With All My Heart

With All My Heart By Marie Rochelle

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. With All My Heart by Marie Rochelle Red Rose Publishing Copyright© 2007 Marie Rochelle ISBN: 978-1-60435-126-2 ISBN: 1-60435-126-8 Cover Artist: Merris Hawk Editor: Terri Morris All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. Due to copyright laws you cannot trade, sell or give any ebooks away. Red Rose Publishing www.redrosepublishing.com Forestport, NY 13338

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With All My Heart By Marie Rochelle

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Dedication:

To Virginia and Swan: I don’t have to tell you how Much the two of you Mean to me.

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Chapter One

“I hate being late.” Jason Tuck checked his watched for the fourth time that night and cursed under his breath. He should have been at the office thirty minutes ago, but he had to drop off his demanding soon-to-be ex-girlfriend first. She didn‟t know it, but this was going to be the last vacation they took as a couple. She had wanted to spend the night with him. However, that wasn‟t going to happen. Lisa should have realized something was wrong when they didn‟t make love on this seven day getaway. He‟d been dating Lisa Hooper for the past six years and she had hoped that he would propose on this trip, but he just couldn‟t do it. For some reason the thought of being married to her just didn‟t sit right with him. There was something about the way she acted that made him doubt Lisa‟s love for him. He hadn‟t been looking for a girlfriend when Lisa came into his life. Because of health problems, his father had to retire early from his position at the Roseport Clinic and the job landed unexpectedly in his lap. He knew that he was next in the line for the job at the rehabilitation hospital. But he just didn‟t

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think it would as soon as it had been. Instead of complaining about his new duties, he had jumped in feet first. At first, everything went pretty good for him until his father‟s assistant, Ms. Blake, gave her two weeks‟ notice so she could get married and move to Florida with her new husband. Instant panic had set in with him at the thought of interviewing applicants for a job that consisted of long hours and not a huge paycheck. For weeks, he had tried to find a suitable replacement for Ms. Blake but none of the applicants he interviewed turned out to be what he was looking for. In the end, Ms. Blake had remembered that her neighbor‟s daughter had just graduated from college and was looking for a job. Lisa came in later the same day for a short interview. He realized she was the best person he was going to find, so he had hired her on the spot. He‟ll admit there was an attraction. After a year of flirting back and forth, he started a relationship with her. Now six years later, Lisa was looking for a marriage proposal, but he wasn‟t seeing her as wife material. He didn‟t see it at first, but Lisa possessed a selfishness that was getting hard for him to ignore. He had planned to break up with her on the trip, but things didn‟t turn out the way he planned. Now he was stuck with finding another way to end his relationship with her.

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Stopping at a red light, Jason watched as raindrops hit his windshield. He had hoped to check on his favorite patient at work and then get back home before the bad weather started. As he waited for the light to turn green, the rain suddenly poured down harder, making it difficult to see the road. He flicked on his windshield wipers at the same time as the light finally turned green. Cautiously he pulled out and made sure no other cars were coming. The rain was coming down so hard now that it was making it almost impossible for him to see. He hated driving in weather like this, because it reminded him of a night six months ago. Just like tonight, he had dropped Lisa off at her house and was headed back to the office when the weather turned bad. At first he had mistaken the rain for small hail because of the way it bounced off the windshield. Knowing how dangerous driving became in that weather, he made a split second decision to take a short cut down a different street instead of the main road. When he pulled into the side street, a dark figure darted out of the darkness straight into the path of his car. He had slammed on the brakes as quickly as he could, and being a doctor, his medical instincts kicked in instantly. Jumping out of the car, he had raced around the front and checked on the person. As he bent over the fallen figure, his breath caught in his throat as the sight before him. The most gorgeous woman that he had ever laid eyes on huddled in

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front of his car. The red dress plastered against her brown skin making her look like a goddess. Her face was a perfect oval shape and thick lashes were framed against her cheek. She was a vision. He had been almost too scared to touch her but; he had to make sure she was alive and okay. The second his hand reached her it was like it hit a nerve and she started to fight and claw at him for about five minutes before she passed back out Without even thinking twice about it, he had picked her up and carried her back to his car. After he got back in his car, he made a quick choice to take her back to Roseport Clinic instead of the hospital. For some reason, dropping off his mystery woman at the hospital didn‟t sit well while him at all. He had felt responsible for her since he was the one that had found her. Once he had gotten her back to the clinic, he had assisted one of his nurses with cleaning up her cuts and bruises then put her to bed. The next day he had reported her as a missing person and put out flyers hoping someone would come forward with some information about her, but no one ever came. Now six months later, his Rayne Doe was still at the Roseport Clinic and he constantly found ways to check on her. The way she looked at him so trustingly when he walked into the room made his heart speed up. None of Lisa‟s looks ever had that effect on him and he

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was getting worried that he was falling in love with the woman he found in the alley. A small part of him was still concerned that Rayne still hadn‟t gotten her memory back, but he hadn‟t told her that. He didn‟t want to worry her for no good reason. Besides, he made sure a team of qualified doctors examined Rayne the day after she woke up, but they didn‟t find anything wrong with her. Jason flipped off the windshield wipers as the rain slowed down to a light drizzle. “What am I going to do about Rayne?” How was he going to ever be able to find her family without any help from her? He was clueless about where he should even start. **** Looking around the private hospital room, Rayne got more comfortable in the bed where she spent most of her free time. Despite the fact the staff tried to get her to interact with the other patients, she just didn‟t want to do it. The only time she wanted to do something was when the handsome Dr. Tuck came in to check on her. She looked forward to his nightly routine. She was touched that he always found a way to make sure that she was okay. Jason‟s visits made her long days bearable. During the day, his girlfriend Lisa was the one that came and checked on

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her. She knew that Lisa couldn‟t stand her from the looks she tossed her way. Plus her body language was a dead giveaway the second she strolled into the room. Roseport Clinic was a wonderful place and the rest of the staff treated her amazingly well, but her mind and body were getting restless. She was more than ready to leave this place. After being here for six months, it was beyond time that she tried to make it on her own. However, Jason didn‟t agree with her. He thought because of her extensive memory loss that it wouldn‟t be good idea for her to be on her own yet. Jason seemed to forget that he could leave the clinic every day. He went and did other things. He didn‟t comprehend how boring it was to be here day end and day out. Her body and mind craved something different and the Roseport Clinic wasn‟t giving it to her. Regardless of her memory loss, she knew had the ability to live on her own. Now all she had to do was make Jason understand that he was too protective of her sometimes. Closing her eyes, she rested her head against the pillow. “I‟m going to get out of here one way or another,” Rayne mumbled underneath her breath. “Rayne, are you asleep?” a familiar voice whispered from the doorway. Opening her eyes Rayne smiled at Jason standing there in the open doorway looking very handsome in a black jeans and dark blue t-shirt. She couldn‟t get over

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how attractive her doctor was. It was getting harder to keep her crush on him a secret. She was beginning to think that the other people here were beginning to figure it out. “Dr. Tuck, come on in.” Rayne sat up in the bed hoping that Jason didn‟t notice how her heart pounded underneath her gown. “You look nice.” Sauntering into her room, Jason sat down on the edge on the bed, making it creak under his weight. The ceiling light shined off his jet-black hair and the blue in his shirt brought his dark blue eyes out even more. “Thank you for the compliment,” he smiled. “I‟m just getting back from vacation and I wanted to check on you before I went home.” “I heard you were going on vacation with Lisa. Did the two of you have fun?” she asked tucking the sheet around her. Jealousy crept into her body because she was secretly dying for the time Jason saw her as more than as his patient. “I had a nice time. What have you been up to while I‟ve been gone?” “I haven‟t been doing much. I worked on a puzzle and watched a little television,” she sighed. “There‟s not much for me to do here since I‟ve gotten better. That‟s why I want to leave.” Jason shook his head at her like he always did when she brought this up. “Now Rayne, we have talked about this. I don‟t think you should be wandering around out there yet. Aren‟t you happy here at Roseport? If you want

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more freedom, I can schedule more outings for you, but I think it‟s best if you stay here,” Jason determined with a nod. “Roseport is the only place that I have on all of your contact information. I know how much you want to leave, but give it a little while longer. If we don‟t hear anything soon, I‟ll see about having you released from here.” Rayne frowned. “Am I been held here for something that I don‟t know about? Is that the reason you won‟t let me leave? Do you have me on lockdown or something?” Jason laid his hand on top of hers. “No, you aren‟t being held here against your will. I never meant to make you think that.” “Okay…then I want you to give me a day that I can leave this place,” Rayne exclaimed. She was tired of hearing excuse after excuse when it came to this subject. Removing his hand from hers, Jason crossed his arms over his wide chest. “What‟s wrong, Rayne? I want to know why you want to leave so badly. You haven‟t been at Roseport that long. Has someone said something to you about me?” “No…it‟s nothing like that,” she muttered. “I just feel I need to leave. So, can you give me a date?”

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“How about this?” he sighed. “You let me give you another check-up. In addition, I want you to do some extra time with the physical therapist so you can get in top shape. Then I‟ll see about releasing you in about two months.” “Two months is February…so are you saying I can get out of here on Valentine‟s Day?” Rayne asked. “Why do you want to leave on Valentine‟s Day?” Jason inquired, cocking his dark head to the side. “That day is all about love and I‟m going to love when I get out of this place,” Rayne grinned. He doesn’t understand that I’ve to leave because I’m beginning to fall for him and that can’t happen. He’s my doctor. Jason stood up from her bed and continued to stare at her with an unreadable expression. “I‟m only agreeing to this so you‟ll start doing more than staying in this room all day, but if I feel you aren‟t ready by then, I can take back my offer. Is it a deal?” “It‟s a deal, Dr. Tuck,” Rayne grinned. “Haven‟t I told you to call me Jason?” “Yes, but you‟re my doctor and it feels strange referring to you by your first name,” she admitted. She was already starting to feel way too close to Jason. Calling him by his name would only make it harder to keep her feelings hidden.

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“Don‟t let it feel strange. All of the other patients call me about my first name. I think that you‟re the only one that doesn‟t. I think you not doing it would make it odd to the rest of the staff. Now can you do it, please?” Jason asked in a low voice heating up her body. I had better watch out of he’s going to figure out I have feeling for him and it will make our relationship very uncomfortable. “Okay, I guess I can call you Jason.” “Wonderful,” Jason smiled. “Now let me take a look at you. If I remember correctly you had some surgery done on your hands to repair a badly healed finger.” “Yes, I did. But it wasn‟t caused by the accident. Dr. Pampa told me it was from an old injury and came out when he x-rayed my hand last month.” “Let me take a look at it. I want to make sure everything turned out good,” Jason said reaching for her hand. “Okay, go ahead; I don‟t care,” Rayne answered, counting the seconds until Jason touched her. “Your hands look so much better.” Jason turned her hands over several times checking how the stitches had healed. The cool, strong touch of his long fingers sent her body into an inferno. “They do look a lot better.” Rayne removed her hand from his and placed it back on the bed.

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Rayne schooled her features so Jason wouldn‟t know how much his touch had bothered her. This attraction she had for him wasn‟t healthy, but for the life of her she couldn‟t stop it. “Have you ever thought about what your real name could be?” Jason asked looking at her in the direct way that always made her so nervous. Did he know how much he was testing the waters by being this close to her? She was fighting the urge to kiss him so bad. “Yes, I have,” she answered wondering if Jason knew something that she didn‟t. “Have you found out anything else new about me?”

**** Jason tried to focus on Rayne‟s question, but he was having a hard time concentrating on anything but her perfect mouth. Her dark beauty always pulled him in and he was tired of fighting it. However, he wasn‟t about to take it any further; she was his patient and it would stay that way. Yet, if she ever gave him the slightest hint she was interested in him, he would deal with his current problems with Lisa then see where things could go with Rayne. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Rayne‟s tawny eyes stared directly at him without blinking. “Every time I try to remember something from my past, I get the sharp pain in my head and I have to stop. Do you think that I‟ll ever get my

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memory back? What if I have a husband or family out there looking for me? They could be worried sick thinking the worst could have happen.” Rayne couldn’t have a husband. The thought made his blood run cold. He wasn‟t ready to envision his life without his daily visits with Rayne. She had become an important part of his life. No, she was single. He wouldn‟t accept anything else. “Jason, are you okay?” The soft touch on the back of his hand drew his eyes down to Rayne‟s hand on the top of his. The light and dark contrast was beautiful to him. It was so different from the tan that Lisa was religious about getting every day. Rayne‟s skin was naturally perfect and beautiful, and it turned him on like nothing else. “Yes…I‟m fine. I was only thinking about your recovery,” he answered covering their hands with his free one. “I don‟t want you to pressure yourself into trying to remember too soon. Isn‟t that what the doctor told you?” Smiling at him, she shook her head. “Dr. Mayfair stated that when my mind is ready to remember, it will, but until then I shouldn‟t force it.” “Don‟t you think you should listen to him?” Jason asked removing his hand to stroke the side of Rayne‟s cheek with one finger. Her small gasp at the light touch made his cock hardened in his slacks. He wanted nothing more than anything to kiss her and see if she was a sweet as he dreamt about.

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“You shouldn‟t do that,” she whispered moving her head away from him. “Why not?” He demanded grabbing Rayne‟s chin, forcing her to look him directly in the eye. “Does my touch bother you that much?” The tip of her tongue came out and ran across the top of her lip, making it all moist and inviting. Jason could barely control the need to follow the path her tongue had just traced. She was constantly doing little things like that to drive him up the wall. “Are you going to answer me?” “What was the question?” Moving his hand a few inches, Jason ran it over Rayne‟s bottom lip, loving how her body automatically lifted towards his before she brought herself back under control. It brought a masculine smirk to his lips. She wasn‟t immune to him as he first thought. She was attracted to him, but she tried to hide it from him; now all he had to do was sort out things with Lisa then he would be free to pursue Rayne. “The question was, does my touch get you all hot and bothered?” Why was he saying these things to Rayne? She could report him to any of the doctors on staff and get him fired, but he couldn‟t help it. He had to know the answer. “Shouldn‟t you ask Lisa that question?” she replied, knocking his hand off her face. “Did you forget that you have a girlfriend?”

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She’s jealous! Jason wasn‟t about to get dragged into a conversation about Lisa while his cock was throbbing for a taste of Rayne and her delectable body. He had to go into his office and take care of this problem or he wouldn‟t be able to drive home. “I think we‟ve talked enough for tonight. I‟m going to leave, but I‟ll be back first thing in the morning to see you.” Getting off the bed, he winked at the alluring woman in the bed then strolled from the room with a smile on his face.

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Chapter Two Taking off his tie, Jason tossed it down on the couch and made his way over to the island inside his kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, he grabbed a beer off the middle shelf then closed it. His body was a lot calmer after he relieved the ache that Rayne‟s presence seduced his body with. When was the last time a woman had made him that hard with only a gasp? Lisa thought all of those times he was making love to her, she was the only one he was thinking about. Truly, it was Rayne‟s face he was imagining beneath him. Without a doubt, it was wrong for him to be fantasizing about one woman while he was with another, but he couldn‟t help it. His body began to sweat as he twisted the cap off his beer and pitched it into the trashcan. Bringing the bottle to his mouth, he took a long swig, savoring the taste in his mouth. He thought about how fantastic it would feel to have Rayne‟s long toned legs wrapped around his waist as he made love to her. One time, when she was working out with her physical therapist, he literally stopped in his tracks at the sight of her beautiful limbs in the red shorts. He had to quickly cover his instant erection with the clipboard in his hand and rushed from the room. He still didn‟t know how he made it back to his office without losing control. His one weakness was long, shapely legs on a woman.

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Rayne definitely had those in abundance. She might have been a runner before the accident for the way her legs were shaped. He was dying to stroke her silky brown skin, but he wasn‟t ever going to get that chance because Rayne was nervous of him. Yet, on the other hand, he knew without a doubt that she was attracted to him. He wasn‟t blind; every time he strolled into her room for his nightly visits, Rayne‟s eyes would light up. However, she wasn‟t going to admit she might have a slight crush on him because of his relationship with Lisa. Lisa was a wonderful woman. In his opinion, any man would be lucky to land her as his wife, but he didn‟t want to marry her. She wanted to express her status by hanging on his arm at all the hospital events. Jason knew he had money and would never want for anything a day in his life. Yet, he didn‟t want his success measured by his money in the bank, but by how he helped people. The stunning woman back at the clinic never stared at him with dollar signs in her eyes. Rayne was always just happy to see him because he was Jason and for no other reason. He seriously doubted that Rayne knew how truly beautiful she was, inside and out. She was everything he was looking for in a woman, but he couldn‟t get carried away because she might already have a boyfriend, or worse, a husband.

