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delivering a crystal clear image to his brain. His heart slammed in his ribcage, and without thinking, he cupped Violet’s elbow and swung her around, so tight to his body that he felt her gasp as much as heard it.
    “You were in my hospital room yesterday. Before I woke up.”
    “I…I—”
    But he barreled on, the memory as bright and vivid as if it had just happened a minute ago. “Your hair was braided, on your shoulders, and you were wearing a…a bracelet that sounded like wind chimes. You said the doctor was coming. It was you.”
    The fan of her gold-tipped lashes fluttered wide, and the warm puff of her breath heated his cheek as she nodded. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I was looking for Jason, but I didn’t think you’d wake up.”
    Noah shook his head to quell her apology. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, his resolve locking into place, and Violet went utterly still against him.
    “It doesn’t?”
    “No. You’re the first thing I’ve been able to remember since I got shot in the first place. In fact, you’re the only thing I can remember since I got shot.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
                 
                  Of all the things Violet had imagined happening in Noah Blackwell’s kitchen, a stare-down against the countertops and cabinetry had definitely not been on the list.
                  “You don’t remember what happened to you?” Violet’s pulse patterned an unsteady rhythm in her veins. Jason had said the anesthesia had made Noah a little forgetful, but that was a far cry from having no memory of the event whatsoever. Noah shifted, the rough canvas of his sling brushing across her bare arm, and the heat of his body so close to hers did nothing to slow down her heartbeat.
    So much for keeping things impersonal.
                  “No. Just that you were there. I keep trying, but…” As if he suddenly realized where he was and that his face was mere inches from hers, Noah blinked and let go of Violet’s elbow like it had burned a hole in his palm. He stepped back, and the unexpected rush of cool air snapped her back to reality.
                  “Oh. Well, I was only there for that one minute, and I don’t know any of the details. I’m not really sure I’d be much help with anything else.” Violet turned back toward the food so he wouldn’t see her unease. The thick bandages peeking out from the sleeve of Noah’s gray Brentsville PD T-shirt were a stark enough reminder of the danger he and her brother faced every day, thank you very much. She didn’t need to go digging for all the juicy particulars.
    “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. The doc says it’ll come back to me, so I guess I’ll just wait it out.” He stood still for a minute, and Violet grabbed the opportunity to get moving. She might have a strict policy against doing the culinary drop-and-dash, and yes, she’d promised Jason she’d make sure Noah was really okay every day and not just faking it, but she didn’t want to take her sweet time in his kitchen, either. Cooking for Noah was strictly business, and as much as those two words didn’t normally mix in her philosophy, she needed to keep it that way.
    “It won’t take long to make this, and then I’ll be out of your hair. As long as you’re okay with me using whatever I need in here, you don’t have to stay.” The familiar heft of the saucepan she’d brought from home tested the muscles in her forearm, the stainless steel handle smooth and perfect in her palm, and it allowed her breath smoother passage to her lungs.
    “Okay, sure. There isn’t much here, but I guess just use whatever you want.” Noah lifted his shoulders into the beginning motion of a shrug, but his body jerked to a halt about halfway through. His expression remained completely stony, but something flashed deep in the flinty coolness of his eyes, and it reached in and yanked Violet with palpable