Suddenly overwhelmed with exhaustion, she closed her eyes and tried to remember even the smallest glimmer from her past.

But her memories were like a blackboard that had been swiped with a felt eraser. Faint white marks were still evident, but none of them were clear enough to make sense.

The only distinct image she possessed was that of Detective Vincent Parcell. Even in her clouded confusion, she’d noticed his thick brown hair and strong, tanned features. His warm brown eyes had studied her in a way that had made her want to pull the sheet all the way up beneath her chin. He’d not said much, but when he had spoken to her, his voice had been a low, rich baritone that had rumbled through her like a familiar melody.

The detective with him had been an attractive man, and nice to boot. But meeting him hadn’t affected her in the same way as Vincent Parcell. Somehow, someway, she felt certain their paths had crossed before tonight.

But that was a ridiculous notion, she thought. He was merely a man who was trying to help her get out of this strange wonderland she’d fallen into. And no matter how he’d looked or sounded, she was going to have to trust him to lead her back to the real world.

* * *

Men of the West: Whether ranchers or lawmen, these heartbreakers can ride, shoot—and drive a woman crazy …

His Badge, Her Baby…Their Family?
Stella Bagwell

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Having written over eighty titles for Mills & Boon, USA TODAY bestselling author STELLA BAGWELL writes about families, the West, strong, silent men of honor and the women who love them. She appreciates her loyal readers and hopes her stories have brightened their lives in some small way. A cowgirl through and through, she recently learned how to rope a steer. Her days begin and end helping her husband on their south Texas ranch. In between she works on her next tale of love. Contact her at stellabagwell@gmail.com.

MILLS & BOON

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

In loving memory of my late mother-in-law, Dortha Bagwell. Alzheimer’s took you and your memory, but you will forever live on in mine.

Contents

Cover

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Prologue

Detective Vincent Parcell eyed the smoldering heap lying at the bottom of the shallow ravine. Less than an hour ago the ash and debris had been a small car driven by a woman. Now the only thing resembling a vehicle was a crumpled black frame.

“It’s a miracle anyone survived that inferno,” Vince remarked to his partner, Evan Calhoun. “Are you sure the EMT reported her conscious when they left the scene?”

The two men stood together on the edge of the asphalt. Behind them, a fire truck and lighted barricades blocked all traffic from the eastbound side of the two-lane highway. A few feet down the incline from where they stood, a pair of firemen continued to douse a steady stream of water over the charred object. Yet even with the flames dead, puffs of smoke spiraled upward into the dark, desert sky and the stench of burning rubber lingered on the night air.

“That’s what the NHP officer reported,” Evan answered.

Vince shook his head. “Let’s hope she remains that way.”

Fifteen minutes ago, the two detectives had been working a downtown robbery in Carson City when their captain had ordered them to wrap up and drive out here to the edge of the city to investigate a flaming car crash.

Vince was still irked by the interruption. The Nevada Highway Patrol had already investigated the accident. He didn’t see much need for him and Evan to follow up. This wasn’t a case of vehicular homicide. It was a simple case of identifying the injured driver. As far as he was concerned, the sheriff’s office didn’t need to get involved. But it was Vince’s job to follow orders, not question them.

Vince said, “I’m trying to visualize how this scene played out. The first responding officer reported that when he arrived on the scene, the door on the driver’s side of the car was open. So the woman must have been thrown clear of the car when it hit the ravine. Or she miraculously managed to open the door and crawl out on her own.”

Evan pointed to a spot on the side of the highway, about ten feet from where the two of them were standing. “Supposedly she was discovered lying there. Between those clumps of sage and creosote bushes.”

Images of how the first initial seconds of the crash might have occurred and the sequences that followed flashed through Vince’s mind as he walked over to the area where the woman had been found. From the beam of his flashlight, he could see where her weight had flattened the dead vegetation. Blood from some type of wound was smeared at the base of a clump of buffalo grass, while a few drops had already dried to brown circles on the ground. Nearby a couple of fist-sized stones had been dislodged from the soil. Most likely from the movements of the paramedics when they’d loaded the victim onto a gurney, Vince figured.

Evan walked up behind him. “Not many skid marks on the asphalt,” he commented. “Whatever caused the car to leave the highway must have happened fast. Maybe a deer or coyote.”

“Maybe,” Vince reasoned. “Or a drunk driver swerved over the middle line and didn’t bother to stop when her car careened off the highway.” He started to turn back to his partner when the beam of his flashlight crossed something shiny caught on a low branch of sage. Squatting on his heels, Vince carefully plucked the item from the brush and rose to his feet.

“Hmm. Guess no one noticed this.” The murmured words were directed as much to himself as they were to Evan. He placed his find in the middle of his palm, and Evan centered the beam of his flashlight on a simple piece of jewelry.

“Looks like a fine silver chain with a small filigree cross,” Evan said. “Probably hundreds like it around town.”

Vince grimaced. “Other than her clothes, it might be the only thing we have to help identify her. And that is why we were called in on this case, isn’t it?”

Evan let out a weary breath, reminding Vince that both of them had been at it since just before dawn this morning. The day had been long and was on its way to being even longer.

“That’s what the captain said. All her ID went up in flames. Even the car tags are nothing but ash. Hopefully the VIN can be salvaged. But looks like it’s going to be a while before that mess of scrap metal is cool enough to be hauled to the lab.”

Vince glanced one more time at the silver cross in his palm before he slipped the item into his shirt pocket. Like Evan said, there were probably hundreds of women around here who owned the same necklace. In fact, he’d known someone in particular who’d worn one exactly like it. He’d given it to her as an Easter gift. But that had been years ago and a world away.

Vince rubbed a hand over his tired eyes. “There’s nothing more we can do here,” he said flatly. “Let’s get over to the hospital and see if we can get some answers.”

Evan reached over and slapped his shoulder. “Cheer up, buddy. This won’t take long.”

The two men returned to a black SUV with Carson City, Nevada, sheriff’s emblems emblazoned on both front doors. Vince climbed beneath the wheel, while Evan buckled himself in the passenger seat.

As he made a sharp U-turn in the middle of the highway and headed toward the north side of town, Vince tried to shake off the strange premonition that had come over him the moment they’d walked up to the accident scene.

“I have a bad feeling about this, Evan. Maybe you ought to call the hospital before we make a trip over there. For all we know the driver might have already expired.”

When Evan failed to reply, Vince glanced over to the see his partner glowering at him.

“What the hell is the matter with you?” Evan barked the question. “Even if she has expired, we’ll still need to follow up. Especially if she dies as a Jane Doe. You know that.”

What was the matter with him? Vince asked himself. At the age of thirty-three, he’d worked in law enforcement for twelve years, and during that time he’d never shunned any sort of assignment. No matter how trivial or important, he wanted to make sure the job was done and done right.

“Yeah, I know it. I’m just not keen on going to the hospital. Every time we walk through those doors, I get the urge to throw up.”

Evan said, “Nothing strange about that. You nearly died after the Christmas Eve shooting. And you spent weeks afterward in Tahoe General recuperating from your wounds. The place probably brings all that hell back to you. To be honest, it brings it all back to me, too. But the best way to deal with a bad memory is to face it head-on. At least, that’s what Granddad Bart always says. And he ought to know. He’s had plenty of bad memories to face,” Evan added flatly.

Bart Calhoun just happened to be the patriarch of the wealthy ranching family that owned and operated the Silver Horn Ranch north of Carson City. Evan’s other grandfather, Tuck Reeves, had been a sheriff in Storey County for more than twenty years.

As for Vince, his grandfathers had already passed on, along with his father, Parry Parcell. Vince had only been fourteen years old when his father had been shot and killed while serving on the Reno police force.

No, Vince thought, he and his partner had totally different backgrounds, but the moment the two of them had been paired together, they’d fit like hot coffee on a snowy morning. For several years now they’d been the best of friends on and off duty. And because they were, the two men didn’t hold back on expressing their thoughts or opinions to each other.

“Sorry, Evan. I don’t stop to think of the hell you went through that night. If you hadn’t pulled me away from the gunfire, you’d have a different partner sitting here with you tonight.”

“Shut up, Vince.” Evan slid down in the seat and pulled the brim of his cowboy hat over his eyes. “We’re not going to talk about that night anymore. Hear me?”