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Resting against the counter, Jason took another sip of his beer and let the cool liquid calm down his growing desire for Rayne. Back at work, he wanted so badly to run his fingers down her long slender neck and the lick the pulse beating at the base of her throat. She constantly looked so fresh and clean after her shower. That was one reason he liked making that one last visit to see her. After her showers, Rayne‟s skin took on this superb glowing quality with a fine sheen of moisture still covering her body even after she was dressed and in bed. “Man, what are you doing?” he scolded himself finishing off the last of his beer. He tossed the empty bottle into the trashcan and left the kitchen. “You aren‟t going to have a relationship with her.” As much as he wanted, for Rayne to be a part of his life, he couldn‟t be with her until he found out if there was anyone else out there looking for her. In addition, technically he was still involved with Lisa, even if the relationship had been over for months. Lisa didn‟t want to see what was right in front of her face. “I have tried numerous times to end things with her. She knows there‟s no future with us. I need to get everything out in the open and talk to her until she understands I‟m not putting anything else into us.” “I couldn‟t handle losing Rayne to someone else. She already has me desiring things I shouldn‟t because she‟s in my care. My father wouldn‟t be happy at all if he

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knew I was lusting after one of our patients.” He was halfway to the staircase when the phone rang on the table beside the couch. “I hope there isn‟t a problem at the clinic,” he muttered answering the phone on the second ring. “Hello?” “Jason, can I come over? It‟s so lonely over here and I can‟t get to sleep,” Lisa pouted on the other end. “You know that I‟ve a hard time going to bed without you.” “I don‟t think you‟re calling me for sleep.” The girlish giggle tickled the inside of his ear, making him recognize that Lisa wasn‟t the woman that he wanted sharing his bed any longer. He didn‟t know how he was going to break up with her. All he knew for the moment was that it had to be done. “No…I didn‟t call you for sleep. You know what I want. I‟m missing the animal and all the pleasure that he gives me.” Jason bit his tongue from snapping at Lisa. He had told her numerous times to stop calling his cock “the animal”. “Lisa, you know I despise that nickname but you keeping doing it. Why?” “Honey, when are in bed together, you are an animal. At first, I thought you were thinking about someone else, but that thought passed rather quickly. Why would you want any other woman in your bed when you have me?”

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Thank God. He kept his senses enough never to scream out Rayne‟s name. He wasn‟t blind; he saw the look that came into Lisa‟s eyes when he mentioned his star patient. She wasn‟t fond of his nightly visits, yet she wasn‟t smart enough to not say anything to him after it. “I‟m not up for company tonight,” he lied. Well, at least not company with his clingy soon-to-be ex-girlfriend, but if Rayne wanted a long night of love making, then he would be more than happy to give her what she wanted. “Lisa, I have to go. See you at work tomorrow.” He quickly hung up before Lisa tried to whine her way into his bed tonight. **** “Mr. Yardley, do you have a few minutes so I can speak with you?” Greg Yardley tossed the playbook down on the desk and waved the man into his office. “Come on in, I‟m just going over play for my son‟s football game tomorrow? Do you have any news about my sister?” Coty Sparks took a seat and tossed a black book down in front of him. “I‟m sorry to tell you this is turning into a cold case with your sister. I‟ve search all over New York City for her, but I‟m not picking up anything. Could she have left New York without you knowing it? I know her dance company made a lot of stops on their promotional tour.”

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“Coty, you can‟t stop hunting for my sister. The dance company said she never showed up that night. So something happened to her from the time she left her house. I don‟t have a clue where she could be.” “Tamika is a very level headed young woman and has never run off like this before. I‟m very worried something has happened to her. I‟ll pay you extra if I have to, but don‟t allow this to turn into one of those stories you see on television. I‟m not giving up hope that she‟s still alive.” “My sister is a very pretty woman and I know that someone has bound to have seen her somewhere. Have you tried sending her photos to other states? I know six months is a long time, but I‟m not ready to give up hope yet.” Greg got a gut sense that Coty didn‟t think his sister was still alive. “Do you think my sister is dead, Mr. Sparks? Is that the real reason you don‟t want to keep the investigation going on?” “Mr. Yardley, it isn‟t for me to say Tamika is dead or alive. She‟s your family and it‟s my job to keep doing everything in my power to find her. I‟ll what I can until I can‟t do it anymore.” Standing up, Greg extended his hand to the private investigator. “That‟s all I‟m asking and if you need more money, please let me know. I‟ll pay any price to bring my baby sister back home.”

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Getting up out of his seat, Coty shook his hand then released it. “You have my word I‟ll let you know the second I find something new about your sister.” He watched as Coty picked up his book off his desk and left the room. He wasn‟t born yesterday. Mr. Sparks thought he was on a wild goose chase when it came to his sister, but Tamika was the baby of the family. He was not giving up on the possibility she was still out there somewhere waiting for him to find her.

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Chapter Three She stood in the shadows and watched the woman interact with her boyfriend as the slow burn of hate clawing its way up her body. Every time she saw Jason with his precious Rayne Doe, Lisa felt like she was losing a piece of him. He never smiled at her that way. She wasn‟t about to let that homeless woman steal what was hers. Lisa didn‟t know what pissed her off worse, the fact that Jason spent more hours with his favorite little pet project or that he hadn‟t mentioned what they were going to do for Valentine‟s Day. It wasn‟t that far away and Jason was acting like a man that wasn‟t already in a committed relationship. It was a good thing Jason didn‟t know about her plans to make sure Rayne Doe didn‟t come back after she left. No,…her man had to stop this unhealthy obsession he seemed to have with the dark beauty. It was left up to her to see that her plan worked. Walking towards the happy twosome Lisa planted a smile on her face. “Rayne, you‟re doing so much better. I wouldn‟t have recognized you as the same woman from six months ago,” she praised standing over Rayne stretched out on the physical therapy table while the therapist exercised her legs. “Don‟t you agree, Jason?”

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“I agree. Rayne does look so much better than when I first brought her in. Who knew such a beautiful woman was underneath all that dirt and leaves?” Jason spoke to her, but gazed only at Rayne. Lisa fought hard against screaming at Jason for showing Rayne more attention than her, but she calmed herself. Now was not time to get all emotional; she would get her perfect chance to end things between her future husband and her competition. “Dr. Tuck, I don‟t think I‟m all that attractive, but thank you for the compliment,” Rayne smiled making her flawless face even more captivating. “Jason loves to give compliments to his patients,” she cut in drawing Rayne‟s soulful brown eyes over to her. “Just last week he told an elderly lady upstairs that she was beautiful too. That‟s just how he is. Don‟t take it to heart.” “Lisa…what are you doing here?” Jason asked in a calm voice, she detected the hidden anger there too. “I thought you were taking the day off to spend with your mother. Doesn‟t she have a wedding she‟s working on?” “She is working on a wedding for one of her co-worker‟s daughter, but I missed your handsome face. So here I am,” she answered planting a quick kiss on Jason‟s mouth then stepped back. “Why don‟t we leave so Greg can finish up with Rayne? I know she can‟t like having you hovering over her like this, besides there‟s something personal that I want to ask you.”

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“Are you sure you don‟t need me here?” Jason inquired smiling down at Rayne. “I can stay if want me to.” Glancing back and forth between them, Rayne gave her a long look before she finally answered Jason. “No, Dr. Tuck. I‟ll be fine, but thank you for your concern.” “Alright, if you feel that is for the best.” Lisa didn‟t know if she should scream or fall down in amazement. Jason was actually asking another‟s woman permission before he could leave with her. Was his relationship with Rayne deeper than she first thought? Had something already happened and she was completely in the dark? NO! She wasn‟t going to stand by and let Jason dump her. “See? I told you that she was a big girl, now can we go?” Lisa bit out through clenched teeth. All of this unnecessary fawning all over Rayne was getting on her nerves. “I don‟t have that much time until I‟ve to get back to my mother. She wants me to help her with the flower arrangements.” Jason‟s eyes shined like cobalt as they came to rest on her face. She knew that look all too well. Jason was annoyed with her; however being the gentleman he was, he would wait until they were alone to tell her about it. “Let‟s make this quick. I still have six more patients I need to check on before lunch,” Jason said turning on his heel and striding from the room

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“Fine, I‟ll make sure I won‟t keep you long,” Lisa shot back knowing that he would never speak to Rayne like that. She followed him, embarrassed that Rayne had witnessed Jason disrespect her like that.

*** Catching up with Jason in the hallway, Lisa grabbed his shoulder and spun him around to face her. “What in the hell is your problem? You haven‟t acted right since before we went on vacation. Is there something you aren‟t telling me?” “You know that I don‟t like when you interrupt me when I‟m with my patients,” his heated voice returned without missing a beat. “Rayne is more than just a patient to you,” she accused. “I‟m not blind and neither is anyone else here at the clinic. You‟ve been captivated by her since you found her. Has your relationship moved past the doctor and patient level?” “Why are you like this? I never have acted inappropriately with any of my patients and I don‟t like what you‟re accusing me of.” “You wouldn‟t be this upset unless I was speaking the truth. Have you slept with Rayne? Is she the kind of woman you‟ve been searching for?” Lisa refused to cry or give in. Jason was going to admit his attraction and stop playing her for a fool.

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“I‟m not getting into this with you in the hallway for everyone to hear.” Taking her by the hand, Jason practically dragged her across the hall to his office closing the door behind them with a loud click. “Lisa, please take a seat. We have something to discuss and I think I‟ve waited too long to get this out in the open.” Jason sat down on the edge of his desk and the sunlight coming through the window reflected off his black hair, making it shine. The richness of Jason‟s hair was one of the first things that instantly made her fall for him. His whole package was so perfect that it he could stop traffic on a busy highway, and she wasn‟t about to lose him to Rayne. “No, I‟d rather stand, if you don‟t mind.” She wasn‟t about to take a seat so he could politely dump her for that bitch across the hall. “Why can‟t you ever do anything I ask?” he inquired in a grudging voice. “You always make everything a battle of wills between us.” How dare he? Jason was the one cheating on her and was trying to toss the blame her way. “Is that the reason you‟re breaking up with me? I make your life difficult and Miss Rayne Doe doesn‟t?” “That‟s part of it,” Jason admitted much to her surprise, “but truthfully I‟m just not ready for the commitment that you are. Rayne doesn‟t have a thing to do with this. If you want to blame someone, take your anger out on me and not her.”

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“I don‟t believe this!” Lisa stood there in shock at how Jason was defending the woman he wanted to have an affair with. Was he blind? Could he not see what everyone else saw at the clinic? Every time Rayne waltzed into the room, he practically tripped over his feet to get to her. “Let‟s not make a big deal out of this,” he said. “We both knew from the beginning that this wasn‟t going to be a long term relationship. I know that we‟ve been together for a while, but you don‟t love me. I don‟t think I ever loved you either. Sometimes I wonder if we got together out of loneliness.” She didn‟t know if she should scream, cry or go and scratch out Rayne‟s big doe eyes. How could her day be crumbling down around her feet like this? She left her mother to visit Jason and make Valentine‟s Day plans with him. She never imagined that he would break things off with her. Jason couldn‟t be doing this to her. Not after six years of dating. Why was this coming to the surface now? “How dare you sit there and say these things to me? You loved me until that woman came into our lives. We were going to get married,” she insisted knowing her feelings hadn‟t been one-sided. Jason cared about her. She knew that he did. Sliding off his desk, Jason came to her and rested his hands on her shoulders. She was captivated by the anguish she saw in his blue eyes. “I was never going to ask you to marry me,” he confessed. “I‟m sorry that I let you believe that I was. It was wrong and I‟m sorry, but I did enjoy what we had

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with each other. You‟re an amazing woman, but we aren‟t meant to be with each other. Don‟t you see it too? I can count on one hand how many times we said I love you to each other.” The calm way Jason dismissed her literally turned her stomach. Thank God, she hadn‟t eaten breakfast of it would be all over here Jason‟s designer shoes. He was trying to act as if all the years they had spent together that he never got anything out of it. He was just as bad as she was, maybe worse. “I hate you,” Lisa hissed knocking off Jason‟s cold touch. “Get the hell away from me. You knew I wanted to get married. Sure, we may not have been madly in love with each other, but that could have come later. We made a good team. Why are you ruining it?” Giving her space as she requested, Jason strolled to the other side of his airy office and rested his back against the wall. A perplexed expression played across his face as if he didn‟t understand her anger. “What can I say to make this better? I don‟t want to leave things like this between us. We can still be friends because we have to keep a working relationship. You‟re one hell of an assistant. I wouldn‟t be able to handle Roseport without you by my side.” How in the hell could Jason want to work side by side with her after this? He was dumping her from his life. Why in the hell would she still want to work for him?

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Did he think she wanted to see him drool over Rayne every day? Jason was willing to toss aside what they had for a woman who might not even want him. Didn‟t he understand she was the better woman for him? Jason knew nothing about Rayne. However, he was throwing their future away for the possibility of being with her. Damn it! She had never felt this kind of anger before. She wasn‟t about to let that bitch steal Jason away from her and all the plans she had for his money. I need time to regroup and think about things. “Can I have some time alone? You‟ve told me so much. I think I deserve a little space for everything to sink in. I have to find a way to break the news to my mother. She has been planning our wedding for a while now.” “I understand,” Jason replied shoving his athletic frame away from the wall. “I‟ve patients to check on. Why don‟t you leave and take an extra day off. I‟m sure your mother will enjoy your company.” Opening the door Jason paused in the entranceway glancing back at her over his shoulder. “I‟m sorry Lisa,” he said softly then walked out the door closing it behind him. “There‟s no need to be sorry, lover, because I‟m not letting you go. You‟re mine and you always will be,” Lisa swore.

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Chapter Four

Pacing around the sterile hospital room, Rayne thought about to how her physical therapist looked at her after Lisa left in a huff with Jason. This situation between her and Jason wasn‟t good. It was getting more difficult for her to deny the way her heart jumped at the sound of Jason‟s voice. Or how excited she got when Jason‟s eyes held hers a little too long when they talked about her recovery. She wasn‟t allowed to have these thoughts and emotions about her doctor because his only interest in her was a professional level and nothing else. “I can‟t be falling for my doctor when I don‟t know my name. What if I have a husband looking for me? I could be a mother and not even know it.” Fed up with her feelings of helpless there had to be something she could do about her lost memory. “I hate this!” she screamed kicking the side of the chair with her tennis shoe. “Why can‟t I have a normal life like everyone else?” “I‟m sure that the chair isn‟t the thing that you hate or has you this upset,” a masculine voice laughed from the opened doorway. “Why don‟t you take a break from abusing the furniture?”

