Only Her Undercover Spy

by Cami Checketts

  “He’s injured?” Meredith asked. “You have to go to him. Come on. I’ll drive you.” She tugged at her arm.

  Cat stayed planted and stared at her. “You told him about your issues?”

  Iris nodded. Something held her to the spot where she stood, as if she were physically bolted down.

  “You really do love this guy.”

  Iris nodded again.

  Cat hugged her tight, then turned to Meredith. “Iris hasn’t left the valley in years.” She lowered her voice and looked apologetically at Iris before saying, “Because of her parents.”

  “Oh.” Meredith stopped tugging on her arm. “I’m sorry.” She bit at her lip. “But he’ll come to you soon. It’ll be okay.”

  “That’s right,” Cat said. “He told his family he loves you, and he’s okay. He’ll come soon.”

  Iris smiled, acting like it was all okay, but her heart ached for Devon. He loved her. He was in a hospital. She wished she could be with him. If only she could teleport … wherever he was. If only she were strong enough to go to him. She loved him and wanted to be with him. Did she love him enough to overcome her fears?

  Chapter Twenty

  Devon hated waiting. He hated inactivity. He hated being without Iris. His family hovered over him, and he focused on enjoying this time with them, but underneath he was chafing at his inability to get to Iris, hold her, kiss her, and most importantly reassure her that he would always come for her and he wasn’t going anywhere once he had her in his arms. Thirty-two million was plenty to retire on. He could start a new business from Mystical Lake. He’d never imagined he wouldn’t want to be in the espionage business. He’d miss it, badly, but Iris was more important. Maybe he could work on security systems like he’d originally told Iris. That wouldn’t be bad, simply different, right?

  Since Shelly had returned from talking to Iris, she hadn’t seemed like herself. She’d told them all that she’d gotten ahold of Iris, and Iris had been very concerned about him, saying that it was sweet of him to come to her and asking Shelly to thank him. Devon wasn’t thrilled with how Shelly relayed the conversation, but Iris was probably still shaken up from being abducted yesterday morning. Was it only yesterday? He hated being so out of it. It was nearing dinnertime, and he still had no promises that the doctor would release him soon. Last he’d heard, they wanted to keep him overnight for “monitoring.” What the heck did that mean? He was about ready to rip these IVs out and have Jake drive him to Mystical Lake. His brother-in-law would do it too, and nobody would dare step in Jake’s way.

  Most of the family had gone to get some food from Five Guys and had promised to sneak some back in for him, Shelly, and his mom, who had opted to stay behind. His mom took a phone call from Granny and walked out of the room. As soon as she left, Devon motioned to Shelly.

  She approached the bed but looked like she wished she’d left for dinner. “What’s up, bro? Do you need anything?”

  “Do you think I should call her myself? I wanted to see her in person, but I didn’t think it’d be tomorrow before I could be there. I don’t want her to worry.”

  Shelly shrugged and glanced at the monitors. “I think she’ll be okay.”

  “What?” Devon swallowed and had to know what she was thinking. She was the one who’d talked to Iris, who had a bead on what Iris was thinking. “What’s wrong, Shell?”

  Shelly met his gaze and licked her lips and finally admitted, “The way she won’t come to you and the way she just said ‘thank you’ and ‘bye’ like she didn’t really care … Sorry, bro, but it bugged me. Are you sure she’s the right one?”

  Devon’s heart sank. Shelly would never hurt him, and she wanted him in love and happy just like she was. Iris must’ve been really cold and distant for Shelly to express any kind of concern. He was thinking more clearly now and hope his words would make sense as he explained to his favorite sister. Of course he could trust Shelly. “She went through something horrific at sixteen, and I don’t think she’s left her valley since. She was abducted yesterday morning, and the criminal tried to claim her for his sick harem and then shoved a gun into her abdomen and almost killed her. I think you should cut her a little slack.” He was far too defensive for Iris’s sake, and he knew it. Still not all the way right in the brain, probably.

  Shelly looked stricken. She sank into the chair and muttered, “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine.”

