CHARLI was still trembling when Logan helped her through the front door of his house and removed her coat. Thankfully, the children had kept up a steady chatter on the drive back, accompanied by many yawns, and now Logan was telling them to brush their teeth and to start getting ready for bed.
‘Stay here,’ he told Charli as he led her to a seat in the living room. ‘I won’t be long.’ Logan knelt down beside her as she sat, reaching his hand out to tenderly tuck a few strands of hair behind her ears. ‘You’ll be fine.’ He stood and brushed his lips reassuringly against hers before turning and walking out of the room.
She heard him rushing his kids through their night-time routine, and although she felt sorry that she was the cause of his impatience, she was also grateful that the sooner they were settled in bed, the sooner Logan would be back at her side.
Fifteen minutes later, he came back into the living room and sat down beside her. He reached out and took her hand in his. ‘Charli?’ Her name sounded like a caress and she turned to face him. Logan clenched his jaw when he saw the unshed tears glistening in her eyes.
‘I’m so scared, Logan,’ she whispered, her lower lip beginning to crumple. ‘Someone is looking for me and it’s petrifying.’
‘Do you know who?’
She shook her head. ‘But now I know why I didn’t want to stay in hospital, why I haven’t wanted to be left alone.’
He nodded. ‘I was thinking about that, too. If someone was looking for you, then checking the hospitals would be an obvious first step.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘You’re safe here.’
‘Am I? I don’t think so. Not any more. Don’t you see, the person who wants to find me saw me with you tonight. All he had to do was to follow us home. He could be out there, right now! I’ve put you in danger, not to mention your children.’ Her voice cracked on the last few words and the tears which had been threatening to fall ever since she’d read the note started to slide down her cheeks.
‘Hey. Shh.’ Logan touched her face, smoothing her hair back. ‘We’ll work it out—together.’
‘I can’t bring you into this.’
‘We’re already there, Charli.’
‘Don’t say that. That’s more guilt to lay at my door should anything happen to you.’ She wrenched free from him and stood, starting to pace. ‘I need to move, I need to walk.’ She headed for the door.
Logan was out of his chair like a shot. ‘No!’ He grabbed her shoulders and pointed her in the direction of the corridor. ‘You can’t go outside. Pace up and down here.’
‘But I’ll wake the children.’
Logan shrugged. ‘Walk quietly. Besides, I’d rather you wake the kids than have something else happen to you.’ He pulled his cellphone from his jeans and punched in a number.
‘Who are you calling?’
‘Wil.’
‘What can he do about it?’
‘I don’t know. Analyse the handwriting, check out this house to make sure no one’s waiting outside. Make enquiries at the restaurant we were at tonight.’
‘But you’ve already done that,’ Charli protested, but Logan wasn’t listening. He was describing the situation to Wil.
‘Yeah, I asked the waitress, Bernice was her name, if she’d seen or spoken to anyone,’ he told Wil. ‘She said she had and gave a description of a man who had come to the bar when she was making our coffees at the counter. She said he had a nice smile, blond hair and grey eyes. She said he’d chatted for a few minutes but hadn’t ordered any food or drinks. She was pretty shaken up when I told her this man may have put a note beneath Charli’s cup.’
‘Did he have an accent? Was he American?’
‘She didn’t say and I didn’t ask. Questioning is your field of expertise, not mine. I just wanted to get Charli and the kids out of there as soon as possible.’
‘Have you spoken to the Ararat police about this?’
‘No.’
‘OK. I’ll get onto it. Now, give me specifics. What time did you arrive at the restaurant? Where did you go before that?’
Charli continued to pace up and down the corridor while Logan talked. The more she walked, the easier it was to think. Her emotions began to change from fear to anger. Strength began to build up and she knew that whatever it was or—more to the point—whoever it was who was looking for her wouldn’t go away, so she may as well face it. And she’d be glad to…if she could remember! She growled with frustration, her pace increasing.
‘OK. I’d better go. Charli’s about to wear a hole through my floorboards.’
‘You don’t have floorboards,’ Wil pointed out. ‘You have a cement slab.’
‘Either way, she’ll do structural damage to my home if I let her go any longer. Call me when you have something.’ Logan rang off and Charli gave him a withering look.
‘What was all that supposed to mean?’ She spun on her heel to face him.
‘Charli.’ Logan headed up the corridor and took her hand in his. She wrenched away.
‘Don’t touch me.’
