Free Memory: Book Two (Scars 2) by Sinden West Page B

strung up for it.” I heard stress in the
stranger’s voice.
    “She’s
taken care of.”
    The
man didn’t answer and they lapsed into a silence. Taking a breath, I resumed my
descent and their eyes turned to me as I entered the kitchen. The stranger sat
on a barstool. He was older, yet handsome and well dressed in a suit. His face
broke into a grin at the sight of me.
    “Hey,
sleeping beauty. Awake at last.” He stood and grabbed a bouquet of flowers that
lay on the pale stone countertop. They were yellow and pink roses, with not a
hint of white. He pulled me in close in a squeezing hug before releasing me and
casting his eyes down me as if making sure I was in one piece. “For you, pretty
lady.” He presented me with the colorful roses, which I took in my arms.
    “Thanks,
uh…”
    “Antony,”
Aaron cut in. “You’re supposed to be resting, Rachel.”
    I
didn’t glance at him, instead giving Antony a bright smile of thanks. “I’ve
slept all night. Thank you, Antony. They’re beautiful.” Only then did I turn my
gaze to Aaron. “Do we have a vase?”
    “No.”
    I
didn’t let my smile falter. “I’ll find something later.” Antony helped me with
a gentle hold on my arm to slide up onto the barstool. He was more in the age
group that my mother went after, but he was far more handsome and youthful
looking. I let the bouquet rest in front of me on the counter, not resisting
the urge to run my fingers along the soft petals as if the color could be
catching.
    “That’s
how they bruise.”
    I
let my fingers linger a slight moment longer before lifting my gaze to Aaron.
“How would you know? Have you ever brought me flowers?”
    Antony
barked out a laugh. “He’s never struck me as a flowers and romance kind of
guy.”
    I
didn’t let my eyes leave Aaron. “It’s a serious question. I don’t remember.”
    Aaron
placed his white coffee cup in the dishwasher. “You’re not really a flowers
kind of girl.”
    I
reached out to stroke the petals once more. “Yeah, I think that I am.” Then I
forced a smile and turned to Antony. “So, how do you know Aaron, or me?”
    “Aaron
and I work together at times.” The man’s grin was wide, as if there were a joke
that I didn’t get.
    “Doing
what?”
    “I
own a restaurant, and Aaron…” his eyes darted over to where Aaron stood, still
and waiting “he’s a problem solver.” The man sighed. “I guess I should get
going, let you rest a bit more.” He pulled me into a hug that took me by
surprise, holding me against him in a tight embrace that he released me from
just as suddenly. I watched as he walked to the door, Aaron followed him
outside and pulled the door closed behind him.
    I
sighed and began to explore. Apples lay in the chiller drawer of the
refrigerator. I plucked out the reddest one and bit into it, hissing slightly
against the cold on my teeth. When Aaron didn’t return, I stepped out through the
glass doors into a walled outdoor area, the star of which was the lap pool. It
was painted a deep blue that made the water appear nearly black. I brushed my
foot across the surface and the water rippled underneath me. It was warm and on
impulse, I let my robe drop to my feet. Naked now, I paused as a gentle breeze
stole in past the wall and the gates. I took a breath, and dived in, down into
a deep abyss of dark water that at first installed a small amount of fear
within me and I began to kick upward, heading for the surface and daylight. But
then I changed my mind. What was so good up there? I finished the length
underwater, hitting the hard wall of the pool and twisting to turn back. Under
there, in the darkness, I imagined myself as a shark: sleek and dangerous,
lurking in the deep.
    By
then I missed oxygen and a slight dizziness came over me as I fought down panic
and headed for the surface again. My arms stretched out to reach for the side
and the air, but a dark shadow covered the sunlight and my arms shot back to my
body in