  She didn’t say anything else, and Devon was getting really ticked off—not at Shelly, but at the situation. Maybe Iris didn’t care for him as deeply as he cared for her. It was irrational, but he wanted her to come, longed for her to overcome her fears for him. He would never ask that of her. He was grateful that she didn’t know his location so she didn’t have that pressure on her.

  He swung his feet off the bed, and Shelly’s eyes widened. “I’m done, Shell. I’m not staying another night for monitoring. She’ll be wondering if I’m coming for her. She needs to know I will never desert her. I have got to get to her. You come with me, and then you’ll see, you’ll see that she’s the right one for me.”

  He didn’t dare say that Iris loved him like he loved her, because she’d never expressed that, but he knew she cared for him. It hit him how selfish he was, lying here in an uncomfortable bed and listening to the doctors and nurses saying they needed to monitor him. After what she’d gone through yesterday morning, he knew Iris needed him. He had to get to her.

  His monitors started beeping as he stood. His head pounded, he felt sick to his stomach, and he broke out in a cold sweat. He swayed on his feet but luckily didn’t go down.

  Shelly was quick to steady him with her hand. “Are you sure about this, bro?”

  A nurse came running in. “Hey …” She put her hands out, all placating. “Hey, it’s okay. You need to lie down for me. You’ll be okay, big guy.”

  “I am fine. Olive?” The nurse’s name was written on his board along with the date as if he had amnesia.

  She nodded.

  Devon used the voice he’d use on a criminal, feeling only a slight twinge of guilt. “Here’s what’s going to happen now, Olive. I am officially refusing treatment. You can either take out the IVs and catheter, or I will rip them out.” He cringed slightly at his own words. He looked to Shelly, not giving Olive any time for a rebuttal. “Please say Jake brought a change of clothes.” His dad’s and Gary’s clothes would be too small. Jake’s would be too big, but they would work until he got back to the resort and his own suitcase. When Shelly nodded, he asked, “Can you please go get me some clothes?”

  “Okay.” She still looked uncertain, and he thought that uncertainty went back to Iris. It didn’t matter. As long as she came with him to meet Iris, she’d see. Iris loved him and needed him. He hoped.

  He looked back to the nurse. “Can you also please scrounge me up a toothbrush and toothpaste? Something crawled in my mouth and died while I was unconscious.”

  She managed a small smile. “You’re refusing treatment and you’re going to rip that catheter out by yourself, tough guy?”

  Devon nodded, giving her a look that had made many men stop in their tracks and turn tail and run.

  She kept smiling. She was a tough one. “Okay. I’ll help you, unless you don’t react well to getting up and moving. What’s her name?”

  “Iris.”

  “I thought so. You muttered that name while you slept. I’ll get the toothbrush and paste too, if you’ll sit down and relax for two minutes before you go sweep your girl off her feet with a head injury,” she said in an undertone. “If I determine you aren’t ready to leave, you’ll listen to my advice?”

  “Thank you,” Devon said sincerely, though he wasn’t certain he’d listen to anyone who wanted to keep him from Iris one minute longer. He didn’t care if he was still out of his head.

  “Sure. Let’s see how it goes.” She winked and left.

  Devon relaxed into his bed as Shelly gave him a glance and walked out after the nurse. The nurse returned
first and quickly took care of all the tubes poking out of him. She soon had him monitor and tube free and helped him into the bathroom so he could brush his teeth. He was even able to take a quick shower before sliding into Jake’s too-big T-shirt and joggers, which Shelly handed through the door. He exited the bathroom, feeling almost human again, though some Tylenol wouldn’t be rejected.

  His mom was waiting with Shelly. “What are you thinking, love?” she asked, obviously as concerned as Shelly was.

  “Well, I’m thinking you all want to come on a drive to Mystical Lake. It’s gorgeous there. If you’re able to stay for a bit, I know the lady who runs the resort.” He winked. His head pounded, and he was exhausted from the effort of showering and getting ready. If he hadn’t had Iris on the brain, he would’ve sunk into that stiff bed and fallen back asleep.

