The Sheriff & the Amnesiac Read online

  “I take it you didn’t wake up with all the missing pieces in place?”

  Jenny felt oddly unnerved at his gentle smile, particularly since discovering he thought she was drop-dead gorgeous. She took refuge in careless banter. “Actually, I did. My name is Ophelia Detweiler, and I was serving five to ten for armed robbery when I stole a Harley from one of the guards and escaped.”

  Tyler dipped his chin and gave her a “very funny” look. “Well, at least you’re keeping a sense of humor. I guess that’s something.” He placed the duffel bag on the bed beside her. “I thought you might need a few things. You do travel light, don’t you?”

  Jenny shrugged. “I guess so. Jenny Kyle seems to be kind of a weird duck, doesn’t she?”

  “You’re taking it well, Ophelia, this little memory lapse you have.”

  “I don’t see the point of getting too worried, since your doctor friend told me it was normal to be fuzzy for a couple of days after an accident. You’re the one I feel sorry for. You’ve ended up with a pink, black and blue amnesiac, when all you really wanted was a prisoner. I really do feel much better now. I could probably go back to the Cotton Tree and—”

  “No,” Tyler said abruptly. “You’re my responsibility. Besides, I took it upon myself to drive your Harley home—”

  “I noticed.”

  “—and decided it was way too powerful a machine to let you loose on it, particularly when you’re injured. So we’ll just be patient until you’re healed.” And since he didn’t want to argue with her, he decided to distract her. Holding the stuffed animal by its little tail, he dangled it in front of her nose. “I brought you a present. I saw this in town today and it reminded me of you.”

  “A present?” Jenny repeated softly. She felt incredibly strange, as if this was the first time in her entire life anyone had given her an unexpected gift. Somehow she knew that it wasn’t something that had happened often to her lately. She took it from him, her fingers feeling clumsy. “You didn’t need to do that.”

  He grinned, rocking back and forth on the soles of his feet as if he were very pleased with himself. “You like?”

  She gave the fluffy little beast a long look. “This was very nice of you. It’s a…well, it’s a sheep, isn’t it? I’m not sure what to say. I remind you of a sheep?”

  “Look closer.”

  After a moment Jenny discovered all was not as it appeared. The sheep’s nose and ears turned out to be a mask, and the wooly white sheep suit was completely removable. Underneath the ordinary sheep was a grinning wolf. “It’s like a Halloween costume for wolves!” she laughed, charmed by the surprise. “Now I’m really curious. I remind you of a wolf masquerading as a sheep?”

  Tyler sat down beside her on the bed, being careful not to jar her injured ankle. “Give me a little credit. This little sheep-wolf reminded me that people sometimes wear disguises for the rest of the world. Then, when they feel safe, they gradually reveal who they really are.” He grinned widely, nudging her elbow lightly with his. “You didn’t know I was such a deep thinker, did you?”

  Tyler Cook revving a Harley was a masculine force to be reckoned with. Tyler Cook letting loose the full power of his come-hither smile at a distance of barely eighteen inches was enough to send a poor sheep-wolf into cardiac arrest. The air between them seemed to instantly heat up by a good ten degrees. Oh, Grandma, what pretty teeth you have…

  The magic of his smile unnerved her. Her physical reaction to that smile doubly unnerved her. Jenny stared at him unblinkingly until her eyes began to water. Then she quickly looked down at the masquerading wolf in her lap. “Thank you for the present,” she said stiffly. “And for my clothes. It will be good to shower and dress. Do you think if I’m careful to keep my ankle—”

  “Why do you do that?” Tyler asked abruptly. “For a moment we’re talking like friends, then something happens and you’re closed up and gone, just like that.”

  “I don’t know why,” Jenny said lightly, still avoiding his gaze. “I guess it’s just something I do. That’s the problem with being born yesterday. It’s hard to figure out why you do the things you do when you don’t have any history.”

  “I’m serious here.” Tyler lifted his hand to her cheek, turning her head gently toward him. The humor was gone from his blue-eyed gaze, the charming smile just a memory. An intense emotion darkened his eyes. “Can’t you just relax now and then? I don’t bite. I’m not an ax murderer. I’ve taken a shine to you, Jenny Kyle. And I wouldn’t hurt you for the world.”