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Rayne couldn‟t help the easy grin that spread across her face at the sound of her best friend‟s voice. “I‟ve the right to kick any piece of furniture that I want after the day I had. Why don‟t you join me? I know that you must have something that you want to get out of your system.” “Nope, I‟m doing pretty well today,” Edward came into the room and shut the door behind him. “Why aren‟t you happy? I thought you would be especially after what happened between Jason and Lisa.” “What is there to be happy about? Jason has gotten into a fight with Lisa before. There isn‟t anything new and amazing about that. It happens about twice every two weeks and they always kiss and make up.” “You haven‟t heard?” “Heard what?” “Jason dumped Lisa,” Edward whispered liked they weren‟t the only two people in the room, “and do you want to know who was the cause of it?” Excitement surged through her veins at news Jason was a single man. Maybe there was hope for them to be a couple after all. No, she wasn‟t going to let her mind travel that road. In less than two hours, Lisa would have Jason back wrapped around her finger and back in her bed in a matter of days. “Lisa will get him back so I don‟t need to know who he dumped her for.” Rayne wanted so badly to be a part of Jason‟s life. But she wasn‟t going to set

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herself up for a fall. He was so perfect in so many ways, however, until she was completely whole again, she couldn‟t even think about forming a relationship with him or any other man. “You‟ve been locked away in this room too long. I know that you‟re dying to find out if the fight Jason had with Lisa was about you,” Edward smirked. The way Edward was taunting her made her want to smack the hell out of him but she didn‟t. Rayne didn‟t know if she had a brother or not, but Edward was driving her crazy as if he were. “I have no need to know what that Barbie wanna be said about me. We can barely say a civil word to each other. She constantly thinks Jason wants me and not her. Have you ever heard of anything so stupid?” “The only thing that‟s crazy is the denial that you‟re living in,” Edward corrected. “You have to be blind not to see the way the good old doctor looks at you. He doesn‟t pay any of patients after hour visits like he does you. We all have to share a room. Yet, you‟ve magically seem to have a room all to yourself. Spill it. What‟s going on between the two of you?” “Will you stop,” she hissed. Edward had a way of making a situation worse than it was. “There isn‟t anything going on between me and Jason. He‟s my doctor and that‟s all.” Lord, she didn‟t want the whole place knowing that she was half-in

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love with her doctor. Edward need to stop pushing the issue or she was going to have a total fit on him. Edward watched her with a critical squint. “You‟re lying to me and yourself. Jason is your doctor and he wants to pay doctor with you too. Hell, I‟m interested in you myself, but you only have eyes for the good old doctor.” “What would your wife say if she knew you were flirting with me?‟ Rayne flopped down onto the bed. “I bet she wouldn‟t be too happy at it. I‟ve seen her a couple of times. She doesn‟t look like a woman who would like to share.” “My wife doesn‟t care a thing about me or what I do,” Edward said sadness in his tone. “She hasn‟t been to see me all week. She‟s probably too busy trying to find a man to replace me.” “Don‟t let her get to you. It‟s Becky‟s mistake that she‟s missing out on a great guy and husband,” Rayne commented as if the answer was obvious. “You shouldn‟t be wasting your time or energy on someone like her.” “Are you going to take your own advice?” Edward questioned joining her on the bed. “I don‟t know what you mean,” Rayne mumbled trying to play dumb, but she knew exactly what Edward meant. “Don‟t play with me,” he laughed bumping his shoulder against hers. “You need to go after Jason and show that Lisa a thing or two. The good doctor is half in

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lust with you now. All you have to do give him an opening and I‟m positive that he‟ll go the rest of the way. Wasn‟t he the one that named you Rayne after you couldn‟t remember you name?” Moving around on the bed, Rayne positioned her body until she was sitting yoga style. “Okay, great one, tell me how to win the man of my dreams,” she whispered, placing her hand on her breast. “Should I do it with some flowers, a massage, or a kiss? Which one do you think will work best for me?” Edward got really quiet as if he was giving her question a lot of thought. Even the usual lines on his forehead deepened. “I think you should seduce him. I bet Doctor Tuck will be so taken back that he won‟t be able to say no.” “Have you lost your mind? How am I supposed to seduce him in a building full of people?” She wondered where Edward came up with some of his outrageous ideas. “Rayne, you‟re gorgeous. You‟ve legs a mile long. With your perfect brown skin and big innocent eyes, you wouldn‟t have to try that hard to win Jason over.” “Jason…Doctor Tuck has been with Lisa for over six years. He isn‟t about to give that up for me, a woman that he barely knows; he‟s just being nice. Don‟t read more into it than there is.” Rayne wasn‟t going to get her hopes get up only to be shot back down. She had too much baggage to be getting serious about any man especially as one as fine

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as Jason. Jason already had his life together, why would he want to take on her problems. She didn‟t even know what problems were waiting out there for her until she got her memory back. She was just going to admire him from afar. She wasn‟t the first patient that fell for her doctor. “Did you not hear me say less than twenty minutes ago that Jason broke up with the vain Lisa? All you have to do is show him a little attention and he‟s all yours. Don‟t you want that?” “You shouldn‟t listen to gossip, Edward. I‟m surprised at you,” Rayne scolded. “It‟s not gossip. Stop being so scared and go after Jason. I bet if you play your cards right, you could be spending Valentine‟s Day with him.” Unconsciously her brow furrowed as she thought about what Edward just told her. “Why are you trying so hard to fix me up with Doctor Tuck?” Rayne didn‟t understand Edward‟s need for her to be with Jason. “I think two people who are meant to be together should be with each other. I see how Jason acts around you. When I first fell in love with my wife, she used to bring those things out in me. Give him a chance and I bet you‟ll be happy you did.”

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Sliding across the bed, Rayne wrapped her arms around Edward‟s wide shoulders. “Your wife is such a half-wit for allowing you to slip through her fingers. I should call her and give her a piece of my mind.” Pulling her closer to his solid frame Edward whispered in her ear, “Could you do that? Maybe then she‟ll come to her senses and fight for what we have.” Rayne snuggled against her best friend for the past six months. She appreciated the fact that she could relax with Edward like this and know he wasn‟t going to put a move on her. When she needed to talk someone, he was constantly there with a shoulder to cry on. It was hard for her not remembering anything from her past. It was beginning to wreak havoc on her mind, but talking with Edward always relaxed her. “I‟m so glad we‟re friends. I don‟t think I could have made it here this long without you.” “I feel the same way, cutie. If I wasn‟t still in love with my wife and you weren‟t denying your feelings for Jason, I would ravish you on this bed right now.” She couldn‟t control her burst of laughter as the thought of Edward trying to have his way with her. He wasn‟t sexually appealing to her at all. He reminded her of the guy from Rosanne. Now Rosanne‟s T.V. husband was cute and all, but not the type she wanted to see naked in her bed.

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“I‟m sorry that I laughed,” Rayne apologized. “But honestly, do you think that would happen?” Leaning back from her, Edward wiggling his thick black eyebrows. “Don‟t make me punish you,” he threatened easing his hands off her body. “No!” she screamed trying to get off the bed before ten fingers latched onto her side sending her into a fit of giggles. “I‟m so glad that I found out you were ticklish,” Edward laughed as tears started to pour down her cheeks as they rolled around on the bed. “What in the hell is going on here!” An outraged voice growled the second before the door slammed shut breaking her and Edward apart. “Doctor Tuck, I would say that I‟m surprised to see you here but I‟m not,” Edward grinned as he up off the bed then glanced back down at her. “I‟ll talk to later and don‟t forget what we talked about.” With a quick wave goodbye, Edward was out the door leaving her alone with Jason. “Hello, Doctor Tuck. What are you doing back here so soon?” Rayne sat up on the edge of the bed and brushed her hair away from her cheek. She was feeling a secret satisfaction that Jason was here with her instead of Lisa. “I thought we got that settled earlier. I hate it when you call me Doctor Tuck. I have a name and I want you to use it. Do I have to do something to make you call me Jason every time you see me?” he asked coming to stand over her.

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“Something like what?” Rayne whispered running the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip. Jason‟s body started to burn at the sight of Rayne‟s pink tongue. The sexual attraction between them was growing hotter as each day passed. He wasn‟t about to let this opportunity slip through his fingers. He was alone with Rayne just the way he wanted it. The wholesome scent of peaches covered her body, tempting him even more than one of his secret fantasies. How much longer would his control last when it came to her? Because all he wanted to do was make love to her all night long. “How about every time you forget to call me Jason I get a kiss from you?” Stop kidding yourself man. You just want a reason to kiss those perfectly plump lips of hers. Yearning lit up Rayne‟s dark eyes at the possibility of him kissing her, but she quickly blinked it away. Jason almost thought that he had dreamt the whole thing. “Is that supposed to be a punishment of some sort for me? Are you a bad kisser? Do you use too much tongue or will you lick the side of my face before you kiss me?” she tossed out then laughed. How he loved a woman that challenged his body and mind. Rayne did both without even trying. In his eyes, she was the total package plus some. Now all he

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had to do was make her see they were meant for each other. Which was easier said than done. “Are you asking for a sample?” he inquired. “I wouldn‟t mind giving you one.” Rayne‟s eyes dropped down to his mouth then her gaze reconnected with his. “No, I can‟t do that. You already have a woman. You‟ve had disagreements with Lisa in the past and every time you have gotten back with her. Lisa is a very jealous woman. I won‟t be placed in the line of her jealousy.” “Lisa isn‟t my girlfriend anymore. We broke up and we aren‟t going to get back together. I couldn‟t be with her, not when I‟m interested in another woman. Don‟t you want to know who she is?” Jason asked tempting a small part of Rayne to say yes, but she fought it off. Shaking her head, Rayne placed her hand in the center of his chest and pushed him away. “No, I don‟t want to know. I think you should leave now.” Jason didn‟t want to push Rayne too far too soon and lose her. She was beginning to become very important to him. Valentine‟s Day wasn‟t that far off and he didn‟t want to spend it with anyone else but Rayne. She may not be in love with him yet. However, he had fallen in love with her at first sight. It was only fair that he gave her time to catch up with him.

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“I‟ll leave, but this isn‟t over between us. I‟ll be back first thing tomorrow, so we can talk some more.” Before Rayne could get away from him, he bent forward and placed a kiss across her silky cheek and whispered in her ear. “Don‟t be scared, everything will work out. It‟s meant to be.” “I don‟t think so,” Rayne argued under her breath. “It doesn‟t matter,” Jason shrugged stepping back giving Rayne the space she wanted. “I have enough faith for the both of us.” Pivoting, Jason left the room with Rayne staring a hole in his back; he never felt so alive in his life.

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Chapter Five

“You can‟t have a day that you don‟t go running to her, do you? We haven‟t been broken up twenty–four hours and you‟re already on the prowl for a new warm body for your bed.” Writing the last of his notes down, Jason looked up at the unwanted visitor in his office and wondered why he hadn‟t locked his door for more privacy. He should have known that she wasn‟t going to let this go. It wasn‟t in her personality to back off and move on. “Lisa, we have nothing else to discuss with each other. We said everything we needed to earlier. I don‟t think there‟s anything else left to talk about. Why are you trying to hold on to a relationship that has been over for a while now?” Coming around his work area, Lisa planted her body in his personal space making sure he couldn‟t leave until she was good and ready. “You‟re just getting cold feet. I know that you‟re nervous about us getting married, but you don‟t have to be,” she retorted softly. “I‟m here for you and we‟ll be able to get through this.” Jason didn‟t want to upset or hurt Lisa‟s feelings more than he already had, but he wasn‟t in love with her anymore and the truth had to be told. Now, if Lisa

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didn‟t want to accept their break-up that was her problem, but he was going to be honest with her. “I‟m not nervous about us or the wedding because there isn‟t going to be one,” he answered worried that Lisa didn‟t understand what he was telling her. There was never going to be a future between the two of them. He wasn‟t in love with her. Sure, they had been together for a while but Lisa knew they never discussed anything as serious as marriage. He couldn‟t be in love with one woman and lead another one at the same time. “Lisa, have you given any thought about taking some extra time off?” “It‟s because she‟s younger than me isn‟t it?” she shot back out of the blue. “I can‟t believe you‟re leaving me for her because of anything else.” He hated when Lisa did him like this. When something didn‟t go her ways Lisa pretended that it never happened. It angered him to no end when she tossed the blame on other people, and she never stopped doing it. “No, it isn‟t because Rayne is younger than you. It’s us. We aren‟t good for each other anymore. We‟re moving in different directions and I‟ve been wondering for a while now if you loved me or just my money.” “How dare you!” Lisa hissed stepping away from him. ”I‟ve cared about you since I first laid eyes on you sitting behind this very desk.”

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“Caring about me and loving me are two different things. I care about you, but I‟m falling in love with Rayne. I‟m praying she doesn‟t have anyone so we can be together.” Lisa‟s eyes snapped with anger as she glared at him. “I‟m not going to let you do this to me,” she hissed her voice echoing in the office. “I‟ve invested too much time in this relationship to be tossed to the side like an old pair of socks. I‟ll find a way to keep the two of you apart,” Lisa threatened then stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. A sinking feeling formed in the pit of his stomach; as mad as Lisa was she might try to find a way to hurt Rayne. He couldn‟t let that happen. She was always a little high-stung, but this was too much for him to handle. “I have to make sure that she leaves,” Jason jumped up from his chair and rushed out the door after Lisa. He caught up with her in the middle of the hall leading to Rayne‟s room. He was concerned that the mood Lisa was in that she could hurt Rayne. “What are you doing? Jason questioned with a bite to his tone. “I told you to leave and not take a detour somewhere else.” Wrapping his hand round Lisa‟s arm, he tried taking her back in the direction of his office, but she wouldn‟t let him.

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Lisa jerked her arm away and stood her ground. “I want to confront that homeless woman you‟re losing your heart over. She needs to know what a damn home wrecker she is,” his ex-girlfriend spat in his face. Jason wished that he had broken things off with Lisa sooner than this. He should have dumped her when he found out about the first time she cheated on him, but he didn‟t; now he was paying for it. Lisa was trying to hold on to something that wasn‟t there. “Stop bad mouthing Rayne. We were headed down this road before she came into the picture.” “Well…she is homeless, isn‟t she? Isn‟t that another reason you don‟t want to let her go?” Lisa taunted. “Or are you afraid once she leaves this cocoon you have her in she‟ll see there‟s more out there than you‟re showing her?” “Rayne is leaving here,” Jason tossed back just to shut up Lisa endless talking. Cornflower blue eyes widened with pleasure in front of him. “Miracles will never cease. When will she‟s out of here, so you can get your mind focus back on what is important and I‟m talking about the two of us.” God, he was beginning to wonder what he ever saw in Lisa. She was a meanspirited person who only wanted her way. “Rayne is leaving on Valentine‟s Day

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and if I have my way she‟ll be moving in with me on a permanent basis. I‟m falling in love with her.” “I don‟t want to hear any of this. You‟re just in lust because Rayne is something new, so I‟m going to give you the space you want. But I‟ll be back and I‟ll accept your apology when you‟re ready to give it.” Lisa gave him a kiss on the cheek and left him alone with the scent of Taboo perfume swirling around him. “Shit, what have I gotten myself into? Lisa doesn‟t believe I don‟t want here anymore. In addition, the woman I‟m in love with thinks I‟m lying to her.” Jason shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks and strolled back to his office. He had to figure a way out of this situation he was trapped in.

**** “Rayne, here‟s your lunch. It‟s your favorite,” the young girl said placing the tray her bed and lifted the silver lid. “Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese Doctor Tuck is concerned that you haven‟t been eating enough food lately.” “I haven‟t been that hungry lately,” Rayne sighed glancing away from the tempting tray. Food was the last thing on her mind. All she wanted was to regain her memory, so she could find out who she was and where her place was in this world.

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“You need to eat or you won‟t be able to leave here. Doctor Tuck has already given those orders.” Clenching her teeth, Rayne slowly calmed down so she wouldn‟t jump at Kris, but she was furious with Jason. How dare he to this to her! “He can‟t do that,” she complained jumping up out of the bed and raced out of her room leaving a stunned candy striper behind her. She better not find Jason in his office or she was going to give him a piece of her mind. He wasn‟t the boss of her. She wasn‟t going to eat if she wasn‟t hungry. She had more important things on her mind than food. Rayne arrived at Jason‟s office in less than five minutes; without knocking on the door, she burst right on in. “I won‟t let you change my release date. I only need a little more physical therapy and I‟ll be perfectly fine.” Jason‟s lids came down swiftly over his eyes as they roamed over her figure. She didn‟t need three guess to know what he was thinking, but she wasn‟t going to let him weasel his way out of this with a sexy look. “Are you listening to me?” “Do you honestly think you‟re ready to live on your own? I think you need a little more supervision at least until you memory comes back. What if you have a horrible flashback and you aren‟t able to handle it? Someone should be there with you.”