“Yeah, I hear you.” They might keep quiet about that night, Vince thought, but that wasn’t going to make either of them forget it.

* * *

Ten minutes later, Vince parked in a slot allotted for hospital visitors and reached for two denim jackets lying on the backseat. Although it was nearing the first of July, the night could still get cool in the high desert, and the inside of the hospital always felt like stepping into the Arctic Circle.

As the two men headed toward the emergency entrance, Evan said, “It’ll be our luck they’ve filled her with pain meds and she won’t be lucid enough to tell us anything.”

Vince grunted. “From the looks of that wreck, she’s going to need more than something for pain.”

After a frustrating wait in the ER, a nurse finally supplied them with the room number of the unidentified crash victim. During the elevator ride up to the internal medicine floor, Vince tried to block out the memory of the searing pain from the bullets plowing into his side and abdomen.

By the time the EMTs had reached him that night and delivered him to this very hospital, Vince had lost consciousness. It wasn’t until days later that he’d eventually woken to the reality of what had happened when he and Evan had gone to arrest a murder suspect.

“Vince? You look green around the gills. Why don’t you go down to the cafeteria and have some coffee?” Evan suggested as the two of them stepped off the elevator. “I can handle this.”

Casting him a droll look, Vince said, “That day-old sandwich I got off your desk for lunch is the reason my gills are green. Let’s just get this job over with.”

“All right, be a tough guy.” Evan gestured to the room number guide posted on the wall in front of the elevator. “This way.”

His partner took off in a long stride down the left wing and Vince followed. For early in the evening, the corridor was rather empty. They walked past a nurse carrying a tray of medicine and a janitor mopping a section of the tiled floor. Other than those two, the hallway was eerily quiet.

“You can hear a pin drop on this floor,” Vince said in a hushed voice. “All the patients must have been shipped down to the morgue.”

“Or they heard two detectives were coming and they all got the hell out of here,” Evan joked, then pointed to a closed door on their right. “Here it is.”

Evan rapped lightly on the door before the two of them stepped inside. Except for a strip of light over the head of the bed, the room was dark. As they moved farther into the room, Vince could see the slender shape of the patient beneath the light bedcover. She was lying on her side, facing the wall, making it impossible to see anything except a long curtain of honey-blond hair spilling over the white pillowcase.

When Evan’s elbow suddenly dug into his rib cage, Vince glanced over to see his partner motioning for him to take the initiative.

After a glare that promised he’d deal with him later, Vince walked up to the head of the bed.

With his gaze fixed on the wavy blond tresses, he cleared his throat. “Ma’am? Sorry about the interruption. I’m Detective Parcell and this is my partner, Evan Calhoun. We’re with the Carson City Sheriff’s Department. Do you feel up to answering a few questions?”

Long moments passed before she finally stirred, then with a faint groan, she rolled in his direction.

Vince took one look at her face and the shock of what he was seeing propelled him backward, very nearly causing him to stumble smack into Evan.

Chapter One

She let out a groggy groan. “Detectives? Have I done something wrong?”

Dear God, it was Geena! His Geena!

His ex-wife was lying in bed, her lost gaze vacillating from one man to the other, making it plain to Vince that she didn’t recognize him at all. How could that be?

“Uh—excuse us just a moment,” he blurted, then grabbing Evan by the arm, he hustled the other man out of the room.

The moment they were standing on the other side of the door, Evan gripped him by the shoulder. “Vince! What in hell is going on with you? You’ve got to get a grip. The way you’re behaving, she’s not about to trust one word to us!”

Shaking his head, Vince wondered if his legs had turned into a pair of wet noodles. His insides were shaking. His mind whirling like a raging storm. “There’s something you need to know, Evan. That woman in there—it’s Geena! My ex-wife!”

Stunned confusion swept over Evan’s face. “Your ex? That’s crazy, Vince! She might resemble Geena, but it can’t be her. You just spoke to the patient, and I didn’t see a flicker of recognition on her face.”

“Damn it, don’t you think I saw the same thing! She looked as blank as that wall behind you! But it’s Geena. I’m positive about that.”

Evan glanced anxiously at the closed door. “We’d better go back in before she gets even more suspicious and rings for a nurse. No,” he quickly corrected as he eyed Vince. “I’ll go back in and question her. You’re not in any shape to deal with this right now.”

Annoyed that Evan considered him too weak to handle the situation, Vince scowled at him. “She’s my ex. I’ll do this job. You just back me up.”

Evan studied him for a long moment, then nodded. “If that’s the way you want it. I’ll be right behind you.”

Trying not to let himself think too much, Vince opened the door and walked back to the bed with Evan following close on his heels. By now Geena had elevated the head of the bed so that she was in a half-sitting position.

Vince’s gaze was taking a furtive survey of her face when something else caught his attention. Although she was covered completely, it was very evident that her belly was far from normal size.

She was pregnant! And from the look of her, she couldn’t be far from her delivery date.

His mind racing in a thousand directions, he pulled a leather holder from the side of his belt and held it up so that she could view his badge.

“Sorry about the interruption,” he said. “Let me start this over. I’m Detective Vincent Parcell. And this is Detective Evan Calhoun. Do you feel like answering a few questions?”

Working as a detective for many years had taught Vince how to read the subtle expressions and reactions on a person’s face. Now as he carefully watched a mix of doubt and confusion flicker in Geena’s eyes, it was clear she didn’t recognize his name or the sight of him. She had no clue she was looking at her ex-husband, and the reality of that cut him like a knife.

“My head hurts,” she mumbled. “But I’ll try. Why are you here, anyway? I wrecked my car. That isn’t a crime, is it?”

The soft, raspy sound of her voice hadn’t changed, Vince thought. Neither had her lovely features. Her smoky green eyes were still veiled by thick brown lashes and her plush pink lips bracketed by a pair of faint dimples. The proud thrust of her delicate chin was just as he remembered, along with a perfect little turned-up nose. Oh, yes, this was his Geena all right, he thought grimly. At least on the outside.

He answered her question, “No. It’s not a crime. Not unless you were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Or you were driving recklessly.”

Her gaze focused on his face, and Vince could see confusion swimming in the green depths of her eyes. But to his immense relief, she didn’t appear to be drunk.

“I told the highway patrolman I didn’t remember what happened. I only recall crawling away from the car. There was a small explosion and then the flames started. They were small at first, but then the fire grew so big I couldn’t see the car. By the time the firemen and paramedics got there, everything was burned. That’s all I know.”

Vince exchanged a grim look with Evan before turning his attention back to Geena. “So can you tell us your name and address?” he asked gently.

A deep frown furrowed her brow, and Vince could see she was struggling to think.

“I’ve been trying very hard to remember, but I don’t know who I am or where I came from.”

Fear and regret were laced through her words, and Vince could only imagine the terror that had to be consuming her thoughts. Right now she was in an unfamiliar place where every face was that of a stranger. Her baby was coming soon, and she clearly had no idea how to locate the father. At this point, the Geena he’d been married to would have been sobbing hysterically. Either she’d drastically changed, he decided, or the accident was playing havoc with her normal demeanor.

I can tell you exactly who you are. You were my wife for five years. You made love to me and slept in my arms.

Shaking away the voice in his head, Vince asked, “Has a doctor spoken to you about your injuries?”

Her eyes misted over, but she swallowed hard and quickly gathered her emotions. “Yes. He tells me I have a concussion and it’s caused me to have amnesia. He couldn’t find anything else wrong. My baby is okay. But I don’t remember anything about my pregnancy—when I’m due, or even the father! It’s maddening!”

The uneasy feeling that had come over Vince when he’d first walked up to the scene of Geena’s accident had suddenly grown to a menacing cloud hovering over his head. What was he going to do? He couldn’t simply blurt out that he knew who she was, or that she’d once been his wife. She’d gone through a traumatic accident. No telling what the shock might do to her. No, Vince decided, before he could even consider revealing that bit of truth to her, he needed to speak with her doctor.

“Do you have any idea why you were on the highway leading into Carson City?” he continued. “Where you were going?”

With a miserable shake of her head, she said, “No. And now everything I had—my ID, my vehicle—they’re gone!”

As her voice rose to a frantic note, Evan stepped up to Vince’s side, as though to say he believed she’d had enough questions for one night. But Vince had already come to that conclusion.

