“That better not be a wisecrack about your size?—”
“It’s not.” Her voice was muffled against the seats. “But move, please.”
Jeep took her words as permission. He gripped his legs, and Caleb felt himself sliding along the seat. He landed hard, with his ass hitting the metal edge of the door frame.
“Fucker.” He scrambled to his feet and twisted to help her out. Dalton and Jeep flanked him, covering any view of Rose as he took her out of the Jeep. “Keep your head down,” he told her. “Keep your gaze on your feet. I won’t let you walk into anything.”
Rose did as he asked, and the three men surrounded her, keeping her out of view as they entered the lobby and made their way to the elevator. Normally, he’d take the stairs, but he didn’t want to risk her falling and hurting herself.
“What floor?”
“Three.” He crowded Rose into the corner, knowing Jeep would hit the floor button and Dalton would make sure nobody approached until the doors were shut. When the elevator shuddered and began to move, he gave her a little breathing room while keeping his body between her and the security camera. “When we get out, Nem, take the left. There’s a camera pointed at the door.” He dug into his pocket and fished out his house key. Thankfully, he kept it separate from his car keys because he’d given them to Kacey, and who knew what time he’d be back with them?
“On it.”
Once they were inside his apartment, Jeep closed the door behind them, shutting out the rest of the world. “Wait here with me a sec, Rose. The guys will check and make sure we are safe.” Before he’d finished speaking, she gasped as both his boss and teammate pulled weapons and took off to sweep his place. “It will be fine.” He tried to reassure her, more than aware he’d been a little overbearing during the ride here.
A little?
He snorted in his head.
That was way more than a little, buddy.
Okay, a lot overbearing. But for her protection. Even if he didn’t understand the reasons behind it, he’d be overbearing as all get out for the next sixty or so years.
“Clear.”
“Clear.”
The guys’ voices sent a wave of relief through him. “We’re safe.” He stepped away from her. “There’s nobody here but us.”
“Thank God,” she whispered softly. “I don’t know how much more I can run tonight.”
Call him a caveman all you want, but he loved that she stepped back into his side again when Dalton and Jeep appeared out of his bedroom and strode down the hallway toward them. “No more running,” he reminded her.
“For three days,” she countered.
“You can deal with that,” Dalton grumbled. “I’m going back to my family.”
“Um, Nemesis, right?” Her voice was hesitant.
“Yeah. Or Dalton, if you prefer.” His boss stopped right in front of them. He’d have to remember to thank him for softening his typical resting bitch face when he looked at her.
“Thank you. I appreciate all you did for me tonight.”
Dalton tucked his hands into his pockets. His boss didn’t like to touch any woman but his wife. “You’re welcome.” He actually looked almost human when the corners of his lips curled upward. “I’ll call you when I get back to the hotel.” There was an unspoken order for Caleb to answer that call as his boss turned away.
“Yes, Sir.” Caleb understood the order even if Rose looked confused. “I appreciate the help.”
“Someday, you’ll figure out that we are stronger together.” Jeep tossed the words over his shoulder as he followed Dalton out the door. “At least this time you pulled your head outta your ass and asked for us to come back you up.”
He shrugged. There wasn’t much he could say to that. Jeep was correct. He preferred to work alone. But with Rose’s safety on the line, that wasn’t so important. He made sure the door was closed and locked behind them. “Are you hungry?” He didn’t remember her stopping to eat at the wedding.
“I’ll be okay.”
“Not what I asked,” he chided. “Are you hungry?”
11
