More Than Memories Read Online Free Page A

caught
himself at the very last second before he leaned down to kiss her. Shaken that
he slipped like that, he stepped away from her and opened the truck door.
    When he reached the main road, an older song came
on that they used to sing together. Molly started humming and looked happier.
    “We can come back and ride any time,” he said,
deciding he needed to enjoy their time together instead of brooding over what
they’d lost. He’d headed back to her hotel since they hadn’t discussed any
plans. What was the protocol for this? Act like they had just met, or whisk her
away to his house, like he would have done four years ago?
    He settled on, “How about dinner?”
    “Dinner sounds great.”
    Grinning, he turned around and headed for a little
diner by the bridge. “Does Sally’s sound good? Good country food.” He wanted to
add how they used to eat there all the time, but he’d already decided to enjoy
the evening and not push things.
    “Sure.”
    Sally, the owner, wasn’t there that night like she
was sometimes, and he suddenly knew that was a good thing. She’d known Molly
pretty well. Their waitress tonight had been hired about two years before, so
she knew Trent but didn’t ask Molly any questions. People had to be talking
though.
    Thankfully the two people who stopped simply said
hi and welcomed Molly back. A group of college kids came in and were laughing
pretty loud, so they had something to eavesdrop on and laugh about.
    He had always loved her smile and how much her
entire face lit up. She looked at him now, laughing softly. Then tears came to
her eyes.
    “I would have never guessed I’d find you here.”
    Her serious words sent his heart spinning. “You
remember now?”
    Her smile fell, sending his hopes right after it.
“No, I just meant I didn’t think I’d find anyone who would help me so much. I
felt pretty alone, but you’re here.”
    He smiled warmly at her then but caught sight of a
tall brunette walking through the diner behind Molly. He stiffened, realized he
was holding his breath and forced himself to let it out. Molly looked worried
and turned to glance behind her.
    It wasn’t Bev, thankfully, because she would throw
a hissy fit right there if she saw them together. Molly watched him nervously
now.
    “Sorry, I thought that was someone else.” To
explain, he added, “I didn’t want you to face that yet.”
    He felt grateful she didn’t press for a further
explanation. A few years ago she would have, but this was completely different.
Like they were two different people, or maybe the same people starting over.
    She’d been studying him and said suddenly, “This
does feel familiar.” He could see her searching and reaching for a history to
match this feeling between them. “Maybe,” she added at last with a sigh.
    “But what were you thinking?”
    “Well, I don’t feel out of place here at all.
Maybe there’s something there. But then why did I forget about it? Why was I in
California? Now I’m not sure my parents told me the truth.”
    It seemed all her questions came crashing down on
any hope of recovering her memory. He touched her hand on the table, wanting to
reassure her but didn’t know what to say.
    After dinner, Trent had the same urge to stretch
the evening out, but it was getting late and, in reality, she didn’t know him
that well any more. He pulled up to the main door of her hotel and let the
truck idle. Mol reached for his hand first, just a light touch to say goodbye.
    “Goodnight, and thanks for today and dinner.”
    “Anytime, and I mean it.” He smiled, knowing she
had to be thinking about kissing him. Right? Or maybe wishing he’d kiss her.
Crazy.
    She opened her door and slid out of his truck. He
answered her wave with his own and left in the misty evening rain that started
up. That was it, for today anyway.
    As he drove to his parents’ house, Trent
unsuccessfully tried to stop the summer four years ago from running through his
mind. He fought