Trying to sound as positive as possible, Vince said, “Don’t worry. By tomorrow you’ll probably start remembering. And if you don’t, we have ways of figuring out all these things.”

The expression on her face was the same imploring look she’d given him years ago when she’d begged him to give up being a lawman. The look in her eyes had torn at him then, just as it was tearing at him now.

“I hope you’re right. Without my car or money I can’t go anywhere,” she said, then let out a miserable groan. “Dear God, what am I thinking? Money or transportation won’t solve my problems. I wouldn’t know where to go to find my home!”

Her home had once been with him, Vince thought. Now she was a lost little thing without a clue of her past or future. Nothing about this felt real.

Evan slanted her a reassuring smile, which was just what she needed at this very moment. But try as he might, Vince couldn’t follow his partner’s example. His face felt frozen.

Evan must have realized Vince had become dazed with it all, because he suddenly spoke up. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure out where you belong. Right now you need to rest. Vince and I will be back tomorrow.”

The words didn’t appear to give her much relief, as she touched fingertips to the bandage on her temple and closed her eyes.

“Thank you,” she said glumly.

“No thanks are needed, ma’am. We’re just doing our job,” Evan told her.

Vince couldn’t bring himself to say another word. He was too busy fighting the urge to pull her into his arms. What in hell was coming over him? This woman had been completely out of his life for six years. He shouldn’t be feeling anything except the need to find her family.

Turning on his heel, he strode out of the room and didn’t stop until he was several feet down the corridor. He was leaning a shoulder against the wall and wiping a hand over his face when Evan came up behind him.

“That woman isn’t putting on an act, Vince. She truly doesn’t remember.”

Vince squeezed his eyes shut and tried to shove away the raw emotions tearing through him. “Yeah. That much is obvious.”

“You didn’t know she was in the area?”

“Hell, no!” Vince muttered. “I would’ve already told you.”

“Sorry I asked. I know we don’t keep things from each other. But I thought—well, from everything you’ve told me about your marriage, I realize she’s a bit of a sore spot and you might not have wanted to bring it up.”

Vince let out a heavy breath before turning to face his partner. “I don’t have a clue what reason she might have for coming to Carson City,” he said, then let out a rueful groan. “Clearly she doesn’t, either.”

“So when are you going to tell her? I mean, who she is. That might be a start to easing her mind. And who knows, maybe she was on her way here to see you.”

Evan’s suggestion brought him up short. “That’s crazy! She couldn’t have been coming here to see me. After we divorced, all ties between us were dropped. For all she knew I could’ve been living in Alaska.”

“Hmm. You know as well as I that if she wanted to locate you, all she needed to do was make a quick computer search and she would’ve known exactly where you lived.”

Shaking his head, Vince started walking in the direction of the elevator. “That’s true. If she’d wanted to locate me. But I’d bet money she was driving into Carson City for some other reason. So let’s go see what our data tells us about Geena.”

Evan caught up to him. “You know she’s Geena, but what is her last name now? Yours? Her maiden name? A new husband’s name? This might not be simple.”

Vince didn’t expect anything about Geena’s case to be simple. In fact, he figured being shot again would be easier to handle than dealing with his ex-wife. But he’d never shirked his duty or asked to be taken off a case just because he found it to be uncomfortable. And he wasn’t about to start now.

“No. But let’s hope it will be.”

Without warning, Evan reached over and caught Vince by the arm.

Stopping in his tracks, Vince looked at him. “What now?”

A sheepish expression crossed Evan’s face. “I hate to bring this up, Vince, but do you think Geena might have been drinking? Alcohol would explain the accident.”

Vince let out a long breath. He’d told Evan more than once that Geena’s drinking had been a huge part of the reason he’d called it quits on their marriage. Vince could easily understand why Evan was questioning her sobriety now.

“Believe me, Evan, when I saw that it was Geena lying in that bed, the thought of alcohol definitely ran through my mind. She was clearly confused. But that could’ve been a result of the concussion. Anyway, I certainly hate to think she’d be drinking in her pregnant condition. But we won’t know for sure until a detailed toxicology report comes back.”

“And that will probably take two weeks,” Evan replied.

Not wanting to think what might happen between now and then, Vince nudged his partner toward the elevator. “Come on. We have work to do.”

* * *

Inside the hospital room, the young woman waited until she was certain the two detectives weren’t going to return, then slowly climbed out of bed. In spite of a swimmy head and a sore back, she managed to make it to a private bathroom located in one corner of the room.

To her relief there was a small mirror hanging over the lavatory. Clinging to the cold sink, she leaned forward and studied her image in the mirror.

Wavy blond hair touched a slender neck and shoulders. Slanted green eyes, full pink lips and pale ivory skin. This was the image she’d seen every day of her life for the past twenty-nine years. So why didn’t she recognize herself? And if she didn’t know her own name, how did she know her age? It was crazy!

Oh, God help her, she prayed. She was terrified to think what might happen to her and her baby. Did she have loved ones waiting for her, wondering why she hadn’t arrived home? Or maybe she had no home and she’d been running from something or someone!

In spite of the slivers of cold fear racing down her spine, sweat popped out on her forehead and upper lip. A wave of dizziness prompted her to grip the edge of the sink even tighter.

She was clutching the cold porcelain, wondering how she was going to make it back to the bed without falling, when she heard a soft gasp behind her.

“Young lady! What are you doing out of bed?”

From the corner of her eye, she could see a nurse hurrying toward her. The fact that help had suddenly arrived caused her to sigh with relief.

“I—I wanted to look in the mirror,” she attempted to explain to the nurse. “To see what I looked like.”

The nurse wrapped a supportive arm across her back and gently guided her away from the sink. “Now isn’t the time to be concerned about your appearance! You’re concussed. You’re not to get out of bed without a nurse’s assistance!”

“You don’t understand,” she tried to explain. “I didn’t know what I looked like! I don’t even know my name!”

“Don’t get excited,” she ordered. “It will only make everything worse for you and your baby.”

After she’d helped her safely back into bed, the nurse spread a thin sheet and blanket back over her and pulled up the bed railing. From a pocket at the foot of the bed, she collected a clipboard and scanned the information on the top two sheets of paper.

“Hmm. I see. I was told you had a concussion, but I see here that you’ve also been diagnosed with amnesia.” She looked up, her smile empathetic. “When you said you wanted to see what you looked like, you really meant it.”

As the nurse walked up to the head of the bed, she noticed the woman appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties. Thick auburn hair was twisted into a messy bun atop her head, while bright blue eyes peered compassionately back at her.

“Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Until I looked in the mirror, I didn’t even know what color my hair was. But oddly enough, I think I remember my age. I believe I’m twenty-nine. I don’t know why.” She looked anxiously to the pretty nurse. The name Marcella was written on the name tag pinned to her breast. “Do you think that age is correct?”

The nurse’s smile deepened. “Hard to tell. I’d estimate you a bit younger. But I wouldn’t worry about any of that. You’ll be remembering soon. I’ve seen these sorts of injuries before. Most of them fix themselves fairly quickly. In the meantime, what are you going to call yourself?”

“Oh. I’d not thought about that. I guess I’m what you’d call a Jane Doe.” Feeling even more forlorn, she passed a protective hand over her belly. The baby continued to move with frequent vigor, so she had that much to be thankful for. “But I don’t much like the idea of being tagged with that moniker.”

“I wouldn’t like it either. So let’s call you something else. Like Alice,” the nurse suggested.

“Alice? Why that name?”

Chuckling, she dropped the clipboard back into its holder at the foot of the bed. “Well, I have an idea that right about now you’re feeling like you’re in wonderland. Do you recall the story Alice in Wonderland?”

In spite of her anxious situation, she managed to chuckle along with the nurse. “Guess there are some things in my brain that haven’t left. I do remember the childhood story,” she said, then smiled. “Okay, Alice it will be.”

With an encouraging pat on her shoulder, the nurse reached for the blood pressure cuff hanging behind the head of the bed. “All right, Alice, let’s take your vitals and then I’ll let you get some rest. But promise me one thing. Do not get out of bed unless you press your call button and ask for help. We don’t want anything to happen to you or your baby.”

“I may not know who I am or where I came from, but I know I want my baby very much. I promise not to get out of bed again unless someone is here to help me.”

