Marine's Mission - Rebecca Deel Page 0,71
of what Gigi knew would be a confrontation. Owen wanted to wrap her in cotton batting and send her home.
Unfortunately for Owen, his boss was right. Owen needed her. She’d seen his expression when he realized his only other option was to go undercover with another woman. Total distaste. No matter how good his acting skills were, Owen wouldn’t fool Gonzalez. If he failed, Owen would die, and that wasn’t acceptable. Gigi didn’t want to lose him.
Squaring her shoulders, Gigi opened the door and walked into the living room. She paused, glancing around. Where was Owen? Had he left the suite to walk off his temper?
Jesse and Brody carried on a low-voiced conversation in the small kitchen, but turned toward Gigi when she headed their direction.
“Where’s Owen?”
Jesse inclined his head toward the balcony.
Through the French doors, she saw Owen standing with his back to the suite, hands braced on the rail. He looked isolated, his shoulders weighed down by a great burden. The sight made her heart hurt.
Gigi started for the balcony. When Brody laid his hand on her forearm, she paused. “What is it?”
“When you talk to him, remember that he’s a protector. He’s fighting his own instinct to protect you first in order to complete his mission and protect thousands of innocent lives. This is the hardest choice of his life.”
“We’re a perfect match. I’m fighting my own instinct to run from danger in order to face off with a terrorist and protect Owen.” Gigi hoped she provided the cover Owen needed to do his job and escape from Gonzalez without further injury. If the gun dealer threated her, Owen would protect her first.
“You’ll be fine, Gigi. We’ve got your back.”
“You better have Owen’s back, too. I need him.” With that, she walked onto the balcony, closing the door behind her. When Owen didn’t turn, she closed the gap between them.
Gigi wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his muscular back. She waited, offering silent comfort and support.
They stayed in that position long enough for shadows to lengthen as the afternoon sun waned. Finally, Owen sighed, turned, and gathered Gigi in his arms.
“Are you okay?” Gigi asked.
He shook his head.
Again, she waited, praying he’d talk without her having to push.
Minutes later, his hands began a slow journey up and down her back. “We still have time, G.”
“For what?”
“To have Maddox fly in a female operative to play the role of my wife.”
She shook her head.
Owen cupped Gigi’s face between his palms. “I’m trying to protect you.”
“I’m trying to protect you, too.”
He blinked. “I don’t need it.”
“Wrong. You need someone to watch your back.”
“I can do that myself.”
“I’ll do it better. You focus on the mission. I’ll focus on you.”
“How can I do that when you’ll be in the line of fire?” Owen’s voice dropped to a near whisper.
“Nothing will happen to me.”
“No one can guarantee that, not even me.” He leaned down and captured her mouth with his.
She felt the intensity of his kiss all the way to her curled toes. By the time he broke the kiss, Gigi’s pulse raced.
Owen held her tight. “I can’t risk losing you.”
“We don’t have a choice. I know Brent can bring in another woman, but it won’t work.”
He scowled. “Why not?”
A slow smile curved her mouth. “I saw your expression when you realized what the undercover assignment would entail. You’re supposed to be crazy in love with your wife, but the idea of another woman putting her hands on you is repugnant. Also, I don’t care how carefully Zane researched Owen and Gina Michaels’s background. You and I have history that we can weave into the narrative to make the story more believable. We know each other, Owen. You won’t have that history with a total stranger.”
Owen rested his forehead against hers. “Baby, you don’t understand what you’re asking.”
“Make me understand. What is ripping you apart inside?”
“I’ve waited for years to be with you. I risked another man sweeping you off your feet because I couldn’t guarantee I’d return home alive instead of in a flag-draped coffin. Losing you would destroy me.”
Gigi’s heart skipped a beat. “Owen,” she whispered.
“I love you. There will never be another woman for me. You’re my one and only, the reason I wake up in the morning, and the reason my heart beats. You’re my reason for living, Gigi. If I lose you, I have nothing to live for.”
She stopped the flood of words by pressing her mouth to his. Gigi wrapped her