Chapter One
Benton, Pennsylvania
At first, it was the easy way the man strolled past her table in Jenny’s diner that drew Ava Kane’s eyes. It was so unlike her to be attracted to a man’s ass. But it was such a fine one, clad in washed-out jeans which looked a bit worse for wear. She smiled to herself, pleased to be thinking of something so normal. Since the partial loss of her memory almost a year ago, she had been preoccupied with everything but ordinary musings.
Without raising her eyes above the rim of her double mocha chocolate frappuccino, Ava watched that sexy bottom stroll over to the pie counter. He stopped and posed hips tilted, leaning on the counter, so his fine rear was thrust outwards, making the tight jeans cling to those firm curves even tighter, God, he had such a confident strut and a fine pair of legs. He probably had a sensual drawl to match. The soft din of laughter and chatter from the other customers faded as she waited to hear the man’s voice. She was dying to know if it matched his swagger. Cool, confident and definitely sexy.
“Two slices of pecan pie, Mel. A large bacon, chicken sandwich with all the trimmings. Coffee, black. To go.”
Rough yet smooth. Cultured yet gravelly. As sensual as she hoped it would be. Strange but it sounded so familiar.
Familiar.
Ava lifted her head, needing to see him, not caring if her mother noticed her checking out a man. A dark red shirt with rolled back sleeves, forearms roped with muscles and some attractive tattoos. She peered closer. Flowers. An odd choice for male ink, but they were intricate, beautiful, and haunting. She allowed her gaze to travel up, discreetly. He had a strong jaw and close-cut midnight-black hair, and a stunningly handsome profile. A warm fluttering sensation filled her belly, startling her.
She inhaled sharply, drawing her mother’s gaze to the object of her study. Her mother’s face whitened, causing a jolt of apprehension to travel though Ava.
“How about you add a couple of blueberry muffins to that order, Mel?” the man added, with a smile that twisted Ava’s stomach in knots.
His voice. She knew his voice. But how? Since when? Her mind sifted through the broken pieces, trying to make a connection. When it came, everything inside of her shut down.
Sex.
She’d had sex with this man. A strangled moan of denial slowly hissed from her lips. A roaring began in her head, and she struggled to breathe through the rising panic.
‘Come for me, baby. Just like that, let me feel your tightness clenching on my cock.’
She heard his voice as clearly as if he had come up behind her and whispered against her neck, a slow, dark drawl roughened with arousal. Oh God, this must be a mistake.