MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME
Pierce Kincaid couldnt understand why his wife nearly fainted when he came home from the storeor why she is no longer pregnantuntil a five-year-old boy asks Mommy who the stranger is. Terror-filled nightmares slowly reveal that the ex-secret agent had been kidnapped, his memory wiped clean.
Pierce knows that Jessica still loves him. But if he wants a second chance at the life he lost, hell need to discover the truth behind his abduction and take down the kidnappers targeting his familybefore death truly does part them.
Previously published.
Fade to Black
Amanda Stevens
www.millsandboon.co.uk
MILLS & BOON
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Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Prologue
And if its a boy, I think we should name him Max.
You know I hate that name, Jessica Kincaid complained as she pressed down a loose corner of the circus-motif wallpaper in the newly redecorated nursery. Besides, what makes you so sure its a boy?
Well, Maxine then, Pierce teased her, stretching to paste the last of the glittering stars to the ceiling. Suddenly the ladder he stood on teetered, and Pierce grabbed for a handhold. His arms flailed wide as the ladder toppled and crashed to the floor. Jessica cried out in alarm, but as usual Pierce landed on his feet.
Jessicas hand went to her heart. Are you all right?
Right as rain, sweetheart. Pierce bent to drop a light kiss on the top of her head. Dont you know by now I have nine lives?
By my count, youre getting dangerously close to the last one, Jessica remarked dryly, referring to her husbands penchant for adventure and excitement. Whether it was snow skiing or parasailing, driving a car or riding a motorcycle, nothing ever seemed quite fast enough for Pierce Kincaid. He seemed to relish living on the edge, and he often left Jessica breathless in more ways than one.
Why he had ever been attracted to someone as shy and hopelessly introverted as she, Jessica still couldnt understand, but their marriage had already survived two wonderful years. Not only survived, but flourished. And now with the baby on the way, everything in her life seemed like a dream come true. A dream she prayed would never end.
She reached up and caressed Pierces cheek with her fingertips. I wouldnt be able to bear it if anything ever happened to you. Youre my whole life, Pierce. I love you so much.
He touched the teardrop on her cheek in wonder. Whats this? he asked gently. Why the tears?
Hormones, she whispered, but it was more than that. Sometimes when Jessica looked at Pierce, she still couldnt believe how happy they were. Sometimes in the dead of night, with Pierce sleeping peacefully beside her, she would wake up, certain that something would happen to take it all away from her. Just like it had when she was a little girl.
Sensing her need, Pierce took her in his arms. Ill always be here, Jesse. For you and the baby. Were a real family now. Nothing can change that.
He kissed her again, then turned and, in typical fashion, quickly changed the mood and the subject. But he kept one arm protectively around her shoulders. I think a celebration is definitely in order here. Weve finally remodeled one room in this monstrosity we optimistically call a house, business is picking up at the shop, and Max here will be making his debut in another couple of months. So what do you say, my love? Dinner and dancing tonight? A movie? Or shall we turn in early and celebrate in bed? And I might add that Im particularly fond of the third choice. His dark eyes teased her as his head lowered to kiss her again, but the phone in the hallway rang, interrupting them. He nuzzled her neck. Hold that thought, he murmured, then turned and left the room.
Moments later when he came back, his smile was missing. The glint in his eyes had disappeared. It wasnt the first time Jessica had noticed his troubled look, but he would never let on to her that anything was wrong. In spite of what hed said earlier, she couldnt help wondering if he might be having problems with the business.
Pierce, is something wrong? she asked anxiously, touching his arm.
His expression instantly altered as he smiled down at her. Everythings fine. Now, where were we? He reached for her, pulling her into his arms and holding her close, as if he could somehow protect her from the outside world. Or, from whatever might be troubling him. Have you decided what youre in the mood for tonight?
Actually Jessica trailed off, trying to shake the dark premonition stealing over her. Her own expression turned coy as she skimmed one finger down the front of his shirt. I have this irresistible urge for
Pierces voice deepened. For what? For once, tell me exactly what you want, Jesse.
I wantsome ice cream, she admitted. Im dying for butter pecan ice cream.
He groaned. Thats all?
Wellfor starters.
In that case, Id better get to the store. He paused at the door and looked back, lifting his brows suggestively. Need anything else? Whipped cream? Jell-O?
Im seven months pregnant, Pierce, Jessica reminded him, but the look he gave her had her heart racing just the same.
And sexier than ever, he added with a wink. Ill be back in a flash.
By Jessicas calculations, it should have taken Pierce no more than ten minutes to walk to the store, no more than ten minutes inside, no more than ten minutes to get back home.
When hed been gone an hour, she started to worry.
When hed been gone two hours, she drove to the store and looked for him, but no one remembered seeing him.
When hed been gone three hours, she called her brother, Jay Greene, who was a naval officer at the Pentagon in nearby Washington, D.C.
When Pierce had been gone four hours, she called the area hospitals while Jay searched the streets.
At midnight, when hed been gone ten hours, Jessica sat in the darkened nursery, hugging a teddy bear to her chest as she rocked back and forth, her dry eyes burning with grief. A star had fallen from the ceiling and lay shimmering on the floor near her feet.
