Marine's Mission - Rebecca Deel Page 0,34
He threaded his fingers through Gigi’s and left the room, closing the door behind him. “Let’s go. I need to check in with David, then we’ll talk.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Gigi paused when she saw Caleb sitting on her couch. Owen nudged her inside and closed the door separating her apartment from the kitchen. “Was the living room too noisy for you to concentrate on work, Caleb?” she asked.
“Too much foot traffic to work on classified files. Your guests are in and out, visiting the thriving metropolis of Archer.” He looked up from the computer screen. “Do you mind that I set up my workspace on your couch?”
“Of course not. Do you need food or a drink while you work?”
He slapped his hand against his chest and gave a mock relieved sigh. “I hoped someone would notice I was wasting away and take pity on me. I planned to guilt Owen into making coffee since I’m working on a project for him, but your coffee tastes better than his. Owen’s version of coffee makes the hardiest of coffee connoisseurs cry.”
Owen scowled. “Hey, my coffee is better than yours, and your legs aren’t broken. You could have made your own coffee and scrounged up food. Lay off the guilt routine.”
“Aww, come on, bro. Since Zane and I are working hard on your file, the least you can do is keep me from starving to death.”
Amused at the exchange between the brothers, Gigi laid her hand on Owen’s forearm. “Are you hungry, too, Owen?”
He lifted one shoulder. “I could eat.”
Of course he could. He hadn’t eaten for all of 90 minutes. His training regimen must burn calories like crazy for him to eat as much as he did and still not have an ounce of fat on his frame. “I’ll put a tray together. You and Caleb probably need to talk to David.”
He looked torn, but finally gave a short nod. “David will tear a strip off our hides if we don’t report in. Leave the door ajar so we can hear if you need us while you’re in the kitchen.”
“Emma is still here, and so are some of my guests,” she protested. “I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to hurt me with so many people around.”
“As Caleb pointed out, your guests are going in and out. Bad timing could put you in the wrong hands. Humor me, G.”
She wanted to offer at least a token protest, but the concern in Owen’s gaze changed her mind. Gigi wasn’t helpless, but turning down protection from men who had already proved themselves to be dangerous wasn’t wise. No need to fight Owen on protection measures for her own safety. “All right.”
“Thank you,” he murmured.
After brushing her lips over his, Gigi started toward the door. “Don’t expect me to give in all the time under normal circumstances, Owen. You’ll be doomed to disappointment.”
He chuckled. “Wouldn’t think of it. I love your sass as much as your kisses.”
She smiled at him over her shoulder, winked, and walked into the kitchen.
Seated at the breakfast bar with a gardening magazine open in front of her, Emma turned. “I thought you were spending time with Owen and Caleb.”
“That’s the plan as soon as I put together a tray for them. Caleb and Owen are hungry, and both of them seem to be inhaling coffee like oxygen.”
Emma slid from the stool and headed for the coffeemaker. “The Montgomery brothers can put away the food. I’m surprised Caleb hasn’t complained about being hungry before now.” She prepped the appliance and pressed a button to start the brewing cycle.
Gigi opened the refrigerator, peering inside. She had the ingredients to make roast beef sandwiches. That ought to take care of Owen and his brother. If Owen wasn’t able to eat more than one sandwich, Gigi would save his second one for later.
After heating the roast and shredding the meat with two forks, she assembled two sandwiches for each of the men, and placed them on plates along with heaping portions of Owen’s favorite potato chips. Grabbing a tray, Gigi set the plates on the flat surface while Emma poured steaming coffee into travel mugs and placed them on the tray, too. “You must be tired, Em. Is David picking you up soon?”
“Trying to get rid of me?” her friend teased.
“You know I’m not, but you’ve been here since last night.”
“I was glad to help. And, yes, David is on his way. Caleb will leave when Levi arrives. He’s on watch until midnight, then Elliot takes