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  “Really, Carter, it’s okay.” I was trying to wrap my head around this latest development but it was just too much.

  “Vlad the Impaler?” he questioned me again. Wait. Now that he said it again, that name did seem slightly familiar. “We have a lot of fun with him. Well, you do, but me too because we incorporate it into our sex, but it’s for you.” His eyes were imploring me to believe him. He seemed to be telling me the truth, but what the fuck was he doing messing with it?

  I held up my hand. “Stop. I need a second here.” If it was indeed mine, and I guess that really made more sense, the embarrassment was all on me.

  “Why were you playing around with it?” That was a question I needed answered immediately.

  “It’s not like I was stroking it.” He sounded exasperated. “I had just picked it up when I was in the sex drawer looking for the remote for the DVD player.”

  “The sex drawer? Uh uh. I keep my things in a box under the bed.” I told him piously.

  “Babe, we have a sex drawer. Come with me.” He took my hand and pulled me and Lucy along with him and back to the bedroom. I wanted to protest but I had to admit to curiosity. The drawer was still open and he pointed down before helpfully turning on the lamp right above it.

  Holy moly. I had been right earlier in thinking we may be a little kinky. I recognized “Steve” sitting in the drawer beside several new items. I must have really broken out of my shell. I couldn’t imagine leaving all these items out where anyone could find them. I reached out and picked up a bottle. Strawberry flavored lube. Interesting.

  Carter put the vibrator back in the drawer and shut it so I decided to give him a break, even though I was cringing inside. “Okay, I believe it’s mine. Sorry, you just caught me off guard, that’s all.”

  “Well, obviously you caught me off guard.” He wanted to laugh it off and I was just cowardly enough to let him. This was just one thing too much at the end of a long and stressful day.

  “So, um, did you want to watch some TV?” I asked, remembering the reason I came back here in the first place.

  “That would be great. I was just thinking that we could watch a movie back here where it’s more comfortable and farther away from the cat.” I winced as I was reminded of what had just happened. I looked over the bed which was all smooth and straightened then back to Carter.

  I set Lucy down on the bed and walked over the TV. I could see a movie propped next to the DVD player, 50 First Dates. I liked this movie, and I really needed some comedy in my life right about now. I turned back to Carter. “This is kind of weird.” He looked at me questioningly. “Just everything. You, me, my amnesia, the cat, the vibrator. Everything.” I made a sweeping motion with my hand as if to encompass the whole room. I could have made a longer list that included much more, but I figured he could get idea.

  “You’re right. I’ve been so set on getting you to remember that I didn’t realize I might be pushing you too hard. We can just sit and watch a movie and relax for the rest of the night, all right?” He had walked over to me as he talked and so he was standing just inches away from me right now. I was getting those same overwhelming feelings again but this time I welcomed them. I needed something steady to anchor to. My life had become a freakish situation comedy. I reached out and grabbed his hand and he gave me a squeeze. “Come on, you relax and I’ll take care of everything else.”

  Ahh, just the words I needed to hear. I wanted to let someone else take care of everything for me, if only for a few hours. I needed the mental break.

  “That sounds wonderful. Do you mind if I take a bath first? I really need to unwind.” Baths were my little escape in my day and always had been. The first house I had looked at in my price range had only had a shower so I had immediately crossed it off my list. I had to have my baths.

  “Yeah, you go ahead and take as long as you need. I’ve got some things I need to do anyway.” He paused. “So I guess I should probably post that you’re sick and won’t be updating for a bit?” He was asking me? He knew way more than I did about that.

  “Sure, do what needs to be done. I’m obviously worthless with that right now.” I shrugged my shoulders. What was one more thing added to the list today? I went over to my side of the dresser and pulled out some panties and a pair of pajamas, glad that I had upgraded my nightwear in the past two years. Carter had left the room when I started digging for my clothes so I took the opportunity to walk back over to the “sex drawer” and investigate further.

  I pawed around at first, afraid to touch anything, but I had to admit, if only to myself, I was impressed. I was finally in one of those couples. The kind that was adventurous and still sweet. Yay me! I moved around the items until I could see everything in the back. There was a remote back there. Hmm, I guess Carter was telling me the truth. I pulled it out and noticed something else. What the…? I pulled out a headband with buns made of fake hair on each side. Princess Leia buns. I got a mental picture of Carter in nothing but a light saber belt. Holy Shit. My face started flaming again. This was too much for even the new me. I hastily shut the drawer and put the remote on top of the table before scurrying to the bathroom and shutting myself in.

  I had so many things to think about that I didn’t know where to start. I started the tub and poured in some of my bath crystals. I had remembered a few important things today, and I was incredibly thankful for that, but I was still mostly blank. I could acknowledge, however, that everything I had remembered had to do with Carter. He was the key.

  I stripped out of my clothes and stepped into the water while it was filling. I loved the water pouring over my feet, and I have always vowed that when I get enough money for luxuries I was going to get a tub with jets. I smiled when I remembered my bank account and the fact that Carter told me I’d be getting a big advance from my cookbook. I made the decision right then that a whirlpool tub was going to be the first thing I bought.

