Bombshell: A BWWM Billionaire Amnesia Romance Suspense Novel (10 page)

Chapter Sixteen

After their meeting with Sam at the bar, Holly waited with Jimmy for a tow-truck. The tow-truck driver took Jimmy car and Holly drove Jimmy to his house. She stopped by the Mail Boxes Incredible and made a Missing Person flyer, then went home, hoping that she’d just wasted good money on a needless flyer. But the apartment was as quiet and empty as it had been when she’d left it, with no sign of Jana. Despair gripped at Holly’s heart.

Holly had a few hours before her shift, so she cleaned her apartment to try and distract herself. As she worked, she kept going over in her mind, everything that had happened, as she tried to make sense of it. The security footage had been an eye-opener, but it hadn’t helped her find Jana. What she and Jimmy did know, however, was confirmation of what she’d suspected all along. Sheriff Harold Buck was at the root of Jana’s problems.

Jana hadn’t said much about what had happened to her the night she had shown up on Holly’s doorstep, dirty, bruised, and scared. She’d only insisted that she wouldn’t go to the hospital, wouldn’t see a doctor, wouldn’t talk about what happened, and absolutely wouldn’t go back to her boyfriend’s house to get any of her things.

Jana had become increasingly withdrawn after almost a whole week. Depressed, and feeling hopeless. Holly was really worried about her, and hated to leave her home alone while she went to work. When she talked, which was rare, all she did was apologize for being a burden, and assure Holly that somehow she’d find a way to get her car fixed. And then she’d go to Florida and get out of her hair.

But with her car in need of several hundred dollars’ worth of work, and the rest of her things still hostage at her ex’s house, Jana couldn’t see a way out. She wanted to get a job, but she’d become agoraphobic, afraid even to go outside for a second. When Jana spotted the article on the front page of the Misty Falls Journal announcing a talent show Friday night – Jana’s mood improved. Overnight, she had a purpose, a reason for being – and her depression faded away as she focused on preparing for the show.

The phone rang, pulling Jana away from her memories. “Hello?”

“This is Mail Boxes Incredible. Your flyers are ready.”

“Great,” Holly said. Leaving the last few dishes wet on the drying towel, she grabbed her purse and keys and headed out.

She paid for the box of flyers and took one out to look at it. She had used a picture of Jana from her phone, and she winced at seeing her friend’s face. Would she ever see it again? Was Jana still alive?

She read the flyer:

Missing, Jana Peters, age 26

Last seen Friday night

Double XX Bar and Grill

Last seen driving off with the owner of this vehicle.

She listed partial plate number and added her contact information, despite some reservations that she might be putting herself at risk. She bought a roll of clear tape and headed down Main Street, intending to paper downtown with Jana’s face.

But after an hour of trying, almost every business on the main drag, she gave up in frustration. Not one of the small business owners would let her post the flyer. They were nice about it, citing antisolicitation policies, which Holly knew was utter bullshit—especially as several already had other kinds of leaflets posted in their windows. A school play here, a book club meeting there. When she recognized one of the shop owners as a person she’d seen helping with the cleanup at the Double XX, it suddenly became clear. These people were in the sheriff’s crosshairs, and none of them wanted him to direct his ire at them.
Chicken shits.

Eventually, she gave up trying to do store windows and switched to posting her notices on trees and lampposts. The tape wouldn’t stick to the trees, so she barely had half a dozen flyers posted by the time she gave up and sped home so she could get ready for work. Uniform dawned, she took the box of flyers with her. She’d hand them out to the customers, when the boss wasn’t looking.

The diner was the hub of gossip in town. She’d get the word out.

When she arrived at work, Holly asked her boss about putting a flyer in the window. To her delight, the owner agreed. It was crazy busy so she put the box in her locker along with her purse and went about taking care of the rush.

As the night went on, a few of the patrons noticed the flyer in the window, and she could tell people were talking about it. The diner buzzed. People were talking about what happened at the Double XX. No one seemed to know about the gun toting sheriff, but everyone heard that the place had been trashed and someone had stolen the prize money.

Holly listened to their conversations like she always did, even though people spoke in whispers while looking over their shoulders. “My brother would have been the sure winner, but they only had two acts before the robbery.”