‘Hey! I’m not the bad guy here,’ Logan said, but didn’t make any further move to touch her. ‘Come into the kitchen where we can talk, and I’ll make you a drink.’
‘I don’t want a drink.’
‘Come on. There’s even room to pace. Maybe not as long as the corridor here but, still, room to move. Tea or coffee…or something a little stronger?’ When he received no reply, he turned and left her to it, switching on the kettle. A moment or two later, Charli stormed right over to him and stood toe to toe with him.
‘Don’t tell me what to do. Got it?’
‘Got it.’
‘And don’t tell me everything’s going to be all right, because it isn’t.’
‘OK.’
‘I’m mad.’
‘I can see that.’
‘I’m livid, furious, incensed beyond belief.’
‘I believe you.’
‘How dare someone make me feel this way? It’s so unfair, especially when I can’t remember anything.’
Logan nodded, unsure what he was supposed to say.
‘I’m trying so hard to remember, Logan, so hard, but it doesn’t work like that, and then out of the blue—whoosh—I’m flooded with memories. That number, that big number I remembered, is for the safe in my laboratory. It’s on the wall, behind a Monet painting.’ She spread her arms wide. ‘I don’t even know where my laboratory is!’
‘Wil can find—’
‘Wil can find out, yes, I know, but why can’t my brain just click back into place and start working normally again? I’m starting to remember things but only every now and then. It’s like…Swiss cheese. Lots of holes in it.’
Logan nodded. ‘That’s the way it is, sweetheart. I wish I could snap my fingers and make it all better, but I can’t.’ He raked a hand through his hair, his own frustration building. ‘We have got to do everything we can to remain focused about this, even when it drives us insane.’
‘I know you’re right.’ Charli was amazed to feel her anger beginning to fade. ‘But it’s highly annoying.’
‘That’s one word for it. I can think of a few more, such as harassment, badgering and emotional manipulation. We need to get to the bottom of this, Charli, and that I promise you, we will do.’
She walked over to him and wrapped her arms about his waist. Logan instantly embraced her, holding her close. ‘You have no idea what it means to me to know I’m not alone in this.’
‘I can guess.’
‘I don’t want to go back to America,’ she mumbled.
‘I know.’
‘When the time comes…’ She stopped, hesitated and then pulled back slightly to look at him. ‘When the time comes, will you come with me?’
Logan looked down into her blue eyes and the anguish he saw there twisted his gut. ‘I don’t think I can.’
Charli nodded sadly and he felt awful for letting her down.
‘I have responsibilities here and they’re not that easy to get out of. I have my children, my clinic, the hospital.’
‘Yeah. Yeah. I know.’ She shrugged and stepped back from his embrace. ‘No harm in asking, though.’ Her words were spoken softly and he could hear the hurt in her tone. She wasn’t trying to manipulate him…not on purpose…but it was working nevertheless.
‘Charli.’ He reached for her but she shook her head and he raked a hand through his hair.
‘I need to try and sleep.’
‘Are you going to be able to?’
‘I hope so. I need to have my wits about me if I’m going to beat this guy.’
‘Chuck?’
She raised her gaze to his and nodded. ‘Yes. It’s Chuck. I feel it.’
‘And the necklace?’
She shook her head. ‘I don’t know. If he’s…romantically connected with me, it’s well and truly over, especially as he’s scaring me stupid.’
Logan nodded. ‘Believe in yourself.’
The tension drained out of Charli and she dragged in a cleansing breath. ‘Yes. Yes.’
‘I’ll double-check all the locks on the doors,’ Logan said softly. ‘Let me know if you want any paracetamol or even a sleeping tablet. There’s nothing wrong with taking one in this instance.’
‘I’ll be fine.’ She headed out of the room but stopped as Logan’s cellphone rang.
‘It’s Wil,’ he said, reading the name on the LCD screen, and quickly connected the call. ‘What’s the news?’
‘I’ve patrolled past your house and there are no suspicious cars in the neighbourhood.’
‘Good to hear.’
‘Ararat police have spoken to Bernice and they’re getting an artist to draw up a picture from her description. She said he had a…different accent, but she wasn’t sure from where.’
‘It’s a start.’
‘Apparently she said he had hypnotic grey eyes and a nice smile. Why can’t girls say that about me?’
Logan smiled a little, glad Wil had eased the tension a little. ‘Gee, mate. I have no idea.’