  “Is it really wise to check yourself out of the hospital and go chasing after some girl?”

  “She’s not some girl, Mom. She’s the one.”

  His mom’s lips pursed, and she and Shelly exchanged a look. Apparently, she shared Shelley’s concerns about Iris’s level of commitment.

  “I know you’re worried about me and I love how much you care, but this is right. Iris is right for me.”

  “I am?” The sweetest voice came from the hallway, and then Iris walked into the room.

  Devon swayed, and he had to grip the bed frame. “Iris?”

  She smiled tentatively, glancing at his mom and sister and nodding at them.

  “How did you—? Why did you—?” Everything was going fuzzy, but Iris was here. He wanted to hold her, but his head was thumping, hard. He put a hand to his head and admitted, “I think I might …” Then everything went black again.

  Iris cried out in horror as Devon flopped to the floor, barely avoiding hitting his head on the chair or the bed frame. She rushed forward and beat his mom and sister to him. She put her hand to his face.

  Those beautiful blue eyes gazed up at her. “Iris … I love you.” Then he closed his eyes, and she was afraid he’d passed out again.

  Nurses ran into the room, and Iris and his sister and mom were shuffled out as the medical professionals assessed him and helped him back into bed. When she, Cat, and Meredith had arrived at the hospital, the nurses had only let her through because of Cat telling them far too much—how the love of Iris’s life had been injured by Italian mafia and how Iris hadn’t left her valley for ten years because of her parents, but had braved the trip because of her desperate love for Devon and on and on. The nurses had been impressed with the story and finally let only Iris through.

  The drive through the canyon hadn’t been as bad as she’d feared. With a lot of deep breathing, prayer, focusing on Devon and how much she loved him, and Cat and Meredith talking calmly with her, she’d made it. It was more than worth it to come for Devon, but what if she’d hurt him worse? Had he passed out because of the shock or her coming, or because he’d been out of bed and shouldn’t have been? She didn’t want to hurt him, ever.

  “I’m sorry.” She turned to his mom and sister, who were anxiously waiting with her outside the open door. “I didn’t mean for him to get hurt again. I just had to be with him.” Her voice lowered. “I have to … tell him I love him in person.” She looked to the sister. “Shelly? I couldn’t just say it on the phone. I felt like I had to be with him, and you did give away part of the name of the hospital.”

  Shelly smiled tentatively at her, but she looked uncertain. “Why didn’t you just come earlier, then? He passed out again because he insisted on removing all the tubes and stuff and showering so he could come to you, bullying a nurse into helping him.”

  Iris put a hand to her heart. She wanted to rush back in there, but she didn’t want to injure Devon. “He’s amazing. He was worried about me coming to him because …” She swallowed and admitted, “I was deserted by my dad the day of my mom’s funeral at age sixteen, almost raped the same day, and almost fell off a two-hundred-foot cliff trying to escape the man who was trying to take advantage of me.”

  The women’s eyes went wide.

  She hung her head. “I have a lot of issues, and I know I’m not worthy of Devon, but I do love him.”

  She felt warm, soft arms around her. Motherly arms. Devon’s mom cuddled her close, and Iris felt the stupid tears coming back for who knew how many times the past two days. She sighed in relief and wrapped her arms around his mom. “Shh, it’s okay,” his mom said. “Devon loves you too, and it’ll all work out.”

  Shelly’s arms also came around them, and she said, “We all have issues, Iris. We aren’t going to judge you for your issues. If you love Devon, we’ll love you too.”

  Iris let herself cry and cling to these women, murmuring, “Thank you,” over and over again.

  The nurses filed out of the room, and the three of them pulled apart. Iris should’ve felt embarrassed, but Devon’s mom and Shelley were smiling at her with such kindness.

  “He’s okay,” a dark-haired nurse said. “He wants Iris.” She rolled her eyes. “Can you convince him to calm down and stay in that bed?” she asked, staring pointedly at Iris.

  “Of course.” Iris looked to his mom and sister.

  “Go,” Shelly urged. “We’ll come in when the family gets back, and then we’ll completely overwhelm you.”