  I relaxed back in the hot water and closed my eyes. What a day. I needed a mental break but my mind wouldn’t let me have it. The images of the day kept swirling around in my head. The market, the cat, memories flashing back, my mother, the sex. Whew the sex. I let my mind stick on that subject for a while, replaying the event and the time leading up to it. I could safely say that I wanted Carter even without any memories of our relationship. He was just …awesome. I would have been attracted to him if I had just met him on the street, but once you add in all of his tremendous attributes, who wouldn’t find him appealing?

  I leaned forward and turned off the water when it got within a half inch of the rim. I let my mind settle back on Carter. He was different than I remembered him, more attentive as well as assertive. It was a strange mix but I liked it. I also liked that he was here for me when I needed him. I knew Cheryl would have taken me under her wing in a heartbeat, but somehow it was just easier with Carter.

  I soaked in the tub for a while until I realized that I needed to be out there with Carter. He was going to be the reason I would get my memory back, I just knew it.

  I hit the drain and stood up. I couldn’t get out of the tub fast enough. I thought about what Carter and I had been talking about before my mother had shown up. We were going to get to the bottom of what happened on Friday. I hurriedly dried off and threw on my pajamas. I couldn’t wait to be back in the same room with him.

  I hardly stopped to analyze my feelings as I turned and looked out the hallway. Where was he? I couldn’t hear a TV on from the living room or the bedroom so I went into the office. He wasn’t there but the computer was still on.

  I walked back out to the kitchen where I was greeted by the smell of popcorn. Carter was holding my phone and frowning.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Not a thing.” He deliberately pasted a smile on his face while he set it on the counter. “Did you have a nice bath?”

  I let him change the subject because if it was something bad I really didn’t want to know. Not tonight, anyway. I wanted the rest of the night
to go smoothly.

  “It was great.” What else was there to say really? I walked over to him and practically nudged up against him. “Do you want any help?”

  “Got it covered.” He motioned to the counter behind him where he already had some glasses filled with iced tea. He also had a bag of Hershey Kisses sitting there. I could go through a whole bag of kisses during a movie. I ate those like other people ate popcorn. My heart warmed as I realized he knew that much about me.

  The microwave beeped and Carter pulled out the popcorn and poured it into a bowl.

  “Shall we?” he asked as he scooped up the bowl in one hand and the kisses in another.

  I just nodded and grabbed the glasses before trailing him into the bedroom. He walked to one side of the bed and I went to my side, the side next to the “sex drawer.” Just being in here was making me think about what was inside it and I was feeling my cheeks warming. I set the drinks down on the table and noticed the remote control I had found in the drawer a few minutes ago.

  “Here.” I handed him the remote and sat down on the bed.

  “Where was it?”

  “Uh, it must have fallen behind the table.” I certainly wasn’t going to admit where I found it. He just looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I tried braving it, but my stupid blush made it impossible. “Oh shut up.”

  He chuckled and went over to put the movie on. I settled on the bed and watched while he got everything ready. He looked so big and firm and I couldn’t help but notice the way the muscles on his back rippled when he moved. He was like my perfect man ideal. Well, besides the fact that he was younger, but to be honest, that was a selling point.

  “Did we watch this on our first date or something?” Maybe he was still trying to get me to remember it, but this didn’t seem familiar.

  “No, but I didn’t feel like watching cable on the couch.”

  “Oh.” I settled back on the pillows and Carter flipped on the lamp beside him while the menu came up. He wasn’t being as laid-back as he had been before my bath and was making me feel slightly uneasy. I wondered what might have happened in the half hour I was in the bathroom but I no longer felt comfortable asking him.

  The movie started and I handed him his drink which he took without saying anything or even looking at me. What the heck was going on? This was like a complete one-eighty from before. I sat there stewing as the movie started. I started unwrapping kisses and shoving them into my mouth without really thinking. Great, now I was going to have a huge ass on top of everything else. Finally, about twenty silent minutes into the movie I couldn’t take it anymore.

  Chapter Twenty

  “What the hell is your problem, Carter?” I sounded bitchy but by this time I really didn’t care.

  “I don’t have a problem.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? I’m not the one who’s been sitting here silent and broody for the last half hour. I’m not the one who is ignoring the person sitting beside me.”

  He didn’t bother to answer me and I don’t know why, but it made me jumpy. “Hey, I’m talking to you.” He didn’t say anything before getting up off of the bed and walking toward the door.

  “Where are you going?” I couldn’t believe he was going to walk out and basically give me the cold-shoulder.

  “I need a drink.” He didn’t turn around and I looked over to his bedside table where I noticed his glass still full. He was obviously leaving the room because of me, but I didn’t have the faintest idea of what I could possibly have done to upset him. I had just been thinking about how good I felt around him and how I wanted to spend more time with him. Was I destined to be perennially backwards in this relationship? Was this some kind of curse? Just a couple of days ago I had been freaked out that he and I were together and would have been happy to be by myself while he wanted to be with me, and right now I want to spend time with him and he was avoiding me. It didn’t seem fair. Things were different now and my life was supposed to work.

