Page 1 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

Chapter

One

GORAN

Isucked in a deep breath and regretted it immediately.

What the fuck?

My head felt like someone was squeezing it in a vise. There was a distinct ringing in my ears, like I’d spent all night in a club standing next to a subwoofer.

Pressing a palm to my temple, I blinked, but even the dim light hurt. The room swam like an out-of-control merry-go-round that wasn’t so merry. My eyes fluttered open, and I could just make out a nightstand with a lamp and a clock. The numbers glowed, letting me know it was eleven-thirty in the morning.

“Oh shit,” I growled, sitting up too quickly. That was a mistake.

The sudden upward movement had me lunging across the room. I dropped to my knees and grabbed the small wastepaper basket. My stomach turned inside out, and I retched until there was nothing left, leaving me dry heaving with tears running down my face.

Fuck my life.

My mind was completely blank. The last thing I remembered was attending a swanky dinner with Lani. She’d planned to rub shoulders with the coaches and other important people who chose the Pan Am jumping team. I’d drunk one glass of whiskey and then…nothing.

Glancing around the room, I spotted an open door that I assumed was a bathroom. There was no chance of standing. So, I crawled across the floor, then used the counter to haul my sorry ass up. The mirror was not kind. I looked like a bag of shit.

And where the fuck are my clothes?

Scrubbing my hand across my chest, it came away with glitter. But that wasn’t what caught my attention. There, on my ring finger, was a black band with a thin gold strip running through the middle.

Holy shit!

This is not happening.

There was no way that I was living in some fucked up version of The Hangover. To be safe, I spun around and pulled open the shower curtain, sighing when there was no tiger.

Lani, what the hell did you do?

Swiping the toothpaste off the counter, I brushed my teeth three times before stumbling back into the bedroom. Holding my still pounding head, I searched for anything useful. Anything that might help me piece together recent events.

My phone mocked me from the nightstand. Very slowly, I made it across the room. It felt like walking the length of a football field before I sat down. Reaching for my cell, I paused and picked up the pen beside it instead.

Does that say…Las Vegas?

Jesus H. Christ. How did I get to Vegas when I was in Phoenix, Arizona, last night?

Dropping the pen, I grabbed my phone. The bedroom door burst open just as the home screen appeared. Lani swept in, all sunshine and smiles. Her energy followed her around like an entourage. Her blue eyes danced with their usual mischief as she practically twirled over in her skin-tight jeans and silky white blouse.

Lani cupped my cheeks, kissing one then the other.

“Oh, thank God you’re awake. I was getting really worried.”

“Lani, what’s happening?”

Ignoring my question, she wheeled away and marched over to the curtains. She flung them open, and I winced as the bright sunlight poured into the room. Grabbing the pillow, I covered my face like I was some fucking vampire.

“I had all your favorites brought up, including a fresh pot of French-pressed coffee. So, hurry up and shower, then come join me.”

“Lani,” I growled.

“Oh, and I also got you a new suit, yours was totally ruined after the foam club and the pool. You just jumped in fully dressed.”