  Jenny was silent, her mouth dry, her pulse hammering in her temples. A little voice told her to immediately back off from Tyler’s touch. A little bigger voice told her it felt so nice, and she should stay. She saw, fascinated despite herself, that Tyler’s face was coming closer. His expression was intense, dark, acutely absorbed. His fingers spread on her cheek, warm and dry and soft. Her mouth fell open slightly, barely enough to exhale. Her heart and other vital organs were paralyzed. And still she didn’t move.

  “Are you going to run?” he whispered, staring at her lips.

  Jenny’s eyes were enormous, eating up her small face. “Can’t,” she said hoarsely. “It hurt too much last time.”

  “Oh, man.” Tyler closed his eyes briefly, fighting himself for a moment. Every instinct within his soul told him to protect her, hold her, bring her closer. He wanted to soothe her war wounds with his lips, to smooth his hands over her hair, to somehow make everything all better for her. But she held her body stiffly, and the look on her face spoke more of uncertainty than passion.

  Once again he put his own needs and wants second. Maybe it was second nature to him by now, who knew? But right now it was Jenny’s well-being that came first, her comfort and her security. He’d failed to save her from being hurt before, but now he had a second chance. And so, though he wanted to kiss her more than he had ever wanted anything in his life, he contented himself with bringing his forehead softly against hers. Maybe it was the wild ride on the Harley that brought his emotions so close to the surface, but he actually felt a physical pain in his chest when he stemmed his urge.

  “Does this bother you?” he asked. His palm was still on her cheek, his thumb lightly stroking the delicate skin below her eye. “Just…being this close?”

  Jenny barely heard him. Her perceptions had suddenly narrowed until she took in only the faint smell of his cologne, the shape of his mouth, the faintest trace of stubble on his jaw. For a moment this odd child’s bedroom felt potent with unspoken feelings and tantalizing isolation. It was all she could do to gather her thoughts enough to say, “I forgot the question.”

  “I think I did, too,” he said dryly. He realized she was off balance, and perhaps closer than she thought to letting down her guard. This was bad. He could fight himself, but he couldn’t fight both of them. He moved, or she might have, and suddenly he was standing again, talking to her as he backed toward the doorway. “Actually, I do want to talk to you about something, but it can wait till after dinner. Would you like me to send Rosie up and help you change?”

  “I can manage,” Jenny said, a little surprised by his abrupt withdrawal. And very relieved, she told herself. And a big fat liar. “What did you want to talk about?”

  “It can wait,” Tyler said, looking strangely guilty. “No big deal thing. Okay then, I’ll come back up in a little while and help you downstairs. I thought it would be nice for you to get out of this Ringling Brothers room for a while. Rosie’s got something cooking downstairs. Oh, and expect complete chaos, as well. Ella and the twins are here, too.”

  “I’ll leave my wallet upstairs.” She smiled faintly, looking small and battered and inexpressibly lovely. Her hair was a riot of color and curl, her full mouth looked like a silky rose, and her small hands held tightly to a sheep that might be a wolf. Or vice-versa.

  “Oh, I’m a saint,” Tyler muttered. “Just ask anybody.”

  And the reluctant saint took his leave with something akin to panic.


  Five

  Despite Jenny’s protests that she could dress herself, Rosie came upstairs and helped her bathe and change into clean slacks and a cropped baby-blue tee. It took a bit of maneuvering to pull the khakis over Jenny’s bandaged ankle, but they managed with a team effort. Rosie was completely down to earth, easy to be with and even easier to laugh with. Jenny felt an intangible tug on her emotions through it all, almost as if she had known Tyler’s effervescent sister from before her accident. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to spend time with Rosie, not at all awkward or unnatural. Good old Rosie had also provided her with a couple of pain pills and a soft drink to wash them down, which eventually added a dazzling sparkle to Jenny’s feeling of general well-being.

  “You’ve got gorgeous hair,” Rosie said wistfully, brushing out Jenny’s long copper mane in front of the dresser mirror. “Mine is horrid, just baby-fine wisps that drive me crazy. It makes me look like I’m thirteen, I swear. And my poor boys have the same wretched hair.”

