Memory Lost

Memory Lost - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Jane was shocked when Tate asked her to join him for dinner at his parents’ house for the next day. She was reluctant to leave the safety of the apartment and she worried about being alone with Tate. She had told him that she didn’t have anything to wear. Surely he didn’t expect her to meet his parents in her overused jeans and t-shirt. He was quick to reassure her that he would take care of picking up something appropriate for her to wear.

“I don’t have any way to repay you.” Jane had explained.

“Consider it payment for services rendered.” Tate answered.

What did he mean by that? What was he implying? At her indignant look, Tate explained that it was partial payment for her cleaning and cooking.

The man was a big mystery to her. One day he was as mean and intimidating as a bear and the next day all sweet. On top of that, she was afraid that she was starting to like him too much.

She was pretending to sweep the kitchen floor but her eyes were glued to Tate’s body as the muscles in his shoulders and arms flexed as he worked his barbells while watching TV. She absentmindedly swept the same spot with no fear of being caught with Tate’s back to her. She mouthed the word, “wow,” as she stood mesmerized by the sight before her.

She was so enthralled that she never noticed Davy enter the kitchen. He leaned over her shoulder from behind her and asked with his mouth close to her ear, “What has you so fascinated?”

She was startled to be caught ogling Tate but quickly recovered and honestly answered in a whisper, “The view! Isn’t he amazing? I have never seen him with his shirt off before. It’s a shame that he has to be so grouchy. I could really learn to like him.”

Davy was shocked by her honesty. Was this really the shy little mouse he rescued slightly more than a week ago? He felt bad for her, knowing that it was only a matter of time before Tate crushed her. Tate had no tolerance for any girl who acted interested in him.

Tate’s wealthy family and then his popularity in the fighting ring added up to a slew of shallow girls who cared little about the real Tate and lots about the rich and infamous Tate.

The guys had come to this area to leave that mess behind. Tate would not be happy to discover that he had a fan in their new city, in his home, in fact.

Things had become so bleak for the guys that they couldn’t even trust law enforcement. They already knew the outcome of any run-in with the authorities. Every time a crime occurred, no matter what they said, the blame would fall on him. Been there, done that! The prejudice was hard to overcome. So many people thought muscles equaled bad boy.

Tate was being especially kind to Jane and she had to admit, he was irresistible. His smile was contagious. She would do almost anything to see one. Yet at the same time, she felt very self-conscious around him, feeling out of her league, so she avoided him. She couldn’t help but feel suspicious of his newfound kindness.

The next night, she was prepared to tell him that she couldn’t go with him when he surprised her with a dress. He handed her a garment bag and told her to be ready in an hour. She rushed to the bathroom and threw open the door, figuring that if she was going to venture out, she might as well look her best.

She would take a shower, try to do something with her hair, and put on the dress that Tate had picked for her. She was dying to know what it looked like.

Her mind was so far in the future that the reality of the present slammed into her full force when she suddenly realized that the bathroom was occupied. Jane screamed in shocked when she almost ran into Jordan while he was stepping from the shower. He was holding a towel that barely covered his private area from her view.

Jane quickly left the bathroom, red-faced. She shoved her way through Davy, Jax, and Tate who had run into the hall to figure out what the screaming was about. She was so embarrassed that she just wanted to go recover in peace, but Tate stopped her on her way by, grabbing her by her upper arms.

“Jane, what happened?”

“Nothing. I just thought that the bathroom was empty.”

“You what?” Tate snapped in confusion.

At that moment, Jordan emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel, “The bathroom is all yours now, Jane.” He called to her.

Tate looked between Jordan and Jane, but it was Jax that figured it out first.

“Ha Jordan, I knew you had an effect on women, but sending them screaming and running from the room isn’t the response you should strive for.”

“You walked in on Jordan?” Tate asked incredulously.

Jane didn’t think that she had ever been so mortified. As Tate looked at her while fighting a smile, she felt the other three guys staring a hole through her back.

Jane knew that things were progressing from bad to worse when she felt tears pooling in her eyes. Then Tate did the unthinkable. He yanked her to him in a tight embrace. The warmth and strength of being wrapped in his arms coupled with his wonderful smell was her undoing. All the fear, stress, and frustration of the last week and a half came to the forefront and she began to openly sob…