Wedding Party Collection: Don't Tell The Bride: What the Bride Didn't Know / Black Widow Bride / His Valentine Bride

‘You could return to fieldwork.’

‘What? And leave you all alone in the little house on the river? Who’d put the Christmas decorations on the roof?’

So he had altered his work focus because she’d been forced to alter hers. The confirmation gave her mixed feelings. On the one hand Lena was grateful that she was so well loved. On the other hand she was dismayed that he’d chosen to limit himself in order to be there for her. She wasn’t that needy. Was she? ‘You want to put Christmas decorations on the roof?’ she asked lightly.

‘I want Christmas decorations everywhere.’

Maybe it was time she expanded her earlier dream. ‘I’m having second thoughts about the little house on the river. I think we need a big old farmhouse instead, with sheds to house all the toys and decorations when they’re not being used. And if we’re living on the river, I want a powerboat. A really fast one. I could take up speedboat racing.’

‘Yeah, that’s really going to encourage me to leave you there by yourself.’

‘You could take up speedboat racing as well. I seem to recall having a quarter share in a plane that I could sell.’

‘Handy,’ he said dryly.

‘Isn’t it? I thought I might ring Jared today. Or Poppy. And I got a phone message in from someone only the name’s not ringing any bells. Amos Carter.’

Trig frowned. ‘Let me see it.’

She handed over her phone and Trig found the message and frowned some more.

‘Who is he?’

‘An old work contact.’

‘Jericho3, Milta Bodrum Marina,’ she said next. ‘Is it a boat or a missile?’

‘Don’t know.’

‘Are we curious?’

‘I’m curious. Leave it with me. You’re concussed.’

Lena sipped her tea. ‘I still can’t remember getting married.’

Trig eyed her sharply. Lena dropped her gaze. She wanted to. She was trying to.

‘I guess what I’m saying is that if that particular memory stays elusive, I’d kind of like to do it all over again. The ceremony. Do you think the families would go for that?’

‘I think your family would do anything for you. And mine could be persuaded along.’

‘Would you do anything for me?’

‘You really need to ask?’ He held her gaze. Lena was the first to look away.

‘So, yeah. That could happen,’ he said gruffly. ‘Get well and anything could happen.’

‘You mean my leg.’

‘Your leg is as good as it’s ever likely to get. The kayaking and the speedboat racing are good options for you. I like that you’re talking about them.’

‘Promise me something. Promise you’ll race me.’

Trig grinned and placed his hand to his mighty heart. ‘Don’t expect any quarter.’

‘I’d take it as a grave insult if you gave me any. So what’s the plan for today? I know you said we should go home if my memory stays faulty, but it is improving. I remembered that your father’s a builder this morning. I remember you working his jobs in order to get the money to buy your surf kites. True or not true?’

‘True.’

‘So I’d like to stay. Maybe we could continue on with our honeymoon plans. Make the most of this time together, regardless.’

Trig looked to be on the verge of protest.

‘After I’ve seen the doctor today and been given the all-clear, of course.’

‘You’re so amenable.’

‘Aren’t I always?’

Trig almost choked on his coffee. ‘Yeah, no. I’m thinking it’s a concussion side effect that has to do with a whole bunch of bad feelings that you can’t remember.’

‘But you prefer me amenable? You like this me better than you like the old me.’

Trig took his time answering. ‘There’s a few old yous. You as a kid. You as a comrade-in-arms. You trying to make your body work the way it did before, scared as hell that it wouldn’t and even more scared of being cast aside by the people you love because of it. I had trouble getting that through to you. Fell in love with you even more because of it though. And then there’s this you who’s a whole lot like the old you—before the shooting—only softer somehow, and more assured. I could get used to this you too.’

‘But which me do you love?’

‘All of them.’

Good answer. ‘So, assuming the doctor gives me the okay, where to next on the honeymoon trip?’

‘Bodrum.’

‘So you do know what Jericho3 is?’

‘No,’ he muttered. ‘But I aim to.’

* * *

Lena got the all-clear to travel from the doctor and permission to back off on the medications. The doctor made a more thorough examination of the bruises on her hip this time around and made her show him what leg movement she had and asked her whether the pain there was any worse than before.

‘No,’ she assured him. ‘That’s about as good as it gets.’

The doctor nodded. ‘You’re on pain medication?’

‘And anti-inflammatories. The leg has improved a lot. It’s been nineteen months. I’m off the painkillers for the most part. I’ll take them occasionally and the anti-inflammatories too if I have a big day of movement coming up.’

‘I didn’t know you were off the painkillers,’ said Trig.