Blackout (27 page)

“I will.” Lulu returns to her TV.

I answer my cell, not knowing what to do with Graham.

“Hey,” he says. “How bout I take you to dinner and then there’s this hot band playing at Waves.”

Dare and I were never really dating. I could go out for a little while, so I won’t be home alone while Lulu is out. Graham will also be in Raleigh this fall, and I need friends. “I don’t want to be out late.” Not with what is going on.

“Great. What time do you get off?”

“At six.”

“I could pick you up at the bar.”

“Okay.” I’ll call Kami for a ride this afternoon, so I don’t have to figure out how to stuff my bike into his Lotus.

After I hang up, there’s no excitement to going out. I’ve kissed him, and the fireworks just aren’t there. Maybe I just need to let him grow on me. Dare has decided against us, and I can’t focus on that. I have to recover.

At Harley’s, Shannon slams me so hard into the bar counter she knocks the wind out of me and wrenches my back. Pain shoots into my ribs from the sharp bar corner.

Carolina marches over to Shannon. “I’ve had enough of you. You forget that I gave you this job. Don’t make me fire you. One more time and you’re out.”

I won’t tell Shannon that Dare is through with me. Don’t I feel used? He had his fun and now I have to move on. Why did he call my daddy? Was he trying to sabotage us?

I wipe down tables, working out my frustrations, and Ella joins me.

“Hey there,” she says. “You and Dare. Who would’ve thought?”

“He pretty much told me he was through today.”

“Are you sure?” She picks up empty bottles and puts them into the tub along with dirty dishes. “I’ve never seen him look at a girl like that, not even Lisa. He stares holes through you then slowly undresses you like he’s savoring every minute.”

The thought of his hands on me spontaneously combusts my core and draws perspiration between my breasts. “He called my daddy, who threw a fit over Dare and me together, and then Dare told me it was over.”

Ella screws up her lips. “I don’t see how. That boy is thirsty for you.”

I can’t count on that, though I swallow down my tears. I have to get well, and I think I’m much closer than I’ve ever been.

I had Kami drive me to work, but first I made her drive me out to the bay to see if the feds were doing anything. The Sheriff’s department was dredging the water. Miles hadn’t called the feds.

I bet Chia Pet and Remy don’t find anything about the stalker. They haven’t found any fingerprints or evidence.

Around four, Graham comes in alone to grab a bite to eat and sits in my section. “I missed you this weekend.”

Up until he called I’d completely forgotten about him, which isn’t fair. He’s one of the good guys.

I smile and try hard not to think of Dare. Graham will make a fine doctor when he finishes med school and his internship. He’s got the right personality, patient and attentive. “Did you have a good time at your grandmother’s?”

“She was happy to have the whole family there. She’s getting up there.” His eyes gloss over me but not in the same manner as Dare’s do. Dare looks at me with an insatiable hunger, and that’s like a shot of adrenaline to the heart. Graham is sweet.

“What can I get you?” I ask all smiles.

Graham squeezes close to give me his order. “A burger and fries and whatever’s good on tap.”

“Coming right up.”

He rests one hand on my hip. “Since you want to get home early, let me take you to the pier, and we’ll walk on the beach.”

After today, that sounds peaceful and relaxing. I have to forget about Dare. He certainly has let me go, even if he still wants to clear his name. “I’d like that.”

After Graham eats, he says, “I have to pick something up, but I’ll be back before six.”

At quarter to six, Dare strolls into the bar to grab dinner. He sits in my section and honestly I don’t understand why.

“Where’s your bike?” he asks. His gaze settles on my face while his lips curl up on one side.

“I got a ride. What do you want?” You should tell me because it’s beginning to annoy the hell out of me.

“The seafood chowder and a beer.” He touches my waist, and my sex clenches. “How are you doing?”

“Fine.” I snap up his menu and walk away.

A couple bikers join him after a while, and they talk about Dare losing the race. His lips twitch in irritation.

At six sharp at the end of my shift, I clean up and change in the bathroom. Ella notices and asks, “Are you going with Dare?”

“Graham.” I feign a smile. Every girl thinks he’s a catch.

“What about Dare?”

“What about him?” I told her he dumped me. She was worried about me hurting him, but she doesn’t know Dare, and I certainly don’t either.