At eight o’clock, the owner of the Double XX came into the diner. The staff and the patrons perked up at the sight of him. Sam was always handing out free drink and food tickets for his bar, and everyone in Misty Falls thought he should run for mayor—he was that loved. But when they saw his face, those who knew that his bar had been trashed told those who didn’t to give him some space.  He wasn’t there to pass out free drink tickets. It was clear that Sam was unhappy.

“What’s wrong?” Holly said as she plopped a cup of Joe and a menu on the counter.

“My wife, she never came home,” he said. “I’m hungry and I don’t know how to cook.”

“Well, I’m sure she’s fine,” said the owner of the diner. She’d come out of nowhere and shoved Holly aside so she could personally tend to one of the town’s most popular and affluent men. “Did you have another squabble? Maybe she’s giving you the cold treatment, and staying with a friend.”

Everyone knew that his wife was a sex addict, and no one understood why Sam put up with her.

“Florence doesn’t have any friends,” he said flatly. He handed the menu back to Holly’s boss. “I can’t think, you decide.”

“Fish and chips,” her boss yelled to the kitchen. “Holly, get him a glass of water, some clam chowder and a side of bread with butter. Hurry up, now.”

Chapter Seventeen

The next morning, Merrick looked out the window as the company helicopter carried them along the coast to Atlantic City. He looked at the woman sitting in the seat beside him, and his jaw clenched as he chided himself again for being a total asshole. He’d known the minute he had seen her coming down the steps last night at dinner that she was clearly mad at him.

And even though she looked like a million bucks in whatever outfit Joann had found for her at the department store in Linton, she was as distant during the entire flight as she had been at dinner the night before. Even Tony, who was usually the life of any party, had picked up on her mood, and the three of them barely spoke a word as they made their way over the mountains to the coast.

Merrick thought about the previous day and his biggest regret. He never should have touched her. He never should have made love to her. He wanted to reset the clock. To go back to that moment when she’d asked him to pull out the razor from the tub. “No, sorry, sweetheart. You’re on your own, can’t help you,” is what he should have said. It didn’t matter that she was trying to seduce him, because she was only doing it because she believed his lie. Believed the story that they were engaged. She was only trying to seduce him because she thought they were in love. And he had let her. Guilt stabbed at his stomach again.

Even now he couldn’t decide what to say to her. He wanted to fix everything. Tell her the truth about everything. Start from scratch and hope for the best. He wanted to make things right.

He’d at least managed to sleep in the room across the hall from her. He’d expected her to question that move, to protest about how ‘silly’ it was to have a fiancé sleeping in a different bed. But she didn’t. Clearly she was done with him. Even though she hadn’t argued about coming to Atlantic City. Then again, why would she? It was, after all, the only life she knew, the only place she had to go.

When the helicopter landed, Tony woke up, and Merrick tapped Bombshell gently on her leg. “We’re here, sweetheart.”

Bombshell’s jerked and her eyes flew open. “What?” She looked around, confused.

“We’re home,” he said, the words cracking in his mouth. He was lying to her again.

She let out a breath, and her shoulders dropped.

Merrick got out first. “Watch out,” he said, jabbing a finger up at the still-rotating blades as he helped her step down onto unsteady legs and hurried her away from the helicopter.

Tony was pulling out the luggage. “Don’t mind me, go ahead—I’ll bring the goods,” he yelled.

Merrick nodded and opened the door to get off the roof and into some shelter. Even without a helicopter, the roof was windy and chilly.

When they got inside, Bombshell stopped and freed herself from Merrick’s supporting hand.

“Merrick,” she said, gasping a little as she spoke. “I think I remember something about the old me.”

An invisible hand punched Merrick in the gut. She was going to tell him that she remembered who she was, and that she knew he was lying about everything. That’s why she wouldn’t talk to him on the helicopter. She had been saving her confrontation for a less noisy environment.

He couldn’t look her in the eye. He studied the fire escape sign posted to the door. He braced himself and inhaled, holding his breath.

“Well, not exactly a memory—but an understanding about the old me. I must have a fear of flying or something, because being up in that machine freaked me out. You have no idea how relieved I am to be walking on solid ground.”