“Good girl. Now you’re making sense.”

While Marcella took her vitals, Alice managed to keep her emotions together, but once the woman left the quiet room, tears began to stream from the corners of her eyes.

Naturally, the nurse was concerned about her and her baby’s welfare. It was her job to see that her patient recovered. But why weren’t any of her family or loved ones walking through the door? Was she that far from home? Had she been lost?

Suddenly overwhelmed with exhaustion, she closed her eyes and tried to remember even the smallest glimmer from her past. But her memories were like a blackboard that had been swiped with a felt eraser. Faint white marks were still evident, but none of them were clear enough to make sense.

The only distinct image she possessed was that of Detective Vincent Parcell. Even in her clouded confusion, she’d noticed his thick brown hair and strong, tanned features. His warm brown eyes had studied her in a way that had made her want to pull the sheet all the way up beneath her chin. He’d not said much, but when he had spoken to her, his voice had been a low, rich baritone that had rumbled through her like a familiar melody.

The detective with him had been an attractive man, and nice to boot. But meeting him hadn’t affected her in the same way as Vincent Parcell. Somehow, someway she’d felt certain their paths had crossed before tonight.

But that was a ridiculous notion, she thought. He was merely a man who was trying to help her get out of this strange wonderland she’d fallen into. And no matter how he’d looked or sounded, she was going to have to trust him to lead her back to the real world.

Chapter Two

Early the next morning, Vince left Evan at the office diligently searching through a nationwide database for any type of link to Geena, while he headed to the hospital to attempt to have a word with her doctor.

Luckily, Vince spotted the middle-aged man striding toward the elevator doors located a few feet away from Geena’s room.

“Dr. Merrick,” he called to him. “Can you spare a minute?”

The red-bearded physician paused, and once Vince reached his side, he flashed his badge to identify himself. “Vince Parcell. Remember? You looked in on me a couple of times for Dr. Whitehorse. I had gunshot wounds.”

Recognition flashed in the doctor’s eyes, and he quickly thrust out his hand. “Yes, I remember now. Good to see you looking so well, Detective Parcell. Is there something I can help you with? I hope you’re not having issues with your old injuries.”

As a group of people approached the elevator door, the doctor stepped aside to clear the path and Vince followed him.

“Thanks, Doctor. I’m fine. I’m here regarding a patient of yours. She was involved in a car accident last evening. Blond. Expecting a baby.”

“Oh, yes. I’ve already looked in on her this morning. She and the baby are coming along nicely. A miracle, considering the severity of the wreck.”

“The car was incinerated. Along with her identification,” Vince explained. “That’s why I need to talk with you about her condition.”

“Sorry, Detective, but I can’t divulge details about her condition. That’s reserved for family. And unfortunately it’s impossible for her to locate them just now.”

A spurt of hope rushed through Vince. “You mean she remembers her family?”

Frowning, the doctor slipped a pair of black-framed glasses from his nose and stuffed them in a pocket on his white lab coat. “You know about the amnesia?”

Nodding, Vince said, “My partner and I questioned her last night. We’re trying to come up with her identity.”

“Well, I hope you do, and soon. From what I can gauge, she’s probably going to deliver her baby in the next two weeks or somewhere about. I don’t have to tell you she needs to be in the care of her personal physician. Not to mention the support of her family.”

Two weeks. That could feel like an eternity or the blink of an eye, Vince thought.

“Does that mean you don’t expect her memory to return before then?”

The doctor considered his question for a moment before he finally answered, “That’s impossible to predict. Her memory could return at any moment. Or it could be weeks, even months from now.”

It was all Vince could do to keep from cursing with frustration. “Then I need your medical advice.”

“About Jane Doe?”

“Dr. Merrick, she isn’t Jane Doe. Not exactly. Her name is Geena.”

Relief passed over the doctor’s face. “Oh, so you’ve found out that much already.”

Vince grimaced. “I already knew that much. You see, Geena was my wife for five years.”

“Was.” The shocked doctor repeated the key word. “Obviously that was some time ago.”

“Before last night I’d not seen her since we parted six years ago. When I questioned her, she looked at me like she’d never seen me before! Am I supposed to share this information with her? What will it do to her if I tell her she used to be Geena Parcell? Or should I not reveal anything about this until later?”

The other man thoughtfully stroked his beard, then glanced pointedly at his wristwatch. “Give me a few minutes to consult with Dr. Dunlevy and I’ll get back to you.”

“I’ll wait down in the cafeteria,” Vince told him.

* * *

A half hour later, Vince walked into Geena’s hospital room and found her sitting up on the side of the bed, eating from a breakfast tray. Her gold-blond hair had been brushed loose around her shoulders and a soft pink color had returned to her cheeks. As he moved farther into the room, he realized the years had only added to her natural beauty.

Laying her fork aside, she looked at him hopefully. “Good morning, Detective. I hope you’re here to tell me who I am.”

The doctors had concurred that Geena was emotionally and physically sound enough to handle the revelation. As Dr. Merrick had reasoned, no matter the circumstances, she would have to confront her past at some point in her recovery. Yet the vulnerable look in her green eyes made him want to turn tail and run. It would be so much easier to let Evan, or someone else from the sheriff’s department, deal with her.

But this woman had once been his wife. She’d loved him. Wanted him. And tried to give him everything he’d needed. She deserved to hear the truth from him and no one else.

“I don’t want to interrupt your breakfast,” he told her. “I can come back in a few minutes.”

“I was nearly finished anyway.” She pushed the mobile table to one side, then gestured to a plastic chair sitting near the head of the bed. “Please, have a seat.”

“I’d rather stand.” His heart was suddenly pounding so hard he felt sick. He’d often wondered how she might react if the two of them ever happened to cross paths again. But this was a different situation. As far as she was concerned, she was looking at a man she’d met less than twenty-four hours ago.

“I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect to see you or your partner today,” she said. “My case must seem very petty compared to what you normally deal with.”

He tried to smile, but his face felt stiff. “It’s definitely a change from burglary or homicide.”

She didn’t reply. Instead, her green eyes remained fixed on his face as she waited for him to give her a glimmer of good news.

“The debris of your vehicle—what little was left of it—was hauled to the police lab last night. I’m sorry to say they were unable to recover the VIN. The tags were totally destroyed, too. So we’ll have to use other means to find your identity.”

Instead of appearing panicked by this news, she simply lifted her chin and gave him a brave smile. The Geena he’d known had been fragile and needy. This woman staring back at him was displaying strength in spite of her dire situation, and the courage on her face filled Vince with admiration.

“Well, I did remember one piece of information last night, Detective Parcell. I believe I’m twenty-nine years old. Why that fact came to me, I have no idea. And I’m not certain it’s correct. But I wanted to pass it along just in case it might be helpful.”

Swallowing at the tightness in his throat, he moved a step closer. “You’re right.”

Her delicate brows lifted in question. “Right?”

“About your age. You are twenty-nine.”

Her eyes widened. “How could you know that? Even the doctor said he couldn’t accurately determine my age.”

Tell her, Vince. Just blurt it out and get it over with. Waiting isn’t going to help either one of you.

As the taunting voice sounded in his head, he struggled to keep a professional rein on his emotions. This was more than his job, he thought, and Geena was far more than just a woman who’d lost her memory.

“I didn’t come here just to give you the news about the tags and VIN,” he said quietly. “There’s something else—something very important, and you’re going to be confused when you hear it. Probably even shocked. So maybe you should brace yourself.”

Alarm flickered in her green eyes, and then she reached out to him. Instinctively, Vince clasped his hand around hers, and the feel of her soft fingers against his suddenly whirled him back to a time when she’d touched him with hot desire and tender love.

“What is it? You’ve discovered I’m a criminal?”

Her question made him realize she was living in a blank world. Without a past, she had no way of knowing where her future might lead. He couldn’t imagine how terrifying that would be, and more than anything he wanted to make it all better for her. He wanted to take away her fears and doubts. Not add to them.

“No. Nothing like that.” As he drew in a deep breath, his gaze drifted to the mound of baby. Somewhere out there a man was probably searching frantically for her. But so far, not one person had contacted the sheriff’s department about a missing woman. Nor had anything that fit Geena’s description popped up on the national database for missing persons. Vince wasn’t sure what that might mean. He only knew that he felt responsible for her well-being. “I doubt you’ve ever committed a criminal act in your life.”