‘How’s Charli holding up?’
Logan’s gaze met Charli’s. ‘She’s not doing too badly, given the circumstances. Probably coping better than you or I would.’
‘Now, that’s saying something. OK, buddy. Stay safe and I’ll check back with you if I find out anything more.’
‘I’d appreciate it.’ Logan rang off and passed the information on to Charli about the artist and that the man had an accent.
Charli closed her eyes and rubbed her fingers over her forehead. ‘I think I’ll take that paracetamol now, if that’s all right.’
Logan opened the cupboard door. ‘That’s more than all right.’ He handed the tablets to her, watched her swallow them, and then they walked down the corridor towards the bedrooms. He checked both of his children and was surprised when Charli followed him into their rooms. She didn’t say a word until they were standing outside her bedroom door.
‘I’m sorry, Logan.’
‘What for?’
‘For dragging you into this mess.’
‘You didn’t drag me and we still don’t know what sort of mess it is.’ He gathered her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. ‘I’m sure, whatever it is, you’ll meet it head on and triumph.’
‘How do you know?’
‘Because the good guys are supposed to finish first.’
‘Am I a good guy, though?’ The question was asked very softly but Logan had to admit she had a point.
‘I know it sounds clichéd but, whatever happens, you’ll do the right thing.’
‘How do you know?’
‘Because you have an honest heart. Regardless of the fact that you can’t remember who you are or who’s after you, you’re honest, Charli, and you need to hold firm to that. Trust your instincts, just as you’ve been doing, and you won’t go wrong.’
‘My instincts are telling me that I don’t want to be alone tonight.’
Logan dragged in a deep breath and looked down into her beautiful face. ‘That’s understandable.’
‘Can I sleep in your room?’
Logan swallowed. ‘Charli, I—’
‘Just hold me, Logan. I need to feel safe. I see the way you do it with your kids and I envy them. You hold them in your arms, as though you’re never going to let go, and the look on their faces is one of pure trust and security. I need that tonight, Logan.’
Logan pressed his lips to hers before letting her go and taking a big step backwards. He exhaled harshly and raked his hand through his hair. ‘I don’t know if I can, Charli. Sleep in my bed, by all means, but I don’t think I can be there.’
Charli saw the desire in his eyes and her heart immediately began to tattoo that wild, uncontrollable rhythm which happened whenever he looked at her this way. ‘You don’t think we can control ourselves?’
‘We can try, but it’s too risky. You must see that. Taking…whatever it is between us any further won’t do either of us any favours in the long run.’
‘You’re right.’ Charli sighed and shook her head. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘No,’ he implored. ‘Don’t be sorry. Please, don’t be sorry.’ He gathered her close into his arms again and pressed his lips to hers. He kissed her with renewed passion, wanting to acknowledge what was between them but knowing if he didn’t keep control over what he was feeling for her, then regardless of the measures he’d put in place to protect his heart, they wouldn’t do any good. She was amazing, delightful, invigorating and highly addictive. He moved his mouth over hers with a slow deliberation he knew was wrong, but he was unable to resist. This much, at least, he was allowing himself, and from the way she was responding it was clear they were on the same wavelength.
‘Daddy!’
The sound of his son calling out into the night had him freezing and then slowly drawing away from the enchanting woman before him.
‘Daddy!’ The call came again and Logan stepped reluctantly away. ‘I’d better go see to him before he wakes Trin up.’
Charli nodded and stepped back into her bedroom.
‘Honestly, Charli, if you want to sleep in my room, please, feel free. After all, it’s not as though I’m going to get much sleep tonight.’
Charli grimaced at his words. ‘You and me both—but I have to at least try.’ She smiled at him. ‘I’ll be fine in here.’
‘OK. Besides, in a few more hours—well, about eight more—you’ll probably have both of my children climbing into bed with you.’
‘Envious?’ She smiled at the way he groaned and rolled his eyes.
‘What do you think?’ Owen called out again and Logan took another step away. ‘Try and sleep,’ he said softly. ‘See you in the morning.’ With that, he forced his legs to take him in the other direction before he capitulated completely.
When Charli awoke on Sunday morning, it was to find the bedclothes completely tangled and only half covering her. She gently felt around in the bed but couldn’t find anyone else there. No children. No Logan.
‘It’s for the best,’ she mumbled to herself as she stood and stretched. She made her bed, found a change of clothes and tiptoed over to the bathroom. The rest of the house still appeared to be quiet and she wondered whether Logan had managed to get any sleep or not.