  Jenny was feeling awfully fine. Too fine, in fact, to practice much diplomacy. “So…they took after you more than your husband?”

  Rosie snorted inelegantly. “No husband, just a very poor choice on my part. My mom died from cancer when I was only six, so I hardly remember having her around. When dad had his heart attack, I was a senior in high school. I took his death pretty hard. Tyler moved home to look after me and Ella, which certainly wasn’t the life he had envisioned for himself. Anyway, I sort of got on the wrong track and ended up pregnant.” She paused, then added quietly, “It wasn’t the best of times for either of us. Poor Ty blamed himself, and ever since he has been way, way overprotective. The problem is, I’m twenty-three now and capable of looking after myself and my boys. They’re finally in preschool and I’ve got a good job working at the county courthouse. I’m actually in control of my life, but try telling that to Tyler. I love him to bits, but when everyone in town knows that not only are you a mommy, but your brother is the sheriff, you spend a lot of weekends alone.”

  “But he has his job. Doesn’t that keep him busy?”

  Rosie shrugged. “Unfortunately, you’re the most exciting thing that has happened to poor Sheriff Cook in years. This is Bridal Veil Falls, kiddo. It’s depressing to admit, but we just don’t have enough crime around here to keep things interesting for a guy like Tyler. He’s had a fairly colorful past. He followed the rodeo circuit for quite a while before coming home to take care of me. He was amazing. He’s been the World Champion All-Around Cowboy, the World Champion Bull Rider…there wasn’t an animal he couldn’t ride, I swear. He made more money than he could ever spend in his lifetime, but that wasn’t why he did it. He loved the challenge.”

  That explains the Brahma bulls, Jenny thought. The idea of Tyler Cook as a dusty cowboy with a number on his back was intensely appealing. “Isn’t that a dangerous way to make a living?”

  “Yup,” Rosie replied inelegantly. “He was always on the injury report. But it never stopped him from winning. Never. He’s always been hungry for everything life had to offer.”

  “Something tells me I just may be the same way,” Jenny replied. “Sort of…restless. I don’t think I’m used to staying in the same place for too long. But I won’t know for sure until my little brain heals.”

  Rosie smiled at Jenny in the mirror. “It’s probably best not to even worry about the amnesia. If it’s anything like the movies, you’ll see some little thing that sparks your memory and everything will come back to you. Till then, why fret?”

  Jenny shrugged, busying herself picking invisible lint from her slacks. “I hate to saddle your poor brother with an unwelcome house guest.”

  Rosie grinned widely, looking for a moment exactly like her brother, right down to the fetching dimple. “Poor Tyler? Honey, there’s a huge difference between unexpected and unwelcome. I can promise you that you’re a wonderful diversion for him. In fact, I asked him if I couldn’t take you to my house, where you might be more at ease, and he told me—and I quote—‘Not a chance in hell.’ Now does that sound like a man being inconvenienced to you?”

  Jenny smiled right back at her. She wasn’t quite sure what was so funny, but she started to chuckle. “Rosie, you’re a really easy person to be around, do you know that? Your smile is just as contagious as your brother’s smile. You know, I feel sort of bubbly, like my blood is carbonated. Really relaxed, though. Incredibly relaxed. Did I tell you that you’re a very easy person to be around?”

  “You did, yes,” Rosie said with a mischievous glint in her blue eyes. “Tyler is going to have my head for this.”

  Jenny was listening to a happy buzz in her ears. “For what?”

  “Nothing. Never mind. I’m going to call Sir Galahad now and have him carry you downstairs. You like spaghetti?”

  “As far as I know,” Jenny said happily, “I like everything. And everyone.”

  There was a merry-go-round in Jenny’s head, dancing and glittering and whirling away. In some distant part of her mind, she knew she was riding a chemical high, and her emotions less than trustworthy. It didn’t matter. She ate the most delicious spaghetti of her two-day life, drank the most delicious lemonade of her two-day life. Tyler was uncharacteristically quiet, watching her with alert, narrowed eyes. Almost as if he expected her to slip off her chair, Jenny thought with amusement. Silly man. Silly, funny, extremely good-looking man. He’d changed into a fresh white shirt and jeans, worn to white at the knees. His honey-brown hair was carelessly finger-combed back from his forehead and ears, almost long enough to cover his collar. He watched her and watched her all through dinner, but said very little. Now and then he would look over at his sister with murder in his electric-blue gaze, but on the whole he was pretty focused on Jenny.

