Free Lost Identity by Leona Karr Page A

immediately bombarded with a lot of strange people rushing at her. “That will give you time to decide how you want to handle all of this.”
    “I suppose so,” she said thoughtfully.
    He was ready to answer as many questions as he could about Atlantis Enterprises, but, surprisingly enough, she didn’t even mention the company. Apparently, none of the details of Patricia Radcliffe’s business life had any relevancy for her at the moment.
    “I’ve read the article over and over again, but my mind is still blank.” She fell silent for a long moment and then she straightened up. “Do you think we could get out of here for a couple of hours?”
    “Sure. Where would you like to go?” he asked, at once surprised and pleased. Was she really ready to show herself out in public? Dr. Duboise had given his permission for her to leave the premises with him.
    “Could we go to your place?”
    He was startled by the rush of pleasure that madehim answer quickly, “Sure. We’ll stop and get something to eat on the deck. How about Chinese?”
    “Perfect.”
    She said little on the drive to his house, but the silence between them was comfortable, and Andrew was grateful for it. He liked to think things through before expressing his opinions, and he was certain that the conversation would eventually turn to what she should do next.
    All afternoon, he’d been trying to coordinate what he knew about Trish’s situation and the information presented in the newspaper. There was no doubt that she had disappeared during the storm. That was a given because of the time he had found her. There seemed to be some question about whether or not she was in the company of her business partner, Perry Reynolds. Now that Andrew knew about the sudden flash of Trish’s memory of the man’s face, and the accompanying noises, he was ready to believe that her business partner had been with her in the storm. But how had she ended up on his beach alone?
    Andrew sensed that Trish was as tight as bowstrings when they reached his house, so he suggested a stroll on the beach before enjoying the various cartons of Chinese food. Trish readily agreed.
    A late afternoon sun brushed the ocean with a glitter of diamonds as it sent shafts of light through soft clouds collecting on the horizon. A wild flutter of seagulls darting over the water mingled with the soft ebbing and flowing of the surf upon the sand.
    Trish and Andrew walked in the opposite direction of the cove, and as he glanced at her face lifted to the evening breeze, a sudden sense of sadness descended upon him. This might be the last time that they wouldbe together like this, but in a strange way, she had somehow become his, and he wished that there had been no newspaper article to take her away from him. He put his arm around her waist as they walked, as if he could somehow claim her. She smiled up at him, and as he looked into her sweet face, he wanted to trace the soft curve of her cheeks with his fingertips, and bury his lips in the smooth loveliness of her neck. And more than that—he wanted the impossible—he wanted to keep her in his life.
    When they saw a group of young people having a beach party just ahead, Trish slowed her steps and instantly stiffened. “I think we ought to go back.” What if they know me? The thought raced across her mind before she caught herself.
    “All right,” Andrew said, but before they could turn around to retrace their steps, a volleyball came from out of nowhere and almost hit him. His reflexes were quick enough to grab it. A rather chubby girl with flying red hair came running toward them.
    “Great catch!” she squealed. “Reinforcements! Just in time, too. I’m down two on my team. Come on, we’ll show ’em how it’s done. There’s an extra piece of pie riding on this match.”
    She grabbed Trish’s hand. “So glad you could come. I’m Dee,” she said, laughing.
    Trish looked at her speechless, and before Andrew could explain to the