Read Forget Me Not for Free Online Page A

He found her riveting, right down to the way she breathed. He might not be a SEAL ever again, but his wife was a hell of a catch. Because of her, he could still keep his head up.
    She shepherded the dog inside, and Gabe continued his climb. He was shaking with fatigue by the time he stepped through the door. As he paused to catch his breath, something familiar assailed him, easing his sense of disorientation.
    It wasn't the appearance of the place; it was the way it smelled. He took a deep breath, scenting wooden beams and sea salt and Helen's disturbingly familiar fragrance. She was moving around in the kitchen, casting him quick little glances, but giving him time to get his bearings.
    Mallory squeezed around him and shut the door. "Anything?" she asked, peering up at him.
    He met her gaze and smiled. The spray of freckles across her nose made her look like a pixie—or maybe it was the short haircut, curving to fit the shape of her head. "It smells good," he told her, glancing around.
    The dog raced deeper into the house and came back, barking.
    The foyer was lined with marble tiles. A tall plant stood on his right, taking in sunlight from the window by the door. He moved left, into the great room.
    The ceiling soared upward to a point, supported by wooden beams. Two lazy fans whirled over a combination living room-dining room. The furniture was white pine, with floral cushions in blue, yellow, and pink. Windows dominated the rear and side walls, offering a shinning view of sand and sea grass and a denim-colored ocean tumbling onto shore a hundred yards away.
    The view uplifted him. He'd always thought of the Special Operations Building as his home, but this was definitely nicer, making it a pleasure to move in. In this peaceful place he would find the missing pieces of his memories, just as Sebastian had predicted. His family would help him.
    His gaze drifted toward the kitchen, only to be arrested by Helen's gaze as she regarded him over the rim of her glass.
    Or would they?
    Her gaze was decidedly watchful and not as warm as he would have liked. "Are you thirsty?" she asked, moving over to the counter to pour him some lemonade.
    He couldn't fault her on her hospitality. She'd been patient and concerned, but he sensed an invisible barrier that was meant to keep him at a distance. The barrier worried him. He would need her support if he was going to make it through this.
    "Please," he said, moving toward her. She had left his hospital bag on the breakfast bar. He slid onto one of the tall stools and rummaged through his stuff, pulling out the baby cactus in a plastic cup, a gift from the hospital staff.
    Mallory tossed a toy to me dog, who ran back and form in a frenzy of joy.
    Gabe put the cactus down and examined the kitchen. The cabinets were a light pine with Formica countertops in soft gray. A window over the sink gave a view of the wildflowers in the front yard. A door by the refrigerator gave access to the balcony.
    "This place is really nice," he said, amazed that he could have forgotten it. Knowing how dedicated to the team he'd been, he must have worked too much. Mallory had already blamed the dog's exuberance on the fact that be hadn't made time to train her.
    Helen placed his lemonade on the breakfast bar within his reach. He took note of the fact that she hadn't handed it to him. Helen didn't want to touch him. He heaved an inward sigh. So, it was like that then, was it? He knew his life couldn't be as good as it looked.
    "You don't want me here, do you?" he challenged.
    Her eyes flared with surprise, and she took a quick step backward.
    He studied her, wishing he could read her mind, but the fact that she held her tongue was confirmation enough. Suddenly he felt weary and defeated all over again. He didn't have the patience to play games, either. "Look," he said, rubbing his forehead as he propped an elbow on the counter, "why don't you tell me a little about our situation? You seem kind of...