Her own dreams had been such a jumbled mixture, she felt exhausted. One minute she was being chased. She’d been driving in a gold car, speeding up so no one could catch her, and the next minute she was out on the soccer field, kicking a goal with Owen. Logan, dressed as a referee, clapped loudly and ran over to kiss her.
‘Too many emotions,’ she whispered beneath the shower spray. Once she was showered and dressed, she felt a little less like she’d been pulverised. She went in search of the children who were usually up at this time, but there was no sign of them. Their beds were made and she wondered if anyone in this house had slept last night. Were they in bed with Logan? She glanced up the hallway to his door and instantly her heart rate increased.
Shaking her head, she went into the kitchen and there she saw a note on the bench. ‘Just getting breakfast. Won’t be long.’ She read it out loud and smiled at the way Trinity had written it, signing all their names at the bottom.
It wasn’t long before they returned with delicious croissants and rolls from the bakery.
‘Did you sleep all right?’ Logan asked while he made them coffee.
‘Not really.’ Charli shrugged nonchalantly. ‘But I know there’s nothing I could do about it.’
Logan didn’t say anything else, nodding instead. ‘All right, kids. Let’s get breakfast under way because, when we’ve finished, we’ll be taking Charli for a walk to the Venus Baths.’
‘Aw, wick-ed,’ Owen said. ‘That’s my favourite place.’
Logan watched Charli closely and saw the fear and uncertainty in her eyes. He was glad she wasn’t facing this alone, that he’d be there to help her through it. She picked at her food but he really didn’t blame her for not having much of an appetite when her mind was probably whirring almost out of control with the possible scenarios she might unlock.
Once they were done, she loaded the dishwasher and turned it on. The kids already had their jackets on and were waiting outside.
‘Come on.’ Logan’s tone was quiet as he held her coat for her. ‘No more stalling.’
‘Who says I’m stalling?’ she snapped.
‘You may not remember anything, Charli,’ he pointed out. She slipped her arms into the coat and then turned to lean her head against his chest. It was as natural as the sun shining that Logan should put his arms about her to hold her close.
‘I know I will and I know I’m not going to like it.’
‘Then the sooner we face it the better.’ Logan pulled back and took her hand firmly in his. ‘Come on. I’ll be with you every step of the way.’ Charli couldn’t move. Logan bent his head and kissed her. ‘It’s time.’
‘You’d planned to take me out to the Venus Baths all along,’ she stated, and he nodded.
‘You and I both know retracing your steps may help jog the memories.’
‘You were waiting until I was in a better mental state to deal with it?’
‘I was waiting until you were a little more sure of yourself.’
‘You think I am? I don’t.’
He smiled at her words.
‘Don’t laugh at me, Logan!’
‘I’m not laughing at you, Charli. I would never do that.’
‘I know. I’m just…’
‘Anxious,’ he supplied.
‘Terrified,’ she corrected.
He squeezed her hand. ‘Come on.’ Once he got her legs moving, leading her out of the kitchen and then out of the house, she seemed to settle down. They crossed the road and headed towards the path which led to the Venus Baths.
Charli took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She looked up at Logan and nodded. ‘Right. Let’s do this.’
Logan watched as her earlier tension left her and she raised her chin in defiance. She’d gathered her wits and was now ready to face the world—or, in her case, her past.
The kids had run on ahead, knowing the area like the backs of their hands, so Logan was able to focus on Charli. He held her hand as they walked down the path, going further into the dense foliage, walking slowly.
Charli felt the now familiar constriction of her heart as fear once more gripped her. She looked around at her surroundings and knew instinctively she’d been there before. She stopped walking, closed her eyes and gripped Logan’s hand as though it were her lifeline.
Her eyes were shut so tight, Logan’s heart went out to her. The pain she was going through, the anguish—if only he could prevent it he would, but he knew it was impossible. Her lips parted to allow air to escape, and if he’d placed a stethoscope to her heart right now, he knew it would be pounding furiously in fear.
‘Logan?’ she whispered.
‘I’m here.’
‘I’ve been here.’ She opened her eyes and took in her surroundings once more. ‘I’ve walked along this path and I was…agitated.’
Logan urged her a little further until they came to a seat near a bridge. ‘Sit down.’ He pulled her close, hoping the body contact would help her to relax a little. ‘Take a deep breath and let it out.’
