His Badge, Her Baby...Their Family?. Stella Bagwell

sitting near the head of the bed. “Please, have a seat.”

      “I’d rather stand.” His heart was suddenly pounding so hard he felt sick. He’d often wondered how she might react if the two of them ever happened to cross paths again. But this was a different situation. As far as she was concerned, she was looking at a man she’d met less than twenty-four hours ago.

      “I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect to see you or your partner today,” she said. “My case must seem very petty compared to what you normally deal with.”

      He tried to smile, but his face felt stiff. “It’s definitely a change from burglary or homicide.”

      She didn’t reply. Instead, her green eyes remained fixed on his face as she waited for him to give her a glimmer of good news.

      “The debris of your vehicle—what little was left of it—was hauled to the police lab last night. I’m sorry to say they were unable to recover the VIN. The tags were totally destroyed, too. So we’ll have to use other means to find your identity.”

      Instead of appearing panicked by this news, she simply lifted her chin and gave him a brave smile. The Geena he’d known had been fragile and needy. This woman staring back at him was displaying strength in spite of her dire situation, and the courage on her face filled Vince with admiration.

      “Well, I did remember one piece of information last night, Detective Parcell. I believe I’m twenty-nine years old. Why that fact came to me, I have no idea. And I’m not certain it’s correct. But I wanted to pass it along just in case it might be helpful.”

      Swallowing at the tightness in his throat, he moved a step closer. “You’re right.”

      Her delicate brows lifted in question. “Right?”

      “About your age. You are twenty-nine.”

      Her eyes widened. “How could you know that? Even the doctor said he couldn’t accurately determine my age.”

      Tell her, Vince. Just blurt it out and get it over with. Waiting isn’t going to help either one of you.

      As the taunting voice sounded in his head, he struggled to keep a professional rein on his emotions. This was more than his job, he thought, and Geena was far more than just a woman who’d lost her memory.

      “I didn’t come here just to give you the news about the tags and VIN,” he said quietly. “There’s something else—something very important, and you’re going to be confused when you hear it. Probably even shocked. So maybe you should brace yourself.”

      Alarm flickered in her green eyes, and then she reached out to him. Instinctively, Vince clasped his hand around hers, and the feel of her soft fingers against his suddenly whirled him back to a time when she’d touched him with hot desire and tender love.

      “What is it? You’ve discovered I’m a criminal?”

      Her question made him realize she was living in a blank world. Without a past, she had no way of knowing where her future might lead. He couldn’t imagine how terrifying that would be, and more than anything he wanted to make it all better for her. He wanted to take away her fears and doubts. Not add to them.

      “No. Nothing like that.” As he drew in a deep breath, his gaze drifted to the mound of baby. Somewhere out there a man was probably searching frantically for her. But so far, not one person had contacted the sheriff’s department about a missing woman. Nor had anything that fit Geena’s description popped up on the national database for missing persons. Vince wasn’t sure what that might mean. He only knew that he felt responsible for her well-being. “I doubt you’ve ever committed a criminal act in your life.”

      A wry smile caused the corners of her lips to quiver. “You’re a detective. I suppose you know what a criminal looks like. I’m glad I don’t fit the description.”

      “Unfortunately, they look like me and you and everybody else on the street. I know you’re not a criminal because I—” Pausing, he searched for the right words. Yet there were no right words, he realized. No way to buffer the shock. “I know who you are. Your name is Geena. It was Geena Parcell.”

      Her eyes grew wide, her lips parted. “Parcell? But that’s your name! Am I related to you? Why didn’t you tell me last night? I—”

      “Wait. Slow down and let me explain,” he interrupted. “I couldn’t tell you about anything until I consulted with your doctor. I needed to make sure you could handle this news.”

      She lifted her chin to a challenging angle. “All right. I’m not falling over in a dead faint or anything, so tell me. Are we relatives? You said my name was Parcell—does that mean I got married and it changed? If that’s the case, why hasn’t the rest of the family come forward?”

      “Because I—we don’t know about your family now. You see, we—you and I were once husband and wife. But we divorced six years ago. Since then I don’t know what’s happened in your life or have any idea what your last name might be.”

      Stunned couldn’t begin to describe the look that swept over her face. Her cheeks were paper white and her eyes took on a wild, dazed light.

      “You?” The one word came out as little more than a husky whisper. “You were my husband? That—that can’t be!”

      “I assure you that we were married. For five years to be exact. We lived in Reno during that time. I worked for the police department there and you were going to college.”

      “Reno? You and I—together? But I don’t know you! If you were my husband I’d surely recognize you! I’d feel something—remember something!”

      Her voice rose with each word while dark pink color spread across her white cheeks. He couldn’t imagine what must be going through her mind, but the intimate thoughts racing through his only proved what he’d already known for years. He’d not forgotten one thing about Geena or their time together.

      Clearing his throat, he said, “I understand this is disturbing to you. Frankly, it’s not easy for me. If you’re not up to dealing with this right now, we’ll talk later. In fact, I’m beginning to think it might be best if I leave and give you time to digest everything.”

      A quiet calm suddenly came over her, and then she dropped her head in her hands and mumbled, “I’m sorry, Mr. Parcell—” Lifting her head, she let out a hopeless groan. “That’s great, isn’t it? You were my husband and I’m calling you Mr. Parcell. Do you see how insane all of this is? I can’t absorb it all.”

      Vince couldn’t absorb it, either. He’d never expected that seeing Geena again, touching her hand, hearing her voice would be affecting him so deeply. It had to be her vulnerable situation that was making him feel so protective.

      Turning away from her, he walked over to a window and gazed down on a small courtyard at the back of the building. A man was sitting on a concrete bench, smoking a cigarette and looking as lost as Vince felt at this moment.

      “The doctor says your condition is temporary. Once your memory returns, you can put all this behind you. You’ll be back with your present family and everything will return to normal.”

      “My present family,” she said doubtfully. “What if I don’t have one? What if I’m all alone and no one cares or knows that I’m missing?”

      The desperation in her voice propelled him back to her bedside. “Your mind is running away with you. You have a mother. At least, she was still living while we were married. Before we divorced, she’d remarried for a third time and moved to Dallas, but apparently she’s changed her name since then. I couldn’t pick up any information on her.”

      A tortured frown twisted her features. “Third marriage! Was I close to my mother? Did we get along?”

      “Not very well,” he said, deciding it was best to leave it at that.

      She let out a dismal groan. “I’m not sure I should even