A wry smile caused the corners of her lips to quiver. “You’re a detective. I suppose you know what a criminal looks like. I’m glad I don’t fit the description.”

“Unfortunately, they look like me and you and everybody else on the street. I know you’re not a criminal because I—” Pausing, he searched for the right words. Yet there were no right words, he realized. No way to buffer the shock. “I know who you are. Your name is Geena. It was Geena Parcell.”

Her eyes grew wide, her lips parted. “Parcell? But that’s your name! Am I related to you? Why didn’t you tell me last night? I—”

“Wait. Slow down and let me explain,” he interrupted. “I couldn’t tell you about anything until I consulted with your doctor. I needed to make sure you could handle this news.”

She lifted her chin to a challenging angle. “All right. I’m not falling over in a dead faint or anything, so tell me. Are we relatives? You said my name was Parcell—does that mean I got married and it changed? If that’s the case, why hasn’t the rest of the family come forward?”

“Because I—we don’t know about your family now. You see, we—you and I were once husband and wife. But we divorced six years ago. Since then I don’t know what’s happened in your life or have any idea what your last name might be.”

Stunned couldn’t begin to describe the look that swept over her face. Her cheeks were paper white and her eyes took on a wild, dazed light.

“You?” The one word came out as little more than a husky whisper. “You were my husband? That—that can’t be!”

“I assure you that we were married. For five years to be exact. We lived in Reno during that time. I worked for the police department there and you were going to college.”

“Reno? You and I—together? But I don’t know you! If you were my husband I’d surely recognize you! I’d feel something—remember something!”

Her voice rose with each word while dark pink color spread across her white cheeks. He couldn’t imagine what must be going through her mind, but the intimate thoughts racing through his only proved what he’d already known for years. He’d not forgotten one thing about Geena or their time together.

Clearing his throat, he said, “I understand this is disturbing to you. Frankly, it’s not easy for me. If you’re not up to dealing with this right now, we’ll talk later. In fact, I’m beginning to think it might be best if I leave and give you time to digest everything.”

A quiet calm suddenly came over her, and then she dropped her head in her hands and mumbled, “I’m sorry, Mr. Parcell—” Lifting her head, she let out a hopeless groan. “That’s great, isn’t it? You were my husband and I’m calling you Mr. Parcell. Do you see how insane all of this is? I can’t absorb it all.”

Vince couldn’t absorb it, either. He’d never expected that seeing Geena again, touching her hand, hearing her voice would be affecting him so deeply. It had to be her vulnerable situation that was making him feel so protective.

Turning away from her, he walked over to a window and gazed down on a small courtyard at the back of the building. A man was sitting on a concrete bench, smoking a cigarette and looking as lost as Vince felt at this moment.

“The doctor says your condition is temporary. Once your memory returns, you can put all this behind you. You’ll be back with your present family and everything will return to normal.”

“My present family,” she said doubtfully. “What if I don’t have one? What if I’m all alone and no one cares or knows that I’m missing?”

The desperation in her voice propelled him back to her bedside. “Your mind is running away with you. You have a mother. At least, she was still living while we were married. Before we divorced, she’d remarried for a third time and moved to Dallas, but apparently she’s changed her name since then. I couldn’t pick up any information on her.”

A tortured frown twisted her features. “Third marriage! Was I close to my mother? Did we get along?”

“Not very well,” he said, deciding it was best to leave it at that.

She let out a dismal groan. “I’m not sure I should even ask about my father.”

Vince let out a long breath. In his line of work, he often had to deliver bad news. But this wasn’t the same. This was Geena. “I’m sorry, your father died when you were ten. And you don’t have any siblings. Evan did manage to locate your stepfather—your mother’s second husband—but he’d not been in contact with her or you in years. He couldn’t help us.”

Bewildered now, she cradled her belly with both hands. “There has to be someone out there who knows where I belong! I’m going to have some man’s baby!”

As if she had to remind him of that fact. Ever since he’d walked into this room last night and realized she was pregnant, he’d been eaten up with the image of her carrying another man’s child. “Believe me, I understand your frustration. But—”

“Do you?” she interrupted. “Unless all trace of memory has been knocked out of your brain at one time, then I don’t expect you to understand anything about this situation I’m in!”

Vince was hardly surprised to see her growing angry, yet he was at a loss of how to deal with it. She was no longer his wife. He couldn’t pull her into his arms, stroke her hair and murmur soothing words in her ear. And even if she did remember being his wife, he doubted she would want that sort of comfort from him now.

“Look, I think—”

His words halted as a slight knock sounded on the door. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw an auburn-haired nurse dressed in navy blue scrubs enter the room.

“Oh, so you have company this morning,” she said to Geena, then turned a hopeful look on Vince. “Are you an acquaintance of Alice?”

From the corner of his eye, he could see Geena wiping a hand over her face and attempting to pull herself together.

“Alice? Where did that name come from?” Vince asked as his gaze vacillated from one woman to the other.

“I gave it to her last night,” the nurse explained. “We needed to call our patient something more than Hey You or Jane Doe.”

Geena quickly intervened. “This is Detective Parcell, Marcella. He’s working my case.”

The nurse extended her hand in greeting. “Nice to meet you, Detective.”

Vince tilted his head as he studied the woman and her name tag. “Marcella. I think I remember seeing you somewhere before,” he told her. “At some sort of party.”

With a light laugh, the nurse dropped his hand and moved over to pick up the half-eaten breakfast tray. “You must be confusing me with someone who has time for a social life.”

“No. I remember now,” Vince said. “It was at a baby christening. Lilly and Rafe’s youngest child. You had two little boys with you.”

A surprised smile came over the nurse’s face. “That was me. So you know the Calhouns?”

“Evan has been my partner for several years.”

“I see. Well, Lilly Calhoun and I worked together in the ER for years. So I guess the two of us have something in common. We’re both friends with the Calhouns. And we’re both trying to help Alice.”

The nurse turned a pointed look on Geena. “You didn’t eat all of your breakfast. How are you feeling? Head still hurting?”

Geena glanced at him, as though to seek his advice about divulging her name. Her first name, at least. But the idea must not have appealed to her, because she answered the nurse’s questions without expanding on the news.

“It’s only a dull ache. I can bear it.”

“Baby still moving about?”

Smiling faintly, Geena nodded. “I’m convinced he or she is going to be an athlete.”

“Great,” the nurse replied. “I’ll take this tray out of here and let you finish your talk with Detective Parcell.”

Vince watched the nurse leave the room before he turned back to Geena. “You didn’t correct her about your name or say anything about us,” he stated the obvious.

She looked away from him and swallowed. “No. I started to. But I need to think about all this before I say anything. Later today, I’ll let her in on the news that I’m not Alice in a fairy-tale world anymore.”

Too bad this wasn’t a fairy tale they could both wake up from, Vince thought dismally. It would save them both a lot of awkward misery. But this wasn’t a dream. It was reality. Something he dealt with every day.

“Well, it’s time I leave and let you rest,” he told her. “You’ve had enough excitement for one morning.”

Her gaze jerked back to his face. “You’re leaving? But I have so many questions! Can’t you stay just a little longer?”

Her legs were dangling over the side of the bed and Vince’s gaze followed the blue fabric of the hospital gown to the point where the hem stopped at the middle of her shins. Below it, he could see her calves were smooth and shapely, her toenails painted a bright neon pink.

There were so many things about her that had changed, he realized, yet so much that was still the same. And he suddenly wondered why he was noticing all these little things about her. Nothing about her gold-spun hair, creamy skin or pink toenails had anything to do with her current predicament. Yet he couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her.

“I can’t give you answers now. My partner and I are pasting your photo on every form of social media. I’m certain there will be someone out there who will see it and give us the information we need. In the meantime just be thankful that you and your baby survived the car accident. Things could’ve certainly been worse.”

“Believe me, I’ve very thankful for that. But I—can’t you tell me a bit about us? Our marriage? You said we lived in Reno?”

Suddenly remembering the small photo he’d brought with him this morning, he fished it out of his shirt pocket.

