Page 144 of Merry Fake Bride

37

DEVON

“Ma’am, you can’t go in there, he’s?—”

Ignoring the day nurse, I stride right into Kairo’s room with a folder clutched in one hand and stop as Kairo, completely naked, wobbles at the base of the bed trying to get his boxers over his injured thigh.

He freezes and glances up, then completely relaxes when he sees me. “Oh, thank God,” he murmurs. “I thought it was Agnes again.”

“Are you scared of your nurse?”

He winces and wobbles.

I toss the folder onto his bed and reach his side within two steps.

Then, while averting my eyes, I hold his elbow and take over pulling his boxers past his knee and up to his hips.

“Thanks.” Kairo’s eyes meet mine and warmth flushes through my body, reflecting in the apples of my cheeks.

“Keep looking at me like that and I’ll take them off again.”

“Wow. Is that any way to treat the injured?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you should have spent more than four days in hospital. Why don’t we ask Agnes?”

“Don’t!” Kairo catches my wrist as I step away. “She’s not scary, she’s just… how can someone in the medical profession be so rough?”

“Maybe that’s why she’s a private nurse,” I tease. “She doesn’t have the stress of low pay so she’s less inclined to treat you with care.”

“From what we’re paying her, gentility should be a given,” he grumbles.

“How are you feeling?” Keeping my hand on his elbow, I help Kairo reach his bed and he lowers himself down onto the bed.

“Better. I’d do evenbetterif you were my nurse.”

Standing between his knees, I gently cup his face. “I would if I could. It’s Christmas Eve. The bakery is swamped, my parents are up to their ears in orders because of all the publicity… It’s insane.”

“See?” Kairo tilts his head into my palm. “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”

“Are you sure about that?” I nudge my head in the direction of the folder. “Some lawyer dropped that off with me earlier. Said that since I’m your fiancée, they didn’t want to deal with you directly.”

“What is it?” He blindly reaches for it, refusing to look away from me.

“It’s from your mother.”

Kairo’s eyes narrow and he glances down while pulling the file into his lap.

As he opens it, I slide one hand into his hair and stroke lazily.

“Did you read this?” he asks, his voice hoarse.

“I did. Your mom killed that condo project in its entirety and she’s returning ownership to all the businesses screwed over by the deal, without taking a penny back from them. The bakery is safe. That entire street is safe.”

“I don’t understand,” Kairo murmurs. “Why would she do this?”

“My best guess? Your being ousted from Silver Canopy and then nearlydyingin the middle of nowhere gave her a sharp reality check. You were almost taken from her. From me.” I tighten my fingers briefly in his hair, and Kairo looks back up at me.

“I’m fine. Martin’s fine. We survived.”