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this about you?”
    The soul-mate vision shattered. They had nothing in common. Whatever his brother and stepmother had told her about his occupation, he had to assume she’d been working against his efforts.
    “Maybe not all of it,” he acknowledged.
    “I’m glad I know now.” She smiled into his eyes.
    “I’m glad you do, too.” Whatever happened when she regained her memories, at least he’d been able to present his stance in a non-confrontational manner. She’d heard him out without letting her own or Darlene’s opinions color her views. He hadn’t had such a heartfelt, calm discussion with anyone since before his father’s first stroke. Damn, he missed those talks.
    Strains of piano notes filtered in from the next room, and Gwen lowered her cup. “They have live musicians in the lobby? What could be more perfect?”
    Sitting here, talking to you.
    But she’d already risen to her feet and held out her hand. “Come on. Let’s go listen.”
    “You’re not going to make me dance, are you?” He’d first met her at Darlene’s Christmas party, where the music had been too loud to allow for any conversation of substance, but he’d watched her for way too long as she’d taught John the steps to a ballroom dance.
    “No.” Her smile turned to confusion and then a frown. “Have I ever forced you to dance with me?”
    “No. You couldn’t pull me away from the wall.” Watching her, he’d been transformed back to the ballroom dance studio of his youth where his mother had never been more beautiful and happy than when she’d been teaching someone how to dance.
    Maybe he ought to try hitting his head. A little selective amnesia would serve him well.
     

Chapter Five
     
    Gwen’s knee pressed against Tucker’s as they sat next to each other on the lobby couch. She clapped with gusto as the last notes of a concerto died away. An elderly woman rose from the bench behind the grand piano, and a young male guest spun his wheelchair across the floor to take her place.
    “Can you believe I haven’t sat in front of a musical instrument in twenty years?” the woman gushed, her cheeks flushed with pleasure as she soaked in the crowd’s applause. “Tonight, I was bursting with song.”
    “You were wonderful,” Gwen said, trying not to resent that the woman could remember intricate note combinations from decades ago while she couldn’t remember a single event with the man she was supposed to marry. She didn’t dare ask if they’d set a wedding date for fear it loomed in the near future.
    To distract herself, she leaned forward, determined to analyze the relaxed, go-with-the-flow atmosphere of the lodge. Somehow, the owners made every guest feel like they received special treatment, and she wanted to capture that essence.
    Members of the staff moved through the lobby attending to errands but were never too busy to greet anyone. If the person had a question or a problem, they gave them their complete attention. Most did so with a smile, although Rekkus and another man wearing black gloves who stood off to the side seemed more stoic and hardened than cheerful.
    The music crescendoed to a rousing conclusion, and she clapped again. The young man behind the keyboard flushed and tipped his head. “Dance next time I play, if you like.”
    She beamed at him but then caught Tucker’s scowl. The dull ache in her head swelled to a throbbing pain. She gripped his elbow. “It’s getting late. Let’s go upstairs.”
    “Great idea.” He led her away from the seating area.
    She glanced back as another guest took a turn at the piano. “What are our plans for tomorrow?”
    “Whatever you want to do.”
    “We did what I wanted this evening. Suffice to say, you were less than impressed.” She shivered. Surely, if they were engaged, they had common interests. What, however, she had yet to uncover.
    He shrugged. “Listening to music was fine. We might want to take it easy tomorrow. You’re supposed to be getting