Joe took a step back. “What? No. You said no cops.” Was it possible the guy couldn’t remember? Joe didn’t have a clue about this sort of thing other than what he saw in Hollywood. Amnesia? Really? This whole situation was like something out of one of Bea’s Lifetime movies. Joe couldn’t help his skepticism. “Listen, why don’t you rest for a bit? Don’t overdo it. My friend’s a nurse, but she’s at work at the moment. Are you feeling sick at all or dizzy?” The guy shook his head and Joe breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, then. Well, she said I need to keep you up for a while, and if you go to sleep, you need to be observed. We’ll see what she has to say when she gets here and take it from there, okay?”
“Why would you help me?” The man took a step closer. Joe instinctively did the same before taking a step in the opposite direction. The guy sure had an imposing way about him, one that had Joe ready to bolt. It would be wise not to underestimate his guest. Lack of memory didn’t mean the man was incapable of who knew what. Maybe he wasn’t thinking this through enough.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“You expect me to believe you brought me up here out of the goodness of your heart?” Something dangerous flashed in the man’s silver eyes. Before Joe had a chance to figure out what it was, the guy threw a hand out and grabbed Joe’s arm. He jerked Joe hard against him. “Maybe you brought me up here for something else.” His eyes dropped to Joe’s lips before moving back up. “I don’t have any money. Were you hoping I’d repay you some other way?”
The realization of what the guy was saying boiled Joe’s blood, and he shoved the stranger away from him. Of all the nerve! “Are you kidding me? I drag your heavy ass up here, welcome you into my home, and you accuse me of trying to take advantage of you?”
The man narrowed his eyes again, his head cocked to one side as he studied Joe. “Why else would you help me? What’s your motive?”
“Motive? Who are you? Columbo? How about to help a fellow human being? I know it’s hard for you to trust anyone right now, so I’m going to ignore your insult, but you’re lucky I’m the one who found you because I’m probably the only one dumb enough to listen to you when you said no cops. I sell pies. I’m not an evil mastermind.” He motioned around him to his small but cozy apartment. “This isn’t exactly Meteora.”
The man arched an eyebrow. “For Your Eyes Only?”
Joe threw his hands up. “Oh, that you know? Great. I feel much better now. That’ll come in handy during our James Bond marathon.”
“All right, I get it. I’m sorry.” Once again, Joe found himself under the man’s scrutiny, and it made him feel uncomfortable. It was as if the guy was mentally taking note of every hair out of place on Joe’s head or each tiny wrinkle in his pants. “Where’s your remote control Lotus Esprit Turbo?”
Joe felt the heat rising in his cheeks, and he suddenly found it difficult to keep his gaze in one spot, especially on the grumpy—not to mention astute—mystery man standing across from him.
“Holy hell, you have one?” The guy let out a laugh.
“Maybe.” Joe crossed his arms over his chest, and glared at whatever-his-name-was. That’s what he got for helping a guy out. “It was autographed by Roger Moore and auctioned off for charity,” Joe replied with a sniff. “Besides, it’s not like I play with it.” Why the hell was he explaining himself to a guy he’d found facedown in the dirt? His expression must have said as much, because the laughing stopped.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. Here you are helping me, and I’m being a jerk.” The gentle words got Joe’s attention, and he found himself caught off guard by the man’s arresting smile. It was certainly a far cry from his previous menacing growls. It was like the guy had two personalities. Oh God, what if the guy had two personalities? “I think it’s kind of sweet, actually.”
“Now you’re just messing with me.”
“No, I’m not. I really do think it’s sweet. Then again, you seem like that kind of guy. I apologize for insulting you earlier. I don’t come across guys like you often.”
If it hadn’t been for the completely open and honest expression, Joe would have thought the guy was trying to pull one over on him. “How do you know?”
“I don’t know. Gut feeling. Feels like I should listen to it.”
“Okay, well, there’s not much we can do until Jules has a look at you. Unless, uh… well, I suppose you can still go to the hospital. I could call a taxi and take you down there.” Was it too much to hope for?
“Not going to happen.” There was no hesitation in his reply, and the light in those bright silver eyes dimmed. “No cops, no hospital. I know it sounds crazy, but all I know is that it’s really important they don’t know I’m here. If I go there, I don’t know what’ll happen to me.” He took a step toward Joe, his expression softening as he pleaded. “I promise to behave myself. I know you have no reason to trust me or keep helping me, but… just give me a little time. At least until something comes to me. Please. Whatever’s going on, I know if I go out there without knowing who or what’s after me… I’m not going to last. I need to remember.”