Read Forget Me Not for Free Online Page B

reserved."
    Helen's amber-brown gaze shifted to Mallory, who'd flopped down on the couch and was watching them. "Mal, take Priscilla for a walk, will you?" she suggested. The Lab was still running amok, giving off intermittent barks.
    Mallory rolled her eyes. "Fine," she groused, coming to her feet. "C'mon, Prissy," she called. "Let's go for a walk."
    The Lab bounded after her. Seconds later the door thudded shut, and they were left alone.
    Helen's heart pounded. This was it She was going to tell Gabe what she'd decided. Apparently, he could sense something in the air; he'd always been terribly astute. She kept the breakfast bar between them, not trusting herself to see it all the way through. Just sitting there, he appealed to her— something about that wounded-hero look did it to her. She didn't know about the timing of this, but he'd probably realize something was up when she told him he was sleeping in the study.
    "Okay," she said, letting out a shaky breath. "You've been gone a long time," she said. "A whole year. We were led to believe you were dead."
    She looked for a reaction from him. Nothing. He held still as if he were part of the chair, his yellow-green eyes watchful.
    She twisted her hands together. "It wasn't like we were happy before you left, Gabe. We never did anything together. It was all about work for you. Mal and I, we just tiptoed around you; trying not to get in the way." She paused, waiting for something from him.
    Still nothing.
    She pushed ahead. "Things changed while you were gone. I got a new job, and I like what I do. I didn't realize before that I could do it on my own. But now I know, and... and I think our marriage was a mistake."
    He blinked at the word "mistake," and she had to wonder if he felt some kind of response to it, because it was impossible to tell from his expression. "You've found someone else?" he inquired softly.
    Was that disappointment she heard in his voice or jealousy?
    "No," she said definitively. As if another man could take Gabe's place. "God, no." She was off men for a long time to come.
    A thick silence settled between them. Helen swallowed hard. Gabe was staring at her in that same way that used to make her weak in the knees and hot in the face. It was having a similar effect now. She wished he would say something to break the tension.
    "So, what, you want me to walk out right now?" he asked. This time there was an edge to his tone that betrayed some irritation.
    "Of course not," she reassured him, wiping the sweat surreptitiously off her palms. "You're more than welcome to stay here until your memory comes back. I just—you know—thought I should explain why you're sleeping in the study and not... " in my bed. She couldn't seem to spit the words out.
    His gaze slid down the length o£her body. She experienced a pinpricking sensation clear down to her toes. It was obvious he was mentally undressing her. When he raised his eyes to hers, there was no mistaking the regret in them. "I see," he said. "So, you're saying you want to separate just as soon as I'm well enough to take care of myself." He said this with self-directed mockery.
    Helen wet her dry lips. When he put it like that, it made her seem so coldhearted. "There's no hurry," she insisted. "It's important to me that you recover fully. I mean, being a SEAL is your life, and I want you to have your life back."
    Resentment flickered in his gold-green eyes. She knew the signs of his volatile temper, and she barely caught herself from rushing in to beat down the flames. His temper was his own problem. She didn't need to wrestle with it anymore. "I'm sorry," she added, forcing her chin up. "I didn't mean for things to end up this way."
    And before her courage could fail her, she quietly excused herself, making a dignified retreat to her bedroom, where she leaned against the door and stood there, quaking. She waited for the relief to wash over her. She'd done it: she'd given Gabe the ultimatum. Her best friend Leila