Page 46 of Wicked Shadows
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The morningbefore they were scheduled to leave, Devon snuck out of the room while Elle showered. He had a special surprise planned for her and didn’t want to risk her hearing him on the phone arranging it.
“Hello, sir. How can I help you?” The suites had butlers assigned to cater to the guests’ every need. Though they hadn’t needed his services before, Devon knew he didn’t have long before Elle would notice his absence, so he provided the basics and left the man to finalize the details.
“I need to arrange a spa package for my companion—after we return from a helicopter sight-seeing tour.” Devon gave the butler his specific instructions, speaking low and looking over his shoulder frequently to make sure she hadn’t overheard him.
“I’ll be glad to arrange every aspect of it.” With a few keystrokes, Devon and Elle were booked on the morning helicopter tour, and her complete spa package would begin immediately afterward.
“Thank you,” Devon replied and turned to walk away after the butler handed him the itinerary.
“Sir?” the butler called to him. “This was left for you late last night. We don’t allow unscheduled visitors in the suite area after the resort doors are locked. The gentleman was adamant you were to receive this first thing this morning.”
He handed Devon a large manila envelope, and Devon’s heart sank. No one knew precisely where he was or exactly when he’d return, so there was only one explanation for the unscheduled visitor. The fact that someone had tried to access the room he shared with Elle enraged him. Had that man been successful, his body would’ve been shark food, never to be found again—company man or not. The agent in him suddenly cringed at the room he’d chosen for their escape.
On paper, the idea was perfect. Secluded. Romantic. Private. Tropical.
In practice, he’d given whoever had followed him to the island a full-frontal view of every move they’d made. The unobstructed view looking out on the island was equally as open looking in with high-powered binoculars or a scope. His lapse in judgment and following of security protocol could’ve cost both his and Elle’s lives.
He thanked the butler absently before rushing back to the room to check on Elle. His paranoia was engaged with a renewed ferocity. He’d been so busy living the carefree life, his guard had been down completely. He hadn’t even sensed eyes on him or footsteps following him. With all his time and attention devoted to Elle, he’d unknowingly put them both at risk. He berated himself over his own stupidity as he stomped back to their door.
Elle stepped out of the bathroom just as Devon entered the suite. “Where have you been?”
He was relieved to see her wearing the short robe, though the belt was loosely tied and the fabric gaped open at her chest. “Just making sure our last day here is off the charts unforgettable.”
“Care to share what awaits me today?”
“Nope. I don’t want to share at all. I want every second to be a surprise. But do me one favor—get dressed in the bathroom. I overheard one of the butlers say they’ve caught people with binoculars trying to get a peep show before.”
Elle laughed incredulously. “We’ve been parading around here naked and having sex on every surface in every position imaginable for the last thirteen nights. One more won’t hurt now.”
“You’re probably right,” he conceded. He decided there was no need to alarm her unnecessarily. If anyone from the company had seen them, he’d find out. If it had been someone with the press, the pictures would’ve already been all over the web.
He stole into the bathroom, locked the door for privacy, and silently opened the manila envelope. With the contents in his hands, he squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. The death stipulation for leaving the CIA had suddenly become more appealing.
After memorizing the details, he put the documents under hot water and watched as they completely disintegrated. Though he couldn’t deny that handy little trick was better than eating them to erase all traces, the fact that he was activated on his vacation didn’t escape him. It was a clear message sent from high up the chain.
We can find you wherever you are.
The helicopter tour of the island was better than Elle ever expected. Though she’d seen many of the sights up close and personal, the morning tour bundled all the memories they’d made into a neat package and tied them together with a pretty bow on top. Thirteen days of perfection and bonding with the man of her dreams, the man she loved and had always loved. It had been the best time of her life, hands down.
“You’ve been quiet today. Are you ready to get rid of me? Run out of things to talk about with me?” She teased Devon, knowing he dreaded the end of their escapade as much as she did. She had simply decided to reserve her quiet suffering for the flight home the next morning.
“You know better than that. I wish I could keep you with me always.”
“Don’t go back,” she pleaded. She’d decided long before never to ask him to choose between his job and her. Truth be told, she’d been laser-focused on her own career, and she took advantage of the mostly out-of-town-boyfriend to avoid splitting her own time and attention. But her career was no longer the most important aspect of her life. She wanted more—with Devon. “Stay with me. Quit your job, whatever it is that takes you away from me.”
His eyes searched hers, but his expression was unreadable.
“Or take me with you, and I’ll quit my job. Either way you want it—I don’t care which. It’s just too hard to let you go again now.”
“I feel the same way, Elle. But I can’t let you quit what you’ve worked so hard to attain. I also can’t quit my job, even though I can’t explain why. And I certainly can’t take you with me. You are far too valuable to me to do that.”
Her crestfallen face tore at his heart, though he hid his deep disappointment behind his passive façade. “Don’t worry, darlin’. One day, we’ll be together without all these obstacles between us. I’m working on it.”
She snuggled into his side and swallowed the tears that threatened to fall. Crying wouldn’t help and would rob them of the time they had left together. That also reminded her. “Hey, you said you had another surprise for me after the helicopter tour. I can’t imagine anything could top this. So, what’s next after we land?”
