The man frowned thoughtfully. “If what you say about her memory loss is true, then I guess she wouldn’t remember me. So it might not be a good idea if I tried to see her. I really did need to make sure she was okay. But please, give her my regards. Tell her it is from a friend.”
Nick looked at him penetratingly and almost wished he didn’t need to ask but he just had to know.
“That’s all you two ever were?” he enquired with gruff reluctance. “Just friends?”
The man’s lips twisted. “Don’t worry, she never let me get that close. I guess you can figure out why. Well, Nick; you’ve got your second chance to win her back. That’s one special lady you almost lost so my advice to you? Don’t blow it again.”
Nick stared after him as the man walked out of the hospital. He’s right, thought Nick. Keyonna’s memory loss, no matter how temporary, was his opportunity to put things right; to start over. Make her see that he cared too much to let her go ever. He’d been such a fool to blackmail her into marrying him; he could have told her how he felt instead of taking the hard route. And now he was going to do all in his power to win her trust so that even if she got her memory back, she’d find it in her heart to forgive him for whatever she’d found him guilty of in the first place.
Keyonna smiled up at Nick as he drew open her door to help her out of the car. Her grin broadened when he held on to her hand as they both climbed up the ornate steps to the front entrance of the villa. They’d flown out from Italy to Greece, where Nick had a sprawling white villa and where they’d originally planned to spend their honeymoon. She’d been checked out of the hospital forty-eight hours ago and had been just as eager as Nick to make it to this dreamy location. The scene looked straight out of a storybook, all blue sea and gorgeous mountain slopes. The villa itself was a vision; she couldn’t wait to go inside.
“Really, Nick; you don’t have to treat me like glass,” Keyonna teased, as Nick carefully led her up the many steps, making sure she took each one slowly and not in bounds as she’d intended.
“I’m not going to break, you know…whoa!” Keyonna exclaimed as he suddenly swung her off her feet and into his arms as they reached the top step. “Nick!”
“Glass or not, you’re my bride and it’s been forever since I’ve been looking forward to doing this.” His lips touched hers briefly, yet the kiss was so sweet and hot that she clung to his shoulders to quell the dizzying sensation she felt.
When he drew his head back she was grinning, saying, “Oh well, get on with it then.”
Nick laughed at that and then dutifully carried her over the threshold. Keyonna gazed up into his handsome face, realizing this was the first time she was hearing him really laugh ever since she’d woken up and found him sitting beside her in the hospital room. She loved the flash of his even white teeth, the laugh lines that grooved beside his mouth and the devastatingly sexy crow’s feet that crinkled his eyes with humor.
She barely glanced around at her surroundings, not with Nick’s eyes pinned so piercingly to hers. He didn’t set her down until they’d passed the expansive, grandly designed foyer, and then into the living room with its amazing décor done in earthy, gorgeous tones.
“This, cara mia,” Nick told her with a flourish as he swung her gently around to take a look, “Is where we’ll be spending the next few weeks of our belated honeymoon. I’ve taken all the time off we need, and of course I called the caretaker beforehand to make sure everything was prepared for us. Beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Keyonna conceded, warmed inside with all the care and affection Nick had shown her since her waking up from the accident. Impulsively, she linked her arms around his neck as she gazed up into his face. “I can’t remember much of the wedding, Nick, but I know that it was wonderful. And the reception as well, I…”
Keyonna stopped abruptly, and felt Nick go still. “Yes, Keyonna; the reception on the lawn in front of my father’s mansion…lots of friends and family – do you remember?”
Keyonna bit hard on her lip as she tried to cling to a prodding image, but then suddenly one particular element skidded through her mind; a tiny memory that made her shiver just recalling every bit of it.
Nick felt that slight quiver and held her more tightly. “What is it, Keyonna? What do you remember?”#p#分页标题#e#
Keyonna felt her neck grow warmer, and she swept her lashes down as she said shyly, “Well not that much, just…something naughty you said to me. About how you were going to make slow, endless love to me until I squirmed and begged you to stop – and then begged you not to. I remember thinking to myself now that’s one hell of a claim.” Keyonna’s eyes were dancing mischievously so he’d know she was messing with him.