by Sheila Kell
The woman snorted. Devon shook his head and bit back a chuckle. She’d actually snorted. “She tapes them all even though you’re all there. Did you want to talk with Kate? Jesse’s gone, but I’m sure you knew that.”
“No. Actually, I wanted to talk with you. I need a favor, and I’m counting on your love for me to see it done.” He hoped the boyish charm he’d tossed in there would do the trick.
“Me? Are you in trouble?”
He chuckled, guessing it depended on what trouble constituted—wanting a woman who didn’t want you or chasing kidnapped girls. Yes, he was in trouble. “No, of course not. I just want to do some stuff in the mountains and don’t want the family interfering.”
“I won’t lie to them, Devon Michael.”
Damn. She’d perfected the first and middle name thing with them. “I’m not asking you to lie. If they ask you directly, then you answer honestly. I’m asking you not to volunteer the information. Can you do that? For me, pretty please,” he cooed with a laugh.
She chuckled. “You think you’re funny, don’t you? Well, you’re lucky I’m in a giving mood. Now, what do you need from me?”
“I need you to pack up some equipment and send it overnight to me.”
“Some secret spy stuff? Humph. Sounds like trouble to me.”
He could visualize her standing with her hand on her hip giving him the look that made him want to confess to pulling a girl’s braids in his second-grade class. Ah, he missed tormenting little Charlotte.
“How do you expect me to get it to the post office without them knowing I’m leaving?”
“I’ll send the mailing labels for you to print and stick on the boxes. I’ll schedule a pickup so you only have to ensure the boxes are ready.”
“Ooh, does this mean I get to play on that fancy computer of yours?”
His gut clenched at the thought. Yet, the little things were all it took sometimes to keep the woman happy. “You do get to be on my computer, but please take care of my baby.” Rylee had no idea what kind of sacrifice he was making for her. Like the laptop with him, no one was allowed on his computer. A cold shiver snaked up his spine at the idea of someone intruding in on his space. But, this was important to Rylee so he would endure. “Grab something to write down everything.”
“Hang on.” The sound of rustling and then paper crinkling told him she was probably shuffling through the desk drawer off the kitchen.
Devon rattled off items, instructions and a stern warning—as stern as he dared—about care. He hesitated at weapons, not wanting to ask for them and have Mrs. K. say anything. The weapon Kate left and Rylee’s would have to be enough if they ran into trouble.
After ending the call with his coconspirator, he decided he’d best call Kate like he’d promised and get it over with. Besides, it would keep her away from Mrs. K.’s plundering in the war and storage room.
“It’s about damn time you called me.” He couldn’t decipher if Kate’s voice carried more anger or concern. Oh well, he deserved it all, especially with his last act.
“Hello to you, my wonderful sister-in-law.”
She huffed at him, clearly not appreciating the charm he’d infused in his words. “What’s going on?”
Not ready to skirt the truth, he pressed on as though she hadn’t asked. “How’s Megan? Has she dropped that kid yet?”
“Don’t even try. She’s not due for another month. What’s going on?”
He sighed and dropped in the porch swing. “There’s nothing else.”
“Bullshit.”
“Kate,” he said as firmly as he could muster, “leave it.” After it left his mouth, he knew that he shouldn’t have wasted his breath with that remark.
“Humph. Are you at least staying? What about the annulment?”
“Of course I’m staying. I’m not letting her get away that easy. She married a Hamilton. She’ll learn what that means soon enough.”
He got the laugh he’d hoped from her. Kate and Jesse’s relationship hadn’t been all roses at the start. In fact, he’d moved in on her when she’d have preferred he hadn’t.
Maybe she’d relax about Devon and Rylee’s predicament and leave it to him to resolve.
“Good,” Kate said briskly.
“What about Arthur and the FBI? I’ll move her if they’re coming.” They’d dealt with fallout from FBI leaks before. AJ’s cover had been blown, putting his and Megan’s lives in danger. Devon wouldn’t subject Rylee to such a chance.
