Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
CHAPTER SEVEN
Mallory
It took everything I had not to rub away the strange feeling in my chest as I walked out of Liam’s bedroom and back into the kitchen. I couldn’t deny he was handsome and sweet, and I knew he was worried about my safety. What I couldn’t allow myself to do was fall for him. My emotions were all over the place after my ordeal, and right now, he was my knight in shining armor, the man who’d saved me, and my only friend. I needed to remember that. Also, what if I had a boyfriend, or even a husband.
I drew in a slow, deep breath and exhaled.
Liam entered the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, looking at the contents. “I can make a pasta salad. I also have some soup that I made last week and froze.”
“That sounds good. What can I do to help?”
He took out a block of cheddar cheese, an onion, and the remainder of a pepperoni stick. “If you can cut the cheese into small squares, and cut the pepperoni into slices, then into quarters, I’ll get the soup heated up. Do you like onions?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure if I like them or not.”
He screwed up his face and said, “I’m sorry. I keep forgetting.”
“It’s okay. I’m sure we’ll slowly discover what I like and don’t like.”
Grinning, he said, “I guess so.” Then he quickly sobered. “I hope you’re not allergic to anything.”
I looked up from where I’d placed the cheese on a cutting board Liam had handed me. “Yikes. I hope not as well.”
As I got to work on the cheese, he put the frozen soup into a pot, heating it up, and then started boiling water for the pasta.
“You don’t have a microwave?” I asked.
“I do,” he said as he pointed to a spot on the island. “It’s down there. Next to it is a wine cooler. I wonder if you like wine?”
I shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”
He chuckled. “I guess so. I’ll open a bottle at dinner tonight. Speaking of, will you excuse me for a minute?”
“Sure.”
He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and headed down the hall that led to his bedroom and office.
I cut the cheese slices in half and made cubes. Glancing around the kitchen, I wondered where the serving bowls were. “If I were a big bowl, where would I be?”
“Middle cabinet right there, first shelf.”
I jumped at the sounds of Liam’s voice. “That was a quick call.”
His cheeks turned a light shade of pink, and I wondered if he’d called a woman. Maybe I actually was disrupting his life in a very major way. I hadn’t even asked him if he was dating anyone.
“Liam, I didn’t even ask if you’re seeing anyone?”
Shaking his head, he said, “I’m not. I called Randy and invited him over for dinner tonight. I didn’t tell him about you, though. I know my cousin, and he would have hightailed it over here right now if I had.”
“Oh,” I replied as my stomach churned slightly. I hoped that Randy could be trusted. Then a scary thought entered my mind—what if his cousin was the guy who’d kidnapped me?
“Hey, are you okay? You went white as a ghost.”
Forcing my thoughts away, I nodded. “Yes, I’m fine. Just letting my imagination get away from me.”
He studied me for a few seconds before turning away. I opened the cabinet and asked, “What size bowl?”
“The medium glass bowl will be good.”
I took it out and set it on the island. “Is this enough cheese?”
Glancing at my handiwork, Liam replied, “That’s a perfect amount. Use the rest of the pepperoni stick, though.”
“Yes, sir,” I said as I gave him a salute. Midway through cutting the pepperoni, I asked, “How do I know how to do all of this, yet I can’t remember who I am? And I knew how to use your laptop. None of it makes sense.”
Liam looked over at me. “I’m not sure. I don’t know the first thing about amnesia. You could be subconsciously forgetting who you are. Or maybe when he hit you over the head, it impacted a part of your brain that holds certain memories? I’m not sure. We can probably google it.”
I let out a soft laugh. “Maybe it’s best if I don’t push it. I mean, it’s bound to come back to me sooner or later. At least I hope.”
His eyes were filled with compassion as he gave me a soft smile. “I’m sure it’ll come back. You had a small memory already today.”
Nodding, I replied, “That’s true.”
Once the pasta was cooked, he ran it under cold water to cool it down, letting it drain for a few minutes. He then poured it into the bowl with the cheese, pepperoni, and some diced onion. He poured Italian dressing over the top and stirred to coat everything.