“Just in case you still have doubts—here’s a picture of the two of us on our wedding day.” He handed her the snapshot. “We didn’t have the money to have a professional photographer at the ceremony. A friend took this.”

Vince watched her study the image of the smiling couple standing beneath an arch of flowers. He’d been dressed in a borrowed suit and a friend had made Geena’s simple white dress. Everything about the wedding and small reception had been modest, but neither of them had cared. They’d been deliriously in love.

But she didn’t remember that. She didn’t remember the nights they’d made passionate love. And maybe he should thank God for that. Because he was doing enough remembering for the both of them.

“Did we have children?” she asked. “What happened?”

Lifting her head, she looked to him for answers. Vince couldn’t give them to her. At least, not all of them.

Turning away from her, he walked back over to the window. The man with the cigarette was gone. And it was definitely past time for Vince to be gone, too.

“No. We didn’t have children. And we simply decided that our lives were on different courses, that’s all. We parted on friendly terms. After that, I moved down here to Carson City. I’d not seen or heard from you until last night when I walked into this room and saw that you were the accident victim.”

“I see,” she said quietly. “So everything ended between us long ago.”

“Yeah. It ended.”

Awkward silence stretched for long moments before she finally spoke again.

“Well, I must have had family other than you. Clearly my father is gone and my mother is questionable. I don’t have siblings, but what about grandparents, aunts or uncles? Have you tried to contact them?”

“Your grandparents are no longer living,” he informed her. “As for aunts and uncles, your father had a brother, Mort Cummings. He lives in Montana now. I’ve already spoken with him. He lost touch with you a few years ago. Other than him I don’t recall any aunts or uncles you were well acquainted with.”

“Cummings,” she repeated thoughtfully. “So that was my maiden name?”

“That’s right. Your mother’s name is Rhonda. Your dad’s was Gerome. I understand he had a heart condition. That’s why he died when you were still so young.”

She placed the wedding photo on the mattress next to her thigh, then pressed her palms to her cheeks. “I should be feeling grief or loss or something about my parents. But I can’t feel anything! Not about people I don’t know or remember. Oh, God, this is awful. So awful.”

The fear and frustration in her voice pierced his heart. “You can’t deal with everything at once. Don’t worry about figuring out where your present family is or how you’re going to find them. Leave that to me and Evan. All those feelings you’re talking about—they’ll come to you once your memory returns.”

Dropping her hands, she stared at him. “I don’t even know if I have other children or a husband!”

He tried to muster an encouraging smile. “No. But you’ve learned your name is Geena and you’re twenty-nine years old. And you once had a husband named Vince. That’s a start. We’ll figure out the rest.”

Before she made any sort of reply, the phone holstered to the side of his belt vibrated. After quickly scanning the text message, he said, “I have to go. If we learn anything that progresses your case, I’ll let you know.”

In afterthought, he extracted a personal card from his wallet and handed it to her. “My number is on there. If you need me or if you remember anything, no matter how slight, call me. Okay?”

She nodded and then suddenly her lips began to quiver. “I’m sorry. I know I’ve been difficult and you’re trying to help. Thank you for that. Really.”

Lifting her hand, Vince gently patted the back of it. “Don’t worry about anything. The best thing you can do is take care of yourself and your baby and let me do the rest.”

She gave him a brave nod, and before Vince could get mushy over the lost look in her eyes, he dropped her hand and hurried out of the hospital room.

At the end of the long corridor, he spotted Marcella standing outside the door of a patient’s room, writing intently on a clipboard balanced in the crook of her arm.

“Excuse me, Nurse. Do you have a moment?”

She glanced up, then smiled when she saw that it was him. “Of course, Detective. How can I help you?”

“It’s about—” He’d started to say Geena, then decided against it. “The amnesia patient. When you have a bit of extra time, I think she might need a woman to talk to. She’s feeling pretty lost.”

Appreciation flashed in the nurse’s eyes. “Sure. I’ll check in on her in a few minutes. Thanks for being concerned, Detective.”

Concerned. That was an understatement, Vince thought as he hurried out of the hospital and across the parking lot to his department vehicle. Thoughts of his ex-wife were totally consuming him. How she looked, the scent of her skin, the sound of her voice and the touch of her hand were bombarding him with feelings he’d believed were long dead.

It had taken him years to reach a point where he could go to work each day without thoughts of Geena tormenting him, but he’d finally managed to move forward and away from the past they’d shared together. Now she’d shown up out of the blue, carrying more problems with her than one person should have to shoulder, and he could already feel himself falling under her spell.

It was useless to wonder why this had happened to her, or why she’d reentered his life after all these years. Why didn’t matter anymore. The important thing was to find the father of her baby, and soon. Otherwise, she was going to go into labor without anyone to support her. Except Vince.

And he didn’t want to be a temporary daddy or a stand-in husband. All he wanted to be was a good detective.

Chapter Three

Two days later on Friday afternoon, Vince was in a small break room, filling a stainless steel percolator with water and coffee grounds when Evan stuck his head around the door facing.

“Hey, Vince, telephone call for you. It’s Dr. Merrick on line two.”

With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Vince plopped the lid onto the antiquated coffeemaker and glanced around at his partner. “Did he say what he wanted?”

“No. I’m assuming he’s calling about Geena and wanted to speak with you personally.”

“You’re working Geena’s case, too,” Vince bit back at him. “Why the hell can’t he speak with you?”

Evan glared at him. “Probably because you’re her ex-husband. There is a connection between you two. Whether you want to admit it or not.”

“The definitive word here is ex, Evan. I’m not her husband anymore. Some other man holds that job now.” With the percolator in hand, he walked past Evan and strode quickly back to the office the two men shared.

At the back of the room, he placed the coffeemaker on a small table and plugged it in before he sat down at his desk and punched the phone line to connect with the doctor.

“It’s Vince Parcell, Doctor. Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

“Thank you, Detective, for taking my call. This isn’t something I normally do, but I think you’ll agree that Geena’s case is not the norm.”

Releasing a long breath, Vince glanced across the small office to see Evan had returned to his desk and was studying a screen full of data on his computer. No doubt his partner was also keeping an ear on Vince’s conversation.

“I’ve never encountered anything like it,” Vince said, then had to stifle a mocking laugh. How had something that inane come out of his mouth? Bumping into his ex-wife, who just happened to be suffering from complete amnesia, along with being eight and a half months pregnant, was not something any man encountered. Not even in his wildest dreams.

“Have you made any headway in locating her family?” the doctor questioned.

Leaning forward, Vince propped his forearms on the edge of the desk and closed his burning eyes. For the past three days, he’d worked nearly nonstop, making calls and searching through countless media outlets in an effort to find a link to Geena’s present life. With each day that passed, he was growing more exhausted and frustrated.

“Several people from Reno who knew her in the past have called to identify her. But none could give us any recent information that might help our cause. We’re still trying to track her mother. But we’re having no luck with that endeavor—yet.”

There was a long pause, then the doctor said, “That’s unfortunate. I don’t like the idea of her going to a rescue shelter, but it looks like that’s her only option. Unless you can come up with a better plan.”

Vince sat straights up. “Shelter? What do you mean? Aren’t you going to keep her in the hospital? She’s messed up—I mean, her head—she needs medical care, doesn’t she?”

“Physically, she’s well enough to leave the hospital. As for her amnesia, she’ll be checking in with Dr. Dunlevy once a week until her memory returns. Or at least until she’s able to mentally deal with the situation. In the meantime, she needs somewhere to live. And I thought you might know of someone who might take her in for a few days. Maybe someone you were both friends with while you were still married?”

Even though his brain was half-dead with fatigue, it began to spin wildly. “We lived in Reno then. There’s no one here in Carson City who’s acquainted with Geena.”

“Except you.”

Vince’s eyes popped open. “Me? Surely you’re not suggesting—”

“I realize I’m asking a lot from you. But I don’t have to tell you that this woman is in a fragile state right now. She needs to be with someone she can trust. Someone she feels safe with. Right now, you’re the only person she feels any sort of connection to.”

“I’m a bachelor, Dr. Merrick. I wouldn’t know what to do with a woman in the house!”

“If I remember correctly, you told me the two of you were married for five years. Surely you remember how to share your living space with a woman.”

Oh, yeah, he remembered way too much, Vince thought grimly. These past few days he’d been in a constant fight to push and shove memories of Geena out of his mind.