“You wound me, Devon. I told you I wouldn’t rat her out. Besides, they don’t suspect her, or as far as I can tell, know she was there. They just want to talk with her. Arthur didn’t push me.”
“I doubt he would right now, but keep an ear out. I agree that she can’t help them. It’ll only put her life in danger if the wrong person found out. You need to know if one of those goons blabs to the FBI though.” He’d pushed that issue to the back of his mind with research today. His mind had remained focused on the girls—and his marriage. He had to get back to why the goons picked up Rylee in the first place. Gut instinct told him that someone knew she’d been there and she was in trouble whether she realized it or not.
“Ye of little faith, I asked about them today—in a roundabout way. The two who worked for Dave stated that they weren’t working for him that night and had no clue of his whereabouts.”
Good. That eased his mind a smidge.
Rylee walked out of the cabin and the need to protect her almost consumed him.
Angel dashed past Rylee, barking at a squirrel darting across the yard. He liked that mutt. No matter how jealous he was of Brent’s relationship with Rylee, he respected the man for rescuing the dog from the shelter. Most people would’ve probably bypassed the older dog for a cute puppy.
“Rylee sends her love.”
Her head snapped around to him and a surprised expression blossomed on her face.
He smiled, knowing she was curious about who he spoke with and almost left her guessing. “I’ll talk with you later, Kate.”
Rylee’s shoulders dropped and relief visibly passed over her.
Devon ended the call, lifted himself from the swing and ambled toward her. She cut a fine figure and from the side, her jeans and flannel shirt contoured to her curves. His mouth watered at the thought of her without them. The visual overtook him and his body reacted.
“Did she buy it?”
Silently counting to ten to relieve his disappointment that he couldn’t touch her, he raised his eyebrows in question. “You mean that nothing is happening? She said she did, but I don’t think she actually believed it. You should know her better than that.”
She nodded. “True. Do you think she’ll come back or send anyone?”
Shaking his head, he frowned. “No. Not as long as we keep in touch with her.”
“Good.”
He wanted to pull her into his arms, but he had to get the e-mail to Mrs. K. so he could receive his equipment tomorrow. If they wanted to get busy finding the girls before they could be sold, he had to have those items. He had a trick or two he wanted to try before they attempted to break in and search. “How long before dinner is ready?”
“About half an hour. Is that okay?”
“Perfect. Thanks for cooking.” He cleared his throat. “I have a few things to take care of real quick and afterward, I’ll help you cook. Then, we’ll enjoy our evening together.”
She fidgeted, her body swaying slightly. “Will you tell me what you’ve found out today? I don’t like being kept in the dark.”
“Not tonight.” He kissed her cheek and swept past her into the cabin before she could respond. There was nothing more they could do for the girls tonight. As for them though, he had other plans for their evening that involved he and Rylee getting cozy.
KATE STOOD IN the doorway with her arms crossed, watching a UPS truck depart until the rain blotted it from view and then turned to observe the older woman. The one she’d seen packing in the war room.
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Mrs. K., walking with her shoulders hunched down and head bowed looking at the ground against the weather, was almost at the front door before she noticed Kate. The woman nearly tripped over her feet when she stopped in a rush. With the older woman’s gray hair nearly plastered to her face, it almost covered her eyes, but Kate could make out the shocked expression of getting caught splashed on the housekeeper’s face, and it almost made her laugh. She’d learned a great deal from Mrs. K. the last year on keeping an eye on the household.
In fact, she raised one eyebrow and used the stern voice she’d heard Mrs. K. use. “Come inside where it’s dry and tell me what you’re doing.”
“Nothing important,” the woman rushed to say as she followed.
“What did you ship?” If she hadn’t known that it had to be for one of the men, she’d never have been so bold with Mrs. K.
“Nothing important.”