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Rayne wasn‟t dumb. She knew Jason as giving her all of these excuses because he wasn‟t ready for their special time to end, but it had to because it wasn‟t healthy for either one of them. He was her doctor and he couldn‟t be beyond that. No matter how much she would like for it to. Lord…how she would like for it to be something more. “Jason, I have been here six months and I don‟t remember anything from my past. It‟s time for me to leave. These walls feel like they are closing in on me. I want to see what‟s going on with the rest of the world and maybe if I do that something will come to me.” “What if I tell you that I‟ll be lost without you if you leave here and not keep in contact with me?” Jason got up and slowly came towards her looking too handsome with his sleeves rolled up and his tie loosened around his neck. It wasn‟t fair the power he had over her body and mind. Licking her lips, she took a step back trying to stay the mature one, but she was quickly losing a handle on that. “I would say that Lisa will be more than happy to make you forget all about me.” “I would rather you help me forget all about Lisa,” Jason whispered the second before he yanked her into his arms and captured her mouth with his.

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Chapter Six Fireworks were the only way he could describe how it finally felt to kiss Rayne. He had been holding back for months because she was his patient. Wow! Boy was the wait ever worth it. Rayne tasted better than he could have ever imagine. A growl escaped from the back of his throat as Jason secured Rayne closer to him. He never wanted to let her go. Everything always seemed much clearer when she was around. Taking the tip of his tongue, Jason ran it along the edge of Rayne‟s teeth. He wanted to find the unique taste that he knew would be there and the sweetness drove him to learn more. Jason slowly used his body to move Rayne backwards until her back touched the door. Planting his hands at the side of her head, he repositioned his mouth and deepened the kiss. Rayne‟s mouth tasted better than he ever imagined and he never wanted it to end. His lips left Rayne‟s to nibble at her earlobe. “Do you know how long I‟ve been waiting to do this?” Jason put his hand under her chin, titling her face up to his. “Sweetheart, are you listening to me?”

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Perfect pools of brown seduction looked up at him with a dreamy expression until the situation they were in settled in and the look vanished. “We can‟t do that again,” Rayne uttered softly. “It‟s so wrong.” That’s what you think sweetheart, he thought. “I liked it and I think you did too, so what‟s the big problem?” Jason asked running his knuckles across Rayne‟s face. He knew there wasn‟t another woman in the world with softer skin that hers. “It doesn‟t matter if I enjoyed it or not. You‟re my doctor and it isn‟t right.” He wasn‟t going to let her use that lame excuse as a barrier to keep them apart. She needed to leave the little shelter she had made for herself. Rayne had to see him for the man he was. “Be honest…if I wasn‟t your doctor, would you go out with me?” The silence lengthened between them, making him uncomfortable about what Rayne‟s answer would be. What if he was wrong and it was all just onesided? No…he wouldn‟t let his mind think about that. Rayne did have some feeling for him. She was just too afraid to admit it. He would move slowly until she let it happen. She would be so worth the wait. Rayne nipped at her bottom lip as she pondered over his question. “Jason, how can I get involved with anyone when I can‟t remember anything about my past? What if I give in and we started dating, then I find out I‟ve a family?”

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Stepping back, Jason raked his eyes over Rayne as he tried to figure out was she being completely honest. She wasn‟t saying the words he wanted to hear. Why was she bringing up her past all of a sudden….unless? “Have you remembered something? A flashback of something you don‟t want to share with me? Is that the reason you‟re so jumpy tonight?” He sent up a silent prayer that Rayne would be his for a little while longer. Rayne maneuvered herself away from him. “No, I‟m raking my brain everyday try to remember something. Don‟t you understand how frustrating it is to know a memory is there, but you can‟t access it?” He heard the desperation in Rayne‟s voice. He hated the pressure she was placing on herself. All of this added stress wasn‟t doing her mind or body any good. Her memory would come back when it was ready. He prayed that it wouldn‟t end up taking her away from him, but couldn‟t let himself think about that until the time came. “Rayne, you‟ve got to stop this or you‟re going to make yourself sick. I want you to go back to your room and change. I‟ll be back in an hour so we can go out and eat.” He had to spend as much time as he could with Rayne. He had to make her see him beyond her doctor and as a possible boyfriend. “I‟m still not sure about this,” she sighed twisting her slender fingers in front of her body. A habit that he noticed Rayne did anytime she got nervous about

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something. He found it so endearing. But he wasn‟t going to ever win Rayne‟s love if she wouldn‟t take this first step with him. “How about you think of this dinner as two friends going out to have a nice time?” All he wanted to do was see Rayne outside the clinic environment. Hell, he didn‟t care if he had to take it one day at a time. “You won‟t put any pressure on me about us being together as more than friends?” she asked softly staring into his eyes. Jason was entranced by the chocolate of Rayne‟s eyes. She was looking at him with such trust. How could he go back on his word? No…he wasn‟t going to force Rayne into feeling the same emotions that were racing inside his body. He felt that Rayne was his soul mate and he was patient enough to wait for them. “I only want to have dinner with a beautiful woman today. So, is the answer yes?” “I would love to have dinner with you, Jason.” Rayne answered smiling at him. “I better go so I‟ll be ready when you come back. Where are we going to eat?” “I can‟t tell you. It‟s a surprise,” he said walking her back to the door. “How about we meet in front of my office?” “Sounds perfect,” she grinned then rushed out the door. Standing in the doorway, Jason watched as Rayne hurried down the hallway and around the corner. He never experienced anything as peaceful or so fulfilling

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as when Rayne blessed him with one of her beautiful smiles that lit up her whole face. “She isn‟t going to leave me on Valentine‟s Day. That‟s the day she‟s going to realize that she is in love with me and wants to spend the rest of her life with me,” Jason swore as he closed the office door behind him and strolled towards the front entrance.

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Chapter Seven “When was the last time you saw Ms. Yardley?” Coty Spark asked the woman standing in front of him. He was having a hard time focusing on the question because she was so beautiful. Thick wavy curls were pushed back from her head with a head back making her big hazel eyes look more alluring. Long model legs were shown off a loose pair of light blue shorts and a matching sports bra covered her perfect chest. It was getting harder for him to concentrate on his questions, because she was truly breath taking in his eyes. “Come on inside,” she answered waving him inside her apartment. “Tamika‟s brother called and told me a private investigator would be coming over to ask me questions about her disappearance.” “Ms. Key, when was the last time you saw your roommate?” Coty asked again trying not to notice how the baby blue of the outfit brought of the richness in her lovely dark caramel skin. “Please call me India,” she laughed falling down on an oversized black couch. “Have a seat Mr. Sparks.” “Call me Coty,” he insisted taking a seat in front of her. He hoped India didn‟t notice how he couldn‟t take his eyes off her.

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“I‟m must look a mess,” India said self-coconsciously pushing the headband further back on her head. “I just came from dance practice and you caught me about five minutes after I walked through the door.” You’re stunning, Coty thought to himself, but hurriedly shook the thought out of his head. It wasn‟t here to drool over Tamika‟s sexy roommate and a woman that had to be at least ten years younger than him. He was pretty sure she wasn‟t interested in dating an older man. “You look fine,” he assured reaching for his notebook in his jacket pocket. “Now, do you remember the last time you saw Tamika?” Pulling her knees up to her chest India rested her chin on them. “I was getting dressed for our dance rehearsal in my room and Tamika ran in saying that she had to go and pick up something. I told her to wait for me and I‟ll go with her, but she told me no and left.” “Why couldn‟t she go and pick it up by herself?” Coty inquired tapping his pen against his notepad. “Tamika was traveling a few miles out of town and her car wasn‟t working all that well. I didn‟t want her to get stranded without a way back home. She was horrible at remembering to charge up her cell phone, so I wanted to go along with her.” “Did you have any idea what she was going to get?”

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“No…she didn‟t tell me. I feel like I‟m the reason she is missing. I shouldn‟t have listened to her and went with her anyway,” India cried brushing away a tear. “What if something bad happened to her? It has been six months and still no sign of her.” Getting up from his seat, Coty pulled a tissue out of his pocket took a seat beside India and gave it to her. He tried not to notice how soft her hands were as they brushed his. “It isn‟t your fault. You shouldn‟t put that pressure on your shoulders. We aren‟t giving up hope that Tamika is still alive.” India wiped the tears from her face and gave him a watery smile that made his heart catch in the middle of his chest. “Thank you for saying that, but I do blame myself. Tamika would have been there for me, and when it was my turn I let her down.” Fresh tears started to fall down India‟s smooth cheeks and against his will Coty‟s arms wrapped around her shoulder and pressed her face to his shoulder. “Hey…stop all the crying. You truly aren‟t at fault here. Greg Yardley believes his sister is still alive and so should you.” He tried to give India comfort while ignoring how the scent of peaches sounded her body. Leaning away from him, India looked up at him with damp eyes. “Okay…I‟ll try but I‟ve been blaming myself for months.”

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“How about you finish telling me about what you remember from that night. There might be something small that I can use to help find your friend.” Coty moved away from India and retook his seat. Sitting that close to her was getting too much for his self-control to handle and he wanted a clear mind to deal with this case. “Okay, Mr. Sparks what would you like to know?” India asked, wiping away the last of her tears. “Coty,” he corrected liking the sound of his name coming from India‟s full lips. “Sorry…Coty,” she apologized with a small smile. Coty continued asking India question about the night Tamika went out but he couldn‟t stop him mind from wandering to what it would be like to date someone like the young gorgeous woman sitting in front of him.

**** Greg Yardley held the picture of his sister in his hand and tried not to release the tears that were forming behind his eyes. Where was his baby sister? He had been searching for her for over six months and not one lead was turning up. How could someone just disappear off the face of the earth like this? Her car was found

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about three miles from town along with her purse and other identification, but nothing else ever turned up. “Tamika, where are you? I don‟t feel like you‟re dead. God, you can‟t be dead! You‟re the only family that I‟ve left.” The police station used some manpower for a while, but after several weeks they made his sister disappearance a cold case and told him if anything came up they would let him know. Greg placed the photo back on the table and thought about when he and Tamika were kids. They always begged their parents to stay outside longer during the summer, but he wasn‟t the one that could ever get them to say yes. Tamika was the one with her huge smile and big eyes that constantly made their parents melt. Torn up by the memory, Greg left his study and made his way upstairs to the room his sister crashed in when she didn‟t want to drive back home. Inside the black and white themed room, he picked up a few of his sister‟s items then laid them back down. His face etched with grief and sorrow as he roamed around the room. “I‟m not giving up hope that she‟s still alive and is trying to find her way back home. Too many people love my sister for her to be dead,” Greg muttered to himself as he left his sister‟s room.

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Taking a deep, unsteady breath, he stepped back into the hallway and let his mind think the worst for the moment. What if his sister was dead? Where was her body and what could have happened to her? “No… I‟m not going to think like that Tamika isn‟t dead.” Greg dug his cell phone out of his slacks and dialed Coty‟s number. He had an idea and with everything in him, he hoped that it worked. This might be the last chance he had to find his sister before any kind of information vanished forever. “Sparks speaking,” Coty answered on the third ring. “Did you get a chance to talk to India? Was she helpful at all?” Greg inquired wishing that Tamika had told her roommate something. “Yes, I spoke with her, but she didn‟t have a lot of useful information. But I‟m not giving up. I got a gut feeling that your sister is still alive.” “I do too that‟s why I need your help,” Greg said as he hurried down the steps back into his study. Sitting down at his desk he turned on his computer. “Remember that photo I ran of Tamika along with some reward money?” “Yeah…you didn‟t have much luck with it.” “I‟m thinking about running it again, but I want to place it in more papers than our local one. The wider the ad is spread with more reward money, I know it‟s bound to get some kind of attention.”

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“Are you sure? It could bring out all kinds of crackpots out in the opening looking for a meal ticket. You‟re a very wealthy man and most people will lie, cheat or steal to get that reward money,” Coty cautioned. “Have you thought this through?” “$100,000 dollars is a lot of money, but it‟s nothing to me if it will lead me to my baby sister. She‟s all I have now since our parents died.” “Alright…rerun the ad and be careful about the information you get. Don‟t check any of them out. Give them all to me and I‟ll have another investigator look into it. When or if we find something useful, I‟ll get back in touch with you, deal?” He was going to do it whether Coty Sparks like it or not. “Deal. I‟ll call the newspaper and see what they can do about getting it distributed to other papers. With any luck I‟ll find something out by Valentine‟s Day.” “What is so special about Valentine‟s Day?” Coty asked intrigued. “It‟s Tamika‟s birthday.”

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Chapter Eight Jason couldn‟t believe the day he had been waiting for months finally happened. He had to make sure that everything was perfect. Rayne was going out on a date with him and he would do everything in his power to make it a night that she‟d never forget. Tossing his car keys on the dining room table, he hurried to his bedroom excited about the night ahead. He pushed opened the door suddenly he stopped in his tracks at the sight that met him. Lisa was lying in the middle of his bed wearing a strip of fabric that didn‟t constitute on any level as a nightgown. Candles lit around the room while the faint scent of lilacs hovered in the air. “How in the hell did you get in my house? What are you doing here? I thought you understood that it was over between us.” Time was of the essence Rayne was back at Roseport getting ready for their date, he didn‟t have time to waste on Lisa and her schemes. Crawling across the bed Lisa paused at the end eyeing him like she wanted to eat him up. “I still have the key you gave me, so I invited myself in. I know you don‟t mind. We have broken up before and always gotten back together. Why should now be any different?”

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Getting off the bed, she sauntered up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I forgive you for everything you said to me. I know it was just cold feet talking.” He removed Lisa‟s arms from around his neck and placed a good distance between their bodies. “I‟m not getting cold feet before the wedding, Lisa. I‟m not in love with you and we aren‟t getting back together. I‟m in love with someone else.” “You can‟t mean Rayne?” she hissed, jerking away from him. “She‟s probably has a husband searching for her right now. How can you be in love with someone you know nothing about?” Holding on to the fact that deep down he felt Rayne was his soul mate was the only thing that kept him going on. He wasn‟t going to believe she had a husband until, if, or when the time came. However, he had to make sure his exgirlfriend truly understood where their relationship stood. “Lisa, listen to me. I really want you to hear me. I‟m not going to be with you even if it turns out Rayne has a husband. I‟m just not in love with you.” “You bastard,” Lisa snapped as she rushed around the room snatching up her clothes off the floor. She shoved them on her body and then grabbed her purse out of a chair near the closet door. “I can‟t believe I wasted six years on you. How could you do this to me?”

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“I‟m sorry,” Jason apologized. “I can‟t think of anything else to say to ease your pain.” He hadn‟t planned on falling in love with Rayne; it just happened. “Keep your false apologizes because I‟m going to enjoy when Rayne regains her memory and leaves you,” she taunted in a shrill voice. Jason knew Lisa was hurt by the break-up, but he couldn‟t understand why she didn‟t want him to be happy. Was she that upset by things ending between them or was it more? “You‟re wrong. Rayne cares about me and after our date tonight I hope it starts to grow into something more. She‟s the woman I want to marry.” An unwelcome tension stretched ever tighter between them as Lisa‟s eyes became flat, hard and passionless. “I know you didn‟t just tell me that. You want to marry a woman that you barely know over me.” “I fell in love. I couldn‟t help it. Everything about Rayne drew me to her. It was like she was the woman I had been waiting for all of my life.” “You make me sick!” Lisa hissed, her eyes narrowing as anger spit out of them. “And I‟m going to make sure that you end up as miserable as I am,” she promised storming out of the room. Jason lingered inside his bedroom, worried about what Lisa‟s threat held for Rayne. He was caught off guard by the venom in her voice. In all of the years that

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he had dated her he never saw that side of her before. “No…I‟m not going to let her ruin my night. That was probably her plan.” Whistling softly to himself, he spun around on his heel then headed for his bathroom. Tonight was all about making Rayne admit that there was something more to their relationship than doctor and patient.

**** “Damn, you look good in that dress. Way too for the good old doctor. How about dump him and go out on a date with me?” Edward flirted coming further into her room. “I know that you‟ll have a better time with me than him.” Sticking the last hairpin into her hair Rayne spun away from the mirror. “If tomorrow wasn‟t your last day I wouldn‟t take that from you,” she grinned. “I know you‟re happy to be going home to your wife. Hasn‟t things gotten better between the two of you?” “Yeah…I guess they have but I can‟t forget that she didn‟t come to visit me for half the time I was here,” he complained. “Oh, do you want me to give you a hug and kiss to make it better?” Rayne teased winking at her best friend. “I‟ll skip the hug and go straight for the kiss,” Edward muttered stepping closer to her.

