Take Me Away (Southern Bride 6)

I swallowed hard, then stammered, “Y-yes, tomorrow.”

He winked and turned to walk back to his truck. “Until tomorrow, Linz.”

My entire body swayed, and I had to force myself to remain upright.

The memories were slowly coming back to me, and the more I had them, the more I realized I was head over heels in love with Nolan Byers. And that made me wonder why in the hell he let me go for eight years—yet snuck around Paris to spy on me.

Without thinking, I lifted my hand and said the only thing that I could manage to say, “Bye.”

He smiled even bigger and then turned and jogged to his truck. Before he got in, I called out, “Wait!”

Nolan stopped and looked back at me. “What’s wrong?”

An image flashed across my mind. I was standing on the bridge. The bridge at the ranch where we had been earlier. Nolan, down on one knee. A ring in his hand as he looked up at me. I was crying as he slipped it on my finger. He gazed at me in that memory, and I nearly stumbled back when I saw him crying. “Will you marry me, Linz?”

“Is everything okay?” Nolan asked as he started back around his truck toward me.

For a moment, I fought for air. No wonder he had been so disappointed. Had he taken me to the bridge to see if I would remember? Oh God. So many emotions were flooding my mind. I lifted my eyes to see him coming closer. I forced a smile. “Yes. Yes, everything is fine. I wanted to know what time you’d be calling tomorrow.”

Another brilliant grin lit up his face. “How about you call me when you wake up. I’m an early riser.”

I nodded. “Okay, I’ll do that.”

Nolan climbed into his truck, started it, and then drove down the drive.

I brought my hands up to my mouth, and I wasn’t sure how long I stood there. It wasn’t until his truck was completely gone from my view that I dropped my hands, turned, and walked up on the porch to sit down on the swing.

The front door opened and my mother stepped out. She took one look at me and rushed over to my side. “Linnzi, honey, what’s wrong?”

All I could do was turn to her and let the tears fall.

“What happened?”

I couldn’t help but notice the fear in her voice.

“I want to remember, Mom. I want to have my memories back. I know I love him. I feel it in my heart. I feel it like I feel the need to breathe. I know that man has taken me to places I’ve only ever experienced with him, so why can I not remember every moment we spent together?”

She wrapped her arms around me tighter. “I don’t know why you don’t remember him, sweetheart.”

I knew that wasn’t the truth. They all knew, but I was so exhausted. I wasn’t up for the battle, at least not yet anyway.

“I’m blocking him for a reason, Mom. I know I am.”

My mother didn’t say a word, but I heard her sniffle. Whatever truths my parents and Nolan kept from me, I could tell it was killing them inside. That was part of the problem. Whatever horrible thing had happened eight years ago, no one wanted to remember. It seemed I was the only lucky one who couldn’t.

After a few moments, I drew back and wiped my tear-soaked face.

“Did something happen today, sweetheart?” my mother asked.

“No, I had a lovely day.” And I had, it wasn’t a lie.

“Mom, can I borrow your car?” I asked suddenly.

She gave me a worried look.

I took her hands in mine and squeezed them gently. “I’m okay. It’s all these feelings I have. I think I’m a bit overwhelmed.”

“I imagine they would be overwhelming. Did you remember anything today? Anything at all?”

For the briefest moment, I almost told her about the proposal. But I wanted to keep that to myself. At least until I could get back to Nolan’s ranch and ask him for the truth directly.

“Nothing,” I lied.

I wasn’t sure if she looked relieved or saddened. I decided right there it was a bit of both.

“Are you sure you can’t get whatever it is tomorrow?” she asked.

A sudden sense of weariness came over me. Lord, I was exhausted.

“Tomorrow,” I whispered. “Yes, I think it’s probably best if I wait until tomorrow.”

She smiled and patted my hand. “Do you want to watch a movie with us? It’s some film about two men who crash weddings.”

Her words caused the memory of Nolan asking me to marry him to come rushing back.

“No,” I said with a slightly apologetic look. “I think I’m going to head on up to my room.”

She nodded. “If you change your mind, we’ll be in the family room.”

When she stood and headed into the house, she glanced back at me. “Are you staying out here a bit longer?”