Page 126 of Modern Romance Collection February 2025, 5-8

He looked at the hand still extended to him and after a moment reached out, but only to close her fingers firmly over the keys.

‘If you are feeling up to it, you can drive me.’

‘But your car is...’

The car that had appeared like magic to replace the one that had been written off in the crash was, if anything, even larger than the sports models she knew he normally drove. It was some sort of four-wheel drive, with a leather interior you could sink into and a wooden dashboard that looked as if it belonged in a space shuttle.

His shoulders lifted in a negligent shrug. ‘It’s a smooth ride.’

‘I would have thought that one crash in a week would be enough for you.’

‘You plan on crashing?’

‘No, of course not!’ she retorted indignantly.

‘I always said you passing first time was a fluke.’

Her mouth opened and her eyes widened in outrage before her indignation melted into a lopsided smile. ‘Don’t try your pop psychology on me.’

He grinned back. ‘Fine.’ He held out his hand for the keys.

‘I suppose you can afford to write off two cars a week,’ she said.

‘I’ve only one neck, though.’

He lifted his chin to reveal his brown throat, the warm skin dusted with the faintest shadow of stubble even though he had obviously shaved this morning.

Her stomach muscles clenched as she imagined what it would feel like to press her mouth to that warm skin and work her way to his mouth.

But she already knew—if only she could access those memories...

‘You don’t have to drive,’ he said, watching her face. ‘You don’t have anything to prove.’

Except that I can go five minutes without wondering what sex is like with you?

‘I know that,’ she said, but her attempt at bright and breezy sounded a bit manic.

At least focusing on driving had taken her mind off the dreaded medical check-up ahead. As she parked up she snapped off her seat belt and swivelled in her seat to face him.

‘How was that?’

The sarcastic comments, unwanted advice or even the odd wince had never come. But he had seemed lost in his own thoughts most of the way. She sensed a tension in him—as though he was the one getting tested, not her.

‘Good.’

‘You seemed zoned out. Or was that just fear because of my driving? At least I haven’t forgotten how to drive,’ she added, trying to get a response from him and feeling frustrated. Yes, it was a pretty feeble attempt at a joke, but he hadn’t even smiled.

‘Don’t force it—that’s what the doctor said.’

She felt a surge of impatience. ‘Anyone would think you didn’twantme to remember.’

He felt a fresh stab of guilt—maybe because there was a grain of truth in it. He wanted her to recover her memory—of course he did—but when she did he knew the friendship he valued, the trust that had existed between them, was going to need some repairing.

In the past, every time he had felt the tug of attraction he had closed it down. Filed it away in a box markedDo Not Touch.And now, because of a crazy combination of events, he was forced to deal with it.

And the fact he was, he wasn’t dealing with it well.

CHAPTER FIVE

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