She did as he’d suggested. ‘I remember driving from Melbourne, through Ararat and then into the main road of Halls Gap. I stopped outside your clinic and noted the hours, then I drove and parked the car. It was still dark, well, almost time for dawn, and I needed to walk, to help get my thoughts in order. I got out of the car and headed in this direction. I had no idea where I was going but the tracks were signposted so I just followed them.’
‘What were you so upset about?’
‘That…’ She sighed heavily. ‘That I don’t know.’
‘Why did you stop outside the clinic?’
She turned and looked at him, his arm sliding off her shoulder and onto the back of the seat. ‘I came here to see you.’
‘To see me?’ Logan couldn’t have been more surprised if she’d whacked him over the head with a bit of two-by-four. ‘But…’ He frowned. ‘We’d met for a brief instant, Charli. That was all.’
‘I know.’
‘You remember meeting me?’
She nodded. ‘Yes.’ She thought for another moment and nodded again. ‘Yes. You shook my hand and smiled and…’ She stopped and looked down.
‘And?’ Logan was astonished that he was so caught up in Charli’s memories.
‘And…I was mesmerised. I felt…something.’
‘Ah. Yes.’ He cleared his throat, feeling a touch uncomfortable but knowing they had to get through this. ‘It was there, wasn’t it? This…thing between us.’
‘Yes. You told me you were from Halls Gap in the Grampians and I was so disappointed when you couldn’t meet me for that drink.’
‘You and me both! Do you remember giving your lecture? Anything else?’
She nodded. ‘I remember searching the crowd for you while I was up on the podium. I had trouble concentrating.’
‘Hmm. So did I.’ He smiled at her. ‘I think I wrote copious notes in that lecture because it was easier than looking up at you.’
‘You seemed…enthralled with what I was saying.’
Logan nodded. ‘I was enthralled by you—period.’ This wasn’t getting them anywhere. ‘We need to focus now.’
‘Yes.’
‘So, after the lecture?’
‘I went back up to my hotel room, kicked off my shoes and sat down to watch television. I was thinking of you, imagining us getting together for our drink.’
He groaned and closed his eyes for a moment. ‘Focus,’ he growled, more for his sake than hers. ‘After that?’ He was finding it more and more difficult not to haul her into his arms. This was part of her treatment and both of them needed to remain professional.
‘I remember having breakfast on Monday morning in my room and then starting to tidy up. I tried calling my mother but received no reply. I was worried but I told myself it was probably coincidence.’ Charli looked at him, fear in her eyes. ‘Something is very wrong, Logan.’
‘Yes.’ He placed a kiss on her head. ‘What else? Anything?’
‘I tried to look over my notes but I couldn’t concentrate properly.’
‘Notes for what? The conference was finished by then.’
She thought hard. ‘I…I can’t remember.’ Charli closed her eyes. ‘After reading my notes, the next thing I can remember is…is driving through Ararat.’
‘So you’re missing a gap from after breakfast on Monday to early Tuesday morning.’
‘All I know is that I had a need to go, to escape. I had to get away but I have no idea why. I got into the car and I just drove. I saw a sign that said “Grampians” and then I was going through Ararat.’ She shrugged. ‘The rest, I guess we know.’
‘You came here to see me.’ He was still stunned at the thought.
‘Yes.’
‘Why?’
‘I…felt safe.’
Logan turned a little so he could look at her. ‘Safe from what?’
‘I don’t know. I remember you saying you were from Halls Gap and I remember your eyes.’
‘My eyes?’
‘Yes. They were alive with life when you talked about your work here and I thought, Here is a man who likes what he does, who seems free and alive with the love of medicine.’
‘You don’t like what you do?’
‘The more I think about it, the more I’m certain of it. I can’t recall specifics but I’m not content with life the way you are. Perhaps that’s why I need to believe in myself.’
‘You don’t like being a doctor, is that it?’
‘I’ve loved helping you out since I arrived here so I’m not sure it’s that.’
‘Has this process we’ve gone through today helped you with any other memories?’
Charli thought for a moment and then sighed, feeling exhausted. ‘I don’t know, Logan. I’m starting to get a headache.’
‘OK. Enough for today.’ He hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. ‘Why don’t you stay here? I’ll get the kids and then we can go and get an ice cream.’