“You’re putting me on the spot, Doctor. It—”

“I realize that. And I apologize for doing so. But I got the impression that you cared about Geena. I didn’t think you’d feel comfortable with her going to a public shelter—especially with her being pregnant. There’s not much privacy there. And as a lawman, I hardly have to tell you that unsavory characters go in and out of those places on a regular basis.” He paused for a moment, then said, “I’m sorry I bothered you with this problem, Detective. I’m going to make a few calls to some of the local churches. Most of them have members who are willing to take in a homeless person. Thanks anyway.”

Realizing the doctor was about to end the call, Vince practically shouted, “Doctor, wait! Uh—when did you say Geena was going to be released from the hospital?”

“The paperwork is being done as we speak. She’ll be ready to go as soon as you can pick her up. If that’s something you can’t deal with, then I’ll call social services and let them make other arrangements for her.”

Biting back a curse, Vince raked a hand through his tumbled hair. The doctor had missed his calling, he thought. A lawyer couldn’t have argued a more perfect case for Vince to give Geena a temporary home.

“Okay. I’ll take her in,” Vince told him. “But only until other, more suitable, arrangements can be made. I can pick her up in the next hour.”

“You’re doing the right thing, Detective. For the both of you.”

Vince was hardly convinced. The doctor couldn’t know the pain and heartache each of them had endured while trying to patch together a crumbling marriage. He supposed the only good thing about the situation was that Geena couldn’t remember those bad times. Or the good ones.

“Yes, well, let’s hope Dr. Dunlevy can make a breakthrough. Having her memory return would fix things for all of us.”

The doctor agreed and ended the call. Vince tossed the phone back onto its cradle, then glanced across the room to see Evan watching him keenly.

“I suppose you heard enough to know what I’m going to do,” Vince said grimly.

Evan swiveled his chair so that he was facing Vince’s desk. “Sounds like you’re going to let Geena live with you for a while. You think that’s wise?”

“Wise, hell! Is jumping into a den of rattlesnakes wise?”

Evan shook his head. “Your ex-wife isn’t poisonous. Besides, in her state of mind, it will be like a stranger living in your house.”

“She won’t be a stranger to me,” he muttered.

Evan got to his feet and walked over to the small table that held the coffeepot, a few chipped cups and an odd assortment of snacks.

After he filled one of the cups with the freshly brewed coffee, he moved over to Vince’s desk and set the steaming cup in front of him. “Here, drink up. You look like you need it.”

Vince glanced gratefully up at him. “Thanks.”

Evan lowered a hip onto the edge of the desk. “Look, Vince, if having Geena in the house is going to tear you up, then you shouldn’t do it. She’s not your responsibility. Anyway, she’s welcome to come stay with me and Noelle for a while.”

Frowning, Vince took a long sip of coffee, then said, “Don’t be crazy. Noelle already has her hands full taking care of little Joanna and keeping up with the ranching chores. She doesn’t need a pregnant woman added to that.”

“Noelle is a tough cookie, and she’d be gentle with Geena.”

Vince cut him a dry look. “Noelle is only tough when she needs to be. Except when it comes to you, then she’s not nearly as firm as she ought to be. As for Geena, I have no doubt she’d treat her like a princess. But, no. It’s not your place to take my ex-wife into your home.”

Evan shrugged while Vince continued to sip his coffee. “Like you said, the crucial word is ex. And a shelter isn’t that bad. At least she’ll have a roof over her head and a bed to sleep in. I imagine they’ll find her something to wear. If not, Noelle can take her some of her old maternity things. She won’t be needing them for a while.”

“For a while? Is Noelle expecting again?”

A sly grin put a twinkle in Evan’s eyes. “We’re hoping. And trying.”

His partner had a loving wife and an adorable two-year-old daughter. The couple managed to juggle his career with her desire to work the ranch. Together, they were able to keep their love healthy and strong in spite of their busy schedules. Vince often envied the other man for having the things he’d tried so hard to have with Geena.

“So that’s why you’ve been looking so tired here lately. I thought it was because we’ve been working overtime.”

“Ha! I don’t look any more exhausted than you do,” Evan argued. “Who have you been spending your nights with?”

A sardonic twist slanted Vince’s lips. “Oh, just half the female population of Carson City.”

“Sure,” Evan muttered. “You haven’t had a date in months. No, make that years!”

“I have better things to do with my time.” Vince drained the last of his coffee and stood up. “If you can handle things here, I need to get over to the hospital.”

“I’ll hold down the fort,” Evan assured him. “You go do what you have to do.”

“Thanks. I’ll be back as quick as I can.”

Vince was almost to the door when Evan called to him.

“Uh, Vince, it’s none of my business, but it might be nice if you’d pick up some flowers for Geena. You know, just to tell her you’re glad she’s feeling well enough to leave the hospital.”

Vince rolled his eyes with exasperation. “You’re not only a hopeless romantic, you’re clueless. To her I’m a stranger. She doesn’t need or want flowers from a stranger.”

“Wanna bet?”

Vince didn’t bother with a retort. Anyone could take one look at Geena’s expanded waist and see that she had a man in her life. And it damned sure wasn’t Vince.

* * *

Across town at Tahoe General Hospital, Geena stood at the window in her room and stared at the mountain range in the far distance. When she’d first arrived at the emergency room the night of the accident, the nurses had informed her that she was in Carson City, Nevada. Nothing about the revelation had made sense. And in her mental state, she could only guess as to whether she’d ever been here before.

Now as she studied the ridge of mountains, she could only wonder why she’d been traveling on the highway between here and Lake Tahoe. Had this town been her destination? Or had she merely been passing through? Apparently she didn’t live in this area or someone would have already identified her. At least, someone other than Detective Vince Parcell.

Thoughts of the man brought a sigh to her lips. Learning that she’d once been married to him continued to amaze her. How could he have been her husband? He was a tall, sexy hunk of man. Just looking at him stirred every female cell in her body. There was no way she could have forgotten sharing a bed with him. And yet she had the photo of their wedding proving that the two of them had exchanged vows.

Yesterday he’d stopped by her room for a few brief minutes to check on her health and give her an update on the investigation, but she’d hardly taken note of anything he’d been saying. All she could do was look at him and wonder what it must have been like to be his wife and speculate as to why their marriage ended.

He’d said their lives had taken different courses and they’d parted on friendly terms. Yet she couldn’t imagine letting this man go without fighting tooth and nail. Unless there was something else that had gone on that he’d purposely avoided telling her. Like infidelity or something she’d considered unforgivable. If that had been the case, then she didn’t want to know the true cause of their divorce. It would be too embarrassing.

Stop it, Geena! Quit thinking about Vince Parcell. The man is not your husband anymore! Somewhere out there is a man who you must be in love with. You’re about to have his child. Finding him is what you need to be thinking about. Not mooning over a lost marriage you don’t even remember.

A light tap on the door had Geena turning away from the window just in time to see the object of her troubled thoughts walking through the door. The sight of him caused her heart to leap with hope and a strange sort of excitement. Perhaps he’d brought good news.

“Hello, Detective Parcell.”

“It’s Vince. Remember?”

A blush stung her cheeks. “Okay—Vince. If you’ve come by to give me news, you timed it just right. A few more minutes and I’ll be leaving.”

She noticed his gaze passing over her black slacks and thin white blouse, then on to the strappy black sandals covering her feet. The clothes and shoes were the things she’d been wearing when the accident had occurred. Since then, a nurse had taken the garments home and washed them for her.

“Looks like you’re ready to go.”

She smiled and shrugged. “I guess Dr. Merrick told you he’s made arrangements with social services to find a place where I can stay until—well, until you and Detective Calhoun figure out where I really belong.”

He moved farther into the room and Geena noticed he was dressed the same way he’d been on the other occasions he’d visited her room. A pale blue dress shirt was tucked into a pair of dark blue jeans. Brown cowboy boots that appeared to be made of lizard or some other exotic skin matched the wide belt fastened around his lean waist. She supposed being a detective allowed him to wear street clothes on the job, but he certainly wouldn’t have any trouble filling out a uniform if one was required, she thought.

“I’ve spoken with Dr. Merrick. He’s says you’re ready to leave the hospital. I wish I could tell you that we’ve located your family and they’re coming to pick you up. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet.”

