Without a Past (27 page)

She started to laugh, then she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, hard and fast. “I don't know the answer, Jonathan. Life stopped for me when you left.”

“Oh, baby,” he said softly. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone.”

“Did you accomplish what you went for?”

Jonathan thought about her question for a good minute. Did I? He'd visited his mother's grave, but he hadn't been able to draw her image to mind. He'd visited the newspaper office where he'd spent so much of his childhood. Either the new owners had completely revamped the building or his right brain had created a false memory of how it had looked because the place seemed totally different. The experience had left him sad, and he'd returned to his hotel with a bad headache—the first in weeks.

“I guess you could say I did,” he told her. “I went through a couple of the boxes as I was loading them into the van. A few of the photographs and CDs seemed to hold memories connected to my past, but mostly they're just possessions that don't mean a thing.”

She looked concerned for him. “I'm sorry. You must be disappointed.”

“Not really. Some of it—especially the furniture—looks expensive. I didn't want to spend time away from you, so I packed it up and brought it with me. We can go through everything here. Before we sell the more valuable things, I'd like to consult my dad in case they were gifts or belonged to my mother.”

“Did anything ring a bell?”

“No, there wasn't a lot of bell ringing, but there was some door closing. I saw my former girlfriend while I was there. I thought she might explain why we broke up.”

“What did she tell you?”

“Not much. She didn't have time for chitchat. She married a fellow attorney shortly after we split up. They're expecting their first child in July.”

“Oh. Did you remember her?”

Jonathan shook his head. “No. Not even a glimmer.” In all honesty, he couldn't imagine what had attracted him to Miranda in the first place. Although beautiful, she lacked Andi's fire and irreverent spirit.

“I'll need your help to go through the boxes.”

She nodded seriously. “No problem. We have plenty of storage space upstairs, now that Ida's given me permission to inventory the antiques in the rear bedrooms. I've even sold a few pieces on eBay,” she said proudly.

He hugged her again. “Fantastic.”

Her success made her glow. “I think we'll actually show a profit this month.”

“You're an awesome businesswoman.” He kissed her cheekbone, then moved lower to her jaw. God, he'd missed her. He longed to take her upstairs, to kiss away the lingering sadness he read in her eyes. He wanted to make new memories that neither one would forget, but he sensed Andi holding back. Maybe there were still a few ghosts to chase away. “Can you come outside with me?”

“Now?” She consulted her watch. Functional, no nonsense. Like the tan cargo shorts and black, short-sleeve polo shirt she was wearing. Instead of sandals, she wore running shoes with low-cut socks.

“Are you still jogging—excuse me,
running
every day?”

Her cheeks turned pink. “No. Lately, I've been staying in bed so I wouldn't miss your call,” she said, her tone indignant. “Except this morning. Why didn't you call?”

He nuzzled her neck until she made the little kitten sounds that drove him mad. “It was too early when I left, and when I stopped for lunch, the line was busy.”

“I missed you, Jonathan,” she said with feeling. “So much. I was okay during the day when I could keep busy, but at night…it felt like the bordello walls were closing in on me.”

He lifted her left hand to his lips and kissed the engagement ring he'd given her. “Come with me.”

She nodded, then called out, “Linda? Will you watch the store?” Andi smiled. “Linda's a lifesaver. I've hired her on a regular basis. She works four afternoons a week and fills in at both the antique shop and the coffee parlor as needed.”

“Good,” he said. Holding her hand as tight as he dared, he led the way to the porch. “Now you'll have time for the important things in life—like your husband.” He looked at her as they descended the steps. “What made you decide to hire Linda?”

“Ida Jane. When we moved her to rehab, it was clear I couldn't be in two places at one time. I asked myself what was more important—a business or a great-aunt who may not be around forever.”

Jonathan hugged her close. “Perspective is a wonderful tool. According to my photographer friend, Oshi, I used to be a workaholic who seldom slept, rarely ate and drove my co-workers crazy. He called me a droid.”

He also said he never turned down a chance to do a story with me, because I was good. Damn good.
Jonathan felt a little ache in his temple. He ignored it. He would be good again. As a publisher instead of a reporter.

As they stepped to the pavement he spotted a familiar shape lurking under a tarp. “Hey, I bet that's my bike. How's it look?”

“Fine.”

Telling description.
“Good. It ought to sell for top dollar.”

“You're selling it?”

“Of course.” He kissed her temple. “There's a chance you're carrying my baby. Do you think I'd let you ride with a guy who nearly killed himself the last time he drove it?”

She laughed, relief written clearly on her face. “Why'd you have it delivered here? The body shop guy said he could have sold it ten times before he was even done with the work.”

“I wanted to see it.”

“To say goodbye.”

“No. Just to remind myself how lucky I am. If not for that bike, I might not have met you.”

“You lost everything because of that bike,” she argued.

“No, I gained everything because of it.”

She still didn't look convinced. He had one last shot. As they neared the cab of the cargo van, a high-pitched whine made Andi pause. “What's that sound?” She leaned down to look under the chassis. “Loose belt?”

He dangled the key. “It's not running.” He hurried to the driver's-side door and opened it. A good share of the seat sprang to life. Two pale blue eyes in a face of white fur blinked and a big pink tongue popped out.

“Jonathan,” Andi shrieked. “You've got a puppy.”

She sounded happy. She ran to greet the excited little animal.

“It's a boy. I couldn't find a female, like your old Daisy. I looked everywhere. He's one of the reasons I'm a few days late. I had to wait for his shots and whatnot.”

“A puppy,” she repeated, drawing the wiggling ball of fur into her arms.

“He probably needs a potty break,” Jonathan warned. He reached into the side compartment in the door and pulled out a retractable leash, which he clipped to the pup's collar.

“What's his name?”

“Well, he doesn't actually respond to his name, so we could still change it. I've been calling him Harley.”

Andi's sudden laugh made the dog turn in her arms and try to climb over her shoulder. Jonathan took him from her and set him on the ground.

Within seconds Harley had squatted and done his duty then ambled off to investigate the area. Andi hugged Jonathan fiercely. “Harley,” she repeated in a dreamy voice. “I can't believe it. I thought you were afraid of dogs.”

“Oh, please, a little guy like that?” He made a
pffing
sound. “I could take him, no problem.”

She chuckled and brushed her lips along his jaw. “I think I'm ready to set a date.”

His heart missed a beat. “Really? When?”

Her gaze went to the puppy, then returned. “I want to say tomorrow. The three of us. Tahoe. But,” she said, with a sigh. “I'm on the planning committee for Ida Jane's party. We want to celebrate her coming home. Kris and Zach will be coming down from Oregon to help organize things.”

She looked disappointed. “Don't worry, love. We'll find the right day for a wedding—or it will find us. Haven't you figured it out yet?”

He kissed the puzzled look from her forehead. “You were destined to be mine, Andi Sullivan.”

Tears made her eyes a luminous green that reminded Jonathan of something he couldn't quite remember. But it wasn't important, because Andi loved him. She was going to marry him. Together, they'd build a life in Gold Creek—a small town filled with history but facing the challenge of a changing future.

Back when he'd been a successful reporter, Jonathan probably couldn't have envisioned this kind of happiness. He'd lacked the imagination. He'd lost himself—his heart and soul—long before the accident had wiped out his past.

Through Andi's love, he'd recovered his heart, if not his memory. And in the process of loving this very special woman, he'd found the man he was meant to be. A man who wasn't afraid to love. A man who knew the value of a dream.