Charli smiled up at him. ‘Sounds nice.’ Logan stood, placed a small kiss on her cheek and headed off down the path to get his children. Charli felt a lot of her earlier tension seep out, happy that what she’d remembered so far hadn’t been too traumatic. She still had a sense of foreboding, knowing that it must have been something pretty bad to send her off into the state she was now in, but although there was still more to come, for now she was happy with the progress she’d made.
She glanced down the track in the direction Logan had disappeared, thankful he’d been with her. He really was becoming way too important in her life and she knew the feelings she’d been trying hard to fight since arriving here were now starting to get out of control. Logan meant a lot to her—as did his children. He wouldn’t be the same person without Trinity and Owen, and she loved him for what he’d done for them and the sacrifices he’d made along the way.
Loved him?
She backed up to that thought and looked at it once more. Yes, he meant a lot to her, yes, she liked being with him, yes, she felt secure when his arms were around her—but surely that didn’t mean she’d fallen in love with him, did it?
Charli groaned and buried her face in her hands as she acknowledged the truth of her feelings. Logan—both of the children—the town…The whole enchilada. During the short amount of time she’d spent here, she’d fallen in love with the place. The memory of those two squirming children beneath her bedcovers brought an instant smile to her face and she felt herself relax. And their father? Charli shook her head as though there was nothing she could do about it. She was one hundred per cent, prime time in love with him.
Her smile increased and she pulled her hands away from her face. She loved Logan. She had no idea when it had sneaked up on her, but it was there right now, and even though she still had a long road ahead of her, regardless of what happened, he’d stolen her heart for ever.
‘Charli!’ Owen was calling her name and she turned to face him, her smile beaming as he ran directly up to her and grabbed her hand. ‘We’re going to get ice cream.’ He tugged her up. ‘Come on. Let’s go.’
Trinity was hard on his heels and she grabbed for Charli’s free hand. ‘Ice cream, Charli. I’m going to have two different flavours.’
‘I’m having peppermint and choc fudge,’ Owen declared as they tugged her along. They all wouldn’t fit down the path together and laughingly Charli let go of their hands.
‘I’m having English toffee and pecan,’ Trinity declared, falling into step behind her brother. Charli looked over her shoulder, wondering where Logan was, and as she turned, she felt him bump into her. The immediate contact produced zillions of little tingles throughout her body, making her gasp.
Her heart rate increased at the slight touch and her breath caught in her throat as Logan’s arms came around her, making sure they didn’t lose their balance.
‘You OK?’ He steadied her and then dropped his hands.
‘Yea…’ She cleared her throat. ‘Yes. I’m fine.’ She glanced up at him before turning and forcing her legs to move.
‘You sure?’
‘Yes.’
Neither of them spoke as they walked along the path. When it got to the stage where they could walk side by side, Logan quickly took her hand and Charli almost breathed a sigh of relief. She was astonished by the way he made her feel and couldn’t believe she was behaving like a love-struck teenager.
‘What flavour would you like?’
‘Huh?’ She turned wide eyes up to him, her breathing still not quite under control. He smiled and she felt herself sigh with longing. ‘Uh…ice cream.’ She licked her lips and noticed Logan’s eyes darken a little, glad she wasn’t the only one being affected here. ‘Vanilla.’
‘Vanilla?’ Logan repeated incredulously. ‘There’s over thirty flavours to choose from and you choose vanilla?’ He shook his head and tut-tutted. ‘Charli, Charli, Charli. We’re going to have to do something about that.’
She smiled up at him and laughed. ‘Why? I like vanilla.’
Logan slung his arm about her shoulders, drawing her close. ‘All right, then. Vanilla it is, but expect an outcry from the kids.’ He looked over to where his children had reached the roadside, checked both ways and then turned to him for confirmation that it was all right for them to cross. ‘Go on,’ he called, and, after walking carefully across the road, they bolted into the ice-cream shop.
‘They’re so wonderful, Logan.’ Charli stopped and looked at him. ‘They really are such a credit to you.’
‘And my parents,’ he added.
‘Just like you. Unable to take credit for it all when I’m sure you deserve most of it.’ She reached up and brushed a lock of hair back from his forehead. She loved him. She loved this man. She still found it hard to believe and the elation of the discovery was now starting to take effect.
She couldn’t think about her other life—the life she wasn’t sure she wanted to unlock. Here, in Halls Gap, she was happy. She felt strong. Logan helped her to feel strong and he’d helped give that new-found strength wings. Charli felt as though she could soar like an eagle, that the world was her oyster, and that, with him by her side, anything was possible.