What? Merrick let out his breath. He couldn’t believe it. She wasn’t mad at him.  She was smiling at him. Happy, relieved, ecstatic apparently just to be on solid ground. Hope bloomed in his heart, and before he could stop himself, he pulled her into a hug. “Well, no more flying for a few more days, then, alright?”

She nodded happily then nestled against him, tucking her head against his shoulder. He held her close and breathed in her scent, then released her. “Come on. I need to get you downstairs.”

When they stepped into the service elevator which only went down one level to a hallway that they could take to the main bay of elevators, Bombshell rested against the wall and gripped at the rails, suddenly tired.

He rushed to her. “Are you alright?”

“I’m really sleepy, Merrick. Are we going to our room? I sure could use a nap.”

Merrick didn’t answer right away. He had to think about his. Our room? Of course, she’d think that. Why wouldn’t she. They were engaged, allegedly. But, he’d already decided that he couldn’t risk another repeat of yesterday – by sleeping anywhere near her. At least not until she’d had a chance to see a few doctors, and maybe he’d summoned up the courage to tell her the truth about everything. Until then, he didn’t mind living with the farce—but he wouldn’t allow himself to take advantage of her physically again. The next time they made love—if there was a next time—it would be under full disclosure, and she’d be in her right mind.

“Merrick?” She was waiting for a response.

“Uh,” he said, still not sure what to say, he opened his mouth to say, something. The door pinged open, giving him another moment’s reprieve.

“Surprise!”

Merrick and Bombshell grabbed their chests, surprised indeed by the group of excited people waving and laughing outside the elevator door. Merrick recognized several of his cousins and a few of the hotel staff. He didn’t understand what was going on. But when his cousin, Linda, came pulled him out of the elevator humming those first famous bars from the Wedding Song, Merrick cursed under his breath. “Damn it, Tony.” Apparently, he had told Mama G and everyone else. Oh shit.

He put on a good face as the group excitedly pushed and pulled the young couple into a conference room. “Surprise,” was screamed again as they stepped into the room—all decked out with silver and white streamers and cut-out paper wedding bells. A big banner hung on the wall above a spread of food. “Congrats, Merrick and Bombshell.”

It was an engagement party. Merrick’s plan to start being honest with Bombshell as soon as possible went out the window. Bombshell seemed thrilled by the attention. She’d been dragged away as everyone introduced and congratulated her. He saw his mother give her kisses on both cheeks, then hold her out in front of her as if she wanted to get a good look at her. And then she pulled Bombshell in for one of her famous crushing-style bear hugs, before letting one of the cousins take Bombshell away as she moved towards Merrick.

“I can’t believe it, Merrick… Why didn’t you tell me? You know how much I’ve been praying that you’d find someone and settle down.”

“I’m sorry, Mama G—she, uh, it all happened so fast, I didn’t have a chance.”

That was true. He’d never been able to lie to his mother.

“Well, it doesn’t matter now—I’m so happy for both of you. And oh, my goodness, Merrick, she sure is a looker.” Mama G clapped her large hands together with glee, and her eyes sparkled. “I can’t wait to see my grandchildren.”

Merrick felt himself blush. Jesus Christ. This was getting out of hand.

Then he spotted Bombshell. Her face had gone ashy, and she looked more than a little shell-shocked by all the attention. Merrick picked up a spoon from the buffet table and grabbed a glass of champagne. Holding it in the air, he clanged on the glass until he got everyone’s attention.

“Thank you so much for this party, everyone, but I’m afraid we can’t stay.”

“No,” came a universal groan of protest.

“Bombshell has an appointment we need to make,” he said.

He walked over to her and steered her out the door, to the sounds of continuing protests. Just then, Tony walked up, a big stupid grin on his face. Merrick wanted to smack it off his mouth, but he couldn’t do anything that might upset Mama G, or the confused and overwhelmed woman by his arm.

So he turned to back towards the party.

“Again, I’m sorry—but I need to take Bombshell to the hospital—Tony will explain.”

He hustled Bombshell out into the hall and took her to their room. He pulled out the passkey that opened every room in the hotel from his wallet and let her inside.