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Chapter Nine Shaking with laughter Rayne stared at Edward with amused wonder as he grabbed her by the shoulder and planted a sweet kiss on her cheek. “The Doc is a very lucky man. You‟re going to be a wonderful match for him.‟ Why was everyone saying that she and Jason belonged together? Nothing could happen between them until she regained her memory. “Jason and I are only friends. He‟s taking me out to celebrate how far I‟ve come in these few short months. Please don‟t read anymore into this situation than there is,” she responded, stepping away from Edward. He was forever the bright spot to her longs days. She was determined not to reveal her pain at him leaving. Edward‟s health was so much better now than it was three month ago. He needed to go home back to his family. “We are just friends and nothing more,” Rayne muttered. “Why doesn‟t anyone believe me?” “The good old doctor didn‟t break up with his girlfriend to be only friends with you. Now, I would agree to friends with benefits, but not just plain friends. I‟ve seen how he looks at you and that man is in love with you.” “How do you know what Jason feels for me? Has he told you when I wasn‟t around or something?” Edward was pushing her towards Jason when she was

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trying her damnedest to be the smart one when it came to her raging emotions for Jason. “I just know these things and so should you.” Edward showed no signs of relenting when it came to getting his opinion out. “You‟re just a romantic at heart. You want everyone to be happy and especially in love, but sometimes life isn‟t as black and white as that. People have obstacles that get in the way of true love and my memory loss is one of those things.” Rayne sighed, wishing that things were different between her and Jason silently cursing that it wasn‟t. “Let‟s make a bet,” Edward tossed out shocking her with his request. “What kind of bet?” she asked interested in what her old buddy had up his sleeve. Edward was constantly into something and he wasn‟t going to get her into something that she couldn‟t get out of. “If Doctor Tuck asks you to marry him I‟ll be the first person you call and tell, because I know it‟s going to happen. Plus, I want to be the one that says I told you so.” Rayne wavered, trying to comprehend what she was hearing. Edward was placing a wager on her future with Jason when she didn‟t know when or if her memory would ever return. Anything could happen when she regained her

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memory and her heart would break if she had to leave Jason for another family she didn‟t have a clue existed at the moment. “What do I get if I win?” “Anything that you want,” Edward answered smugly. “I‟m confident that I‟m going to win.” She was momentarily speechless in surprise. She couldn‟t take Edward up on his bet. It wouldn‟t be fair. “I can‟t agree to this. I still don‟t know what the next minute will bring. So, even romanticizing about my future with Jason can‟t even take a baby step into the back of my mind,” Rayne confessed. “Okay, I understand you‟re scared about what‟s going to happen once your memory returns. However, Jason will remain a part of you. It‟s better to live in the moment now and then to regret it later on.” Rayne was caught off guard by how much she wanted Edward‟s words to be true, yet she had to keep her thoughts under control. She honestly didn‟t want to love Jason, but how could she possibly stay with him if she already had a family? Edward was trying to be a wonderful and understanding friend, yet he wasn‟t seeing the whole picture. “I hope you‟re right,” was all she could say.

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“Edward is right. No matter what happens I‟ll always be a part of your life,” a voice interrupted making the both of them jump. Rayne‟s eyes automatically found Jason standing by the opened door. “Hi,” she whispered unable to take her gaze off him. Jason looked gorgeous in his white shirt and cream-colored slacks. He looked like a Hollywood doctor straight out of the movies and he was hers for the entire night. “Hi, yourself beautiful,” Jason answered back making her heart skip a beat. “I‟m having the hardest time not coming across the room to kiss you.” “That‟s my cue to leave,” Edward said brushing past her and hurried out the room before she could tell him goodbye.

****

A tumble of unwavering thoughts and feelings assailed him as Jason came further into the room closing the door softly behind him. Coming back here to the clinic and see Rayne standing there waiting for him looking picture perfect almost brought him to his knees. Her physical therapy had gone so well, that she no longer moved slowly and she was finally smiling freely around him. It was hard on him to be at the clinic so many hours during the week and not kiss or touch Rayne as much as he craved to do. She was technically still is

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patient and there were a few rules that he had to stick with while by where inside the building, but once they walked outside all the rules would go out the door. Unless Rayne gave him a hint, she didn‟t mind him breaking the rules on the inside and he would gladly do it without a second thought. “I almost thought you would change your mind,” he stated. “I‟m glad that you didn‟t or I would have found a way to make you change your mind back.” Rayne smiled and his heart skipped a beat. “No, I want to go on this date with you. It has been such a long time since I‟ve been out to eat. The last time I went it was with the rest of the clinic to a fast food restaurant and it was okay, but not what I really wanted.” “Is that the only reason you decided to go out with me?” he asked softly. Jason faltered in the silence that engulfed them. Rayne was taking so long to answer him. “Jason, I‟ve been looking forward to spending a special moment with you and I‟m glad it‟s here. I swear I‟ll keep this night in a secret place in my heart forever.” How was he supposed to live without this woman if she belonged to someone else? Rayne fulfilled him in ways no other woman had and she did it without even trying. He wasn‟t going to let her go. He would fight for her until

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there was nothing left in him. Rayne was his in every sense of the word. Now all he had to do was help her regain her memory so they could be together. Six months had past with not one person that had shown up at Roseport Clinic looking for her. If he was her boyfriend or husband, he would travel to the end of the world to find her. Rayne was just that perfect in his eyes. She deserved nothing but the best out of life and he was the man who was going to give it to her. “I want something from you,” Jason confessed softly. He wasn‟t quite sure if Rayne was ready for this big step. Jet-black eyebrows shot up to Rayne‟s hairline. “What do you want from me?” Jason eyed the way the silky pink dress hugged Rayne‟s body while showing off her mile long dancer‟s legs. Thoughts of the limbs wrapped around his body filtered into his mind almost making him lose his train of thought. “I want you to kiss me and make it long and slow. I need to have something to dream about after our date is over tonight.” “We have kissed before so I don‟t see why it would be such a big deal,” she shrugged drawing his attention to the deep cut in the front of her outfit. Lord, was she trying to make him lose his mind tonight or what? Running his fingers through his hair, Jason shook off the painful desire that raced through

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his body. How much longer could he go on without making love to Rayne? He wanted her so bad that his teeth ached from it. “You‟re about half right. We have kissed before, but I approached you not the other way around,” Jason pointed out. For once, he craved the pleasure of Rayne planting those ideal lips of hers on his first. “So, you want to play doctor with me?” Rayne teased her voice more sultry than usual. “Do you want me to give you mouth to mouth or a physical first?” “I wouldn‟t mind a little mouth to mouth,” he confessed stripping off his jacket tossing it on the table next to him. Jason was thrilled at how quickly Rayne got into role-playing with him. “Do you ask all your female patients for this special treatment or it just me?” Rayne questioned, moving closer wrapping her arms around his neck. His cock twitched at the feel of Rayne‟s softness against his hardness. “You know that you‟re making me think about things I shouldn‟t,” he muttered brushing his nose over the side of her neck. “The dress you‟re wearing is way too sexy for a man‟s blood pressure. Where did you get it anyway?” he asked stepping back an inch or two. “It came from a box of clothing donated to the clinic. I saw it and fell in love with it. I was saving it for a special occasion. So, when you asked me out I thought about this dress.”

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If he thought he was in love with Rayne, her words just sealed the deal. Her presence gave him such unbelievable joy and pleasure. “There‟s nothing wrong with the way that piece of cloth fits you. I‟m beginning to think maybe I should take you back to my house instead of out on the town. I would hate to get into a fight because I‟m shoving men away from you.” Joy bubbled in Rayne‟s soft laughter and shine in her eyes as she shoved him playing in the shoulder. “Don‟t you dare go back on your word,” she retorted playfully. “I‟m overly excited about tonight and I won‟t allow you to back out on me, Doctor. I want to go out dancing and not think about my memory loss.” Rayne brushed past him and made a beeline for the door. Getting serious, Jason swung Rayne back into his waiting arms. “We can‟t go dancing yet. I believe you owe me something first.” He couldn‟t let Rayne know how close he was to being totally in love with her. His patience level wouldn‟t last if she kept teasing him like that. “You might have to refresh my memory,” Rayne teased trailing kisses along his jaw. “You know I have a bad memory.” Jason loved this playful side of his woman, but he wasn‟t going to tell her about the kiss again. “Nope, you have to remember on your own.” He had to block out how good Rayne‟s mouth felt on his body or they wouldn‟t make it out of this room.

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“Okay, do I owe you money?” Rayne guessed. He swallowed down a grin and shook his head. “Nope, try again.” Jason smirked then winked wondering how long Rayne was going to keep this up. “Do you want me to water the plants? They have been looking a little dry lately.” A teasing light shined in her eyes as she stared up at him. “Wrong again,” he answered loving how comfortable Rayne was with him now. She was no longer shy around him or acted like there wasn‟t something going on between the two of them. He just had to give her more time and after her memory returned, they could be together without any barriers stopping them. Titling her head to the side, Rayne‟s eyes sparkled at him while her fingers tapped against his chin. “Hmmm…Doctor Tuck, I believe I know what you want, but are you sure it‟s okay?” “I couldn‟t think of anything more perfect for us to do. I‟ll be a happy man for the rest of the night,” he confessed. What was with all the talking? Why wasn’t she getting down to business? “How can I tell you no after hearing that?” Rayne asked, looping her arms around his neck. She pressed her body closer until her nipples brushed against his shirt making his cock instantly hard. “Now, we can‟t get carried away or we‟ll miss our reservations,” she whispered the second before she finally kissed him. ****

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Rayne was finally kissing him on her own, Jason‟s mind screamed over and over. She was in his arms where she belonged. He placed his hands on her waist, holding her to him, allowing her to set the slow and steady pace of their kiss. It was long, searching and driving him totally out of his mind. He never knew Rayne‟s mouth could work like this. Why was she doing this to him? Didn‟t she realize he was a man with a very short fuse?? Didn‟t she know that he wanted to taste her sweetness? Maybe Rayne needed a little hint. Easing his tongue out, Jason ran the tip along the corners of Rayne‟s naturally full lips. “Open up for me baby. Let me taste you. I need something to get me through dinner,” he whispered hoping Rayne would comply. Purring in the back of her throat, Rayne opened her lips wide enough to allow his tongue entrance. Slipping it in, he ran it across the roof of her mouth and along the edges of her teeth. The faint taste of mint teased his taste buds pushing him to want more. The bed was so close behind him and it would only take a few steps for them to be on it, but he shoved down his baser instincts by pushing Rayne away from him. She blinked at him a couple of times as if she was coming out of a daze. ”What‟s wrong?”

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He took in her swollen lips along with her desire filled eyes and knew they had to get out of here while he was still thinking with the correct body part. “Nothing,” he lied linking his fingers with hers. “I just don‟t want us to be late for dinner.” Jason waited while Rayne grabbed her purse and jacket off the bed. It gave him time to cool his raging body. Lord if a kiss did him in like that then what would it be like when they finally made love? “I‟m ready,” Rayne said grinning at him. “Come on then gorgeous. Let‟s go. The night is young and I want to spend it with the woman I‟m falling in love with,” he whispered planting a soft kiss on Rayne‟s mouth. “Are you sure everything is okay?” Rayne asked as he escorted her from the room. “You‟re acting a little strange.” “I‟m perfect,” Jason smiled as he led Rayne down the hallway. “I‟m just glad we finally got to leave Roseport and go on a real date. I want to make this a night to remember for the both of us.” “I don‟t have any doubt that it won‟t be,” Rayne replied softly. Masculine pride filled his chest at Rayne‟s words, but he wanted to know why she was so sure. “Why did you say that? I know you were doubtful about our date earlier.”

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“How could it not be? I‟m going out with one of the sweetest men in the men in the world. Plus you aren‟t bad to look at either.” His pulse leaped at the same time his heart jumped into his throat. Rayne was opening up to him more about her feelings for him and he loved it. Calm down man and don’t jump her bones, his mind thought. Remember that she is still suffering from a memory lost. She can’t be for sure you’re one of the sweetest guys she has ever known. “Thanks, I hope you feel that away after you‟ve regained your memory,” Jason muttered softly. “Jason, listen,” Rayne said, touching his arm causing him to stop by the front door. “We both know there‟s an excellent chance I‟ll get my memory back, but I want you to understand whatever happens good or bad, I don‟t want to lose you or what we have. I promise to keep in touch.” With everything that Jason had in him, he wished Rayne could keep that promise, but she didn‟t have the ability to predict their futures, so he was going to love Rayne for as long as he had her. “Okay, beauty. I‟ll hold you to that promise until you can‟t keep it anymore.” “I‟m keeping it,” Rayne swore passionately making him fall in love with her even more. Why couldn‟t he have found her when she wasn‟t suffering from amnesia? “We‟ll see,” he answered leading her out the door into the star filled night.

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Chapter Ten India stood in the entranceway to Tamika‟s room staring at Coty as he searched through her best friend‟s personal items. Tamika‟s disappearance shocked her as well as the other members of the dance company. Everyone loved her roommate so much and was devastated by all of this. Tamika was the perfect example of what a best friend should be. Sweet, understanding, loyal and at your side at a moment‟s notice. She missed Tamika more than anything in this world, praying for her safe return every day. Fixing her headband further back on her head, India sneaked another peek at Coty Sparks from underneath her lashes. When she first saw him he reminded her of the private investigators from the old movies with his mustache. It was thick and matched perfectly with his dark brown hair that had a slight wave to it, however it was his unblinking stare that had unnerved her the most. It was as if he was asking about Tamika, but finding out about her as well. Coty was above average height maybe around six feet two inches but with the way he carried himself, he seemed taller. She couldn‟t forget how safe and comforted she had felt when Coty had held her while she cried. “Shame on me for lusting after the man who‟s trying to find my best friend,” she scolded herself.

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“India, did you say something?” Coty asked, pinning her with his captivating gray-blue eyes. “I said you must have a very understanding wife that she doesn‟t mind you working late,” India, quickly answered hoping Coty believed her. Moving away from the computer stand, Coty wrote something down in his black notebook before coming towards her. She stopped herself just in time from stepping back. This guy was oozed sex appeal. He was a far cry from the men at the dance studio. “I‟m not married,” Coty replied so low that she had to lean closer to hear him. “Oh,” was all she could say. “What about you?” he inquired bracing his hand above her head. “Do you have a boyfriend? Am I keeping you from someone by being here this late?” India couldn‟t move she was too caught up in the way Coty was making her body feel, so she just shook her head. “I can‟t hear you,” Coty grinned, displaying an adorable dimple in his left cheek. She swallowed hard and wondered did Coty know what his presence was doing to her. He had to see how quickly she was breathing. How could she possibly answer him when all she wanted to do was kiss him?

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“No, I don‟t have a boyfriend.” “Why not?” he asked. “You‟re a very beautiful woman,” Coty whispered, cupping her chin in his hand. “I figured that you would have a line of men following behind you.” India closed her eyes as Coty brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. She was dying to feel him mouth on her. She secretly wondered if his mustache would tickle. However, this wasn‟t the time to work on her love life. Coty was here at the request of Tamika‟s brother to find a clue as what could have happened to her. She couldn‟t do this with Coty. Her need to find out more about this intriguing man had to wait. Finding Tamika was so much more important, and if it was meant to be, things would fall into place after her best friend was found and brought back home safe and alive. “We can‟t” she muttered shaking her head removing Coty‟s warm touch from her body. “This isn‟t the time or place. We have to stop.” Coty sighed heavily and took a step back from her. “I apologize for my behavior. I got caught up in your beauty and lost my train of thought.” She wasn‟t going to let Coty shoulder all of the blame. She was as equally responsible. “No, I wanted to kiss as much as you,” she responded, “but I wouldn‟t feel right starting something with you right now.”