It seemed like an omen to Jessica, that fallen star. Like a symbol of all her lost dreams, her hopeless prayers, her unshed tears.
Because Pierce Kincaid, her beloved husband, had vanished in broad daylight without a trace.
Chapter One
Five years later
Where in the world was he?
Jessica glanced at her watch for the umpteenth time as she gave the chocolate batter the requisite fifty stirs. Sundays were the only full days she had to spend with her son, and shed promised him this morning theyd make brownies together. Shed been out of eggs, though, so shed sent Max next door to borrow one from her best friend, Sharon McReynolds.
That was your first mistake, she muttered. Sharons daughter, Allie, had just acquired a new kitten, a white fluff ball named Snowflake, that attracted five-year-old Max like metal to a magnet.
Jessica grimaced, envisioning the conversation that would ensue with her son as soon as he returned. Allies not even as old as I am, Mom, and she has a pet. Why cant I have one?
Jessica knew the routine by heart because theyd been through it every afternoon for the past four days, ever since Sharon had taken Allie to the animal shelter to pick out a kitten. Explaining to Max that Allies mom didnt work outside the home and, therefore, had more time than Jessica did to help take care of a pet did no good.
She knew Max already felt cheated because he had to go to the baby-sitters after morning kindergarten while Allie got to go home and spend the afternoon with her mom. Jessica knew Max thought it also unfair that Allie had a daddy to take her to the zoo on Saturday mornings and work on special projects with her on Sunday afternoons.
Allie had a real family, with a mother and a father. Max didnt.
Jessica suspected her sons penchant for superheroes was his own way of trying to make up for the lack of a male role model in his life. Superman and all the other comic-book characters that Max loved and tried to emulate were substitutes for the father hed never had.
Sometimes Max pretended that his own father was a superhero, off fighting bad guys. Thats why he couldnt be here with them now. In spite of the fact that Jessica had told Max his father was dead, she knew that deep down, her son had never really believed it.
Sighing deeply, Jessica wiped a stray lock of hair from her forehead with the back of her hand as she stared out the window, trying to catch a glimpse of Maxs red cape as he came through the hedge. Wiping her hands on a dish towel, she reached for the phone just as she heard the screen door on the back porch slam shut. Without turning, Jessica picked up the spoon and began stirring the brownie mix again.
What took you so long, sweetie? she asked over her shoulder, trying to hide her impatience. She knew full well what Maxs explanation would be.
Youll never believe what happened.
The deep, masculine voice that responded shocked Jessica to the core. A chill shot up her spine. She whirled to see a tall, dark stranger emptying a bag of groceries into her freezer.
Scream! she commanded. But to Jessicas horror, not a sound escaped her throat.
Run! she ordered, but her feet remained rooted to the floor.
The man stood with his back to her, but even in her terror, Jessica saw that he was tall and lean with dark, unkempt hair. The blue jeans he wore looked old and threadbare, and the cotton shirt was shredded at the hem, as if it had been caught on something sharp.
It was the weirdest thing, Jesse. He closed the freezer door and opened the refrigerator. Have you ever arrived somewhere without knowing how you got there? I mean, I left the house, and the next thing I know Im in front of the ice-cream freezer at Crandalls, and I have no idea how I got there. He chuckled softly as he shook his head. Anyway, once I finally found the ice cream, I remembered we were out of milk, and then I saw the grapes, and one thing led to another. I forgot the whipped cream, though.
He folded the sack and turned, smiling.
Jessicas knees threatened to buckle. Dear God. Her hand flew to her mouth. It couldnt be! It couldnt be possible! She clutched the counter for support as she stared at the man, at the darkly handsome face that seemed so familiar and yet so strange.
The brown eyes stared back at her in confusion. What the devils the matter with you? You look like youve just seen a ghost.
You are a ghost, Jessica whispered in horror. You must be.
He started toward her, but she shrank away, her hands still frantically gripping the edge of the counter. Dont touch me, she pleaded. Then he seemed to look at her, really look at her, for the first time, and he stopped dead in his tracks, as if hed just been struck by lightning.
For one breathless moment, they eyed each other in utter disbelief.
Jesse? His voice was a hushed question. The confusion in his eyes deepened to horror as he continued to stare at her. His gaze roamed over her long black hair, scrutinized her face, studied her slender figure. Then lingered on her flat stomach. Whatwhats going on here? Your hairyour facedear God, the baby. His voice trailed off as he scrubbed his eyes with his hands. I must be dreaming, he muttered.
Jessica cowered away from the apparition before her, denied the vision that stood not four feet away. It couldnt be him. It wasnt possible. Not after five years. Five years!
Shed long ago resigned herself to the possibility that her husband had met some tragic death because the other alternativethat Pierce had simply tired of their life together and walked awaywould have been, in many ways, harder for her to accept. Shed had so many losses in her life. So many abandonments.
But if Pierce had died all those years ago, there was absolutely no explanation for the specter that stood before her now. No earthly explanation.
Jessica had the slightly hysterical notion that if she reached out and touched him, her hand would pass right through him. A shiver crawled up her spine as the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Almost reluctantly she let her gaze move over him.