Suddenly the isolation and uncertainty she’d been feeling swamped her, and not wanting him to see the desperation on her face, she quickly turned toward the bed and the small bag of items Marcella had kindly given her.

“Oh. I was hoping you had good news. But it will come. I’m not giving up. And staying in a shelter won’t be so bad. Until I have the baby and then—well, I hope by then I’ll be able to take him or her home—to my real home.”

“I’m going to do my best to see that happens,” he said. “Besides, you might get your memory back long before the baby comes.”

Bending her head, she trailed fingertips over the cloth tote bag. Inside it was everything she possessed, and she only had those things because a nurse was kind enough to give them to her. At the moment the reality of the future facing her was overwhelming.

“Believe me,” she said quietly, “I’m praying for that.”

She heard his footsteps approach her from behind her, but she didn’t turn to face him. Tears were burning her eyes and she didn’t want him to think she was breaking apart.

“If you’re ready to go, you should probably ring for the nurse. I’m sure you’ll have to leave the building in a wheelchair.”

Blinking her misty eyes, she turned to him. “I can’t go until someone from social services comes to collect me.”

He shook his head. “Dr. Merrick must have gotten busy. Otherwise, he would’ve told you that your plans have been changed. You’re not going to a shelter. You’re coming home with me.”

Her mouth fell open. “You! I don’t understand. If this is some sort of crude joke, it’s not funny.”

His nostrils flared, and Geena found her gaze slipping to the hard line of his lips. No doubt she’d kissed those lips many times, and she imagined they’d transported her to heaven and back. But that was years ago, and for some reason the kissing between them had stopped. Along with everything else. Now she was supposed to move into his home as though he was nothing more than a Good Samaritan? It was ludicrous!

“This is hardly a time to be joking,” he said flatly. “You need a place to stay, and I have an extra room at my house.”

“But I don’t know you!”

“You don’t know the people at the shelter, either. Or anyone else, for that matter. Don’t you think you’d feel safer staying in the home of a law officer rather than a public shelter?”

Put like that, she could hardly argue. And why would she want to? At least he was a familiar face. The fact that he’d once been her husband had nothing to do with the situation now, she reasoned with herself.

“Yes, I would feel safer. And it would be nice to have a bit of privacy. Uh—what about your family? Will they mind sharing their home for a few days?”

Stepping away from her, he picked up the call button lying on the pillow and pressed it.

“I don’t have a family. It’s just me. And since I don’t have much down time, you’ll have the house mostly to yourself.”

Totally surprised by this information, her thoughts began to dart in all directions. If he had no family that meant the two of them would be alone! That was definitely going to be awkward. But given her predicament, she could hardly make a fuss about anything.

“You don’t have a wife?”

He slanted her a wry smile. “You’re the only wife I’ve ever had.”

“Oh.” She didn’t know why, but his revelation jolted her. “I—uh—I’ll go finish getting ready,” she told him, then made a desperate rush toward the bathroom.

After she shut the door on the small, utilitarian room, Geena splashed cold water on her hot face, then reached for a comb she’d left lying on the edge of the sink. As she mindlessly tugged it through the waves of her blond hair, she ordered herself to compose her rattled emotions.

This fix you’re in isn’t going to be resolved overnight, Geena. Vince Parcell is merely trying to help you. The fact that you were his wife means nothing to him now. So get over this silly notion that he’d like to rekindle your romance. He doesn’t want anything from you. The only thing he wants is to find the man you belong to and hand you over.

Gripping the comb, she stepped back from the sink and stared at her image. Was there a man out there somewhere who loved her, who was searching for her and praying for her safe return? When the paramedics had found her near the burning car, she’d not been wearing a wedding ring. And from the looks of her finger, it had been bare even before the accident.

But the lack of a ring wasn’t the reason she had doubts about a man. There was something deep within her that kept saying she was a woman alone. And that she’d been on her own for a long time. So how did the baby happen? A one-night stand? A visit to a fertility clinic?

The questions were pounding at her temples when she suddenly heard the sound of Vince and a nurse talking outside the bathroom door.

It was time to go. With Vince.

Resting a hand on her belly, she whispered, “Don’t worry, my baby. Even though Vince isn’t your daddy, I believe he’ll step up to the plate until we can find your real daddy.”

* * *

Ten minutes later, Vince stowed Geena’s one simple bag in the backseat of the SUV and helped her into the passenger seat. As she strapped herself in, he noticed her attention go to the police radio fastened to the dash and the low, intermittent crackle of a dispatcher’s voice. This was his job, his life. And something she’d never wanted to be a part of.

Trying to push the dark memories from his thoughts, Vince took his place behind the wheel, and after the nurse bid them farewell, he reached to the backseat for the bouquet of mixed flowers he’d picked up on the way to the hospital.

“Maybe these flowers will help take the forlorn look off your face,” Vince told her.

Her eyes wide, she stared at the bouquet.

“Flowers! For me?”

“For you. I’m glad you’re well enough to leave the hospital, Geena.”

A smile started in her eyes, then quickly spread to her lips. The happy expression lit up her face, and Vince was shocked at how good it made him feel to think he’d pleased her. That he’d given her even a tiny spark of pleasure.

Accepting the flowers, she bent her nose to the colorful blossoms. “How beautiful. Thank you, Vince. I—”

Her voice abruptly ended on a choked note and Vince realized she was crying. And though he knew her emotionally wrought state was no fault of his, her tears tortured him in a way he didn’t understand.

“Geena, it’s going to be okay.”

She sniffed, then gave him a wobbly smile. “I’m sorry about the waterworks. It’s just that I—I have the feeling that it’s been a long time since anyone gave me flowers. Thank you, Vince.”

The need to assure her, to comfort and protect her hit him all at once, leaving a strange, hollow ache in the middle of his chest. Damn Evan and his idea for the flowers! He should’ve had better sense than to follow his partner’s advice. Now Geena was in tears and he was feeling like a helpless sap.

But she was clutching the bouquet like it was a precious possession. Which was understandable, he thought bleakly. At this moment, the only things that belonged to her were the baby she was carrying, the items in her tote bag and the flowers.

Clearing his throat, he put the vehicle in gear and pulled away from the curb. “I’d better get you on home. I have work waiting on me back at the office.”

He pulled onto the nearest street and mixed in with the traffic. When they finally reached the main thoroughfare, he noticed Geena was looking around her with interest.

“Does any of this look familiar?” he asked.

“No. Everything looks new to me.” She glanced over at him. “You said we used to live in Reno. Did we ever drive down here for any reason?”

“Not here. We drove over to Virginia City a couple of times, but that’s the closest we got to Carson City.”

“Hmm. Maybe this town looks new to me because I’ve never seen it before. That’s possible, isn’t it?”

“Very possible,” he agreed, then suddenly remembered the piece of jewelry he’d found at the accident site. While keeping his eye on the traffic, he fished the dainty necklace from his shirt pocket and handed it over to her. “Here. I found this dangling from a limb of sagebrush.”

“That’s mine! That’s my cross!”

Her unexpected reaction had him glancing across the console to see her gripping the piece of silver.

“You recognize it?”

“Of course I do! I’ve had it for years!”

Nearly eleven, Vince could have told her. Ever since he’d given it to her for their first Easter together. But he held that information back. He didn’t want her to think there was some special reason she’d been wearing the necklace or why it was the only single thing she remembered, other than her age. He didn’t want to think it himself.

“That’s good. That means your concussion is healing. Are you still having headaches?”

She lifted a hand to her left temple. “There’s still a bump and a cut, but the headaches seem to be gone.”

From the corner of his eye, he could see her studying the necklace dangling from her fingers. A confused frown marred her forehead, and he realized she was straining to remember the significance of the little cross.

In a soft, thoughtful voice, she asked, “I wonder why I remember this necklace being mine. What does it mean?”

He stared straight ahead, and a feeling of tremendous loss washed over him.

“Probably that you like silver. And that you have a deep faith.”

“Hmm. Maybe so.” She fastened the chain at the back of her neck, then adjusted the cross in the hollow of her throat. “There. I have a piece of my old life back. And it tells me everything is going to get better.”

Better for her. Yes, Vince wanted that very much. As for himself, nothing could get better. He was stuck in a past that she’d totally forgotten.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.