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A wicked gleam appeared in Coty‟s eyes making her wonder what caused it. “Are you willing to start something with me after Tamika is found?” The search for Tamika had been going on for so long. She was almost giving up hope that her roommate was still alive, but she was going to hold out hope until she couldn‟t anymore. Someone as sweet and kind as her best friend couldn‟t be dead. “Do you think she‟s still alive?” “Yes, I do,” Coty replied honestly. “I believe she‟s out there and is just waiting for us to find her and bring her home.” “I like the way you think. I would love for Tamika to be alive. The world wouldn‟t be the same if she were gone.” Coty wrapped his hand around her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “How about you don‟t think the negative until you know for sure? I think we need to get a cup of coffee and we can go over the night Tamika disappeared again.” India didn‟t think it would do any good, but she was willing to give it a shot if it might help her remember something new. “Alright, I would like that and I hope I can be better help tonight than I was the other day.” She sighed still wishing she had gone with Tamika that night. “Don‟t stress and you will,” Coty said as he led her away from Tamika‟s bedroom to the kitchen at the end of the hall.

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Chapter Eleven Walking next to Jason as the hostess took them to their table, Rayne felt as if she could be with the handsome man with her for the rest of her life. She couldn‟t take her eyes off how stunning Ratterman’s Restaurant was with its black and white theme. It brought out the elegance of the place. The mixture of the atmosphere wasn‟t lost on her. Several of the patrons were interracial matched or other nationalities filled with places with the other customers. Unconsciously, a small smile spread across her face, highlighting her rich brown eyes. “Please tell me what caused that smile on your lovely face, so I can keep it there the rest of the night,” Jason asked as the hostess showed them two empty seats, handed them their menus and walked away. “Oh, it was nothing,” she laughed taking the seat Jason offered. “I was just enjoying the diversity of the restaurant.” “I thought you would like it here,” Jason stated taking a seat across from her. “I found by accident and you were the only person I thought about bringing here.” “I‟m happy to be here with you too, but I want to ask you something and please be honest with me,” Rayne said.

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Sensing the seriousness of the conversation ahead of him, Jason focused his attention totally on her. He acted as whatever she had to say was so important and it made her feel so special. “Go on. Tell me what is worrying you. I promise I‟ll give you an honest answer. I won‟t lie to you. You mean too much to me for that,” Jason replied with sincerity in his voice. Taking a deep breath, Rayne looked at Jason for a few minutes before she blurted out her question. “Did you really break-up with Lisa because you thought you were in love with me? I‟ve heard the rumors around the clinic about how you were going to get married until I came along.” “I don‟t want you to put your life on hold for me when I can‟t offer you anything in return. You‟re a handsome, sweet and successful man who deserves a woman that can be at your side with her mind intact. You aren‟t going to get that with me.” “Rayne, I‟m here with you because I care about you. Some people might think it isn‟t love or it‟s too soon for those words, but I don‟t,” Jason insisted. “The first time I laid eyes on you I knew you were meant to be with me.” “But if I‟m not…” she interjected. Reaching across the table Jason pressed a finger to her mouth. “Shhh…we aren‟t going to discuss what‟s going on with you right now. We‟re going to enjoy

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each day we have together. Until I know different, you‟re my girlfriend and I‟m going to give you the world, okay?” Rayne removed Jason‟s finger from her mouth and held it in her hand and pushed all of her doubts to the back of her mind. Jason was right. They shouldn‟t be worrying about something they had no control over. “I agree. I don‟t want to waste another moment thinking about the future. I want to cherish each and every day I have with you. Now let‟s order. I‟m dying for a thick juicy steak with a side order of garlic potatoes,” Rayne grinned as she released Jason‟s finger. She glanced down at the menu missing the concerned look that passed over his face. “Rayne, what made you want to order that?” Brown eyes peeked over the menu at him, “I don‟t know,” she replied. “It kind of just came to me. Why?” Jason wasn‟t ready to voice his thoughts. He knew that he was being selfish, but he wanted Rayne for as long as he could keep her. Maybe she was really craving a steak and it had nothing to do with a flash of her memory coming back. He wasn‟t going to be paranoid. Once he learned her real name and identity, this fantasy world he was sharing with her would be over.

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“Nothing, sweetheart,” he said. “I was only wondering. Let me get a server and we can order.” Raising his hand, Jason signaled a waiter over to their table trying not to think about his worst fear could be coming true.

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Chapter Twelve

“Please tell me you have good news for me.” Those were the first words Coty heard when he took a seat in front of his client. “I‟m sorry but I‟m still hitting a brick wall. India doesn‟t have a clue were Tamika went when she left the house. I even checked with the police about your sister‟s car and nothing has come up. No one has made any calls from her phone or used any of her credit cards. It‟s almost like she has vanished without a trace.” “Mr. Sparks, that isn‟t what I wanted to hear. I was hoping you would have more for me. My baby sister is out there. She‟s probably scared and wondering why I haven‟t found her,” Greg Yardley uttered. “Mr. Yardley, I‟ve faith Tamika is still alive, but it‟s hard for me to move on without anything new to go on. I‟ve asked India this question. Now, I‟ll pick your brain. Did you sister mention to you at all about her plans?” “No, I talked to Tamika earlier in the day and she was coming by later for dinner with India and she never mentioned going anywhere. I knew she was nervous about the dance program, but she always got anxious before a performance.”

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“Do you think someone at the dance company had something against Tamika? India told me how she was quickly moving up and about to get her own solo.” “Everyone at Resolutions loved Tamika. I know for sure no one there would harm her. They loved her way too much.” Crossing his legs, Cody leaned back in his seat. “There has to be something that we aren‟t seeing. I‟ve a few contracts left on the police force I haven‟t tried and some ideas I would to dive into a little further. I‟m going to call them first thing tomorrow morning.” “Please do that,” Greg said. “I did rerun the missing person‟s ad about Tamika in the newspaper. I paid for a three month ad.” “Did you see how much it would cost to have it placed in out-of-town papers, too? If it‟s not too much I think you should think about doing that too. You never know, maybe it‟ll be the missing link or clue to finding Tamika.” Hope made Greg Yardley‟s eyes shine. “Do you think that Tamika might be out of town and that‟s why we can‟t find her locally? I hadn‟t thought about that. I‟ll call the newspaper and have them run it. The price doesn‟t matter. I want my sister back.” Coty didn‟t want to give Grey false hope, but if Tamika wasn‟t showing up within the city limits, she might have been taken out of town against her will. It

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was a long shot, but worth taking to find something out about this missing woman. “How about we run the ad and see what happens?” he suggested. “I‟ve an excellent feeling we‟ll hit luck with this.” “God, I hope so, because I‟m not ready to believe that my sister is dead,” Greg muttered underneath is breath.

****

Rayne paused dead in her tracks at the sight of the dozen red roses sitting on the stand by her bed. She wasn‟t excepting to see anything like this after coming back from working out. They hadn‟t been there when she left. “Oh, they‟re beautiful,” she whispered rushing over to them and taking a whiff. “I think I know of someone more beautiful than those flowers,” Jason whispered behind her before a soft kiss was placed beneath her ear. “Oh, you do,” she asked. Spinning around, Rayne wrapped her arms around Jason‟s neck. “Have I ever told you how sexy you look in your white lab coat?” Jason‟s wide hand cupped her butt and yanked her closer to his body. His erection poked in her stomach making her realize how much she wanted him in her bed. “Doctor, it seems like you have a problem.”

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“The only problem I have is I can‟t spend more time with you. You‟re always gone out or doing something in another part of them building. Plus, I have patients that I need to see.” Planting a small kiss on her mouth, Jason stepped away from her. “I understand you‟re busy. Do you realize in less than a month I‟ll be out of here? I‟m so excited and scared at the same time,” she confessed. “However, I can‟t wait until I have a place to call my own. Everyone at Roseport has been wonderful to me, but I‟m ready to be out there with other people. I feel like I‟ve been here too long as it is.” “Rayne, you‟re welcome to stay here as long as you want. I know you‟re better and all your doctors are going to sign off on your papers this week, but don‟t rush away because of that.” Rayne wasn‟t dumb. She knew the real reason Jason wanted her to stay, but she couldn‟t. She had to get back into the world and find out who she was. If there was going to be a future between the two of them, she had to go to grips with her missing past. “No, I need to leave so a true sick person can have this room. It‟s time for me to be on my own and we both know it. Who knows maybe something will trigger a memory. I‟m tired of wondering about myself.”

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Sliding his hands into the pockets of his lab coat, Jason watched her for a second or two as if he wanted to say something, but he didn‟t have all the words. “I have a suggestion,” he finally said breaking the silence. “I don‟t know if you‟ll like it or not.” “Why don‟t you move in with me? I‟ve plenty of room and you know how much I love you. I‟d love more than anything to have you under my roof,” he smiled, displaying the boyish charm she loved so much. “I‟ll cook a romantic meal for us and we can celebrate Valentine‟s Day together. Afterwards we can snuggle up on the couch.” “I can‟t believe you!” An irate voice shouted coming into the room shocking the both of them. “You never wanted me to move in with you, but you offering Rayne a place in your home with open arms. What in the hell is wrong with you?” Lisa demanded. Jason turned his attention and glanced at Lisa over his shoulder. Rayne wondered if anyone else in the place could hear Jason‟s ex-girlfriend. She wasn‟t talking low, so she was positive Lisa‟s voice was traveling down the long hallway. “Lisa, this isn‟t the time or place to get into this,” Jason scolded, moving away from her. “If you want to speak with me, come to my office.” She watched Jason‟s placed his hand on Lisa‟s shoulder and try to lead her from the room, but Lisa shook off his touch. “No, you aren‟t going to drag me away

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like a disobedient child. I‟ve a right to speak my mind in here. You aren‟t going to brush me under the rug.” “I‟m not trying to do that, but you can‟t be tossing out lies like that. I‟ve told you before that Rayne had nothing to do with our break-up,” Jason argued back in front of her. “We didn‟t break up. You got rid of me for her,” Lisa accused pointing a finger in her direction, “and we both know why.” Rayne was starting to feel uncomfortable listening to Lisa challenge Jason about their past and decide this would be the perfect time for her to make a break for it. Regis and Kelly was about to come on anyway and she never missed an episode of it since she came to Roseport. For some peculiar reason, she was drawn to it. “Maybe, I should leave so the two of you can talk,” she suggested. Slowly, she tried to slip past Jason, but he grabbed her by the arm. “Rayne, you don‟t have to leave your own room because of us.” “I think it would be best if I left. It‟s almost time for my favorite show to come on. Besides, I don‟t think that I need to be in here for you. You and Lisa need to talk things out. We can‟t move on with both of our pasts holding us.” Brushing Jason‟s touch off her body, Rayne moved around Lisa and hurried out the room.

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****

Lisa glowered at the back of Rayne‟s head with envy mingled with hate. She hated that woman so much that her whole body ached from it. Rayne was able to accomplish something with Jason that she had been trying to do for six years. Rayne worked her way into the deepest part of Jason‟s heart. No, she wasn‟t head over heels in love with Jason, but she cared for him and dreamt of starting a family. They were a good-looking couple who shared similar interests. It was just unbelievable how Jason tossed her away like yesterday‟s newspaper. His new found love for the mysterious and alluring Rayne „whatever her real name might be’ didn‟t make any sense. She wasn‟t going to let Jason go without a fight. He was in love with an illusion. She heard of how doctors fell in love with some patients after they saved their lives and that was what Jason was experiencing. He wasn‟t in love with Rayne, but the fact that he rescued her. He didn‟t know a damn thing about the real woman. When Rayne‟s memory came back and she ran back to her family, she could be here to help Jason get through his momentarily pain or grief.

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“You shouldn‟t have made Rayne leave like that. She‟s a wonderful young woman and doesn‟t deserve your hate. If you want to dislike someone than pick me, I was the one who chose to break things off with you.” Lisa couldn‟t get over at what a good guy Jason was. He was taking the blame for falling for that poor me Rayne act. She wasn‟t mad at him because Jason constantly saw the good in every one. He wasn‟t used to people using him just for a means to an end. Rayne should have left months ago, but she batted those big brown eyes, flashed her cute little smile and made Jason fall at her feet. “Rayne put you up to it. She shouldn‟t have stayed as long as she had. It‟s time to pack her up and send her on her way. I‟m sure she won‟t have a problem in the world. Pretty people like her always land on their feet. You don‟t have to open your home to her.” “Lisa, you need to come to grips with the fact we grew apart long before Rayne came into our lives.” Jason looked at her with a sad look on his face. As if she didn‟t understand what he was conveying to her. “I‟m not stupid, so stop giving me that damn look. Sure we were having our up and downs, but what couple doesn‟t? We would have worked things out if you hadn‟t brought Rayne into our lives. You need to let her go.” “I didn‟t bring Rayne into our lives,” Jason corrected. “She was injured and I‟ve been talking care of her. I can‟t help that I fell in love with her.”

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“You‟re not in love with her!” Lisa screamed then calmed down when Jason shot her a look. “Lisa, I know how I feel about Rayne and nothing you say will change that. She‟s going to be with me after she gets released in a couple of weeks. I‟m going to help her get her memory back, so we can move ahead with our future. I hope you understand and find a way to do the same.” “I‟ll never understand and I‟ll never move on. If I can‟t be happy, I‟ll sure as hell make you that you aren‟t either,” Lisa swore then spun on her heel storming for the door. “Is that a threat?” Jason shouted after her. Opening the door, she paused in the middle then looked back over her shoulder. Jason stood behind her looking like the picture perfect doctor with his white lab coat and stethoscope hanging around his neck. “Jason, it‟s more than a threat. It‟s a promise. I‟m not going to let Rayne be happy with the man I‟m in love with. Your time is coming and I can‟t wait until you get yours.” She continued out the door slamming it shut behind her.

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Chapter Thirteen

Rayne picked up the remote and fell down on the couch as everyone else filed out of the recreation room. She moved around on the couch until she got more comfortable. She had already missed the first ten minutes of Regis and Kelly waiting for the other patients to clear out. For the last three months, she had been hooked on watching this show and she was clueless to the reason why. There was something about the show, that she felt connected to but she did not know why. Like it was in her subconscious calling to her not to miss an episode. Besides, it gave her an excuse to get out of the line of fire inside her room. Lisa wasn‟t about to let Jason be with her. She wanted Jason for herself and would do everything in her power to get him back. However, she was in love with Jason and wasn‟t about to let him go without a fight. He made her feel whole despite her memory loss. Jason undying love was the only thing holding her together. Without him in her life she would have given up a long time ago. Jason was literally her knight in shining armor. He was loving, understanding, and sexy as hell to boot. How could she possibly think about not

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moving in with him after she got out of here? Spending time with Jason at the clinic was fantastic, so it could only get better after they were under the same roof. It would allow her more opportunities to show Jason how much she truly wanted to be with him. The need to make love with Jason was driving her crazy. Each touch and light kiss made her want to rip his clothes off, but she never did. In the back of her mind, she was worried that she might be married with a house full of kids. Could the person she was involved with get over the fact that she cheated on him? Would amnesia be a good excuse? “I‟m not going to worry about that. I‟m madly in love with Jason. Nothing else matters, but showing him how much,” Rayne mumbled under her breath. “You‟re not going to show Jason a damn thing, but the back of your head as you walk out that door,” Lisa snapped moving from the back of the room. How in the hell did she miss the sound of Lisa coming into the room? Rayne slowly rose to her feet and spun around to face Lisa. This chick was really beginning to get on her nerves. Why couldn‟t she get it through her thick head? What would it take for her to finally realize that Jason didn‟t want her anymore? God…this was beginning to become an obsession with Lisa. “When are you going to let this go? Jason is with me and I want to be with him. We‟re in love with each other. I know it may seem strange to you, but that is how it is,” she explained wanting Lisa to leave her alone.

