Marine's Mission - Rebecca Deel Page 0,81
don’t want to go out for dinner tonight. I’m sorry, G. I’d planned to take you to a nice restaurant, then shop for gifts for your parents, but I suspect Gonzalez has more goons watching us like vultures. I don’t like how his men stared at you. You’re mine, and I don’t share. Do you mind if we shop tomorrow?”
“Hmm.” Gigi tapped her chin with her forefinger. “Delay shopping in order to spend several hours alone with you? I don’t know. That’s a hard choice.”
“Hey.” Owen’s eyes twinkled in amusement. “I’ll make it worth your while. Don’t I always?”
She smiled. “Why, yes, you do, Mr. Michaels. All right. You talked me into it. Dinner in and shopping tomorrow.”
“You won’t be sorry, baby. I’ll have dinner brought to the cottage. We can eat on the patio and enjoy the ocean breeze.”
“I like the sound of that.” Too bad this conversation was for a nosy audience. If she and Owen were on vacation together, a dinner by the beach under a bright moon would be perfect.
“While we wait for our meal to be delivered, we’ll search online for shops we want to visit before our dinner with Gonzalez tomorrow.” Owen dropped a quick kiss on her mouth and released her. “Get your phone while I call room service.” He bent until his mouth was against her ear. “Change clothes while I make the call. Dress in something you can run in if we have a problem.”
She nodded and went to their bedroom. Gigi changed into capris, a tank top, and a tailored shirt left unbuttoned over the tank, grateful for Owen’s experience. If she had to run, Gigi was prepared. Hopefully, Gonzalez’s people would watch and listen but leave them alone tonight.
When she returned to the living room, she discovered Owen had changed clothes during her absence and stood by the front window, looking out.
He turned and winked at her. “I ordered your favorite dinner, G.”
“Oh, thanks, sugar. You spoil me.”
His expression sobered. “I want to. You own my heart.”
Tears burned her eyes. “Owen.”
“Let me take care of you like you deserve.”
“Only if I can do the same for you.”
“Deal. Grab your phone. We’ll search for shops you might enjoy visiting tomorrow.” He signaled her to keep talking while he returned to his watch out the front window.
What did he see? More of Gonzalez’s men? Gigi slid her phone from her pocket and searched for shops in the area. Scanning the list, she clicked on several and kept up a running commentary on the retail stores and their offerings. Owen asked an occasional question which made the mostly one-sided conversation easier to continue. Gonzalez and his people must think she was a motormouth.
Owen straightened and moved toward the door. “Dinner is here. I’ll get rid of this guy fast, then we can be alone without interruptions.”
What she wouldn’t give for that to be true. Gigi hated being on stage all the time. How did the Fortress operatives working undercover do this constantly? Submerging yourself inside another character was hard. Guess she wasn’t destined for fame and fortune on the big screen. Being with Owen and keeping him safe was worth every second of discomfort, though.
Owen opened the door and stood back to allow the bellhop to push the food cart inside. “That’s far enough. I’ll take it from here.” He handed the man a generous tip and almost shoved him from the cottage, locking the door behind him. “Open the back door, and I’ll push the cart to the patio.”
She complied and followed him outside. “It’s beautiful out here. The weather is perfect, and the moon is huge. This is so romantic, Owen.”
Between the two of them, they set the covered plates on the outside table and the unopened soft drink bottles.
Gigi smiled. “My favorite soft drink, too. You thought of everything.”
“Nothing but the best for you.” He lifted the lid from her plate with a flourish, grinning when she laughed.
“Only you would order a cheeseburger and fries for me when we’re in Mexico. I like Mexican food, too.”
“After a hard day of travel, I thought you might enjoy comfort food.”
“Dinner looks and smells amazing.”
“You’re right.” He kissed her upturned mouth and removed the lid from his own plate. “I’m glad I ordered the same meal for myself.”
Throughout dinner, their conversation remained on potential vacation spots for the future and the stores they wanted to visit. Gigi wished they could spend all day on the beach before the dinner with Gonzalez instead