“I never asked you to change your name because I fell in love with who you are, not your name.”
The nurse heaved a dreamy sigh. “He’s a keeper.” She fluffed Avery’s pillow and smiled down at her. “I’ll get you a cup of ice water. I’ve ordered a meal to be sent up. You’ve had nothing but IVs while you were out. Oh, and the doctor said he’d be by within the next hour.” The nurse left the room, letting the door swing closed behind her.
Avery’s gaze followed the woman until she disappeared. Then she glanced up at Grant, a frown forming. “You know I don’t like hospitals.”
He nodded. “Sometimes, they’re a necessary evil. Not that the doctors and nurses are bad. But you’ve been in a car accident and have been unconscious for three days. You might want to take advantage of the care until they’re certain there are no lasting effects.”
Avery shook her head. “I’d like to get out of here as soon as possible.” She tried to remember why she’d been on the road and where she’d been going before she’d lost three days of her life. “I was on my way to work when the accident occurred. From what the nurse tells me, I’m now four days late.” Avery shook her head. “They must think I’ve ditched them or something.”
“Where were you headed?” Grant asked.
Avery frowned and tried hard to focus on the answer. “I know the answer. It’s on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t quite force it free.”
Grant lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of her knuckles. “Give it time. Head injuries can be tricky. You might have more gaps in your memory than you think.”
“I remembered you immediately,” she said and brought his hand to her cheek. “I could never forget you.”
Instead of smiling down at her, Grant’s brow furrowed. “Do you remember who you work for?”
She nodded. “The FBI.” Avery frowned and glanced over Grant’s shoulder toward the closed door. “Only I’m undercover,” she glanced up at Grant, “in Florida.” Her eyes narrowed. “Why am I in Texas?”
Grant’s hand tightened around hers. “Head injury. The Florida job ended when you helped put away major players in a crime syndicate.”
The dream she’d had right before waking flashed through her mind. It hadn’t been a dream so much as a memory. “That’s right. I remember.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and winced.
“I’d be careful there,” Grant caught her other hand in his and drew it away from her face. “You’ve got a goose egg of a knot on your forehead.”
“I must look a mess.” She pulled her hand from his and tried to run it through her hair, only to get caught in the tangles. “Seriously. I need a shower and a hairbrush.”
“Do you remember why you were in Texas?” Grant asked.
Avery lay back on the pillow and closed her eyes, the act of trying to pull memories out of her rattled brain making her head ache. “It’s hazy, but I think I was transferred to San Antonio.” She opened her eyes and smiled. “I was. My new supervisor’s name is Paul.” She frowned. “I don’t remember his last name, but I’m sure it’ll come back.” She stared at the far corner of the room. “Fletcher.” With a grin, she nodded. “Paul Fletcher. And he was leaving for his honeymoon.”
“If you were transferred to San Antonio, why were you near Waco? Were you on your way to San Antonio?”
“I don’t remember,” she said. “Just tell me.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“But surely, I wouldn’t have gone off without letting you know where.”
Grant didn’t respond. His silence drew Avery’s attention to his lips pressed into a tight line.
The truth and memory of her last time with Grant rushed back into her head like a red-hot poker, the pain as real and searing as it had been nearly two years ago.
“Oh, hell.” She sucked in a breath, the blood rushing from her head as she pressed a fist to her mouth. “You don’t know because we’re divorced.”
Chapter 2
Grant stared down at Avery, lying against the sterile white hospital sheets, her long dark hair snarled and twisted, framing her pale cheeks, the blue and purple bruise on her forehead the only color besides her violet eyes when they were open.
She’d fallen asleep again, her long lashes making dark crescents against her cheeks.
His gut clenched, and his chest tightened. This was the woman he’d loved with all his heart. The only human who’d made him feel at home, at the same time as she’d made him crazy with worry.
When she’d told him she’d volunteered to go undercover in an effort to bring in a syndicate stealing artwork, laundering money, drugs and human trafficking, he’d called her an adrenaline junky more concerned with her next fix than their relationship.
He'd told her that if she went through with the undercover mission, not to expect him to wait around for the announcement of her death. He couldn’t stand by and do nothing when every day, she could be in danger. His every instinct where Avery was concerned was to protect her—with his life if it came down to it.
