Can't Take the Heat Read Free Page B

question.”
    “About?”
    “What I should tell her. It’s not just that she doesn’t remember we broke up. She doesn’t know that she became a firefighter. And she thinks we’re married. I don’t know how to explain all of this to her.”
    “I see your dilemma.” She settled back into the chair, her expression thoughtful. “As I said, under other circumstances, I’d advise telling the patient the truth. But in this situation, I’m inclined to recommend a less direct approach.”
    “I’m not sure what you mean by that.”
    “Since she doesn’t remember the reasons the two of you ended your engagement, I think you should allow her to assume you’re married for the time being. In most cases like these, the patient quickly regains the lost memories and with them, the emotional hooks to the present. Until she does, however, I’m afraid the truth could actually decrease her chances of recovering her memory rather than improving them. She may substitute your recollection of events for her own, which means she’ll always view that past through your eyes.”
    Wes stared at the doctor in disbelief. “So you want me to lie to her?”
    A wry smile crossed her lips. “I wouldn’t call it lying, but telling selective truths.”
    “Whatever you call it, she’s going to be angry with me when she remembers everything and realizes I’ve only been selectively honest with her.”
    Especially since he didn’t see how he could have her in his home—to say nothing of his bed—without acting on his feelings for her. That was asking for more self-control than any human male possessed. It would be one thing to keep his distance if she knew she hated him. It was quite another when she believed they were married. What was he supposed to do when she slid between the sheets, naked and willing? Pretend he wasn’t interested? Even if he wanted to, concealing his desire for her would be an impossible order.
    When she discovered the truth, there would be hell to pay.
    This time, the doctor’s smile was sympathetic. “I’ll explain to her before she’s released that I feel it’s best if she recovers her memories herself, rather than fitting her memories to what others tell her. If she asks you anything you feel you can’t or shouldn’t answer, you can blame it on me. Will that help?”
    “I guess it’s better than nothing.” He gave Dr. Fernandez a hard look. “Are you certain this is the best approach?”
    She sighed. “When it comes to human beings, I’m never certain of anything but, yes, in my professional opinion, Ms. Monroe is more likely to recover her memories in a psychologically healthy way if we follow this path. I realize this will be difficult for you—both of you—but in the long run, I hope that you’ll both agree it was for the best.”
    “I hope so, too.”
    “Does that answer all your questions?”
    Wes considered. “No. I have one more.”
    “And that is?”
    “What if she never remembers?”
    She pressed her lips together. “I doubt that will happen. In cases like these, the lost memories are almost always recovered, at least up until an hour or so before the trauma.”
    “But sometimes they’re not?” he pressed.
    “In very rare cases. But in the vast majority of those rare cases, there’s damage to the memory centers of the brain. As I said earlier, I don’t see any evidence of that in her scans. I really don’t think it’s something you should worry about.”
    It wasn’t a very comforting answer. Because what the good doctor didn’t understand was that Delaney never remembering the past three years wasn’t what worried him. It was his most devout and selfish wish.

Chapter Two
Monday

    When Wes opens the door to our apartment, I have the oddest sensation in the pit of my stomach.
    This is all wrong.
    It’s the same apartment we’ve lived in since we moved in together, of course. Okay, technically, it’s not an apartment, but one of the three suites that occupy the