Quinn recalled another memory. A car with springs that squeaked andbalding tires. Her mother always scrimping and scraping together enough money for them to live. Never enough for extras, like new clothing for school or toys. Quinn once thought her middle name was Secondhand.
He turned onto a steep gravel road barred by a yellow steel gate. The gate was padlocked.
After putting the truck into Park, he turned to her. “Rex and I are doing a quick sweepof the property, and then I’ll drive up to the cabin you stayed at with Demi. Stay here.”
While they were inspecting the area, Quinn thought about West and all he’d done for her, and the fierce passion of his lovemaking.
West taking time to help her remember struck her as something very sweet and unselfish.
He returned fifteen minutes later and unlocked the gate. Quinn took a deepbreath as he let Rex into the back seat and then climbed back into the truck. “West, I’m scared.”
He turned, leather creaking beneath his jeans. “Why, honey?”
“What if I remember something nasty? Something that will make you think less of me?” She bit her lip. “Make me think less of myself? Not having any recollection of my past feels horrid, but in a way, it’s a clean slate. I can re-createmyself.”
Long dark lashes swept down as he gazed at his scarred hand. “I understand. And I get that you’re scared. I’m scared, as well. I’m terrified that you won’t remember anything about us, and I’ll lose you.”
Her heart turned over. “You want to keep me? Battered and bruises and all.”
No smile. “You’re the best damn thing that ever happened to me, Quinn. Before I met you, I seldomsmiled. Hardly ever laughed. You make life outside the job worth living again.”
Mouth wobbling, she reached over and touched his arm. “Thank you. I had started to think I was a hot mess and always would be. If you aren’t my future husband, I almost wish you were.”
That earned her a quiet smile. “I’m glad you said that,” he murmured.
When they drove through the gate, up the gravel road,she stared at the cabins peppering the roadside. Rough-hewn, with purple and pink petunias in flower boxes at each window, but nothing looked familiar.
They arrived at cabin seven. Narrow porch, one story. Dark wood, green shutters. He took the key, jingled them in his hand as they got out of the truck.
“I looked for the key you said you had, couldn’t find it, so I got this key from Tia’sbrother. I need to check out the cabin first, Quinn. Just in case.”
In case there is a threat.She read it in his eyes.
West opened the glove box, withdrew a revolver. He handed it to her. “I know you hate guns, but if you get scared or see something fishy, fire it. I’ll come running.”
Quinn touched her purse, where her Taser rested. “I can use the Taser.” She picked up the weapongingerly. “I don’t remember how to shoot.”
He showed her the safety and how to click it off. “Just point and fire. Except try not to aim it at me.” A crooked, sexy grin. “You never did learn how to shoot, hon, so that’s not something you forgot.”
Quinn watched him whistle to Rex. “Rex, find!”
It was fascinating to watch him work. She suspected she’d never seen this part of Agent WestBrand. Driven and focused, concentrating on searching the perimeter of the cabin and the roadside, his brown eyes hard and purposeful.
A few minutes later, he returned, locked the revolver in the glove box. Then West held out his hand. “All clear.”
“Good to know.” She let him help her out of the truck. West grabbed a flashlight from the glove box.
The gun at his lean hip assured hershe’d be well protected.
Rex bounded out of the truck, loped up the porch steps.
“Tia’s relatives said the power was turned off about a month ago. That was the time around when she was supposed to sell the property and she would have closed the account so the new owner could open his own,” West told her.