Somehow she doubted that. “Did Devon have you send him something?” It had best not be her dear husband sneaking something under the radar.
“I—” She broke off and her shoulders slumped, but this time it was in apparent defeat. “He did and I worry.”
“What kind of stuff?”
The housekeeper reached into her pocket and extracted a list of items.
Kate scanned the damp sheet. Son of a bitch. I knew Devon was hiding something.
“Did he ask you to hide this from me?”
“No.” She shook her head. “He told me I had to tell you if you asked, but not to offer.”
Taking a deep breath to control her rage, she held it and counted to five, then released it. “Thank you, Mrs. K. I’ll take care of it.”
“You just make sure he gets home safe,” she said, hurrying away. Escaping was more like it.
Kate smiled. The older woman was a bit spry when the situation warranted. After locking the front door, she retrieved her cell phone from her pocket and dialed while she walked to her and Jesse’s bedroom.
Devon was in a buttload of trouble as far as she was concerned.
“Hello.”
“Your brother had Mrs. K. go behind my back and do something,” she said to her husband.
Jesse heaved a sigh. “What did AJ do now?”
She shook her head even though she knew he couldn’t see. “Not AJ.”
“Well, Brad’s with me.”
“No,” she huffed. “Devon.”
Laughter streamed through the phone.
“It’s not funny. I think Devon and Rylee are up to their ears in something.”
“I thought everything was okay and that’s why you came back.”
She hesitated. How much should she tell him? “Well, since then he had Mrs. K. ship him some things.”
“Hmm. I’ve been wondering. Why did he stay with her and not you?”
“He wanted to give their marriage a chance.” She slapped a hand over her mouth too fucking late. It was the one thing Jesse didn’t know in the Hamilton world, and she’d just spilled that secret. One she’d promised to keep until Devon was ready to announce it.
“Their what?” he roared.
She pulled the phone away from her ear and winced. Putting it back, she left it far enough away to hear but not have her eardrum busted if he yelled again. “I wasn’t supposed to say anything, but I am worried about them.”
“When did they get married?”
“It was while he was in Vegas. Right after we’d met,” she hurriedly added, remembering working with Jesse before their trouble had begun.
“Hell. I shouldn’t have let go of what happened when he asked. That must be why he fucking didn’t want me to look into it.”
A shattering sound reached her ears, which she hazarded a guess was a glass from Jesse’s hotel room hitting the wall.
“I don’t know about that, but he wanted to handle this himself. Only,” she paused and winced, prepared for more outrage, “she asked for an annulment.”
“Rylee fucking did what?” Heavy breathing, not the kind meant to scare someone on the phone, but the kind where someone was in an emotional uproar, bled over the receiver. “He’ll have to handle that himself,” Jesse finally said in a calmer voice than she’d expected. She wouldn’t want to be Devon Hamilton when his big brother called next. “Why do you think they’re in trouble—except from the ass kicking he’ll receive from me?”
She told him everything Rylee had shared.
“If no one knows she’s there, then she’s safe. Besides, Devon would send for us to protect her if he felt she were in real danger. He wouldn’t do it by himself.”
Unfortunately, she had to concede that point. She’d never been told why he didn’t go out in the field, but she remembered the fearful expression on his face when she’d handed him the Beretta. “Something’s not right though.”
“I don’t see what makes you say that.”
Wasn’t he listening to her? Everything made her say it. But, what hit home was the list of items Devon requested. “He asked for the drone.”
“Fuck.”
“My thought exactly.” That was Devon’s new spy toy, and she couldn’t believe he’d take it out just to play.
“Let’s think logically. Maybe they’re using it to view parts of the mountains they can’t reach? He could be trying to impress her. Really, what kind of trouble can they get into up there?”
Kate snorted. “Famous last words.”
His voice softened. “You’re right, sweetheart. Okay, there’s nothing to bring us all back, and he’d kill us if we just showed up. I’ll talk with him later and see what I can find out.”
