by Sheila Kell
“I’m surprised Jesse didn’t take the lamp pieces and have them dusted for prints.”
Devon chuckled in remembrance of his brother’s high-handedness at the hotel. “He’d wanted to do just that, but I finally convinced him that we’d have hundreds of people to speak with since we knew maid service wasn’t always that efficient. Hell, there was no telling the last time the lamp had been wiped down.” He’d fought digging the pieces out of the garbage, but he’d known it would set up a ton of wild goose chases and probably no answers.
“Nothing had been stolen from my room, so I couldn’t imagine someone just coming in and hitting me over the head.” He flashed her a smile that he’d learned women appreciated. “I’m real likable.”
She playfully swatted at him and laughed. “The most likable of the bunch. Now, get on with it.”
He sobered again. “We checked with security to see if someone had left my room. Some idiot on their tech team had placed the security tapes in a view only status, and no one had known they hadn’t been recording until we asked to see them.”
“Humph. I hope they fired that moron.”
“They didn’t have to.” He shook his head. “Jesse dressed the kid down so much, he resigned. Probably to get away from your husband.”
A proud smile split her face. “That sounds like the Jesse I met.”
“We’re glad you were able to squash that part of our brother who had become almost unbearable. However, sometimes, when that Jesse reemerges, it’s a sight to behold.”
The car’s navigation directed them to turn onto a dirt road. He and Kate turned to each other and raised their eyebrows in unison. Rylee definitely wanted to be out of the way.
“It’s a vacation cabin she’s rented. Now, quit changing the subject. What else happened?”
“All right, pushy.” He chuckled at his sister-in-law. She was about to hate him, but he loved that she was a part of their family. He liked Jesse’s first wife, God rest her soul, but Kate brought out the best in his brother. He wanted something like that and hoped the woman they sought might be the one to be his better half.
“Enough of that. What about Rylee? How does she fit into this?”
“Christ, woman, I’m trying to tell you.”
Kate waved her hand in a circle motion to encourage him to get on with his story.
“At the hotel, the maid whispered to me about condoms in the garbage. I’ve had one-night stands before—”
Kate’s snort of disgust reached his ears.
He inwardly chuckled at her prudish censure but kept on telling his tale as if she hadn’t interrupted. “But this freaked me out for some reason. So, I rushed me and Jesse out of town and didn’t want to look back.”
He slowed as the car dipped into a washed-out hole in the road. “Jesse pushed me to look into it, but I kept putting it off because I didn’t want to know if I’d done something unforgivable. I might’ve hired a hooker or something, and I didn’t think I could handle that if I had.”
“Devon, you wouldn’t have hired a hooker. Enough women fall at your feet for you to even need to do so.”
“Yeah, well, after a while, I couldn’t stand the suspense. I mean, did she hit me on the head? If so, why? No money was missing. Had I hurt her in some way? So, I started sneaking into some of the businesses on the strip’s security footage that was still available. It wasn’t easy considering it’d taken almost a month to get up the nerve and most places don’t keep their security tapes very long—no matter the law.” He took a deep breath, held it for a moment and released it in a long, loud sigh. “It took a while, but I found footage of me walking with a woman down the sidewalk. I did facial recognition and got a hit.”
“Rylee.”
He nodded and tightened his lips. “Yes, Rylee.” He’d been laughing and holding the hand of a dark auburn-haired beauty. They’d only had eyes for each other and had bumped into enough people to unwittingly prove their distraction from the world around them.
Devon couldn’t find enough footage to piece together their entire evening. Not even to show that she’d been in the hotel with him. He knew that she’d been there though.
Once he’d learned her name, he’d checked the registry—with some difficulty—and there she’d been. Rylee Hawkins had checked out of the hotel before the maid had discovered him and he’d been taken to the hospital.