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“You snippy little bitch. You‟re going to pay for that,” Lisa threatened. “Just wait, when you least expect it your whole world is going to turn upside down. Turnabout is fair play.” “Lisa, I‟m not trying to be mean,” Rayne said the calmest voice that she could. She understood that Lisa was hurting, but that didn‟t give her the right to lash out. “I‟m truly sorry if you‟re hurt. I never meant to fall in love with Jason. It just happened.” “I don‟t want your sympathy. All I want you to understand is Jason was mine first and I‟m not going to give him up.” Lisa‟s threat hung in the air. “Jason, isn‟t a piece of property that either one of us owns. He has his own mind and he made his decision. Please let it go.” Rayne wanted to be nice, but Lisa was making it near impossible. “I‟ll let it go as soon as I think the both of you have what‟s coming to you. I don‟t like being made a fool of. So, you better watch out Rayne, because one way or another I‟m going to get you. You stole Jason from me and you‟ve to pay for that.” The hairs on the back of Rayne‟s neck stood up. Lisa was taking her breakup with Jason far too seriously. She had never felt threatened by Jason‟s exgirlfriend before. Yet, Lisa was scaring the hell out of her at this moment. What

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did the other woman have planned for her? Should she tell Jason about this or let it go? “Lisa, I‟m not going to do this with you. You need to leave me alone.” Rayne wasn‟t happy Jason pulled her into the middle of this. They would have a long talk about it later. “I‟ll go, but remember what I said.” Lisa spun on her heel and stormed out the door, slamming it closed behind her. Rayne stood still as the room vibrated with the hatred left behind by Lisa. No, it was time for her to go. She wasn‟t sure if she could make it to the end of next week. She promised Jason to stay until Valentine‟s Day, but after that one on one with Lisa, she wasn‟t so sure. “Calm down. Don‟t get all excited over her,” she mumbled to herself as she retook her seat. Turning the volume up, Rayne listened as Regis and Kelly talked about their next guest coming up after the commercial break.

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Chapter Fourteen Rayne relaxed in the chair as she thought about how she was going to handle the situation with Jason. She was really beginning to care about him deeply, but how could she think about being with him? He was available, however she wasn‟t not completely anyway. God, this situation she was in was killing her. She wanted a man who wanted her back, yet his jealous ex-girlfriend was pissed and vengeful. So that made it even harder for her to give in to all she desired with Jason. Should she just throw caution to the wind and not care what happened in the future? She had to live the life that she had right now and nothing else. What if she never remembered her past and missed out on a wonderful future with Jason? It wasn‟t right that she denied what was happening between the two of them. She‟ll never forget the first time she saw her Jason. She had opened her eyes and he was leaning over her checking her pulse. Her heart had caught in her throat by how handsome and sexy he was. It was like the most perfect man she had ever laid eyes on. “Okay, I‟m going to make a decision about Jason and soon. I can‟t keep going back and forth like this with him,” she muttered to herself. “He‟s been so understanding and patient with me. It‟s time I did something for him.”

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Did she go with her heart or did she go with her head. Both parts were having a battle within her and she didn‟t know which one was going to win. Jason had been so understanding and sweet lately and it killed her not be give him what he wanted. Ideas raked through her mind as she tried to think of a way to get Jason to know how she truly felt about him. Whatever she did had to shock the hell out of him, because he thought that he knew her so well. She had to prove him wrong. Focusing her attention back on the television she noticed that the dancers were getting their selves in position to dance. She still didn‟t understand why she was so fond of this show, but she was. No matter what was going on she always found the time to watch this one particular show. Does this have something to do with her past? As the show was about the announce the name of their next guest a voice came over the intercom paging a on staff doctor causing Rayne to miss the name of the dance company she had waited for over fifteen minutes to see. “I can‟t believe that happened.” She tried to stay calm, but she was pissed off. “Now, I don‟t even know their names. Great…first Lisa and now this,” she groaned. What else could go wrong with her day? Shaking her disappointment off at missing the dance company‟s name, Rayne got more comfortable in her seat to watch as the dancers started to perform.

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The brightly colored outfits caught her attention the second the dance group came out. Leaning forward, she couldn‟t believe how well the dancers worked together. One didn‟t move without the other being right there, but something about them seemed so familiar. Rayne massaged her temple as a pounding started at the side of her head. She couldn‟t shake the feeling that she knew something about the people on the television. It was as if the moves were calling to her. “God, why do I feel so connected to them,” she whispered as the camera focused on the lead female performer‟s face. An eerie feeling came over her as another pain shot through her already pounding temple. “I know her,” Rayne uttered as the female‟s face started to get closer and closer. “Come on, show me her face.” Her heart sped up in her chest as the woman got closer to the cameraman. A white headband pushed her thick hair back off her face. Anticipation made her skin crawl because Rayne somehow knew that these dancers were part of her past. She didn‟t know how she knew but she just did. They were calling to that past in her mind that she was trying to unlock and couldn‟t for the past six months.

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Just as the woman‟s face was about to be shown the cameraman shot away and focused on a man in the group. Rayne couldn‟t keep the scream from erupting from her throat as she dropped to her knees and crawled over to the television. “Please show her again. I‟m sure that I know her,” Rayne whispered as her fingers touched the screen. She shook her head as a sharp pain shot behind her eyes. A sickening feeling came over her as the cameraman totally moved away from the girl as the dance routine came to end. She had to find out who they were because there was something about the woman that was so familiar to her. “Oh my God…Rayne Are you in pain? Is that why you‟re on the floor?” Jason whispered falling on the floor next to her. She had been so transfixed by what was going on with the television that she hadn‟t even heard when he came through the door. She wasn‟t a little nervous about telling Jason about the dancer, but it had to been a good sign her memory was coming back. He would be happy for her. “I think I might be getting my memory back.” “What are you talking about?” he asked touching the side of her face. “Have you hit your head or something?” Rayne shook her head. “No, I was watching one of the dancers on Regis and Kelly and something seemed so familiar about her. I know that I know her. I‟m positive about it.”

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“Rayne, I know you want to get your memory back, but are you positive that you know her? She could have one of those faces that you think you know,” Jason suggested touching the side of her face. Rayne knocked Jason‟s hand off her face. “NO! It isn‟t like that. I‟m sure I know her. Her face is so…I‟m not trying to see something that isn‟t there. God…why can‟t I remember her name,” she cried rubbing a finger between her eyes. “Baby, I don‟t want you to make yourself sick,” Jason whispered by her ear. He wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her against his chest. “Just calm down and we can figure this out.” “Jason, I‟m hoping this is a sign. Maybe this woman might know who I am. I‟m positive my mind isn‟t playing tricks on me. I know her…I‟m sure of it.” “How about we get you up off this floor and I get you something to eat. Food might help you out with this. If you get your mind off trying to recall her name maybe it will come to you.” She let Jason pull her up off the floor, but she didn‟t let him take her out of the room. “I can‟t leave. I‟ve to wait and see if they show her again. It might trigger something to help me.”

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“Honey, listen your condition is very sensitive and pushing yourself might make you have a setback. I only want to take you to the cafeteria for some lunch and nothing else. I promise.” Rayne didn‟t want to go, but she was starving and she doubted that the program was going to show the woman again. However, she wasn‟t going to give up hope that more would come to her about the dancer. Jason was trying to go along with her, but she knew that he didn‟t believe her, but she was going to prove him wrong. This was going to be the first step in regaining her memory and helping her to get closer to Jason. The faster her past came back to her the sooner she could spend the rest of her life with the man she loved. It was only a matter of time now.

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Chapter Fifteen Jason couldn‟t get the look on Rayne‟s face out of his mind. She looked so damn happy about that dancer. She couldn‟t be getting her memory back because if she was that meant their time was coming to an end faster than he wanted. He still had so many things that he wanted to do with her. No, he wasn‟t going to believe this was happening to him. Rayne was finally opening up to him and after their amazing dinner, he wasn‟t ready to lose her. She was just under a lot of pressure and after her run-in with Lisa she just thought she knew the woman on television. Yet, he could be going about this the wrong way. This could be a good thing. Rayne‟s memory coming back could be a very good thing. It might prove that she wasn‟t married or had a boyfriend. With that her past, finally out in the open they could be together and he could finally be with the woman he was crazy about. Was he willing to chance it all to get Rayne or was he strong enough to let her go if the time came? Jason hated to feel selfish like this, but he couldn‟t help it. Ever since he saw Rayne in the alleyway, something about her made him want to protect her. Sitting down on the bed, he dropped his head into his hands. He felt so torn and he wasn‟t sure what to do about it at all.

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Rayne had looked so happy while they had lunch today. Like today had been the best day of her life and she didn‟t have a clue he felt like his was coming to an end. “What am I going to do about this? I know Rayne is going to try to find out about that dance team. She‟s persistent like that. Once she has her mind set on thing, she doesn‟t give up on it easily.” Was there a way he could beat her to the punch and find out more about this first? He could feed pieces of information to her little by little and slowly help her memory return. Maybe with him being there the process wouldn‟t happen as quickly. He wasn‟t trying to keep her past from her. All he wanted to do was keep Rayne with him as long as possible. He was sure there was someone out there looking for here. Rayne was too remarkable a woman to be all alone in the world. Could he be the better man and let her go without a fight? Would she even want him to fight for her after all her memories came back? It just pained him too much to even think about it. Valentine‟s Day was getting closer and closer every day. He had thought he would be spending it with the woman that he loved but in reality he might be spending it alone with a box of pizza in front of the television watching old episodes of Law and Order. “Hey, I‟m not a quitter and I‟m not giving up on Rayne without a fight. She might have had someone before her accident, but she has me now. I‟m not leaving

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her until she tells me to get out of her life.” Jason shook off the funk he was in and decided to get ready for bed. Tomorrow was a new day and Rayne might have more memories resurface. Whatever happened, he was always going to love her.

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Chapter Sixteen “What do you think about the ad?” Greg asked shoving the sample paper towards India and Coty. “I think the picture of Tamika is perfect. It was one of her promotional photos, which I had done for her. I never knew what I would be using it for this,” he said, trying to not break down. “I think she looks beautiful and the color photo makes her seem so real,” India replied picking up the paper. “I know this bound to draw some attention. Tamika is alive and this will bring her back to us, don‟t you think so?” Greg watched as India handed the ad over to Coty. He knew he spent a lot of money to get a full paper spread with the $100,000 plastered across the top. He didn‟t want to hear a lecture from the private investigator. “Mr. Yardley, this is amazing. I don‟t know how you did it but you did. I can tell how much you love your paper sister from this. I truly hope that it will bring in all the information that you want,” Coty replied sliding the newspaper‟s ad about Tamika‟s back across the table to him. “I know it will. I paid for the ad to run in all the papers surrounding the next three counties and two surrounding states. If Tamika is out there, this will bring her back to us.”

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**** She felt his lips touch hers like a soft whisper, but she didn‟t let on that she was awake. Rayne wanted to see how far Jason was going to go with this stunt of his. She knew it was him, the moment he walked into the room and closed the door. Her body just got all hot and bothered when he was within ten feet of her. He brushed a tender kiss across her forehead before he moved his way down her cheek until he finally paused at her mouth. “Rayne, you‟re so stunning. I love being in your presence. Just the sound of your voice makes me so happy,” he confessed then claimed her mouth with his. Parting her lips, she slid her hands through his thick hair and raised her body to meet his. As always, Jason‟s kiss sent a swirl of emotions through her body that she couldn‟t ever push to the back. She didn‟t push him away when his hand slipped into the front of her gown and cupped her breast. Her nipples were aching for his touch and it was time they both did something about it. “Jason…please,” she begged into his mouth as she squirmed on the bed. “What do you want baby?” he asked nibbling at her lips. “I want you so bad. I can‟t hold back much longer. Don‟t you want me?” “God…don‟t ask me that while we here at the clinic,” he complained, pressing his forehead against hers. “You know that I can‟t do anything about it.”

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Smiling, Rayne unbuttoned Jason‟s shirt and ran her hand across his chest. “So, are you saying that you do want to make love to me?” Pressing her palm against his heart, Jason lifted his head and looked into her eyes. “I‟ve wanted to be with you since the movement I found you in the alley, but I couldn‟t. You mean more to me than you‟ll ever know.” “Are you trying to make me fall further in love with you?” she asked loving how good it felt to be with Jason like this. “Yes I am. Is it working?” Rayne knew right at that movement she was totally in love with Jason and wanted a future with him. Whatever flashes of memory she may or may not be having, wasn‟t going to stop them. Jason was the man for her. “It sure is,” she whispered removing her hand. “I‟ve something to tell you.” “What is it?” Jason frowned as he fixed his shirt and joined her on the bed. “I don‟t like the sound of this.” “I had a dream about the girl from the dance team last night and I almost remembered her name. Just as it was about to come to me I woke up.” Rayne hated that when she was finally ready to admit to her feelings about Jason that part of her memory was coming back. “I don‟t want this to happen. I can‟t lose you,” she cried, wrapping her arms around Jason‟s neck. “I rather not recall a thing if that means I can‟t be with you.”

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Jason ran his back down the back of her hair. “Hey, it‟s going to be okay. We are going to get through this. The girl from the television might be able to help us more than you think. We shouldn‟t think of it as something bad, it might be the best thing for us.” “What do you mean?” she asked, leaning back in Jason‟s arms. “She could tell us that you‟re single and then we can be together. Let‟s not think about the worst until we have to.” Brushing away her tears, Rayne nodded then smiled. “You‟re right. How about you leave, so I can get dressed and you can take me out to breakfast?” “I‟ve a better suggestion,” Jason grinned. “How about I lock the door and have my way with you on the bed? I‟m sure none of the staff will miss me.” “As much I would love to say yes, I‟m dying for some blueberry pancakes, bacon and orange juice. Do you think you can handle that?” “I can handle anything you toss my way.” Standing up, Jason pushed back the cover and pulled her out of bed. “I‟ll be back in forty-five minutes, so be ready.” He planted a quick kiss on her mouth, squeezed her butt and went out the door. Rayne stood by her bed and looked out the open door. “I love him so much. It doesn‟t matter that we‟ve only knew each other for months. I have to find a way to show him how much I care before my memory completely comes back and I might not be able to.”

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Chapter Seventeen Standing in the semi-empty room, Lisa watched as the movers packed up her stuff and headed out to the moving van with it. She hated that Jason wasn‟t taking any of her phone calls. He even had her banned from the clinic. His assistant had brought all of her belongings by yesterday and gave them to her. Rayne had no business telling Jason about their conversation in the recreation room. Who in the hell did she think she was? Jason was hers and Valentine‟s Day had always been their special day. It wasn‟t right that he was going to be spending it with a woman he found lying on the street. Shit! How did her plan go so wrong? It wasn‟t supposed to be like this. Jason was still under Rayne‟s spell and she couldn‟t think of a way to bring him back. “Damn it! Jason was mine! I‟m pissed that I lost him!” Lisa screamed in the empty room. Going over to a stack of newspapers, she tore off the first page and wrapped a plate placing it in the box she reached for another dish and repeated the process. “Why can‟t I have any luck? I spent have the last six years of my life with Jason and nothing to show for it. I deserve to get something for the time I wasted with him.”

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Lisa was reaching for another section of the newspaper when her hand stopped in mid-air. “Shit, this can‟t be possible!” Picking up the newspaper, she tore off the front and raced over to the kitchen window. She didn‟t know how long she stared at the color photo before it finally dawned on her that she was going to be rich. Taking a deep breath, she slowly read the color ad on the front paper.

$100,000 Reward For information on Missing Woman Tamika Yardley, 26 5‟ 9” 125 pounds Missing since 08/27/07 Please contact Greg Yardley (299) 555-1212

“Jackpot,” Lisa screamed holding the paper to her chest. She told Jason that she would pay him back for breaking her heart and now she had the way to do it in the palm of her hand.

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Going over to her purse lying on the counter, Lisa found her phone and dialed the number; she prayed that she wasn‟t too late. She deserved this money and if luck was on her side, it would be hers. Hell, with that much money she would not need Jason or Rayne…no, Tamika, in her life. “Hello,” a deep baritone voice answered. “Yes, may I speak to Mr. Yardley?” “Speaking.” “Mr. Yardley, my name is Lisa Hooper and I have information about your sister, Tamika.” “Ms. Hooper, you‟re the twentieth person that has called about information about my sister. Not one of them was telling the truth; how do I know that you are?” Greg Yardley accused. “I‟m getting tired of these false leads on Tamika.” So, Rayne was his sister and not his wife. She was disappointed by that, but it still didn‟t mean she couldn‟t have a husband or boyfriend. “Your sister has been staying at the Roseport Clinic for the past six months. My boyfri….boss found her in an alleyway all bruised up. The clinic has been taking care of her ever since because she doesn‟t remember a thing about her past.” “You still could be lying to me, Ms. Hooper.” Think…think….how could she prove that Rayne and Tamika were the same person. “Do you have a fax machine?”