  I thought about getting up and following Carter to wherever he had gone but I still had my pride. I wasn’t going to chase him down when he wanted to be away from me. Still, I might have read things wrong. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time I had made an assumption that turned out to be completely false. His attitude might not have anything to do with me at all. I was wavering but I didn’t want to look desperate.

  I suddenly remembered Monique in the laundry room. It had been a while since I shut her in there. I should probably go check to see that she wasn’t wreaking any havoc on my clothes. Yeah, it was a lame excuse, but it was all I could come up with on short notice and I was feeling emotionally vulnerable.

  I jumped up before I could change my mind and walked into the hallway. I could see that the office light was off so I continued to the bathroom. The door was shut but the light was on. Maybe he was in there. I didn’t hear anything and after a few seconds I realized how sick I was standing outside the bathroom door and listening for goodness knows what. I quickly moved on and into the dim kitchen. The only light was coming from the small fixture over the sink. I guess he was in the bathroom.

  Monique wasn’t making the racket she had been, so I felt relatively safe opening the door and poking my head in. I didn’t see her but I saw an overturned basket of clothes. I didn’t know if they had been clean before, but I knew they were dirty now. I detected the horrible odor of cat pee and the wet spots on whatever blue piece of clothing that was lying on top of the pile seemed to corroborate my thoughts on what she had been up to.

  I stepped farther into the room to locate the animal I could now verify was vicious as well as just plain gross, and she cemented her evilness by leaping out from behind the door and slicing my bare foot with her claw.

  “Aaaaaiiiiiiigh!” The scream that escaped me was only partially from the pain. Most of it was fear and surprise.

  Within seconds the back door flew open and for the second time in two days, Carter charged into the room looking for whatever had put me in peril. I crashed into him as I jerked back to escape.

  “What happened?” he asked as he grabbed the door handle and pulled it closed, keeping Monique contained.

  “That fucking cat attacked me!” I normally didn’t like to use the f-word, but my heart was pounding from fright and my foot was in searing pain. I kicked my foot out in front of me to get a better look at the damage but I misjudged the distance to the wall and my big toe connected with a loud thud.

  “Ugh. Oh my god.” I reached down to grab my foot and started hopping on my left leg. “Ouch, ouch, ouch.” I was trying to pant through my pain using the Lamaze trick I had mastered over the years of being clumsy but it wasn’t helping. I felt Carter’s hands on my upper arms where he grabbed on to steady me.

  “Hang on. Let’s go into the kitchen where we can get some better light.” He held on to me as he walked us both to the kitchen and flipped on the overhead lights. I plopped down on my usual stool and swung my foot up onto the other one. He stood over me and surveyed the damage. It didn’t escape my notice that even though he was bothered by something that I may or may not have done, he was taking the time to care for my injury. He was too good for regular people.

  “How bad is it?” I hated the sight of blood and my own made me sickest of all. From the amount of burning I was imagining the row of stitches I would be subjected to shortly. Luckily, I knew my toe was just stubbed, I had broken a toe before and the pain was entirely different.

  “She didn’t break the skin.”

  “What?” There was no way I could be feeling like this with no open wound. It didn’t seem possible. I turned my foot so that I could see for myself and realized that Carter was right. There wasn’t even one drop of blood. I was relieved but incredulous. That much pain and her claws hadn’t even broken the surface? Poor Carter must be in agony with the damage to his head.

  I looked up to see him giving me the “I told you she was deadly” look. I managed to refrain from physically rolling my eyes at
him, but that didn’t stop me from doing it mentally.

  “How’s your head?” I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me yet so I figured I would play it safe and ask after his health.

  “Okay. How’s yours?” For a moment I had forgotten that I had a head injury.

  I gave him a smile. “I’m feeling pretty good.” Well, I had been up until he became miffed at me for some reason. “Are you talking to me now?” He looked at me with a mixture of sadness and anger, or maybe it was hurt. I wasn’t sure because I didn’t know the cause. I frantically tried to remember what I could have done to hurt his feelings. I had nothing. Was this about the cat? Was he angry that I gave in to my mother? But no, he was still okay before I went to take my bath, and he was weird when I came out. Maybe this wasn’t about me after all. I felt a faint hint of relief.

  “I was never not talking to you.”

  “Yes, I could tell because of all the scintillating conversation since I’ve gotten out of the tub.” I didn’t resort to sarcasm very often, either. What was happening to me? I was becoming totally unrecognizable to myself. My head started to hurt. Great, all I needed now was a headache.

  He just shook his head and stood there. I took a moment to really look at him. He looked tired. And beaten down. He hadn’t looked like that earlier and I was sure of that.

  “Damn it, Carter. What is wrong? Just tell me. What did I do?”

  He looked at me for about ten seconds without saying anything. I wasn’t entirely sure if he planned to answer me at all, but then he spoke, breaking the awkward silence.

  “What’s so wrong with me?” Huh?

  “What do you mean?” I knew I must look completely baffled because I didn’t know what he could possibly be talking about.

  “What is wrong with me?” He spoke the words slower and stronger this time. I felt I was still missing something. I shook my head mutely. I didn’t know what he was looking for so I wasn’t saying anything.