Secrets by Brenda Joyce

be prey for every man drifting by. Rick is right. You had better stay here until you regain your memory.”
    She was unsure. She had come to Miramar because she had no place to go, and because she had trusted Slade to protect her in these bizarre circumstances. But she no longer trusted him. He had lied to her. Yet she still wanted to trust him, as incredible as that might be. She wanted that very much. But how could she? She could not trust a man who hoped to use her. And it hurt to be Slade’s hapless victim.
    And now there was the undeniable fact of her interest in him as a man. She did not want to remember the feel of his kiss or his body. She did not want to be aware of how handsome he was, how male and virile he was. She did not want to be interested in him.
    In that moment Regina was afraid. Not of her circumstances, of her loss of memory, of the truth of her identity and what had happened, but afraid of the enigmatic man standing on the other side of the room with his back to her. And maybe, just maybe, she was afraid of herself. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    He didn’t move, watching the clouds sailing toward them. “Tell you what?”
    â€œThat Rick intends for us to marry.”
    He turned. “Victoria been flapping her gums a bit?”
    Regina waited, well aware that her eyes were bright again with unshed tears that signaled a fresh wave of hurt. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    â€œI can see you’re not too happy about the prospect.”
    â€œI trusted you.”
    â€œI didn’t tell you because I haven’t made up my mind yet,” Slade said brusquely. “Truth is, I haven’t agreed to marry you.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI told Rick I’d think about it.”
    â€œ You told Rick you would think about it .”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    She could barely believe her ears. She had assumed that Slade was planning to marry her for her money. But he wasn’t. He was considering it. That he hadn’t agreed and forced her to make a choice should relieve her, but it did not. The situation was no less conspiratorial just because he had yet to put his final stamp of approval upon it. “I trusted you.”
    â€œThat’s the second time you’ve said that.”
    She closed her eyes, resolved not to cry, at least not until he had left her room. She inhaled and it gave her strength. “You realize that it would be absurd?”
    â€œHow absurd?”
    â€œCompletely absurd.”
    â€œHow come I get the feeling that your objection has everything to do with me—but not one damn thing to do with James?”
    She stepped back reflexively, shocked at his rage. In truth, she had forgotten all about her dead fiancé, and that Slade was his brother.
    â€œI thought so.”
    â€œI can’t even remember James,” she protested.
    â€œBut I can,” he said.
    His pain was as primitive and dark as his other emotions had been earlier in the buggy. She knew she should not be witnessing it, just as she should not have glimpsed even briefly so deeply into his soul. “It’s not my fault. James’s death is not my fault. That I can’t remember him is not my fault. Believe me, I wish I could remember him—and I wish he were not dead.”
    He glared at her, inexplicably furious. “You know what, Elizabeth? Damn you.” He wheeled past her and slammed out of the room.
    Regina cried out. His curse immobilized her, then she ran to the double doors and caught them before they banged again. She did not pull them shut. She stared after Slade, tears finally slipping free to stain her cheeks, tears very similar to the ones she was sureshe had just glimpsed in his eyes. But they were crying for very different reasons—or were they?
    Â 
    Regina had no intention of remaining at Miramar another moment. Coming here had been a mistake. For Miramar was no longer an inviting sanctuary. She