Free A Secret Fate by Susan Griscom Page B

down the side of his tanned face, and he tucked the loose strands behind his ear the same way he always had ever since she’d first met him. He was gorgeous, but his eyes were void of any recognition of her.
    She wanted to die.
    All the agony of the past weeks resurfaced, flooding her soul once again with an amazing amount of hurt. He didn’t know her. All those wonderful months of their lives together vanished as though they never existed to him. He would never remember the first time he ever kissed her. She’d been standing in front of the big picture window of the house on the beach as the waves pummeled the rocks below, waiting for him to finish signing the papers for the rental of the house. She’d been unsure of what to do and started to leave as he approached her, took her by the arm, bringing her in close against him. He held her, gazing into her eyes; his, the deepest sapphire blue she’d ever seen. Then he slowly eased away, leaving her so breathless and wanting, she almost stumbled as he’d let go of her.
    His words were still so vivid in her mind. “You’re right,” he’d said, “you should go.” She remembered how he’d walked her to the door but instead of opening it, grabbed her again, pulled her in, took her face in his hands and kissed her. Involuntarily raising her hand, her finger grazed over her bottom lip, remembering his taste, his feel, tender and warm. He’d apologized for kissing her. She squeezed her eyes tight for a moment. She hadn’t been sorry. In fact, she probably would have let him drag her back up the stairs and have his way with her on the big bed that overlooked the window above the rocks with the waves bashing them.
    “Addison.” Addie blinked hearing Siana’s calm voice bringing her back to the present. Reality sucked. “I’d like to introduce you to my son, Cael.” Addie’s knees buckled at the idea of being introduced to her lover, her soul mate as if they’d just met for the very first time and thank God, Aiden caught her around the waist from behind as Cael’s hand covered her own. When their eyes met, she wanted so much to tell him she loved him and that he loved her, that they had a past, a history she wanted so much to somehow help him remember.
    Cael smiled that sexy grin of his. He really had no idea who she was. “I’ve been away, but, I uh, trust Breena will bring me up to date quickly about how you and she came to be friends.”
    Addie tried to smile but feared it didn’t come across very well.
    “This is Maia.” Siana drew his attention away, gesturing her hand toward Maia and Addie’s heart ached with the desire to be in his arms, drinking in their strength. “Addison’s aunt.”
    “Pleasure to meet you both.” He looked back at Addie and then his eyes drifted up to Aiden’s and Addie wanted to die all over again. “Hey, man,” Cael said, stretching out his hand to the guy.
    “I’m Aiden.”
    “Aiden, great to meet you,” Cael said, then turned toward his mother. “Well, we should get going. You ready, Uncle Bart?”
    Siana nodded. “Yes, you should … and hurry.”
    “Like a lightning bolt.” Cael winked, then placed his hand on Bart’s shoulder. “Come on, Uncle Bart, before my mother has a coronary.”
    As soon as Cael and Bart left the room, Addie collapsed into the chair, afraid her legs would give out. “He doesn’t remember me at all,” she whispered and looked at Siana. “Why didn’t you tell him?”
    “I’m sorry, Addison. He’s lost five years of his memory.”
    “Five years?”
    “You knew that was a possibility, Addie,” Maia said as she placed her arm around Addie’s shoulder.
    “Yes, but … but I hoped that wouldn’t be the case. Why didn’t you tell him about me?”
    “Sweetheart, he just found out two weeks ago that he lost his best friends and learned about your father’s death today. I didn’t think it was the right time.”
    Addie nodded. “You’re right, of course.”
    “I don’t think