  “Sounds good.” She smiled at them and slowly walked into his hospital room.

  Devon was sitting up in bed. His blue eyes looked clear and his clothes were too big on him, the shirt hanging down to reveal his beautiful chest. He wasn’t his usual polished self, and she loved him even more.

  His smile was all for her. “Nurse Olive isn’t thrilled with me. She tried to help me, and it went south. Now she said I can’t leave this bed again or she’ll put restraints on me, but you can climb up here and kiss me.” He gave her that smoldering look that made her feel a little unsteady.

  Iris didn’t even have it in her to tease him as she gave a little cry and ran to him, sitting on the bed and cuddling into his chest. He wrapped her up tight and tilted her chin up, kissing her desperately and firmly and making the trip out of her valley even more worth it.

  When they pulled apart for air, she asked, “Are you okay?”

  He smiled cheekily. “They made me put the IVs back in, and they’re going to make me do another MRI when the machine becomes available, but at least they left the catheter out.”

  “Thanks for sharing that.” She touched his cheek softly and asked, “Please, Devon. Are you really okay?”

  “I’m fine. Just pushed it a little too fast after a head injury and almost drowning, but I had to try to get to you.”

  Her heart melted.

  He looked at her with wonder. “But you came for me. That was so brave of you.”

  “Brave?” She almost choked. “You burst into a cabin with five armed men and rescued me, Cat, and Meredith.” She kissed him tenderly. “You, Devon, are the bravest person I know.”

  He shrugged. “All I care about is that you’re safe and that you know something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “That I love you.”

  Iris’s heart thumped harder against her chest. His sister had said that he loved her and he’d said it as he passed out, but hearing it from his beautiful lips while he was lucid was incredible. “I love you too,” she admitted.

  He framed her face and pulled her against him, taking advantage of her lips for several wonderful minutes. Leaning back, he admitted, “I am exhausted, and the nurses tell me I need to rest, not kiss you all night.”

  “Jerks,” she murmured.

  He chuckled.

  “Seriously, Devon, I want you to heal. I’ll leave so you can rest.”

  “Can’t I just … hold you until I fall asleep?”

  “Okay.” She swung her legs up on the bed and cuddled against his side, resting her hand on his chest as his arm secured her to him. He was her anchor, not her valley. She could be grounded and safe and happy because of
this incredible man.

  “Iris?” he whispered against her forehead.

  She looked up at him. “Yes?”

  “I want to date you, be with you. I think I’ll retire from espionage and maybe start a security company or build canoes or be your maintenance man. Maybe you could teach me how to use that toilet brush.” He winked, all irresistible and cute.

  Iris sat up swiftly and stared down at him. “Devon! I could never ask that of you. You need to do what you love, what you’re incredible at. Go be the super spy guy. Just promise to always come back to me.”

  He gazed up at her, a look full of love and devotion. “Do you mean that?”

  “Yes. I love you, and I want you to be happy.”

  “I want you to be happy too, love. We’ll figure it out together.”

  Iris liked the sound of that. She settled in next to him again. “Let’s wait on any major decisions until you’re not suffering from a traumatic brain injury.”

  He chuckled. “Deal.”

  She cuddled in close, but she heard shuffling at the door and smelled the rich scent of fried hamburgers. Several people crowded in the doorway. A big, buff guy shook a sack of takeout from Five Guys. “Bacon double cheese?” he called.

  “No,” Devon said. “Shut off the light, close the door, and get a hotel. I’ll see you all in the morning.”

  “Testy,” the guy returned. “Hi, Iris.” He waved.

  She waved back. “Hi, brother-in-law of the man I love.”

  The big guy chuckled. “Jake.”

  An older gentleman smiled at her. “Would you like some food, Iris?”

  “No, thank you,” she said. “I’ve got what I want right here.”

  They all laughed, and the woman who had to be his other sister said, “Well, we know when we’re not wanted. We’ll meet you officially tomorrow, Iris, and we’ll let your friends know to get a hotel as well.”

  Iris raised a hand. “That sounds wonderful. Thank you.”