Seaside Seduction by Sabrina Devonshire Page A

rational mind argued. Involvement wasn’t wise, even though her attraction for me was clear as day and her Internet search confirmed she was single. There still could be a boyfriend. If she were my girlfriend, I’d be frantic to find her. And if he happened to be a murderer …I tried to convince myself these thoughts were ridiculous.
    I sighed. Maybe I should call the local police in case someone’s looking for her. I picked up the phone and dialed, but the man who answered said no one had filed a missing person report. He asked for a phone number and Selena’s name in case someone inquired later on. I thought more about the stressful event that had wiped out all her recent memories. What if she witnessed a murder? Maybe her brother was murdered. Hot pain ignited in my chest at the thought of Selena suffering another tragic loss.
    Felicita’s voice broke into my distracted thoughts. “Do you want me to wake Selena for dinner?”
    “No, it’s best not to wake her. It might take a while for her to sleep off that headache.”
    “Yes, sir, I think you’re right. That Selena’s quite a beauty, wouldn’t you say?”
    “Yes, she looks all right I suppose.”
    The twinkle in Felicita’s eyes suggested she wasn’t buying my weak denial. “Hmm. It’s been a long day for you, sir. Would you like me to mix you a margarita?”
    The thought of dining solo left me feeling morose . I’d never minded before. I sighed. Is this what loneliness feels like? “Thank you, but I’ll just have water with dinner tonight. And since the weather’s cleared, I’d like to eat on the patio. Once you serve the meal, you can have the rest of the weekend off.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yes, Felicita. I want you to enjoy your Sunday with your family. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to step outside.”
    She looked down the hall and frowned. “Do you hear that?”
    Moans came from Selena’s room. “She must be having a nightmare. I’m going to check on her.”
    As Selena’s groans advanced to screams, I raced down the hall toward her room and yanked the door open, alarmed by her heavy breathing and thrashing movements. “Please, no, please, oh, no, don’t hurt me.”
    I rushed to the edge of the bed. Selena was entangled in a mass of covers. One of her sundress straps had slipped low on her tanned shoulder. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and she held her hands up in front of her face as if she were trying to ward off a blow.
    I leaned over her and placed my hands firmly on her shoulders, gently shaking her. “Wake up, Selena. You’re having a nightmare. You’re safe here in my home.”
    Her honey brown eyes flew open and she looked at me, wide eyed, at first and then the tense lines in her face relaxed. “Oh, it’s you. Thank goodness it’s you.” She gripped my hands and tremors of her quaking body rippled through me.
    I sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hands and leaning toward her as I spoke in a soothing voice. “You’re safe. Don’t worry—I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you.”
    After a moment, she released my hands and pushed herself up to a seated position, tucking a lock of dark hair behind her ear. “I had a dream that a man chased after me with a knife. And I feel sure I’ve seen him before.” Fear registered in her voice.
    “It’s over now. Do you want to talk about it?”
    She gazed into the distance and paused before speaking. Her voice came out in a low monotone, almost like she was in a trance. “He was Hispanic with dark, curly hair, big dark eyes and thick brows. So handsome. His eyes struck me as warm and gentle in the beginning. I felt an urgent compulsion to be near him. When he leaned in to kiss me, I could barely breathe. But then his face turned the color of coal and when he smiled, his teeth became pointed fangs and his laugh mocked and haunted and my throat constricted so I couldn’t scream when he pulled out the knife.”
    I clenched my hands together, suddenly