“Don’t tell him that you know about them being married. He’ll kill me if he finds out I told you.”
“I can’t guarantee that, sweetheart. In the meantime, you’ve got AJ and Jake there if—and I mean if—Devon calls for help.”
“But—”
“No. You do not crash. They could truly be working on this marriage thing. Don’t worry, though. I’ll put everyone on standby. We’re all due to finish up in the next couple of days anyway.”
“I’ll call Rylee and see if I can get anything else from her.” She’d at least let her friend know that she and the men would be there for them. Plus, she’d offer to return. Rylee hadn’t wanted to be alone with Devon anyway. Maybe—
“Devon’s smart. He won’t do anything to put them at risk so there’s no need to worry.”
“Then why are you worried?”
Jesse eased out a slow, heavy breath. “Probably the same reason you are. I love him.” He paused. “He’s a Hamilton. We take care of ourselves and our own, and it sounds like Rylee is Devon’s. They’ll be fine.”
An inkling of suspicion that her husband said it just to make her relax struck her. She’d learned to figure him out. He was just as worried about his brother as she was.
They spoke for a few more minutes before she called AJ and Jake and got them up to speed on her hunch. Unfortunately, they agreed with her husband that she shouldn’t worry. Yet, they didn’t know about the marriage.
THE CAMPFIRE CRACKLED, the sound mixing with the chirping of crickets and the hushed whispers of other wildlife. The firelight stood bold in the darkness, its illumination dancing off the cabin and surrounding woods and giving them a fiery gold glow for the briefest of moments before it flickered shadowing an area then relighting it.
Calm and peace surrounded Devon, and he wanted to grab it and hold on to it, allow it to absorb within and retain itself there, but the spirited woman sharing this retreat kept the blood pumping hot through his veins with nothing more than her being in the vicinity.
What to do in a relationship with a woman had never been this difficult to decide. He’d never wanted anything serious despite the fact he’d dated a few women for brief periods. But with Rylee Hawkins—no, Rylee Hamilton—something was different, and it wasn’t just his not wanting to have an annulment behind him.
Devon stared into the small fire they’d created in the o
utdoor patio steel fire pit, wondering if he was doing the right thing trying to salvage something of their marriage. As far as he knew, it could be just lust and burn itself out within months… weeks… or even, heaven forbid, days. Then they’d be stuck together and probably come to despise each other. He expected she’d then ask for a divorce. He definitely didn’t wish that for himself.
He wanted… craved with everything he was, to have what his brothers had found with their wives. That level of head over heels in love that lasts a lifetime. Like many, he hadn’t believed in such a love that encompassed his whole heart and beat with a soul mate. Yet, he’d witnessed it come to life with Jesse and Kate, AJ and Megan, and Jake and Em.
He had to believe that he’d married Rylee for more than lust. The question that still rattled around his mind was had he been in love with her when they’d wed, and if so, why didn’t he have that same feeling now? He didn’t have that answer just yet, but without hesitation, he wanted to be with her, and deep down he knew it wasn’t just lust. There was something else there. Yet, it wasn’t full-blown love either.
Convincing her they should try wasn’t going to be easy. Sure, she’d agreed that she would but he hadn’t believed she really wanted to give it any effort. In fact, he expected she’d pull out another copy of the annulment papers as soon as they found the girls. Something just drove her to not want to be married. He had to find out why… and soon.
He wouldn’t allow her to shut them down too early though. He’d show her they had something, and together, they’d figure it out.
“You’ve burned that almost beyond recognition.”
So lost in his thoughts, Devon started at the sound of Rylee’s voice. Sitting on a blanket on the ground with his knees pulled up and his back leaning against a yellow Adirondack chair, he held the wire hangar toward the fire. A black object that was once a white marshmallow rested in the flames on the hangar’s tip. He jerked the inedible item back and blew on it to extinguish the flames that ate through the mushy treat.
