As I stand there, I remember my dream from last night. No, it was more than a dream, it was a memory. I still don’t remember her or those six weeks that I lost, but I have no doubt in my mind that what happened in my dream was real. I may not remember her, but I know the feeling I had in that dream. It’s one I’ve had since the first time I saw her in the hospital. I just wish I knew what happened afterward. That must have been right before she and Theo started dating, or she would have recognized me. Especially since he and I looked more alike back then, with us wearing our hair the same way. Was that when my fixation on her started or did something else happen to trigger it? Either way, it’s apparent I was attracted to her and wanted her from that moment on, but I still struggle to believe I would be manic enough to attack then rape her when I found out they got married. That shit is just too fucking much for my brain to comprehend. Or maybe it’s just because I don’t want to believe it.
Sensing my presence, she looks over her shoulder. Turning partially toward me, a pair of tongs in her hand, she offers a hesitant smile. Hating her uncertainty, I smile back at her.
“Good morning,” she greets.
“Morning.” I lean my elbows on the bar. “Did you sleep well?”
She nods then turns back to the stove to flip the bacon over before facing me again. “I slept better than I have in a long time.”
Something dark hits my stomach. I have no doubt the stress of living with someone she doesn’t remember is hard enough to handle. I’m sure adding in the fact that he obliterated an already precarious trust by attacking her makes it damn near unbearable.
I want to smash my fist into Theo’s face again at the thought. I didn’t do near enough damage like I wanted.
Jules clearing her throat brings me back to the moment.
“How did your conversation go with your parents yesterday?”
Walking to the coffeepot, I pour myself a cup and take a seat on one of the stools before answering.
“They know something’s up, but aren’t pushing the issue after I told them I couldn’t explain yet.”
She turns away, but I see her worriedly biting her bottom lip. She opens a cabinet, looks inside, not finding what she’s looking for, and closes it again.
“Second cabinet to the right of the stove,” I tell her.
Looking at me gratefully, she moves to the correct cabinet and pulls down two plates. After placing several pieces of bacon, two scoops of eggs, and two pieces of toast on it, she sets the plate down in front of me. Grabbing the butter and jelly from the fridge, she deposits them next to my plate.
“I wasn’t sure how you liked your toast, so I left them dry.”
“Thank you.”
Instead of eating, I watch as she makes her own plate. Her hair is braided over one shoulder, and it reminds me of the times I saw her when she was still in a coma. I try not to let my eyes wander, but they do so of their own accord. She has on a pair of mint-green cotton pants and a black V-neck T-shirt. My stupid fucking eyes notice the tiny bit of cleavage the V shows. I glance down at my coffee and silently reprimand myself.
Once she’s done, she carries her plate, along with her coffee, to the stool next to mine and we eat in companionable silence. It feels nice to do something so simple as share a meal with her.
I set my fork down and finish off the rest of my coffee.
“I have to go in to work in a couple of hours.” I notice her shoulders stiffen. “I’d like for you to go with me.”
When she lifts her head, the relief is apparent on her face. “I’d like that.”
Glad that she agreed, because I wouldn’t put it past Theo to come by and try to talk her into returning home with him, I get up from the stool. Grabbing both of our empty plates, I carry them to the sink.
“I can do the dishes,” she offers a few feet behind me.
“You cooked, I’ll clean.”
“Okay.” She hesitates for a moment before asking, “Do you mind if I take a shower?”
I turn to her. “For as long as you’re staying here, I want you to treat this house like it’s your own, okay?”
A smile tugs up her lips. “Okay. Thank you.”
I turn back to the sink, blow out a harsh breath, and run hot soapy water in the basin. I’m both nervous and anxious to see her reaction once she’s in Ink Me, wondering if it’ll spark a memory.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Jules
LUCA OPENS THE BACK door to Ink Me, and I step inside. Looking around, I take this to be a small break area. On one side there’s a small two-seater table against a wall. Across from that, on the other wall, there’s a fridge and a counter with upper and lower cabinets. The counter holds a microwave, a coffeepot, and a few other things.
I turn back to Luca when I hear the door close. When he mentioned this morning he had to go to work, anxiety was my first reaction. I didn’t want to be left alone, worrying the entire time if Theo was going to show up. I also just didn’t want to be alone, period. But it was more than that. I wanted to be where Luca was. He not only makes me feel safe, but so much more. I feel comfortable around him, and warm, and desired like a woman should feel. Not the creepy way that sends terrifying shivers down my body. Not the way Theo makes me feel. I hesitate with my thoughts, not wanting to get ahead of myself or stupidly give myself hope, but Luca makes me feel loved. There’s no reason or rhyme for it, but it’s there anyway.
“You can set your purse there.” He points to the table. “No one comes back here except employees, and it’ll just be us and Ella later.”
I nod and set my purse down. He leaves the room, and I follow him down a hallway. There are several doors on either side of the hallway. I peek inside each one and gather these are the rooms where he does tattoos. There are work benches and those big red metal tool boxes and chairs that look like ones you see in dentist offices.
When we walk into an open area with two long counters, a couple of leather couches and chairs, and the walls filled with pictures of tattoos and drawings, I come to a stop. Dizziness captures me, and I’m forced to grab on to the wall to hold myself up. I close my eyes and pull in several big lungful’s of air, trying to push the dizziness away.
“Jules?” Luca’s concerned voice has me opening my eyes. He’s standing in front of me, bent at the knees so we’re eye level, his beautiful blue eyes watching me worriedly. “Are you okay?”
I swallow, my mouth suddenly feeling like I swallowed cotton balls. “Yes.” My voice comes out scratchy. “A wave of dizziness just hit me.”
His expression turns troubled. “Come on. You need to sit.”
When he grabs my hand to lead me to one of the couches, an electrical wave zaps me. I feel his hesitation, so I know he felt it too. Just as we’re walking out from behind the counter, I pull him to a stop.
“Wait,” I tell him, and he turns to me. “I’m fine now.”
His eyes search mine. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
I want to snatch his hand back in mine when he releases me, but I refrain from doing so. He steps to the side, but I still feel his eyes on me as I look around the room. I move to the left and look inside the glass cases.
“You do piercings as well?” I ask as I look at all the different kinds of jewelry.
“I don’t, but Ella does.”
“Oh.”
I move along the counter until I reach the end, then start looking at the frames on the wall. Some of the pictures are ones of actual tattoos and some are drawings. I knew Luca had to be good because of his profession, but I didn’t realize just how good.
I come to a stop when a strong sense of déjà vu hits me. It takes me a minute to catch my breath because the feeling is so strong.
“I feel like I’ve been here before,” I murmur with a frown. I turn back to the counter, still expecting to see Luca behind it, but I’m surprised to see him standing only a few feet from me, staring at me watchfully. “I’ve been here before.” Somehow, I know it’s the truth.
“Yes.”
My brows drop further. “But how do you know?”
He shoves his hands in his pockets, his own frown forming between his eyes.
“I didn’t until last night. I had a dream of you coming in the shop, but I wasn’t sure if it was real or my imagination. With you saying you felt like you’ve been here, along with my dream, I’d say it’s probably true.”
I nod, agreeing with him. “And you don’t remember?”