There was something about Oliver Church that bothered Tav right from the start, but he could not easily identify what it was. The more he stared at the blond, blue-eyed man, the more troubled Tav became at the tale he spun.
Perhaps it was the fact that he looked nothing like the beautiful brunette at his side, but that did not necessarily mean anything. Tav knew he didn’t exactly look like his brothers either, and yet they were indisputably related.
The story Oliver told was simple enough. His sister had been missing from her home in Denver for three days, and they feared the worst. Oliver claimed that Lora was an avid hiker and liked to wander through the mountains. Her husband was very concerned.
There was no mention of the husband’s name, nor was there any photo or interview with him, only fueling Tav’s concern. As Tav stared at him through the grainy YouTube footage of the local news, he could not shake the feeling that something was off about the story.
“We need to contact him,” Lora said, when the clip had finished. “Did you happen to take down that tip line number?”
He noticed how purposefully she kept her distance between them, her body turned away as though she did not trust herself not to throw herself at him if their eyes locked again.
“Yes,” Tav replied gruffly, his chest tightening. “I’ll give them a call. We’ll arrange for a place to take you.”
“I’m sure he can come here and get me,” Lora said, her brow furrowing. “You’ve already done enough without having to drive me everywhere.”
Tav swallowed the words that threatened to spill from his throat. He suddenly wanted to tell her the truth, that she had been turned and left in the forest, but he could not bring himself to do it.
It’ll sound like sour grapes if I do, like I’m trying to keep her here and not send her back to her husband.
He wondered if that wasn’t the truth of it.
To his surprise, Lora reached for his hand and squeezed gently, her coffee-colored irises boring into his.
“We didn’t know,” she mumbled hoarsely. “And no one else needs to know, all right?”
Tav nodded and exhaled, darting his gaze away.
It’s guilt, that’s all, he thought, shaking his head. I need to get this woman back where she belongs.
Tav had wanted Lora to call, but she had been too nervous, unsure of what to say. For almost half an hour, they went back and forth on who should make the call to the tip line.
“I really wouldn’t know what to say,” Lora whispered, pacing around in front of the glass and wrought iron coffee table. Every once in a while, she would stop to give him a doe-eyed look that made Tav want to seize and crush his lips on her.
Of course he knew that he couldn’t, not ever again. He was not sure he would ever live down the shame of what he had done with another man’s wife.
“It will be strange if an unknown man calls and tells them I’ve got you,” Tav insisted. “They might get the cops involved.”
“Not if you just tell him what happened.”
Tav groaned, knowing that he was losing the argument. He really didn’t want to speak with Lora’s brother or—God forbid—her husband, but he could see that the thought of doing it herself was causing her massive anxiety.
“I know it’s asking a lot of you, but if you could just explain to him that I don’t remember anything…I think it’ll sound better from you than me,” Lora insisted. “It’ll sound like a cop out like I’m hiding something if I tell them I have amnesia.”
Not if they find out you’ve been turned, a nagging voice reminded Tav, but he shoved it aside and focused on Lora.
“He doesn’t know me,” Tav had argued but in the end, he agreed to Lora’s demands. Tav shot Lora a quick glance and exhaled before making the call.
“Is it ringing?” Lora whispered, hurrying to sit beside him on the couch again. This time, she did not seem as concerned about their nearness or touching him as she had in the wake of finding out she was married.
Tav found himself looking for the tan line of a wedding ring again but saw nothing.
Not that it means anything. Lots of women choose not to wear wedding rings these days. It doesn’t mean she’s not married.
“Tav?” Lora breathed. “Is it?”
“It’s ringing.”
“Tell me when they—” Lora started to say, but he held up a hand as a female voice came over the phone.
“Lora Young’s tip line.”
“Hello, I’m looking for Oliver Church,” Tav said flatly.
“He’s not here. Do you have any information on his sister?”
“I have Lora, and I would like to speak with Oliver.”
The silence was fraught with tension.
“What do you mean you have her?” the woman demanded.
“Nothing nefarious,” Tav groaned, already sensing that things were going badly. “Please, can I just speak with Oliver?”
“One moment.”
The call went on hold, and Lora looked at him with wide eyes.
“Who is this?” A man barked. “You have Lora?”
“Is this Oliver Church, Lora’s brother?”
“You know it is. Do you have Lora?” he growled.
“Yes, I have her,” Tav sighed. “And—”
“Is she hurt? Where is she, you bastard?”
Tav grunted in annoyance, and Lora gave him an apologetic look.
“She’s not hurt,” Tav replied slowly. “And I didn’t do anything to her, but she’s suffering from amnesia. She has no idea how she ended up on Blanca Peak or anything that happened before she woke up…”
He didn’t add “here” because he didn’t want Oliver to know where she had been.
“You found her? What’s your name? Where can I come for her?”
The questions fired off in rapid succession, the pitch of accusation rising with each query, but Tav kept his composure, knowing it was a weird, emotional time for everyone.
“I think it would be better if I brought her to you,” Tav said slowly, hearing the eagerness in the man’s voice. It was clear that Oliver had desperately missed his sister, but Lora didn’t know him and thrusting her into this life she did not recognize was not fair to anyone.
“Fine,” Oliver said, losing the skeptical timber of his tone.
“Are you in Denver?” Tav asked. There was a slight pause.
“I am,” Oliver agreed, but his tone was hesitating, like he was not sure. “How about we meet near you.”
Tav looked at Lora who sat at the edge of the sofa, waiting for details on the arrangement.
“Mr. Church, I don’t think that Lora is going to be too comfortable just heading off with you into this life she doesn’t recognize,” Tav said bluntly. “Do you think maybe you could arrange for a hotel room for a night or two while you get reacquainted? Is her…”
He paused, clearing his throat.
“Is her husband with you?”
“Uh no…” there was another longer silence. “Adam couldn’t get off work, so he needs to stay in Denver, but as soon as we get off the phone here, I’ll call and let him know that Lora is safe.”