Make Me Remember Read Online Free

kid was forced to sound that grown-up . . . so wise, so
tired
, at age thirteen.
    “I want to,” burst out of her throat. “You saved us. You took care of me all night, and kept me from freaking out and everything. I want to do something for you.”
Because both of us know I haven’t got much to give you in return.
    She let go of him abruptly, stepping out of the circle of his arms. She quickly swiped at her damp cheeks and attempted a smile. “I’ll cut your hair, okay?” she repeated brightly when she’d composed herself.
    “Yeah. Okay.”
    She was eager to get past her rush of gratitude and embarrassing show of emotion. Jake looked really uncomfortable.
    “Can we do the cliff jump again?” she asked him, kneeling to help him scoop some dirt and ash onto the fire. There was just enough light entering the cave now that she could make out the shine of his eyes when he met her stare.
    “No. We can’t take the chance that the mountain lion won’t come back tonight. We have to go. Besides, it’s raining out right now, and it’s a good steady one. The rain will help to cover our tracks. I’ve got an old camp tarp stored here. We’ll wrap what we can in it, keep our stuff protected from the rain. We’re leaving for Barterton as soon as we get packed up.”
    * * *
    Present Day
    Harper’s eyes flew open at the sound of footsteps. She turned over in the soft sheets. There was a wide chest of drawers just across from the bed and a long mirror hung above it. In the reflection, she saw her long, mussed hair and sunburned, damp cheeks. She wiped at her face at the realization, amazed to feel tears on her fingertips. Whatever she’d been dreaming about had made her cry, she realized in wonderment. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t pull any details of her dream from her brain. Only a sense of poignant sweetness and sadness remained.
    She sensed the subtle movement of the boat. They were anchored. Had Jacob moved the boat while she slept, as he’d said he would? She didn’t recall a bit of it. The yacht was large enough that waves didn’t rock it much, but there was still a subtle bobbing motion that she found soothing. She could tell by the color and slant of the sunlight coming through the window that she’d slept for over an hour, and that evening had fallen. When she pushed back the comforter, she saw Jacob standing in the open doorway, his hands braced at the top of frame.
    “Hi,” she greeted him, propping herself up on the pillows but never ungluing her gaze from the sight of him. She’d never been happier to see him. He’d changed into a pair of dark blue shorts, but he wasn’t wearing anything else. His smooth skin had grown a shade darker in the sunshine today. There was a shadow of stubble on his jaw, and his burnished hair looked windblown. She drank in the sight of him thirstily.
    “I was beginning to think you were going to sleep all night,” he said, stepping into the bedroom suite. His brows arched as he sat on the edge of the bed next to her. “Why are you smiling like that?”
    “You look so relaxed standing there in the doorway. So nice,” she replied. She reached out to touch his hard midriff. His taut abdomen muscles jumped slightly at her touch. She ran a fingertip down the silky trail of brown hair that led from below his belly button down below his shorts. “I was just thinking when I woke up . . .”
    “What?” he asked when she faded off.
    She swallowed, and shook her head slightly. Sleep and her dreams still clung heavily to her. “Have you ever noticed that some of the worst, scariest things that ever happened to you in your life were also the best?”
    He caught the wrist of her stroking hand and squeezed gently. She looked up at him.
    “What makes you say that?” he asked.
    “I don’t know,” she mumbled, curling up on her side beneath the sheet, all too aware of his sharp gaze on her. “I just woke up thinking that.”
    He put his hand on her