Deadly Game (Fortress Security #5)(58)

Brent glanced over his shoulder, his hand on the door knob. “Why not?”

The smile slid from his friend’s face. “You knock yourself out to make sure we have what we need. You’re never off duty, and you cover missions others turn down or we don’t have the personnel to cover. In the years that I’ve known you, this is the only time I’ve heard you mention a woman in that tone of voice. The dates with other women were casual. This thing with Rowan isn’t. What we do is necessary, but dangerous. Most women can’t handle our jobs. If they could, one of the other women you dated would have snapped you up by now.”

“Rowan isn’t like most women.” An understatement. Rowan wasn’t like any woman he’d ever known. He was definitely keeping her.

Brent walked into the kitchen to hear Lily chattering about Remy’s family in Louisiana and telling Rowan about Lucifer the alligator. His eyebrow rose. Lily never talked that much about her family or Remy’s, concerned with their safety. Guess Rowan had made a new friend. Good. She needed one in these dark days.

“Try this, Rowan.” Lily slid a small bowl toward her with a couple of square-shaped pastries. “These are beignets. Remy’s mother sends us the mix every month to make them for ourselves.”

Rowan eyed the bowl, skepticism on her face. “I don’t know, Lily. I’m not sure that would be wise. My stomach has been in knots since Heather was murdered.”

“You haven’t eaten much for the past two days, have you?”

She shrugged. “I’m not hungry. I’ve been eating for Brent’s sake. I don’t want him to worry. He’s already concerned enough about the situation with Alexa. I didn’t want to add another distraction.”

Lily nudged the bowl a little closer. “Just a bite and I’ll leave you alone,” she coaxed. “You sell pastries in your coffee shop. Think of this as comfort food.”

One bite and Rowan moaned. “This is awesome.”

“Told you.” Lily grinned.

“I might have to add these to our menu at Coffee House.”

Remy dropped into the seat beside his wife and brushed a kiss over her cheek. “You’ll have to make them unless you find a supplier.”

“I’ll talk to my regular supplier, see if they’d be interested in adding these to their deliveries for us. If not, I might try making them myself or have Lacey make them. She loves to bake.”

Brent snitched his own Cajun pastry from a plate on the counter. “If you add them, you might consider adding chickory-flavored coffee as well.”

“Oh, man.” Remy sighed. “That would be fantastic.”

Rowan smiled. “I might try a test run to see how my customers react to the new offerings.”

“Tell me when you plan to try it. Lily and I will be there if we’re in town.”

When Rowan had finished her meal and tea, Brent held out his hand to her. “Come on. Time for cowboy therapy.” Her groan sparked a round of laughter from him and the Doucets.

He led her to the living room where he turned off the lights and found a cowboy movie. Remy settled into the recliner while Brent sat on the couch with Rowan and gathered her close. He hoped the combination of the slow-moving movie and his warmth would help Rowan fall asleep again. After kissing Remy, Lily left to sleep for a couple hours before she took over the watch.

“This is as exciting as watching paint dry,” Rowan muttered a few minutes later.

He kissed her temple, his lips curving. “That’s the point, baby.”

With a sigh, she settled deeper into the couch, her head resting against his shoulder. Before the movie was half finished, Rowan fell asleep.

Remy glanced over with a grin. “Lily is the same way,” he murmured, then turned his attention back to the movie. His operative had been doing rounds during commercial breaks, checking that all was secure each time.

While Rowan didn’t appreciate the fine acting skills of John Wayne, Brent settled back to enjoy one of his favorite movies. By the time the guys in white hats saved the day and the guys in black hats were defeated, the mostly sleepless nights were catching up to Brent as well.

“Remy,” he murmured. “I’ll take third shift.”

The operative gave him a snappy salute, then waved him on.

Brent picked up Rowan. She sighed and looped her arms around his neck.

“Brent?”

“Shh. Go back to sleep, baby.” He carried Rowan to her bed, slipped off her shoes, and tucked her in with a gentle kiss. Minutes later, he was asleep in his own room.

He woke four hours later to the sound of gunfire.





CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE


Rowan sat up, heart pounding against her ribcage, not sure what had yanked her out of an exhausted sleep. Had she imagined the noise? The sound of running footsteps and terse orders told her otherwise. Oh, boy. Something must have happened. She threw off the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed.

Her bedroom door slammed against the wall. “Get down, Rowan!”

Brent sprinted across the room, threw himself against her, and rolled with her to the floor. Somehow, he ended up on the hard floor with her sprawled over top. In a flash, he reversed their positions. “Stay flat.”

“What’s going on?”

“Gunfire. Not sure what we’re dealing with yet. Put on your shoes in case we have to run.”