staying.”
“Never.”
A faint smile curved her lips. “You do remember that I’m nauseated, right? I hope the nurse comes back soon. I need that drink. Otherwise, I might seriously embarrass myself by throwing up. I don’t want you to witness that.”
“I’ve helped fellow Marines and my brothers deal with far worse things than an upset stomach.” He cupped her cheek. “I don’t scare off easily, baby. You should remember that.”
She stared. “What does that mean?”
He kissed her fingers again. “We’ll talk later.”
After a light knock on the door, Jessica walked inside with a canned soft drink, a straw, and a cold pack. “Here you go, Ms. Warren. If you need more, let me know. Use the call button or send one of your friends to the nurses’ station.” She set the drink and straw on the rolling table and slid the cold pack behind Gigi’s neck. “I’ll be back later to check on you.”
When she left the room, Owen opened the clear soft drink, dropped the straw into the liquid, and held the straw to Gigi’s lips.
Following a few sips, she said, “You said you’ve had a concussion.”
He nodded.
“When?”
“Several times, starting with a couple in high school when I played football.”
“You were a good player.”
He snorted. “Not hard to be considered good when you live in a town the size of Maple Valley.”
“You’re too modest.”
“I have athletic ability which came in handy in the Marines, but I wasn’t NFL material. Good thing my aspirations went a different direction.”
When she finished the soft drink, Owen set the empty can on the table. “Do you need another drink?”
Gigi sighed, her eyelids drooping. “Not right now.”
“If you start feeling worse, tell me. I’ll get you another one.”
“Thanks, Owen.”
“Go to sleep, G. I’ll be here.”
Gigi turned her hand over, inviting him to grab hold. She looked uncertain as though she wasn’t sure he would take her up on her invitation.
Passing up Gigi’s first overture of something more than friendship? Not a chance. Owen threaded their fingers together and settled back in his chair to watch over Gigi as she slept.
CHAPTER FIVE
Gigi jerked awake, gasping for air. A second later, a heavy weight settled beside her on the mattress. Her eyes opened. Seeing Owen, she relaxed.
Owen cupped her cheek. “What’s wrong, G? Are you feeling sick again?”
She shook her head. “Nightmare. Any news about Toni?” Gigi could see the answer in Owen’s eyes before he said a word.
“Not yet. We have 20 volunteers combing the area for her.”
A tear streaked down her cheek. “We have to find her.”
He brushed the moisture away with his thumb. “We will. We won’t give up until we bring her home.”
“What time is it?”
“A few minutes after 3:00. Go back to sleep, baby.”
That was the second time Owen had called her a name of affection. Did he realize?
When she continued to watch him, Owen’s eyebrow lifted. “Something on your mind?”
Although she was reluctant to broach the topic foremost on her mind, Gigi wasn’t a coward. She wanted Owen to notice her as a woman, not just as his friend. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get a read on him. The only way to know what the sweet name meant was to ask. If he laughed it off as a slip of the tongue, she’d treat it with humor and lick her wounds when she was alone. “You called me baby.”
“I did.”
She blinked. He didn’t deny it or laugh it off as a slip. Did that mean what she hoped? “Why?”
“Why do you think?”
“Owen.”
He watched her a moment, then said, “You don’t want me to call you that?” His expression was guarded.
“I like it, but I don’t understand what it means.”
His thumb brushed over her bottom lip. “Yeah, G, you do.”
Gigi’s heart skipped a beat. “I have a concussion. Spell it out for me.”
The corner of Owen’s lips curved upward for a beat, then he sobered. “Let’s try this instead.”
Owen slowly bent toward Gigi, giving her the opportunity to stop him. Ha! Not happening. It was all Gigi could do to keep her hands where they were instead of tugging Owen to her as fast as possible before he changed his mind.
Finally, Owen’s mouth settled on hers. Gigi’s blood turned to molten lava. For a man sporting muscles on top of muscles, Owen’s soft mouth had devastating skill. Somehow, Gigi’s hands found their way to his broad shoulders. Rock solid muscles.
He changed the angle of the kiss and touched his tongue to her bottom lip. When Gigi parted her lips on a soft gasp