He’d called her a cold-hearted bitch for possibly leaving him like that. Yet, he couldn’t hang onto that anger because maybe he’d deserved her need to run from him. Maybe she hadn’t hit him. What had happened that night had consumed him. He’d had to find out so he’d reached out to her.
Kate’s mood flashed to anger. “What the hell did you do to her, Devon? She never would’ve hit you if you hadn’t done something.”
“I tried to find her… to apologize….” For what exactly he hadn’t known, but he’d known it was necessary. It was always necessary for a man to apologize. “I couldn’t contact her though as she’d left on an undercover assignment.”
“I remember the night she left my house for it. Actually,” she said and brightened, “you came later that evening. You two didn’t miss each other by much. Did you know about her then?”
He shook his head. “No. I was still acting like a pussy about finding out. It was while we searched for that maniac after you that I couldn’t stand it any longer and began to seek out the truth.”
She huffed out a breath. “I knew something had gone wrong on her trip. She wouldn’t talk about it. I kind of figured it involved a man. Hang on, if she knew who you were, she would’ve surely said something to me.”
He’d thought the same thing when he’d found out who she was. “Maybe. Maybe not. You’d just met us when Arthur sent her undercover. Maybe she found out I was Jesse and AJ’s brother and didn’t feel comfortable telling you.” He shrugged. “Anyhow, she’s back.”
“Did you know that before I said something to the team?”
“I’ve kept tabs.” Seeing Rylee and how happy they’d been on tape, he couldn’t just let her go without knowing what had changed that. Hell, he’d wanted to know how they’d met. The chemistry between them could’ve melted the surveillance tapes he’d watched. And he’d watched them over and over again until each movement had been ingrained upon his memory.
“Have you tried to contact her since she’s returned?”
“Yes.”
The Australian male voice that Kate had programmed into the navigation system announced the final turn. His pulse rate increased in anticipation. He’d see her in only a few more minutes. What would her reaction be? Hell, he didn’t even know how he’d react. He still hadn’t decided how to play things with her. No approach seemed to be foolproof, considering he didn’t know everything.
“And I take it she didn’t respond. What if things didn’t go well between you two? Maybe this isn’t such a good idea to have you along.”
“You’re wrong, Kate. She did respond.” He slowed to a stop on the one-lane dirt road and looked at Kate to gauge her reaction before continuing to their destination. “You see, we got married that night in Vegas.”
She gasped as her eyes widened, and her hand flew to her mouth. “What did she say? Wait! I thought you didn’t remember what happened.”
“I don’t.” He turned back to the front of the car and eased his foot back on the accelerator. “The hotel later mailed me something that had slid under the bed and hadn’t been found until a refurbishment.” He released a sigh. “Our marriage certificate. I double-checked and it’s legit.”
Kate swore. “Why didn’t you tell anyone? Why aren’t you two together?”
“And tell everyone what? Oh, hey, I apparently got smashed, got married, and don’t remember it. And, by the way, she hit me on the head and wants nothing to do with me so I must’ve been one hell of an asshole.”
Kate cringed. “You’ve got a point. Jesse would want to fix it, and the rest of the group would kick your ass.” She
shifted in the seat. “Hang on. I thought you didn’t drink.”
He swallowed hard. “I haven’t since that night.”
“But, why stop drinking?”
His reasoning sounded stupid, even to his own ears, but it worked for him. “Because, in the videos I found of us, I had a drink in my hand quite a few times, which means if I did something stupid, I figure alcohol must’ve pushed me to do it.”
“But, you could’ve truly fallen in your room, and Rylee had nothing to do with it.”
Kate had a point that he’d tossed around several times, but someone had been in his bed, and he’d put down everything he owned that it was Rylee. “It’s possible.”
“So, what are you going to do? You still haven’t told me what she said, and something tells me she’s not going to be happy you’re with me.”
The small, log cabin came into view. The getaway embodied the rustic look nestled in the woods like a traditional hunting or fishing cabin. The sun glinted off something in the front window. His senses went on instant alert, raising the adrenaline level in his system.
