Lost & Found (Possessed 3)

“Oh.” Pepper really had no clue what she expected from his answer. Just the not knowing when it was and realizing she missed it made her heart ache for some reason. She felt like she was overlooking something monumental.

Ace’s hand on her back brought her out of her nearly disastrous thoughts. They were leading towards a trainwreck she didn’t want to happen.

“What would you like?” he asked her softly.

Gazing up at the menu boards on the back of the wall, her vision began to swim with so many thoughts swirling around in her mind. “Something with vanilla, please,” she said to him, then walked towards an empty table.

The ups and downs and highs and lows were starting to wear on her frayed nerves. Every time she thought she was finally accepting the curveballs life was throwing at her, something popped up to make her doubt what she could do to change the outcome.

She watched as Ace ordered and Nick came to sit with her. They remained quiet for a couple of minutes before he finally asked, “What’s with the sad face, Snow?” God, did she love that nickname.

Picking at the napkin in front of her, she took a moment to ponder his question. To try and work it out in her mind. “I feel like I missed something. As if I’m forgetting something huge. It’s driving me crazy, Nick.” Weariness beat at her bones the longer her memory remained locked away.

His hand brushing along hers had her gazing up into his worried eyes. “You’ll get there, Pepper. We will help you. But you’ve got to stop trying to force them. You heard the doc this morning. Pressure won’t help.”

Sighing. “I know you’re right. It’s just so damn hard,” she replied, not looking away from him.

“I know. It’s why we planned for today to be nothing but fun.” Looking outside, he amended his statement. “Even though we may not get to do everything.”

Following his stare, she was shocked at how quickly the sun had disappeared and dark clouds were rolling in. She could hear the wind picking up speed as well.

“Does it always happen so quickly?” she asked him.

“Not always, no, but we knew we were in for a hell of winter after last year.”

“I remember hearing that. We hardly had any winter weather last year. I almost missed the snow.”

“That was a memory,” Ace cheered as he set their coffees down on the table, a huge smile spread across his handsome face.

“What?” she asked him confused.

“You said you remembered hardly any snow last year. That’s a memory,” he cheered again.

Looking at Nick, she saw a matching smile on his face. “I told you. Relax your mind; it’ll come.”

It amazed her how a recollection could happen so easily. It was the simplest of memories, yet she felt hope once again that if she could remember to keep her mind open and relaxed instead of focused and forced, her past would return.

“I guess so,” she agreed with her own happy grin.

He could see them sitting there, smiling…laughing. Every time one of them touched his Pepper, he wanted to gouge their eyes out with a rusty nail.

She was his! How did they not know that?

After the sheriff had shown up at the resort, he’d overheard some of the staff talking about how she had no memory. He wondered if it were true. Would she still be in this one-hick town if she did?

He doubted it. She was too good for the likes of this shithole. He just needed to get her back. Had to separate her from those men.

Maybe if he followed them around for a bit, he’d be able to corner her. Find out what she really recalls.

He knew if she remembered him, he’d have to take her with him. She couldn’t be left to tell them what he’d done to her. He couldn’t take the chance of exposure.

As they walked around town, ducking in and out of shops, Pepper couldn’t believe how nice everyone was to her. When asked, Nick and Ace introduced her as a family friend, not giving any hint as to what had happened to her.

In a way, she was grateful; however, she also wished she meant something more to them. She was ready to mean something more. She was also pleased with how their relationship was progressing. Not too fast, not too slow, with light touches and sweet kisses. It could be considered a win-win for them all.

Entering the department store beside the coffee shop where they’d started their day, the guys insisted she find some clothes better suited to her liking instead of having to wear theirs. Little did they know, she enjoyed being in their clothes. Knowing they wore it before her and then after her had some primal claim of ownership slipping across her mind.

Here two delectable companions watched indulgently from the front of the store. She talked to the owner as she chose undergarments and long flannel shirts. Preferring soft sweats to the breaking in of new jeans, she grabbed a few of those as well and walked towards the men with a handful of items.