She believed in herself.
Was this how Clara had felt at the end of the Nutcracker? The ballet took on a whole new meaning for her and she couldn’t wait to get back to Logan’s house and enjoy watching it with Trinity.
He was looking at her now, his expression intense. She still wondered whether he would desire her as much once she’d regained her memories. Would he think she wouldn’t need him then? If he did, he was wrong. She needed him now more than she’d ever needed anyone else—at least, that was the way she felt.
The overwhelming and encompassing feeling of love swelled within her and choked off the words she wanted to say to him. She needed to show him, to show him how much he meant to her.
Her fingers went around to the back of his neck and she urged his head down, impatient for their lips to meet. When they were finally pressed together, Charli was swamped with the feeling of coming home. Regardless of what might happen as she slowly unlocked her memories, she knew this love was for ever and put everything she had into the kiss, wanting Logan to know how she felt.
She was a little surprised when he put his hands on her arms and gently pulled away. His eyes were glazed with desire but there was caution in his every breath. Charli wondered whether his feelings were as deep as hers and instantly put her guard up.
‘Don’t kiss me like that out here, Charli.’ He glanced around at their surroundings. ‘It’s not fair…to either of us.’
She let out the breath she’d been unconsciously holding and gave him a little smile. ‘For a moment there, I thought you didn’t want to kiss me.’
‘You’re insane, then.’ He took her hand and continued towards the road. ‘Let’s get some ice cream. Nice and…cold! Hopefully, that will sort us both out.’
Charli laughed as they walked across the road to the ice-cream shop. The kids had already chosen their flavours and were anxiously waiting for the treat to be handed over so they could eat it. Logan smiled as Charli declared she wanted vanilla and, as he’d predicted, protests came from both children. He caught sight of Wil’s police car driving down the street and thought he’d better fill him in on Charli’s recent breakthrough.
‘Put it on the account, Mrs Blackwell,’ he told the woman behind the counter. ‘I’ll be back in a moment,’ he said to Charli. ‘Just going to catch Wil.’ He gave her hand a little squeeze before letting go and heading outside.
The kids went outside to sit in the small rotunda to eat their ice creams as Charli waited for hers. She’d just accepted her cone with thanks when she stepped back and bumped into someone. ‘Oh, sorry,’ she said, turning to apologise to the person. She looked directly into a pair of steel-grey eyes and her throat closed.
‘Don’t make any sudden moves.’ The man nudged her with a small, black gun. His American accent penetrated her mind and she knew she knew him. ‘Smile and don’t let anyone know anything is wrong and you’ll be fine. Go outside.’ The fear she’d been intuitively feeling since her arrival here came surging up, clouding her thinking. ‘I don’t know why you bothered running from me, Charlotte.’ He shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. ‘Not a good move.’ He removed the ice cream from her hand and tossed it carelessly into a bin.
‘Chuck!’ The strangled word hardly made it past her throat as she walked with him.
He grinned at her, a smooth smile that would charm any woman—any woman who didn’t know the true personality behind it. ‘And here I’d heard you’d lost your memory. Looks as though you’ve done a good job of fooling everyone, honey, but not me.’ He nudged her again. ‘Let’s go. The car’s over there.’
Charli glanced over to where Trinity and Owen were sitting, eating their ice creams and waiting for her. Please, she prayed, don’t let them look over. The thought that something might happen to them was paramount in her mind—which was slowly beginning to function again.
She looked towards the BMW convertible Chuck was steering her towards, his fierce grip on her arm hurting badly. She glanced around and it was then she saw Logan coming out of the police station with Wil beside him, both men laughing.
‘Don’t go getting any ideas, Charli. Lover-boy will be fine so long as you do as you’re told.’
No sooner were the words out of Chuck’s mouth than Logan looked over and saw her. She watched the confusion cross his face and then she dipped her head, her hair falling across her eyes, blocking out the sight of him.
‘Almost there. You’re doing just fine.’
‘Charli? Where ya going?’ The call came from behind her and she recognised Owen’s voice.
‘Don’t do anything stupid.’ Chuck’s voice was gruff and held a thread of desperation. Charli wouldn’t put it past him to do anything which he thought necessary to save his precious reputation. Flashes of memory were coming back to her in pieces but not enough to make a whole picture.
Chuck, touching the gold necklace around her throat.
