Twice as Hot (Tales of an Extraordinary Girl #2)(42)
Author: Gena Showalter

Silence.

I cut off the surge of hurt before it could bombard me. "That’s why we’re stopping. You don’t remember me, and until you do, you get nothing from me. Like I said, I won’t let you screw me as if I’m a stranger. I want your love or nothing at all." I’d have to remember that myself, as easily and as quickly as I gave in to him.

"Fair enough," Rome said evenly. He held up his hands, palms out, and stepped backward, no longer crowding me.

I sagged against the wall to keep myself in a standing position, despising the loss of contact. Stupid girl, my hormones cried.

"But I hope you understand that I do plan to change your mind," he added, then strolled out of my bedroom and out of the house, the door clicking shut behind him.

Chapter Thirteen

I didn’t allow myselfto ponder Rome’s threat/delicious promise as I ate three protein bars and packed my bags. Toothbrush, fire-resistant change of clothes, raincoat, snow boots and a photo of me, Tanner, Rome, Sherridan and my dad, taken a few weeks ago when Tanner had prepared a dinner of his

"famous" booby sandwiches – bread and meats cut in a circle and topped with olives.

Still I didn’t allow myself to dwell on Rome’s parting words as Sherridan and I loaded our stuff in the car. I couldn’t. I’d lose all focus on the case. Again. I’d have to think about it later – and decide what to do if Rome actually attempted to seduce me.

I couldn’t think about Tanner, either. My sweet Tanner, who was stuck on a gurney, hooked to an IV

and missing all the action. No one loved action more than Tanner.

My cell rang as I shut the trunk. "Hello," I answered, leaning against the sedan. Please don’t be about the wedding. After everything I’d been through, saying my marriage vows was the last thing I wanted to worry about.

"Hello, Belle." The speaker possessed a warm, masculine voice I’d never heard before.

I frowned. "Who is this?"

"Did you like the flowers? The candy? The…panties?"

My jaw nearly dropped. Could it really be…"Who is this?" I demanded again.

"You probably know me as Memory Man."

I froze. So it was him, and he did want me. My first reaction was anger, the slight softening I’d had when I’d heard about his torture, then learned of his dislike for Desert Gal, forgotten. Yo. Yo. "Listen, you.

I – "

"I know you’re mad," he interjected. "And I understand the reasons for it. I do. But all I’m asking for is a little of your time so you have the chance to get to know me. I’m not such a bad guy. Let me – "

"No. Whatever you’re going to say, no. You have a lot of nerve calling me. You took something that doesn’t belong to you and we want it back."

Sherridan motioned to the phone with a wave of her hand.

"Memory Man," I mouthed, and she scowled.

"I’ll give you anything you want," he said stubbornly. "Anything but that." Oh, really? "You just wait until I find you. The memory you have of me Tasering Rome will seem like a spa visit compared to what I have planned."

"You have so much spirit." He chuckled softly. "I love that about you. I love so many things about you."

"No, you don’t. Rome does." Or did. I wish I had a tracer on my phone. I’d find out where M-Squared was and blast him as promised. He had no right to say that kind of thing to me.

"Doesn’t matter whose memories they are." His voice had veered from sweet and amused to hard and stubborn. "They’re in my head, which means I lived them. Kind of," he added on a wistful sigh.

"They don’t belong to you, and you know it. You have to give them back to Rome."

"Not going to happen. I like them too much." There was that stubbornness again.

Damn him. "Why me?" I asked, still dumbfounded by that fact. I had to know. "You could have had Lexis. She’s grade A."

"Actually, she’s kind of a snob. But you…you’re beautiful, always make the people around you laugh, and…and you know what it’s like to have a powerful gift the world wants to use you for." There at the end, sadness had dripped from his words.

So he hated his ability. He felt used, probably didn’t know whom he could trust. And his own memories were no doubt tainted from his days – weeks, months, years?  – of captivity. Some of my anger drained as I once again found myself softening – what was wrong with me? But I would not feel sorry for him, I vowed. "None of that matters," I said, more gently than I would have liked. "You had no right to do what you did. If you don’t – "

"You didn’t let me finish. You’re also kindhearted and passionate and – "

"Stop right there. Not another word about my passion. But thank you." What kind of moron was I?

Compliment me and I’d melt like ice cream in the sun. "The truth is, I’m cranky, flaky and borderline homicidal."

"No. You’re loyal, dependable and you stand up for what you believe in. You nearly worked yourself to death just to pay for your dad’s health care. You gave yourself to PSI to save that man and his little girl.

You’re the only person I know who is truly selfless."

"That man has a name. And I promise you, I’m far from selfless." He expelled a frustrated breath. "I know I can make you happy, Belle. If you’ll just give me a chance." Sherridan crooked her fingers expectantly, silently demanding an update. I motioned that I needed a minute and turned away from her, resting my elbows on the hood of the car. Had the sun always been this hot and stifling? "Why don’t you tell me where you are and we’ll discuss this face-to-face?" He laughed. "How adorable are you, trying to lay a trap for me. You’re taking to agenting very nicely.

Look, I just want to be with you. I want you to look at me the way you looked at him. And like I said, I want to make you happy. I know I can. Is that a crime?"

"When you steal from others, yes," I said through gritted teeth. His devotion was just so damn nice. It wasn’t fair that I was getting it from him.

A sigh crackled over the line. "I’m sorry if I hurt you. I am. I just couldn’t help myself. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman and for the first time in my life, watching you, I actually felt…alive. You’re worth living for, Belle Jamison. You’re also worth dying for." Damn him, damn him, damn him. "If I promise not to lay a trap, would you please consider meeting with me?" Somehow, someway, I had to make him understand the horror of what he’d done. My life depended on it. "Think about it. We can make new memories. Memories of our own." Sure, those memories would involve me holding him in a wind lock until he gave me what I wanted, but he didn’t need to know that.