Help Me Remember (Rose Canyon, #1)(44)

Sure enough, she’s right.

“Did you add them?”

She shakes her head. “I’m starting to get a headache.”

“Why don’t you take a break while I calculate them. I have a feeling this total is going to be larger than the last two.”

“It’s a lot of money over the course of a month,” she agrees.

I start to highlight and do the math. The amount is staggering. “It’s over twenty-thousand dollars.”

“Why wouldn’t someone want to just make a donation of that amount at once? It’s a charity, right?”

“It’s not a charity, it’s funded by the town.”

Her eyes widen. “Wait, so it’s publicly funded?”

“Yes. About a year ago.” I hand her the paperwork detailing the transfer. The town wanted to provide a place where it was for all kids in the area.

“But they’re getting large donations of twenty thousand dollars almost monthly. If I was at all aware of something sketchy going on, could there have been more in my office?”

“That’s what I wonder, but if you did, there weren’t any records of it here.”

“And you have no idea what this is?” she asks.

“About this? I know only what you know. I swear.” I wish I did because at least then I would have some fucking clue what might have been in the missing paperwork from her office. “What I’ve learned is that when money is involved with corruption, there’s not much someone won’t do to silence others.”

Even kill.





Chapter Fifteen





BRIELLE





I don’t know that I have ever been this comfortable. Everything around me feels warm, and I could sleep like this forever.

I squirm deeper into the blankets, not remembering anything about how I got here. Spencer and I were in the living room, talking about the fact I may work for a bunch of criminals, then my head started to pound. That’s it.

For once, though, I’m not disturbed by the lack of memory. If it’s the beginning of a migraine, I really have no desire to recall it. No, I’d much rather stay here in the bliss.

I let out a sigh of contentment and hear a low chuckle, which has my eyes flying open.

When I see the source of the sound, I gasp. “Spencer! Oh my God! What are you doing? Why am I on top of you?”

First fact, I am not in my bed. I’m on the couch . . . with Spencer.

Second fact, the sun is not where it should be. The sky is light blue—not dark blue with pinks and oranges of sunset—with the sun sitting low on the horizon.

Third fact, I have been asleep a long time. In his arms.

While I have dreamed of this moment since I was a teenager, I’m not nearly as happy as I pictured myself to be. If I could remember how I got here, maybe I would be.

Ugh.

“You had a headache, so I had you lay down, and you passed out. It’s fine.”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I mean, it’s totally fine. Everything is fine.”

“Why do I have the feeling it’s actually not?” he asks.

I rest my head in my hands and groan. “Because you’re Spencer!”

“And you’re Brielle.”

“No, you don’t get it . . .”

I should really shut up.

“What?”

I lift my face, hands dropping in frustration. “You’re Spencer Cross. I had a crush on you my whole freaking life. I’m just a little . . . freaked out.”

“Had or have?”

I’m not answering that. “My point is that I’m on top of you.”

He laughs. “You know I had a crush on you too?”

My lips part as I take in a sharp breath. He what? He had a crush on me? Liar. “You promised never to lie to me.”

“And I’m not.”

“You had a crush on me?”

He nods slowly. “I have always thought you were beautiful, smart, kind, and funny, even if you do say the most ridiculous things sometimes.”

The heat rises in my cheeks. “I’m not beautiful.” I turn away, not wanting to see the way his green eyes fill with anything. Nope. I’d rather just stick my head in the sand, thank you very much.

Spencer’s finger moves to my chin, tilting my head to look at him. “You are. You are so beautiful, and more than that, you’re beautiful on the inside. I absolutely had a crush on you, and I still think you’re incredibly gorgeous. Don’t tell me you’re not beautiful, Brielle, because I will prove you wrong.”

My breathing is shallow, and I swear I could pass out. What is happening? Spencer is looking at me like he wants to kiss me, and God, I want to kiss him.

Even if it’s just this once. Even if I could be engaged to someone else, I don’t care. I want this right now because I’m pretty sure I’m dreaming anyway.

His gaze moves to my lips, and that’s all I need. My hand goes to his cheek, fingertips brushing the scruff on his jaw. “Before I lose my nerve, I need to ask you something.”

“Anything.” His voice is thick.

“Will you . . .” I clear my throat, working through the nerves. “Will you kiss me? You don’t have—”