remember something new.”
David dragged a hand down his face. “Yeah, all right. You’ll wear gloves and step where I tell you to step. Understood?”
“Absolutely. Thanks, David.”
He grunted. “Don’t make me regret it, Gigi.”
Owen’s lips curved. Gigi was smart. Not much else would have convinced his brother to allow the breach in protocol except for the possibility Gigi might give him more information.
David motioned toward her plate. “I’m leaving in five minutes. Take your meds and bring your breakfast and drink.”
Gigi glanced at Emma. “Do you mind staying a little longer?”
“Of course not. I’ll get your purse for you.”
“Thanks, Em. The cleaning crew arrives in an hour to start on the rooms. They know what to do.”
“I’ve got it covered, Gigi. Don’t worry.” She hurried to the apartment off the kitchen.
David turned to Caleb. “You mind staying with Emma?”
“No problem.”
“I have a room open if you want to take a nap,” Gigi said. “You have to be tired, Caleb. You were in the corridor all night.”
“I’d prefer to be on the main floor in case Em needs anything.”
Her breath caught. “You think there might be trouble here? Why?”
“If Toni was taken, she might be persuaded to talk about the friend who drove her from the restaurant.”
She groaned. “Oh, no. My guests might be in danger.”
“It’s just a precaution, G.” Owen squeezed her hand. “Having Caleb here in case of trouble will help David focus on his job instead of worrying about his wife.” Caleb’s presence would help the rest of the Montgomery brothers concentrate on the task at hand as well. They’d just gotten Em back after she’d been forced into Witness Protection for eighteen months. Owen and his brothers would do anything necessary to protect her and Gigi. “You’ll have peace of mind, too. With Caleb here, your guests will be safe.”
“But he’s just one man.”
Owen’s lips curved. His brother had been part of a Delta Force unit and was more than capable of protecting himself and everyone else at the B & B.
Caleb winked at her. “I carry a badge and a big gun. Everything will be fine, Gigi.”
Owen chewed and swallowed his last bite of muffin and rose as Emma returned and handed Gigi her cross-body bag. He grabbed his and Gigi’s plates and set them on the breakfast bar, found sandwich bags in the pantry, and dropped the toast into one. He grabbed another bag and slid two muffins inside. Hopefully, either the muffins or toast would tempt Gigi to eat. That done, he found a to-go cup for her tea and another for a large cup of coffee for himself.
He’d been awake all night as well, but Gigi didn’t need to know that. Owen counted it a privilege to watch over her. Holding her for hours had been a dream come true. While in the military, he’d hoped one day to have that honor, but feared another man would realize what a treasure she was while Owen was overseas and capture her heart before he returned stateside. Thankfully, the men in Morgan County had waited too late. Owen wasn’t going to let Gigi slip through his fingers.
After snagging one of the small bottles of water Gigi provided for her guests, Owen uncapped it and set the bottle in front of her. “Take your meds while I get our to-go cups ready,” he murmured. “No need to be miserable, G.”
She swallowed the tablets without complaining which told Owen how bad the pain must be. Gigi didn’t like taking medicine. He’d have to keep an eye on her today to make sure she didn’t push herself too hard. When the to-go cups were ready, Owen turned to David and gave a slight nod.
His brother kissed Emma and stood. He looked at Caleb with a silent command to protect Emma no matter what and got a salute of acknowledgment in response. “Owen, follow me in your vehicle.”
Two minutes later, Owen assisted Gigi into his SUV, buckled her seatbelt, and circled to the driver’s side. He followed his brother from the parking lot.
“I love your SUV. When did you get this?”
“Earlier this week. It’s part of the perks of working with Fortress.”
“They provide company cars for all their employees?”
“I don’t know about all of the employees, but they provide them for operatives and their families. They’re reinforced and have bullet-resistant glass.”
“That must cost a fortune.”
“It’s pricey, but worth the cost for peace of mind.”
“The expense is necessary?”
Owen glanced at Gigi, noting the concern in her eyes. As lousy as she