Toni

Toni woke to a man's voice quietly telling her to wake up. She felt like a truck had run her over and her head was pounding. "Sweetheart, it's time to wake up," the gentle voice soothed. She wanted to snuggle into the man and let his sweet voice lull her back to sleep, but he kept insisting she open her eyes. With the way her head hurt, opening her eyes was the last thing she wanted to do.

"Baby, open your eyes for me," the man coaxed. His voice sounded familiar, like coming home, and she wanted to find him, run to him, but she couldn't. He felt safe and she knew the man behind the voice would never hurt her. She could feel herself slowly waking and she almost hated leaving the lovely dream, but the insistent voice was leaving her no choice. Her eyes popped open to find the man from earlier, who claimed to be her boyfriend, sitting next to her on the bed. He was stroking her face, pushing her long, blonde hair back from her eyes, and she couldn't help but lean into his touch. It felt right to have him touching her and she wasn't sure what to do about that.

"Hey beautiful," he whispered. Toni couldn't help but smile up at him. He was handsome and she liked the way he seemed to want to protect her. Earlier, while the lifeguards and doctor were crowding her, she noticed him watching her, as if he wouldn't let anything or anyone hurt her. Toni just wished she could remember him.

His sad eyes looked down at her and she was sure she could see into his soul. "Hey," she croaked. Her voice was hoarse, and he reached for a glass of water that was sitting on the nightstand.

"Here, take a drink of this," he said.

Toni sipped at the water and laid back down. Even those little movements hurt her head and she hoped he would let her go back to sleep. "Thank you—" she paused, not remembering his name. She looked up at him, her sheepish grin in place. "I'm so sorry, but I'm not sure of your name." She didn't miss the flash of disappointment that crossed his features.

He smiled and Toni noticed it didn't reach his deep brown eyes. "My name is Nico, Nico Andrews," he whispered. "I'm sorry I had to wake you, but the doctor said to do so every hour to make sure you're all right. A head injury isn't anything to fool around with," he said. "You were in bed for days last time—" his voice trailed off.

"It's all right, Nico. I know this must be hard for you too. You claim that we are—together." Nico nodded his head, taking the glass of water from her. "I want to remember you, I really do," she sobbed.

"No, baby, don't cry. It will only make your head hurt more. It will be all right, you just need to rest, and in a day or two, I'll take you to the mainland and we'll have you checked out," Nico promised. She worried her father would be beside himself with worry. Waiting two more days wouldn't be fair to him or Zac. They must have been so worried about her, especially if she had really been gone for over a year.

"I'd like to contact my father and boyfriend," she said. Toni wiped her eyes and again noticed the disappointment in Nico's eyes. He was so expressive; she was sure she would always be able to tell exactly what he was thinking. "I have a life, Nico. Or I did. If what you say is true, and I've been gone for over a year, they must be worried sick." Nico nodded and stood, and Toni instantly missed the comfort of having his body close to hers. She found that fact strange, but nothing about the day felt normal.

"Why would they not have come looking for you after your first accident?" Nico questioned. Honestly, she wondered the same thing. How could she go missing and her father not look for her? The last time she talked to him, he was upset with her for stalling her decision to marry Zachary Bierman. Zac was a great guy, but she wasn't in love with him. She didn't know if she would ever love him, and she didn't want to marry someone for the sake of her family's business. She wanted the fairytale, her knight riding in on a white horse and all the crazy things young girls wanted. Zac wasn't that for her, he never would be. She tried to tell her father that, but he refused to listen or take no as her answer. Had she made him so upset he didn't want to find her?

"You told me you were staying on the island, at your family's beach house?" Nico asked.

"Yes, we have a house over on the South side of the island. I was staying there for a few days, trying to make up my mind about—" Toni didn't know if she should tell Nico the rest. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him, he seemed so sweet and gentle with the way he took care of her.

"You were making up your mind about what?" he questioned. Toni had a feeling Nico didn't miss much. He did say he was a scientist, so he was probably paying attention to her every detail, even studying her.

Toni sighed, knowing she was going to have to give him the whole truth, and hope he would still help her. She wanted to find out what the hell was going on, why no one had come looking for her in over a year. She also wanted her life back, and if she was going to hurt Nico, she at least owed him the truth.

"I was trying to decide if I wanted to accept Zac's marriage proposal," she almost whispered. Nico watched her from across the small bedroom, his murderous gaze made her shiver.

"So, you're engaged then?" he barked out his question, causing her to jump.

"No." She shook her head and groaned from the pain it caused. "I was considering his proposal, but I hadn't accepted it. My father called me in the morning to tell me he wanted me to accept Zac's generous offer. We fought and I said some nasty things to my dad. I hung up and that was the last thing I remember before waking up here today." Nico paced in front of her, and her world started to spin a little faster.

"Can you please sit down? You are making me feel a little dizzy," she admitted. Nico crossed the room to sit back down on the bed next to her. "Thanks," she whispered, laying her head back on the pillow. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so awful. That thought made her want to laugh because she couldn't remember anything from the past year.

"How about I do a little research and try to find your father and this Zachary Bierman?" Nico asked. She felt awkward taking him up on his offer, but she had no choice. "What is your father's name?" he questioned.

"James Bernston," she whispered. Toni was feeling more exhausted by the second.

"As in the land developer, James Bernston?" Nico asked.

"Yes, why?" Toni questioned.

"Fuck," Nico swore. "He was just on the news, baby. I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, but your father died a few weeks back." Toni felt a panic wash over her and she tried to sit up, but Nico's big body was beside her, pushing her back onto the bed.

"He's—" Toni's voice cracked, and she couldn't make the words come out. How could her father be gone? She had just talked to him on the phone, but that was just her mind playing tricks on her. If Nico was correct, she hadn't spoken to her father for over a year and the thought of never being able to talk to him again made her feel hollow inside.

Nico pulled her into his arms, and she didn't try to hide her sobs as he soothed her. He held her and let her cry, whispering how much he loved her and how sorry he was. "How can he be gone? Did they say how it happened? Maybe you heard wrong," she asked. Nico shook his head, and Toni could tell he was certain.

"I'm so sorry, honey. I make it my business to know all the major land developers on this island. When a man as important as James Bernston dies—well, let's just say that's something I wouldn't get wrong." Nico pulled her against his body and settled next to her, stretching out on the bed. She knew she should protest, but she didn't. She needed his comfort, even if he was a stranger to her. Pushing him away right now wasn't something she felt strong enough to do.

"Relax, baby. I just want to hold you while you sleep. You need to rest and then we'll figure everything else out later," he promised. Toni wanted to believe Nico, but a part of her couldn't help but wonder if everything he told her was true. She had no reason to doubt him, but he was a stranger to her and that set off all her alarms. Toni needed to find out what happened to her father, and she worried she had no choice but to put her faith in a man who claimed to know her, a man who said that he loved her, a man she couldn't remember. But what choice did she have?