“Shit,” Kate breathed out.
“Did you call to let her know we were coming?”
“No cell service and the landline isn’t turned on.”
He tightened his jaw. Something was definitely wrong. He slowed the car to a crawl and stopped short of the cabin. Unfortunately they were within firing range if she decided to welcome them that way. “Grab the binoculars from my bag in the back and see if that’s what I think it is.”
Kate unbuckled her seat belt and angled herself in the back to shuffle through a black duffle bag. She turned and looked through the field glasses to the cabin. “It’s Rylee, and she’s got a rifle pointed straight at us.”
“Son of a bitch!” He snatched the binoculars from her and looked in the same direction as Kate had. “I hope to Christ she doesn’t shoot us.”
Kate snorted. “Sounds like she might shoot you, but I doubt she’d shoot me even though I brought you along.” She reached for the door handle. “I’m going to step out of the vehicle so she can see me.”
Devon reached over to stop her. “Are you fucking crazy?”
“It’s Rylee. Don’t worry. Just stay right here until I tell you to move the car.”
Although he didn’t want to, he agreed that once Rylee knew who she was, they’d be safe. He sat helpless while his sister-in-law stepped from the vehicle into a potential line of fire. He prayed Rylee didn’t shoot first and ask questions later.
Kate reached the front of the cabin and her friend stepped into view with a medium-sized black dog at her side. The women embraced, then Kate turned and waved him forward.
He pulled the vehicle closer and stopped. Once he’d turned off the engine, he sat for a moment and drank in the sight of her. The live version was much better than the tapes he’d watched so many times. He’d seen how she stood about six inches shorter than his six-one with a body that told him she kept fit—lean and strong.
The image of her standing there in form-fitting jeans, a cream sweater and hiking boots, with her hair flowing freely around her shoulders, stirred intense lust inside him. It made him nervous as hell, and he couldn’t say why. Hell, he prayed he hadn’t done anything terrible to make her run from him. He wouldn’t be able to stand himself if he had.
He’d put it off long enough. Taking a deep breath, he took the first step to confronting his lacking memory… and the woman he’d forgotten. He exited the car and faced her.
Rylee’s eyes widened when she recognized him. “Devon?”
Was that shock or fear in her voice? Maybe a bit of both. He’d have to figure it out as he went along.
The dog bared her teeth and growled. Shit. He hoped she hadn’t taught the dog to attack. He might be fucked.
Attempting to keep things light, he raised his eyebrows and spoke, “Did you think I’d sign those annulment papers without even speaking with you?”
“ANNULMENT?” KATE SCREECHED.
Rylee ignored her friend’s outburst and appraised the dark-haired man walking toward her. She swallowed past the nervous lump in her throat. He’d cut his hair, and it appeared to have a problem with gravity in places, but she’d recognize him anywhere. Devon Hamilton dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt looked rough and sexy. Dammit.
When she’d told Kate where she’d be staying, she had an inkling to expect her friend at some point if she didn’t contact her again. Not this quickly, though. She hadn’t considered Kate would bring him. Since Kate hadn’t mentioned knowing that Rylee and Devon were married, she’d guessed he’d kept it a secret also and hoped to avoid him until the annulment finalized. No such luck.
Locked in his gaze, she could drown in those warm, golden-brown eyes. Maybe she had and that had been why they’d married right away. It had to be something because knowing him and marrying him in less than twenty-four hours, by an Elvis impersonator no less—she shuddered when she’d found out that bit of information in her research—was not the type of woman she was. Then again, she’d been dead-ass drunk. Or drugged, her mind reminded her.
She’d worked with two of his brothers, and because of them, she couldn’t believe Devon would’ve drugged her. However, she didn’t believe she’d allowed herself to get smashed. Either way, she’d woken by his side with no memory of him or the night prior, so she’d done what she did best—she’d fled. She hadn’t realized how bad things were until she’d settled herself on the airplane and caught sight of the thin, gold wedding band on the ring finger of her left hand. Something she’d avoided thinking about until this moment.