  Jenny, Ella, Rosie and the twins made up for Tyler’s unusual silence. There was absolutely no awkward “barely know you” stage. The twin boys, Jamie and Justin, were fascinated by their new friend with the impressive bruises. They spent about two minutes eating and twenty minutes showing off, teaching Jenny a wonderful trick called “flying spoons.” They demonstrated repeatedly, placing two spoons on the table, just so, then slamming their chubby little fists on one, which sent the other sailing through the air and into a full glass of water. The little guys were howling, Ella was attempting the trick with forks and Jenny was taking it all in with a slightly lopsided, beatific smile on her flushed face. Rosie’s attention seemed more focused on her brother than her children, a curious expression in her eyes. Tyler didn’t even seem to notice the many, many, many rules of table manners that were being broken by her irrepressible children. This was unusual for Tyler; he usually felt compelled to make the most of a teaching moment when it came to the twins. Apparently, he had more important things on his mind.

  “I can talk like Donald Duck,” Ella announced, giggling. Then, apparently forgetting what she’d just said: “Tyler? Aren’t you the one who can talk like Donald Duck? Oh, that makes me just laugh and laugh.”

  “It’s not me,” Tyler muttered, twin spots of high color burning on his cheekbones. In truth, talking like Donald Duck had been one of the few things he’d excelled at during junior high. “Ella, you might not want to do that trick with forks. No, not with knives, either.”

  “It’s pandemonium at Tyler Cook’s house,” Rosie commented. “Jenny, things have been a lot livelier around here since you arrived. Not at all boring.”

  Again from Tyler, “Amen.”

  “Where was your home, dear?” Ella asked Jenny. “Before you came to live with Tyler?”

  “I don’t remember,” Jenny told her kindly. She had long ago forgiven this bright-eyed woman-child for lifting her wallet. She realized how beautiful people got when they were older. Ella’s lovely skin was so fine, so delicate, it seemed to shine with an inner luminosity. Her hair looked like a fluffy, pale cloud, and the smile lines in her face had been sweetly etched through the years. “I’m sure it will all come back to me, thou
gh.”

  Ella clapped her small hands in delight. “And that’s exactly what I tell myself, as well. Thank goodness you’re here, dear.”

  “Thank goodness you’re here, too,” Jenny said. She was still floating on a high cloud and completely at peace with the world. Ella was such a dear.

  Tyler gave his sister a very stiff little smile. “Aren’t we all so cheerful tonight? Especially Jenny. Rosie, have you any idea who might have been responsible for Jenny’s cheerfulness?”

  Rosie pulled a face at him. “Oh, lighten up. She was in pain, so I gave her some pills.”

  Tyler’s jaw dropped. “Pills? Plural?”

  “Two pills, sheriff,” she scoffed. “I’m not a complete idiot. I was once, but I’m not now.”

  “Why didn’t you wait until after she ate, Rosie?”

  “Because she was in pain before we ate.”

  “Are you in pain, dear?” Ella asked Jenny. “My, you’re brave. Not a word of complaint.”

  And so it went. Tyler was fairly composed for a man who was constantly worried that Jenny would slip beneath the table at any given moment. Spaghetti sauce decorated Jamie and Justin’s faces by the time Rosie called a cease-fire to dinner. It was past eight, Rosie told her group. Time to head home and go nighty-night.

  Jenny and Tyler stood on the front porch, waving at the departing guests like an old married couple. Jenny wasn’t exactly giddy any longer; she was, however, extremely relaxed. She hadn’t even minded when Tyler had carried her from the table to the front door. He was simply being a gentleman, one who smelled really nice. Even the thought that tonight she would be alone in the house with him didn’t really bother her. Last night had gone swimmingly, right? They were both adults, and perfectly capable of handling the situation intelligently. She foresaw absolutely no problems. None. Zilch. Nix.