Her face tightens, like she wants to say something, but I dash out of the restroom and out of the bar.

Dare follows me out, so I pretend not to notice. Graham is leaning against his Lotus. He opens the door when he sees me. He’s in khakis and a polo shirt, quite the young doctor he’ll become.

“You look good,” Graham says.

Dare’s wearing jeans that hang low on his hips and a short-sleeve shirt that hugs his muscular frame. He stands on the porch watching me. What is it with him?

“Thank you, so do you,” I say, slipping into his car onto the soft leather seats.

As Graham pulls away, I watch Dare kick over one of the rockers on Harley’s front porch and stomp inside, slamming the screen door. What’s he mad about? He told me he didn’t want to hurt my daddy, and I can live with that. Maybe.

Graham parks near the pier, gets out, and opens my door. His handsome face catches the setting sun. Unlike Dare, Graham is always smiling.

He holds my hand and leads me to the pier. Before we walk onto it, he stops me. “I apologize for missing your birthday.”

It’s thoughtful that he remembered. “How did you know?”

He kisses me. It doesn’t hold the same fever as Dare’s. My lips still burn from Dare’s rough beard and his untamed fervor.

“I have my resources.” Graham hands me a jewelry box from Tiffany’s.

I absentmindedly twirl the shells on the bracelet Dare gave to me. With great hesitation, I open the box. My heart stops. It’s a sapphire, probably a karat, dangling on an 18 karat gold serpentine necklace. I’m talking a few grand.

“It’s breathtaking,” I say.

He lets out a quick breath. “I was worried you wouldn’t like it.”

“What girl wouldn’t?” I roll my bottom lip inward with my teeth. “But I can’t accept it.”

“Why?” Hurt and surprise tinge his eyes. Many girls would pocket the gift. I can’t.

“It’s too expensive. Maybe in several months and if we were serious.”

“I’m very serious.” He leans down, gently kissing my lips.

I desperately want to feel something, but my emotions are lukewarm. “We’ve barely gone out.” It’s too much too soon, and I still like Dare. Damn him. I snap the box shut to hand it back to Graham.

“I’ll hold onto it until later. You’re right we have plenty of time.” I don’t think he’s used to a girl turning down such a lavish gift. He smiles and studies me quizzically.

I could grow to really like him. He’s easy on the eyes and good to me.

Several couples and families, probably tourists, stroll along the beach while we walk onto the pier jutting out into the Atlantic. Shannon sways hand in hand with a biker from Harley’s up the boardwalk. No wonder Dare isn’t into her.

Among the knot of people clustering around a man who caught a flounder on the beach, one stands out. His outline burns black against the others. His silhouette shows a large, slightly overweight man. My heart hammers in my chest as he looms in the shadows.

“What the hell?” Dare asks, coming up from behind me, his hand gliding over my hip in ownership.

I spin around to see him giving me a look like he’s caught me undressed with Graham.

“I guess I can’t buy you diamonds, so you take off with him?” Hurt and anger spice his emotion-filled tone.

“What is he saying?” Graham squeezes my arm. “Are you…?”

Dare pushes him. “She’s sleeping with me. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?” he says to Graham, though his hot glare burns into me.

Humiliation heats my face. I would like to crawl under the pier in the water and sink to its murky depths.

Graham purses his lips, but he doesn’t move away from me. I feel like I’ve just contracted Ebola, and he’s preparing to bolt.

Dare latches onto my free hand. “Let’s go.”

Rage scrabbles out of my lungs. I should focus on the man following me, not the emotional drama Dare has put me through. “No. You told me—”

Graham’s mouth opens. “You didn’t, did you?”

Dare lets go of my hand, and his gaze locks onto the black, motionless man standing amongst beachgoers milling about. “Is that him? The man following you?”

The man faces us and hasn’t moved. My mouth goes dry, so it’s hard to speak. “I think so,” I barely get out.

“Someone’s stalking you?” Graham asks, cupping my elbow.

Dare hops over the rail one-handed, like some action movie figure. He’s fast, but the man disappears into the dunes blackened by shadows.

“Dare,” I cry out. “Don’t go after him,” I say, but he’s gone. He’ll get hurt. This man is dangerous. I feel the ridge on the apex of my skull and swallow down the fright strangling my throat. I don’t understand why this man waited until now. He could’ve killed me ten years ago. What stopped him?

