Deadly Game (Fortress Security #5)(65)

A soft knock grabbed her attention. Brent stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “Do you like them?”

She smiled and circled his neck with her arms. After sharing a long, deep kiss with the man of her dreams, she said, “They’re perfect. How did you buy the outfits? We haven’t been apart in days.”

Brent chuckled. “I’m a power online shopper. Comes with having sisters and a mother with discerning taste in clothes. At least that’s what they tell me, anyway. I used one of their favorite clothing websites and had them shipped overnight.”

“Thank you.”

His expression sobered. “It’s not much, baby. While I can’t alleviate the hurt, I’m glad to take one burden off your shoulders.”

“I don’t know if I could handle this without you. You’ve been my rock.”

He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else, Rowan.” Brent eased away from her. “We ordered room service. You have about twenty minutes before the food arrives. If you want to freshen up, you have time. After that, a nap is on the agenda for both of us.”

“Deal.”

Rowan returned to the common living room as the food was being delivered.

“Perfect timing, sugar.” Eli rubbed his hands together. “We ordered a little of everything, hoping to entice you to eat something.”

She stared at the massive amount of food. A little, huh? There was enough food there to feed her for a week. Then again, these men were a lot more physically active than she was. They must burn calories with their rigorous training routines. She didn’t kid herself about Brent’s level of training. He wouldn’t allow himself to be less prepared than his operatives.

Once Rowan managed to choke down enough to satisfy the three men urging her to eat, Brent kissed her and nudged her toward her room. She turned at the door, her hand on the knob. “What about you? Where will you sleep?”

“For now, in the second bedroom. Tonight, I’ll sleep out here on the couch. I don’t want to be far from you.”

Those words followed her into her dreams. She woke four hours later, groggy after the long nap. Rowan had to admit she felt better.

In the living room, Eli turned from keeping watch out the window, smiled. “You look rested.”

Jon glanced up, studied her face a moment, then gave a nod of approval.

Amused, her lips curved in response. “Is Brent awake?”

Eli turned back to the window. “He will be soon now that you’re up and moving.”

“Brent said you like hot tea.” Jon set aside his laptop and crossed to the kitchenette. He poured hot water into a to-go cup and covered the mouth with a lid. “There are two bags of chamomile mint tea in here.”

“Thank you, Jon.”

He shrugged. “This is my wife’s favorite tea when she’s stressed or upset. Thought it might help you, too.”

The door to the second bedroom opened. Brent’s gaze locked on hers as he approached. “How do you feel?”

“Better. Any word from Zane on Carstairs or the kidnappers?”

“I just checked with him. There’s been nothing so far. He’ll keep monitoring the electronics of the main players. We’re also watching the compounds of all the militia groups.”

“What are you hoping to see?”

“Alexa moving around one of the compounds. I don’t have the personnel to raid each one. If we spot her, we’ll go free her and bring her home.”

Hopefully, they would rescue Alexa before her parents’ funeral.

After eating another light snack, Rowan changed into the navy dress and matching heels. When she returned, Brent and his operatives were wearing dark suits, conservative ties, and white shirts. “Oh, wow,” she murmured. “You three look like male models.”

All of them grimaced. “Do us a favor, sugar,” Eli said. “Don’t spread that around to our friends.”

Between the three of them, they kept her mind occupied so that she didn’t dwell too much on the ordeal ahead. The drive to the funeral home was filled with funny stories about their time in the military, some of the scrapes they’d gotten into, the practical jokes they’d pulled on each other.

Eli parked in the lot, then he and Jon moved a small distance away to give her and Brent a moment together before facing the people gathering.

“If the crowd becomes too much for you, tell me. We’ll slip away for a few minutes to give you a break.”

The next four hours passed in a haze. At one point, Brent led her to a break room for a soft drink. By the time she was back in the SUV, exhaustion had set in. As they entered the suite, Brent said, “Are you hungry?”

“A little. I need comfort food.”

He thought a minute. “Baked potato sound good?”

“Perfect.”

“I’ll order room service while you change into comfortable clothes.”

She returned to the living room a few minutes later to find Brent on the couch, channel surfing. Jon had taken up a post at the window and Eli was missing. “Where’s Eli?”

“Sleeping. He’ll take over the watch at midnight and Jon will sleep.”

“Food will be here in half an hour,” Jon said.

She dropped down beside Brent. “What are we watching?” Her eyes narrowed. “You better not tell me it’s another cowboy movie.”