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“Yes, I do. It‟s the same number that you‟ve called me on,” Greg answered, “but what does that have to do with anything?” “I can fax a picture of the woman at the clinic. Since we didn‟t know her name we have been calling her Rayne.” “Ms. Hooper, I‟m getting really tired of people wasting my time.” Lisa couldn‟t keep the satisfied smirk off her mouth. “Oh, I can promise you Mr. Yardley I‟m not wasting your time. After I fax you this picture, tomorrow we can work out the details of how you‟re going to pay me.” She ended the phone call before Greg Yardley could answer her. “Jason, I told you that your time was coming and it has arrived. I only wish I was going to be around to see the pain on your face.” Whistling to herself, Lisa left the room straight in the direction where she knew there was a picture of Rayne in her house.

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Chapter Eighteen Jason knew the rest of the staff wanted to know why he was so happy, but he wasn‟t about to let them in on his little secret. Today was a special day for him and Rayne. He had it all planned out in his mind. He was going to help her pack up all of her stuff so, she could leave Roseport early and have time to move in with him. After they had her all settle into his place, he was going to fix a special dinner for them and they would make love in front of the fireplace until neither could move. All he had thought about lately was how it would feel to be able to wake up with Rayne wrapped in his arms, finally. The last couple of days she had been kind of distant with him because she getting flashes of her past, but it wasn‟t enough for her to piece together. Rayne would kill him if she knew he had met with her doctor yesterday about her memory returning. Everything she was experiencing was normal in patients with her conditions. Dr. Menda even told him all it might take was someone from her past to let the flood gates wide open. “Please, don‟t let anything happen until I get a chance to show Rayne how much I care about her. I‟ll be at her side no matter what, but I want us to at least have Valentine‟s Day with each other.”

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He was certain now that Rayne was in love with him. He could tell by the way that she was acting around him. She would look at him when she didn‟t think he noticed. In the last couple of days, she had gotten this air of self-confidence he wasn‟t used to, but it only enhanced her beauty in his eyes. Pausing in front of Rayne‟s closed door, Jason got himself back under control just in case another staff member was in there with her. Rayne wasn‟t ready to let everyone know about their relationship. He thought it was so sweet how she wanted to keep them a secret that he couldn‟t tell her everyone already knew about them. “Rayne…do you need any help with those boxes?” he asked pushing open the door. He stopped in his tracks at the sight of the empty room. The box was in the middle of the bed, but Rayne was nowhere in sight. Where in the hell was she? “Dr. Tuck, are you looking for Rayne?” Spinning around, he glanced down at Kris standing behind him. He had only met the girl a few times since she only volunteered on certain days. “Yes, I am. Could you tell me where she is?” “She went into town with some other patients. I don‟t think she‟ll be back until dinner time. She told me to tell you not to wait for her. She would see you tomorrow before she checked out.”

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This couldn‟t be right. Rayne knew he was coming; Kris had to have misunderstood her. “Are you sure? Rayne knew I was coming,” he replied. “Yes, she told me to come back at this time to tell you. Sorry, I don‟t know more.” Kris gave him a sad smile and then hurried away leaving him standing there dazed and confused. He stood in the hallway as he searched his mind anxiously for any reason for Rayne‟s sudden disappearance. He didn‟t want to think the worst. Rayne had regained her memory and spilt so she wouldn‟t hurt him. No, fate wouldn‟t be that cruel to him. Lisa wouldn‟t get her way like this. In his heart, he had always feared this might happen to him, but not the day before Valentine‟s Day. A cold knot formed in his stomach and it pushed him to leave. Mentally, he couldn‟t handle doing anything much today. He had to get home to think some things through. Jason strolled away from the room, nodding to a few of his coworkers as he left the clinic. Outside in the parking lot, Jason took several deep breaths and got his emotions under control before he got into his car and drove off. However, he was still too upset to notice the slight movement in the backseat under a couple of thick blankets.

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Chapter Nineteen “I can‟t believe that Rayne didn‟t want to see me,” Jason mumbled as he went upstairs to his bedroom. “This is our last night together. She‟s getting released tomorrow and I‟m not even sure if she going to move in with me. Why is she doing this to me?” He spent the better part of an hour trying to find out where Rayne was hiding in the clinic, but he couldn‟t find her. How could she do this to him…no, to them? She had to know he would want to see her tonight out of all nights. He had so many things to say to her, but now he couldn‟t. He wasn‟t about to force himself on her. If she was trying to tell him that she wanted so space then he was going to listen. She should know by now how he felt about her and if she didn‟t, then that was her fault and not his. Tomorrow he would have to find something to do to keep his mind off Rayne leaving his life. “Rayne doesn‟t want me around when she leaves and she won‟t have me. I‟m not going to wear my heart on my sleeve any longer. I can stay at home and not think about her. I know I can.” Jason swore as he pushed open his bedroom door. Instead of stopping in the bedroom to get undressed as he usually did, Jason headed straight for his bathroom. All he wanted to do was take a hot shower and

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sleep through the next twenty four hours. Whatever he did, he couldn‟t let thoughts of Rayne fill his mind or he‟ll go crazy.

****

Standing at the side of the bed Rayne twisted her hands in front of her; she couldn‟t believe that she was doing this. This was so unlike her, but it felt so good being bad. The figure asleep meant so much to her and she couldn‟t leave without them have this night together, because tomorrow was going to change the rest of her life. “Okay….I can do this. It‟s your time to show him how much he means to you. He has been there and now it‟s your turn,” she whispered, as she slowly stripped out of her clothes turning back the covers she slid in the bed next to Jason.

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Chapter Twenty Rayne didn‟t know how long she lay in the bed next to Jason wondering if she should she go through with her plan. He was probably still mad at her about this afternoon, but she had needed to find a way to sneak into his car. Thank God, Kris had helped her. So now was finally the time she gave into what she wanted with Jason. Kneeling beside him on the bed, she traced the side of his face with her hand. “Jason?” He brushed her hand away from his face, but he didn‟t say a word. Taking a deep breath, she tried again. “Jason?” Still he was dead to the world and her courage was starting to fade. Maybe this was a huge mistake and she should leave. Could she leave and find a way back to the clinic without Jason ever knowing that she was here? “No, I can do this,” she sighed, “Jason, wake up.” Rayne gave Jason‟s a shoulder a little shake and waited, but nothing happened. Disappointment shook her, but she brushed it aside. She didn‟t have time for self-pity. She moved to get out of the bed when strong fingers wrapped around her wrist.

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“Have you ever heard that you‟re supposed to kiss me awake?” Jason‟s semiawake husky sexy voice, asked her before he yanked her down to his chest. “What are doing here? How did you get here? I pray that this time it isn‟t a dream.” Smiling, Rayne planted a kiss on Jason‟s mouth and didn‟t stop until she felt he knew this wasn‟t a dream. “Do you think I‟m a dream now?” she asked running her fingers through the hair on his chest. “Baby, if you‟re a dream, I don‟t want to awake up,” Jason growled pulling her completely on his body. “Are you here for a reason?” “Well, I‟m naked in your bed and it‟s the middle of the night. Do you need another hint why I‟m here?” she asked nibbling at his ear. “Are you sure about this?” he asked brushing her hair back from her face as he made her look into his eyes. “You know that I do love you, don‟t you?” “Yes, to both questions. I‟m here because I feel the same why. So how about we stop talking and enjoy our time together?” Rayne was tired of fearing what would happen tomorrow. She was going to live in the moment. “That‟s all I needed to hear,” Jason said then kissed her.

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Chapter Twenty-One Cupping her breast in his hand Jason ran his thumb over the tip and smiled when Rayne whimpered and looked at him. “Do you like that?” he asked repeating the motion of his thumb. “Yes,” she moaned softly. “I like it too, sweetheart,” he confessed. Jason couldn‟t get over how silky smooth Rayne‟s skin felt. He could spend the rest of the night in bed learning each special spot. Jason wasn‟t going to waste any time thinking about what the future held for him and Rayne. Tonight was theirs and he was going to enjoy every second of it. His hands explored the soft line of her waist and the flare of her hips. It was as if her body had been custom made just for him to love. Rayne squirmed beneath him, her body eager for his touch. Smiling, he leaned down and nibbled between her shoulder and collarbone. “Oh, that feels so good,” she panted running her fingers through his hair. The warmth of her soft flesh was intoxicating and it pushed him to learn more about all the areas Rayne wanted him to love. “Don‟t hold back, babe. Let me know how much you want me.”

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“Okay,” she whimpered running her nails down his back as her legs entwined with his. It was too much for him to take. He pulled Rayne up until she was kneeling with him in the middle of the bed. Slipping his hand behind her neck, he tilted her head so he could nibble at her jaw. A harsh groan escaped from him mouth when place her hand in the middle of his chest. Her faint touch was almost his undoing; he arched her body back and clamped his mouth over her breast. Pulling her hard nipple in his mouth, he sucked until Rayne‟s cries reverberated through the room. His cock grew harder knowing he brought Rayne a release with only his mouth on her breast. “Baby, are you okay?” he asked as he held her shivering body to his. “God, that was so good,” she purred rubbing her chest against his. “Do you think I can get a little more of you?” Jason grabbed Rayne‟s hand and wrapped his around his throbbing erection. He was more than ready to give her something for the rest of the night. “I think I can give you what you want.” He bit back a moan as Rayne‟s thumb brushed the tip. Removing her hand, he kissed the palm and laid it against his chest. “Rayne, this is the most important thing that will ever happen between us and I want it to be perfect.”

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“Jason, you‟re my man until we find out something different. I want this more than anything in the whole world. So can we stop talking and finish making love? I‟ve been waiting to see if you‟re better than my dreams.” “Oh, darling, I can promise you that I will be,” Jason swore as he laid Rayne back down on the bed and sent them into their own sweet paradise for the rest of the night.

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Chapter Twenty-Two He closed his eyes and pretended not to hear the knocking on his front door, but it didn‟t stop.“Please let that noise be a dream because I don‟t want to get out of the bed,” Jason complained as he glanced down at a sleeping Rayne next to him. “Shit, I‟ve to go and see who that is before they wake up Rayne.” Climbing out of the bed, he grabbed his pants out of the chair to put on as he went out the door. He hurried down the steps to fling the door wide open. Jason was taken back to find a tall black man standing there. “Yes, can I help you?” “Are you Jason Tuck?” the man asked eyeing his lack of clothes. “I stopped by the Roseport Clinic and they told me that I might be able to find you here.” “Yes. I‟m Jason Tuck, but I‟m sure we haven‟t met before. Can I help you?” “I sure hope so,” the guy sighed. “I‟m Greg Yardley and I‟m looking for Tamika. Have you seen this woman?” Pulling a photo out of his jacket pocket, he held it up to Jason‟s face. Jason could barely keep a straight face as the beautiful image of Rayne shined from the photo. God…no, he thought. He wasn‟t ready to give Rayne up yet. He just spent the best night of his life with the woman he loved and now it was coming to an end.

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“Why are you looking for her?” “She has been missing for the past six months and I got a tip she was here so have you seen her? It‟s really important that I find her.” Standing frozen in the front of the door Jason wondered what in the hell he was going to do. Did he tell think man that he knew where Rayne was and have her taken from him. Or did he lie and send the stranger on his way?

**** Rayne paused at the top of the stairs as she tucked her shirt into her jeans. The sound of Jason talking to someone woke her up. Thinking it was someone from the clinic coming to get her, she quickly got dressed to make her way to the steps, but it wasn‟t someone from Roseport. However, there was something about the man‟s voice pushed her to see his face. Easing down the steps, she kept moving until she was standing behind the front door. Jason didn‟t know she was there and neither did the man. “Why did his voice sound so familiar?” A pain came in her head as quick flash of something came to her. “I have to see his face.” Moving around the door, she connected eyes with the man over Jason‟s shoulder. She saw his mouth moving, but she couldn‟t hear the words as a blinding pain knocked her out.

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**** “Tamika, can you hear me? Please wake up and look at me,” the voice spoke urgently at her as a hand gently tapped the side of her face. “Stop hitting me. I‟m awake,” she mumbled opening her eyes. Tamika stared into the concerned eyes of her brother. “Greg,” she whispered as her mind started to clear. “You know who I am?” “Yeah, you‟re my brother,” Tamika answered sitting up on the couch as the pain in her head lessened. “Jason told me about your amnesia. Do you know how I‟ve worried about you? I never thought I would see you again.” Tamika massaged her temple as she tried to put together all the memories that floored her mind all at once. It was almost too much for her to handle. “How did you find me?” “It‟s a long story and I‟ll tell you about it once we get home. I‟m just so glad that you‟re alive.” Leave? She couldn‟t leave Jason. Tamika looked around the room, but Jason was nowhere in sight. Where could he be? He should be right by her side so she could introduce him to her brother. She wasn‟t married or had a boyfriend; they could be together.

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This was going to be the best Valentine‟s Day of her life all she had to do was find the man she was in love with and tell him the good news. “Greg, I can‟t leave with you. I have to find Jason. Do you know where he is?” “What do you mean that you can‟t leave? What is going on between you and this Jason?” Her brother demanded in the overprotective voice she remembered all too well. “Greg, please just tell me where he is?” “He went out the back so we could have some alone time,” Greg said. “Can‟t you at least tell me something?” Getting up from the couch, Tamika hugged her brother and kissed him on the cheek. “I promise to fill you in on everything later, but there‟s a very handsome man outside that I need to see.”

**** “Were you going to stay out here until I left?” a soft voice asked behind him. “I wanted to give you time with your brother,” Jason asked spinning around to look at Rayne….no Tamika. It was going to be hard to think of her as anything else but Rayne. He hoped this day would never come but somehow, now it was here.

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All those months ago, he thought he would be celebrating Valentine‟s Day for an entire different reason. “I‟m glad that you got your memory back, Tamika. I know that you‟re happy about going back home with your brother.” “Yes, I‟m happy that I got my memory back and seeing my brother only made it so much better,” she said smiling as she came towards him. Jason wanted to be ecstatic for her, but he couldn‟t. He was losing the love of his life and it was a hard pill to swallow. “Do you need help with anything?” “As a matter of fact, I will need some help with some things,” Tamika answered stopping in front of him. “I‟m going to need your help boxing up all my stuff.” “Sure, I‟ll be more than happy to get your stuff from the clinic.” “Hmm…that‟s not quite what I mean,” Tamika laughed wrapping her arms around his neck. “I‟m not sure I know what you‟re talking about.” He couldn‟t resist placing his hands on his Rayne‟s waist one last time. It was going to kill him when she left. “I will definitely need your help to move all of my stuff from my home into your house. I hope that you‟ve a lot of extra closet space because I have so much clothing. India will miss me, but she can always come and visit me here with you.” He must not of heard her correctly, but he could have sworn it sounded like Rayne….Tamika said she wasn‟t going to leave him.

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“You‟re staying here?” he asked shocked and pleased. “How can I leave you?” Tamika answered with a huge smile. “Besides whom else would I want to spend my birthday and Valentine‟s Day with besides the man I love?” THE END

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More about Marie Rochelle: Marie Rochelle is a bestselling author of interracial romances featuring black women and white men. Marie first started writing IR books about two years ago and it has been nonstop for her ever since. Her first best selling IR romance was entitled Taken by Storm. In addition, Marie has a very successful series called The Men of CCD and right now she‟s working on the much awaited third book in the series: Tempting Turner. Marie has enjoyed writing from a very young age and is happy she decided to turn her career toward the IR market; a market that she had enjoyed for years herself. She has always dreamt of being a writer and now is truly happy to see her dreams becoming a reality. To find out more about her visit her web site: www.freewebs.com/irwriter Marie Rochelle books Coming Soon

Books out or coming soon: Red Rose Publishing: Beneath the Surface-Available Now Pamper Me- Available Now Be With you – Available Now Cover Model – Available Now With all my Heart – Available Now Love Play – Coming Soon Cobblestone Press Special Delivery- Available Now Midnight Showcase: Blindsided – Coming Soon March 2008 Taken by Storm- Coming June 2008

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Phaze All The Fixin- Available Now My Deepest Love-Coming April 14th Outlaw: Caught Coming May 5, 2008 A Taste of Love: Richard – Coming Soon June 30th 2008 Loving True – Coming Soon

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