“Why the shotgun welcome?” He nodded to the weapon in her hand and a slow, sensual smile played on his lips. “Is that special for me?”
Stiffening her spine, she silently cursed that her insides warmed and her stomach fluttered. She wouldn’t allow herself to fall for the charm that oozed from him. “It’s a rifle, not a shotgun.” Her reply ended up terser than she’d planned, but he deserved it. Somehow. Maybe. Possibly. Heck, she was too confused, if only by the idea of him and spending too many months thinking about what could have happened that night.
Devon shrugged his strong shoulders. “Figure of speech.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “You didn’t answer me.”
She’d love to put a shot in his ass for marrying her when she hadn’t known what she’d been doing. And for taking her to bed when she couldn’t have been in any condition to remember. But, she thought better, knowing she didn’t want to upset Kate, who had only come to check on her.
Instead, Rylee peered around him and searched the area. When she’d seen him, she’d allowed herself to lose awareness of her surroundings. That couldn’t happen again. She didn’t expect anyone to find her, but it didn’t hurt to be wary and on guard. “I wasn’t expecting anyone.” She forced a smile and turned into the cabin with the dog at her heels. “Come inside.”
“I’m sorry we dropped in unannounced, but without cell service….” Kate’s voice drifted off.
Closing the door behind her unexpected, and somewhat unwelcome guests, Rylee placed her weapon by the front entrance and turned back to them. “Kate, Devon,”—she placed her hand on the mixed-breed dog—“this is Angel.” As the two became acquainted with the pet, she glanced around the room. She’d rushed to put her notes away. Satisfied her secrets were safe, she turned to playing hostess.
In the open living-dining-kitchen combo, Rylee settled on a comfortable red-clothed couch beside Kate. Sipping water, she eyed Devon who lounged in an armchair full of a crayon box of color splatters. His presence placed her off-balance. What was it about him that had made her lose her wits that night? Sure, he was devilishly handsome, but so were plenty of men. She hadn’t married them.
“What’s this about the two of you being married? And getting an annulment?”
Kate’s questions grabbed her attention, and she bristled a bit. She’d hoped she could get away from all this without truly dealing with a
nyone except a lawyer. Obviously not when Kate Hamilton became involved. Which is why she hadn’t told her friend when she’d found out the truth.
Actually, she’d almost told Kate that final night she’d visited for their monthly dinner, but had chickened out because Jesse had been there. The two of them had been cozy and she feared Kate would tell Jesse and then it’d be more than she’d wanted to deal with since Devon hadn’t sought her out at that point. So, she’d kept quiet and had been thankful when she’d received a call from her boss and had to leave early after they’d found her a spot at the Westbrook household.
Unsure how to respond to her friend’s question, she turned to Devon and they gazed at each other intently, seeking an answer that would satisfy Kate. The tension in the room weighed down on her like a heavy blanket bearing down on her shoulders. He was a Hamilton, but she couldn’t trust him until she knew the truth of how she’d come to be his wife. She had no expectation that she’d ever retrieve her memory of their time together.
When no one spoke, Kate kept up her quest for answers. “So… this is the Vegas trip you wouldn’t talk about, Rylee.”
Rylee looked at her and nodded slightly in resignation.
“And, you, Devon,” Kate paused long enough to point her index finger at him, “this is the trip you don’t remember?”
What? Her head snapped to him. Not remember? That didn’t sound right. He’d called her by name the next morning. Why would he lie about it? Sure it had taken a while for him to search her out after the trip, but since she’d been undercover when he had, she hadn’t thought much about it. She’d actually been relieved to have missed him. Then, she’d conveniently ignored his attempts to contact her after she’d returned and finally contacted an attorney. She closed her eyes. This was so screwed up.
“Kate, I think this is something Rylee and I should talk about later… alone.”