Chuck, driving her out to a university where she was giving a lecture and telling her once more she would do as she was told.
Chuck, threatening to hurt her mother.
Chuck, chasing after her as she raced through the university to the gold hire car they’d driven in. She’d climbed frantically behind the wheel, fumbling with the keys she’d managed to snatch from his hand, desperate to get them into the ignition.
Chuck, picking up a rock and throwing it at the car as she drove away.
Charli tried to push the thoughts away. She needed to concentrate now. Her head was pounding but she worked through the pain. She needed to make sure that Logan and the children remained safe. It was the least she could do for the people she loved.
‘Charli?’ Now it was Logan who called out, and she glanced over to see him talking to Wil, his gaze firmly on her.
It happened as though in slow motion. She watched as Wil put his hand on his gun and unclipped it, although it remained in the holster, and started walking in their direction. He was talking to her, calling out to her and the man she was with, but Charli couldn’t make out what he was saying. All she knew was that he was getting closer and she had to keep him away.
‘No!’ She yelled. ‘Go back. He’s got a gun!’
Logan froze where he was, his heart hammering with fear for Charli. He glanced over to where his kids were. Trinity was standing up, watching intently. Owen was starting to walk away from the rotunda.
He was on one side, the kids were on the other and Charli was in the middle. Charli! His Charli. Logan’s heart constricted and he had to remind himself to breathe, to keep a clear head. Mrs Blackwell came out of the shop and thankfully shepherded his kids back inside where they were safe.
One obstacle down.
Logan focused his attention on the woman who meant the world to him. What was going on? He squinted, looking closely at the man.
‘Chuck!’ The word was barely audible. Logan had seen him somewhere before and in an instant he recalled Chuck as the man who’d been speaking on his cellphone at the conference. Parts of the conversation Logan had overheard returned with clarity.
She’ll play ball. I know her mother. I’ll switch to more drastic measures. I’ll take care of it.
Logan swallowed over the lump in his throat as the realisation hit—Charli’s past had just caught up with her.
‘Don’t come any closer!’ Chuck called, stopping both Logan and Wil in their tracks.
‘Easy, mate.’ Wil held up both hands. Logan wished for camouflage, for something to hide behind, but it was impossible. They were all exposed in the middle of the street and if it had been summer, the place would have been crowded with tourists.
‘I mean it!’ The man yelled. He held firmly onto Charli, drawing her back so she was in a head lock before he pointed his gun at Logan.
‘No!’ The word was wrenched from Charli. She forced herself to breathe, to work through this logically. She needed to remain calm. Calm, calm. ‘Leave them, Chuck. It’s me you want and you have me. They’re nothing to do with this.’
He was still edging towards the car. ‘You should have thought of that before you started making eyes at lover-boy over there.’
‘I’d lost my memory, Chuck. They were helping me find out who I was.’
‘Sure, honey.’ He didn’t believe her and kept his gun pointed at Logan, who was standing rooted to the spot. ‘Stay back.’
Logan couldn’t look at the gunman. His eyes were intent on Charli, wishing he’d had the opportunity to say all the things he’d wanted to say. To tell her how much she meant to him and how he felt about her. To tell her that he loved her.
Wil was slowly advancing, talking to the man, trying to get him to see reason, but Logan knew it wouldn’t work. Wil was good at his job, but for the moment the bad guy was going to win. A surge of desperation rose within him, knowing Charli was in danger and there was nothing he could do about it.
Once they were in the car and had driven away, Logan would be able to get into his own car and head after them. Although chasing them might not be the best option as the idiot with the gun might crash the car and then how could he help Charli? His mind raced, wanting it to be over, trying to figure out his best course of action in a variety of scenarios.
They were at the car now and Logan felt the life drain out of him as he watched the gunman shove Charli across the seat from the driver’s side.
The crack of a whip—or a sound like it—punctured the air and Logan watched as the gunman fired at Wil. Another crack pierced the air and he turned to see Wil standing there, his gun drawn. The gunman cried out in pain, his body jerking backwards momentarily. Charli was pushed roughly and fell across the seat.
‘Get up. Get up, Charli. Now’s your chance.’ He said the words, hoping she’d reappear, but she didn’t.
Two more shots were fired by the gunman and he heard himself yell ‘No!’ as he watched Wil crumple to the ground. A squeal of tyres and the smell of burnt rubber filled the air and within another second it was over.
Charli was gone.