Jay blew a trail of smoke from the corner of his mouth as he spoke. What about your other responsibilities? You as anxious to dismiss those?
Meaning?
Jessica and Max. You left them high and dry five years ago. If it wasnt for Jesses grit and determination, Im not sure what they would have done.
You dont have to remind me of my responsibilities to my wife and son. Ill take care of them from now on.
Jay crushed his cigarette in his saucer as he stared at Pierce. You still dont get it, do you? They dont need you to take care of them. Jesses managed just fine without you. More than fine. The business you left behind is booming, thanks to her. This house is worth a small fortune, and Max, well, Max wont even know you, will he?
It was a reality Pierce had been trying to come to terms with since hed stared into those wide, accusing eyes this morning. Max. How strange that Jessica had named him that after shed fought him so hard about it. It gave Pierce a small thrill of happiness to know that even after hed left, Jessica had still wanted to please him.
Look. Jay folded his arms on the table and leaned toward Pierce. Lets cut through the crap, shall we? This memory business may work with Jesse, but it wont wash with me. I can recognize a man in trouble when I see one, and Id say you, my friend, are definitely in trouble. You dont have to tell me what, you dont have to tell me how or when or who. All you have to tell me, Kincaid, is why? Why did you come back here?
This is my home.
Was your home.
Brown eyes challenged gray. It gratified Pierce to see Jay glance away first. Hed always thought his brother-in-law a little too cocky, a little too self-possessed. Pierce could spot a phony when he saw one, but hed never had the heart to tell Jesse just how one-sided her sibling devotion was.
This is my home, he said, feeling the warmth of anger stealing over him. I dont have to justify myself to you. I may owe Jesse an explanation, one I dont have at the moment, but lets get one thing straight. I dont owe you a damned thing.
The air buzzed with tension. Jays gray eyes glinted with steely anger as he half rose from his seat. The unspoken challenge lay in the air between them like a gauntlet thrown to the ground. Slowly Pierce stood up.
Whats going on in here?
Both male heads whipped around to find Jessica standing in the doorway, watching them with an expression that wavered between curiosity and disgust. Her assessing gaze went from one to the other as she did her own summation of the situation.
Jay spoke first. I need to be shoving off, Jessica. But I dont want to leave until I know everythings all right here.
Her expression softened as she smiled at her brother. Im okay. Thanks for coming over.
Jays gaze returned to Pierce. Can I drop you somewhere? he asked bluntly.
The question struck Pierce like a physical blow. He was being asked to leave his own home. For one black moment, it was all he could do to curb the sudden rage hurtling through him. He turned to face Jessica who still hovered in the doorway. He tilted a brow in question.
Her gaze burned into Pierces until his heart started to pound. What was she thinking? he wondered. Did she still feel anything at all for him? It was impossible to think that for him only a moment ago they had been in love, happy, and now she might feel nothing at all for him except pity.
God help him, he could stand anything but that.
Jessica took a deep breath and released it as if she was gathering her courage for what she needed to say. Pierces own breath seemed suspended somewhere in his throat.
This is your home, too, Pierce, she said finally. I cant ask you to leave. Not when. Her voice trailed off as she gazed at him, the gray of her eyes turning to mist. Pierce knew how he must look to her, and it made him cringe.
Go on, he said evenly.
Her gaze dropped. Not when you obviously need a place to stay.
Jessica, for Gods sake, what do you think youre doing? Jay objected. He cant stay here. What about Max?
What about Max? Pierce said in a deadly quiet voice that seemed to hold both brother and sister in thrall.
My God, man, you have to know what this will do to him. Hes only five years old.
Ill take care of Max, Jessica said, and the firm note of resolve in her voice surprised Pierce. Once she would have turned to him to make such an important decision.
Five years, he thought again. Five years of his life gone in the blink of an eye. How much more was lost to him than just that time?
I hope to hell you know what youre doing, Jay muttered angrily as he pushed past them both and strode out of the kitchen.
Jessica chewed her bottom lip, a nervous habit Pierce remembered so well. It heartened him to know that at least some things hadnt changed.
Ill be right back, she said, then turned and hurried after her brother. Pierce hesitated a moment, then pushed through the door, too, distracted once again by all the changes Jesse had carried out on the house. Changes they had once planned to work on together.
Had she done all this by herself? he wondered as he walked through the formal dining room. The decor was elegant, but somehow the room left him cold. It was almost too perfect, he thought, remembering the house hed grown up in. There was no life in it. No warmth. No love. It was a room that matched the hard chill in Jessicas eyes.
He walked through to the living room and looked around. He liked this room better. The pictures of Max in here added a homey touch that somehow soothed him.
Jessica had walked her brother to the door, and now they both stood in the foyer, their furtive whispers attesting to the nature of their conversation.
Pierce crossed the hardwood floor to the fireplace and picked up one of the pictures of Max hed studied so intently that morning. A baseball cap angled over the boys forehead as his brown eyes squinted into the sun. There was a rip in his shorts and a scab on one scrawny knee.
Pierces heart melted. Hed loved the baby Jesse had been carrying, and now he loved this little boy with an intensity that astounded him.
Jessica stood at the end of the sofa and watched Pierce. He didnt look up, and she realized he hadnt heard her come in. She watched him trace a finger gently along the photo, and the look of fierce possessiveness that came over his face shocked her. Her heart skidded with warning as her own defenses rose in reaction.
Pierce glanced up, and the expression in his eyes confirmed her deepest fears. When he spoke, his voice gave rise to new ones. Jessica trembled with dread as his gaze continued to hold hers.
Where is he, Jessica? Wheres my son?
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
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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.