CHAPTER22
“No headache?” Aunt Harriet asked as she shined a penlight into Marin’s eyes.
“No,” Marin replied.
The rest of her body felt like it had been through a meat grinder, but, thankfully, her head felt fine. Her heart on the other hand, well, that was as battered and bruised as the rest of her.
“No concussion, then. That’s good,” her godmother said. “I’ll bring you something to help you sleep when I go get the salve for your scrapes. Your lip will probably take twenty-four hours for the swelling to go down, but then you’ll be able to cover the bruise with makeup.” Her aunt shook her head in disgust. “I can’t believe Bita actually hit you. For that matter, I can’t believe Bita was a spy.”
Marin pressed an ice pack to her tender mouth. “After the week I’ve had, nothing will ever shock me ever again.”
Aunt Harriet gave Marin’s shoulder a squeeze. “It’s over now. You’re safe.”
There was a soft knock at the door. Marin’s heart raced, the stupid organ hoping it was Griffin.
Aunt Harriet looked at her speculatively. “If that’s Bita, I’m sending her away.”
Marin grinned before forgetting about her sore mouth. More than likely that was who was waiting behind the door. She returned the ice pack to her lip. Griffin was still firmly in special agent mode, especially now that he was so close to breaking his case wide open. He had to go to Greece. His career came first. It always would. Nothing had changed. Marin’s tender heart would do well to remember that.
But it wasn’t Bita at the door. Instead, Diego’s tall frame filled the doorway.
“I’ll be back in a minute with those meds,” Aunt Harriet said as she slipped out behind him.
Her friend looked a little sheepish holding a vase of bright tulips in his hands.
“Diego!” Marin cried. “What are you doing here so late at night?”
The sous chef ventured further into the Queen’s bedroom, placing the vase on the coffee table in front of the fireplace. “Everyone is still here. The entire kitchen staff, all the under butlers, and assistant ushers,” he said. “No one wanted to leave until they knew you were safe. Fran sent these from the florist shop.”
Blinking back tears, Marin fingered one of the soft tulip petals. “That is so sweet.”
He stared at her face before closing his eyes and shaking his head solemnly.
With a deep breath, Diego opened his eyes again. “I couldn’t leave without seeing you. Not until I apologized,” he explained. “If I hadn’t gone to talk to Walter in the Navy Mess that morning, I would have been on the stairs with you.” Diego’s face became fierce. “He wouldn’t have gotten past me.”
Marin took her friend by the arm and led him to the sofa. They both sat down. “None of this is anyone’s fault,” she insisted.Except maybe Bita’s.But Marin knew enough not to mention the woman’s involvement. “I was just in the right place at the wrong time.”
“But if I had been here on Monday like I was supposed to...” Diego’s voice trailed off.
“Now that I am a little peeved at,” she said. “People were dying all around me. I thought the worst when you didn’t show up for work.”
Diego glanced down at his hands. “I know. The admiral told me when he was reaming me out.”
“I’m glad he didn’t fire you.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure he wanted to. But he said the final decision would be up to you.”
He gave her a contrite smile.
Marin patted his arm. “The way you pull sugar? No way will I ever fire you,” she teased before laying her head on his shoulder.
They sat in companionable silence for a moment.
“I didn’t even know you were considering marriage,” Marin finally said.
Diego chuckled. “Neither did I. Love kind of snuck up on me.”
“But deserting work?”