Graham rotates me toward him, disappointment lingering in his pained expression. “Did you really sleep with him? Is someone following you?”

It’s none of his business, and that’s the least of my problems, but I don’t want to hurt him. Graham’s been consistently nice to me. “I went out with Dare, and yes, someone has been following me.”

“What about me? I thought we were dating.”

“I like you, but we’re not married.” I don’t belong to anyone.

Did Dare just say he wanted me back? What was that all about? And now he’s chasing after a madman when he shouldn’t. I close my eyes to stop my head from splitting open.

“But you slept with him?” Graham rubs his forehead. “Please tell me you didn’t.”

“I like Dare, too.” Unlike Graham, I need Dare, not only to help me remember, but because I think I’ve fallen for him. We have undeniably explosive chemistry. Where it’ll take us could destroy us both. “I should go home.”

Graham jams the jewelry box into his khaki front pocket. “I’ll drive you.”

I don’t argue because I don’t want to walk home in the dark. My nerves are shot from this morning and now from Dare chasing this man.

Once again, I’m given the silent treatment on the way home. When Graham stops in front of my house, he turns off the engine.

“If you stop seeing him, you and I can go on. We could have a future.” Graham pulls me toward him. His hand runs down the waves of my hair.

A future. I internalize a laugh. I don’t know if I can ever have one with anyone, but at least Dare and I are traveling along the same road for now. “Dare and I are going to the courthouse tomorrow. He’s helping me open up the old records.”

Graham furls his lips, averting my eyes. “Can’t you let him go?”

“I have to do this. Because I was a juvenile I wasn’t involved with any of the proceedings. Regaining the memories of that day will help my recovery. I’m not giving that up for anyone.”

He leans down and kisses me. “Call me. Call me when you can let go, and you don’t need him anymore.”

I nod and slip out of the car. He doesn’t even wait for me to get inside. The Lotus speeds out of the driveway, and I can’t help but feel that I’ve screwed up. Just because I’m physically attracted to Dare doesn’t mean he’s the right man for me.

I open the door and trudge inside.

Lulu is already home, watching or rather listening to the TV. “How was work?”

“Okay.” Not so great.

“How’s that hot man of yours?”

Which one. “I don’t know.”

Uneasiness swirls in my belly. Why am I being stalked now? Or has the man in the swamp always been watching and waiting for me to remember? He could’ve taken me during one of the many times I blacked out.

In this small town, most probably thought I was cured when I returned home. Is he running scared now?

She stops viewing her show. “You need to remember that you don’t remember, sugar. Your daddy thinks Darius Tucker ripped your clothes.”

“I don’t recall it that way.” That’s the one memory that hasn’t changed and doesn’t unfold in bits and pieces.

“Your head was hurt. You need to be careful.”

“I will be.” I just can’t believe Dare would be involved. He was just a kid then too.

“Would you help me to bed? The furniture was moved. Did you move my dresser?”

I freeze. “I didn’t.” I double check the alarm then tug on every door and window. They seem secure. “Did the alarm company call back today?”

“No.”

“Shoot.”

I help Lulu to her room. After I push her dresser back against the wall, she pulls out a nightie.

Was the dresser moved during the alarm installation? I chew on my bottom lip. I scan over the room. Mama’s painting is no longer hanging above the dresser. A hook snares my stomach, practically yanking it out of my throat.

I don’t say anything that would upset Lulu, but what are we supposed to do? The cops have done nothing, Dare is off chasing this nut, and I need to remember. Tomorrow I’ll start finding answers.

Lulu slides into her bed. “Please be careful. All three of my children won’t have anything to do with me, and I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t.” I kiss her cheek, considering Dare’s words about his family.

I don’t like that Lulu’s family bailed. I don’t believe Daddy would ever do that, though Dare indicated that Daddy had threatened my law school monies.

Lulu rolls onto her side. “I wish your daddy would come home.”

After Dare called him, Daddy said he would come home by Wednesday or sometime after that.

I tramp into my bedroom to undress but only after I close the blinds and double check the windows. I open the hidden closet and pull out a few of Mama’s things. My fingers run over the finest silk made of colorful designs that are not at all my style.