Page 13 of Secrets (The Sins Trilogy 2)
“If you get any more perfect, my heart won’t hold out,” I say, feeling like I’m about to burst with love.
“Oh, I think it will.” He pulls me down on the seat, and we cuddle.
We’re on the top of the tallest building in the area, and I love how close we are to the starry sky. I rest my head on his chest and hear his heart throbbing.
He takes food from the table, placing a thin slice of beef on a cracker with some cheese. He brings it to my lips. I start to tell him I can feed myself, but then I see the shadows in his eyes.
Tony doesn’t operate by half measures. What he did to Jamie Thornton fleets through my mind. That was before we started dating seriously. And if I hadn’t passed out and needed immediate care, he would’ve punished Sam in the same brutal way. Or maybe even worse.
Coddling me, to an excessive degree, is how Tony is coping right now, and I accept the morsel from him. I’m not the only one who suffered when Sam pushed me into that pool. If the situation were reversed, and somebody had hurt Tony, I’d be a mess.
The food is delicious, and the different wines he decanted taste like elixir on my tongue. I’m hungrier than I thought, and Tony smiles every time I take a bite.
“This is so lovely,” I say with a sigh after a sip of Cabernet. “Still, I’m sorry our first trip had to be ruined.”
“Not ruined. Just delayed.” He kisses my temple. “Napa Valley can wait.”
“Do you think Elizabeth really meant what she said about taking an entire week off?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” I blow out a breath. “I don’t know what I’m going to do for a whole week.”
“You can practice piano in the morning, like before.”
“Yes, but…” I turn to him, unsure how to broach the topic. “There’s something I want to do.” I clear my throat, unable to meet his eyes. I’m not sure what he’s going to say, and I’m afraid he might think it’s weird. Or worse, pointless.
“What?” Tony feeds me another piece of well-aged cheese. “Tell me and I’ll make it happen.”
I stare at him, stunned at the carte blanche offer. On the other hand, he wouldn’t have said it if he didn’t mean it. Suddenly, it feels less daunting. Almost doable. “I want to find out who the girl in my memory is,” I say, hope fluttering in my belly.
He grows serious, his eyes intent. “What memory?”
I lean closer and lower my voice. Silly, of course, since it isn’t like there’s anybody around to hear, but… This is for his ears only—he’s the only one I can trust. “I’ve been having this nightmare. It’s me and another girl in a car, and we’re sinking. I had it before while napping after a practice, and again after you brought me home. But I don’t think it’s an ordinary dream. I think it really happened, because the memory flashed through my mind when I first fell into Sam’s pool, and it was different from a dream, you know? I feel like finding out who she is will help me remember the rest faster, even though it won’t be easy. The only thing I know is she’s a really pretty strawberry blonde.”
