Page 17 of Forget Me Not

“Not much of a conversationalist, huh?”

Okay, I know he’s a dog. I know he can’t speak. I also don’t really care. Sometimes, life gets lonely and now that I’m not here alone, it’s nice to have someone to just speak to.

Even if they can’t respond.

It gets me thinking about Reid.

Of freaking course.

Who is that man? He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met before. I get the vibe that he’s more of a nomad than he lets on. Like he never stays in one place for too long.

I wonder what that would be like? To travel and see the world and never have to worry about expectations of the place you live. Would it be freeing or . . . just lonely.

Lonely eyes. That’s it. I’ve been struggling to place the look in those chocolate brown eyes. It’s loneliness. Something about that makes me sad.

He said he’ll be in town for three weeks. Unfortunately, he’ll be under my roof. Well—kind of. Having him at the inn means that I’ll most likely have to see him every day and while that’s tempting, it’s a little too tempting. Especially with the way my body reacts to him being around.

Just his face makes me say stupid things.

I feel like a teenager standing in front of Brad Pitt. You know, back when he was my “future husband.”

As if he can read my thoughts and he’s tired of them, Toast gives me a look.

“Don’t do it,” I warn. He doesn’t listen, shaking and covering me, the bathroom, even the ceiling in water. “You’re an asshole, Toast. We need to work on your manners.”

After his bath, I blow dry Toast, an act that leaves me coughing and sputtering through the massive amounts of dog hair floating around the bathroom.

“This is a disaster.”

Toast has nothing to say.

I clean it up. Clean myself up with a shower. And then finally go downstairs to make something to eat. I’m starving and after a long day, I’m ready for bed. Not that sleep is ever a peaceful act for me, but I’d love to try, nonetheless.

So, after a couple microwave burritos—I know, health at its finest—I collapse into bed for the night, so tired I don’t even want to move to pull the covers up.

Toast jumps up beside me, curling up in a ball.

“You aren’t supposed to be up here,” I murmur begrudgingly.

Leaning forward, he rests his head on my stomach and I know I’m going to have a really, really hard time saying no.

“Fine. But just tonight. Tomorrow, we’re getting you your own bed.”

Closing my eyes, I let sleep pull me under, sans covers, with a dog I just met cuddling into my side and visions of chocolate eyes and an angry scowl clouding my dreams.

Yeah. Reid is definitely going to be a problem.

That girl is trouble.

I’ve always been good at sensing it.

Something in my veins burns when she’s near. Maybe it’s the way she smiles with everything she has. Maybe it’s the way people love to be around her.

Maybe I’m on edge because Nova has yet to smile at me like she does everyone else. It’s probably for the better. I wouldn’t deserve it, anyway, but I can feel how infectious she is. Like a siren, people flock to her.

All sailors know to stay away from sirens.

Maybe it’s just because she’s been avoiding me since our afternoon in room B-5.

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