Page 97 of Critical Doubt

"But there's no evidence that that happened. He's not dead, either."

"It doesn't appear so." She paused. "By the way, good morning."

He smiled, loving the look of her in his bed. "This is what I missed the first time we were together."

"A phone call from an FBI agent?" she teased.

"A beautiful woman tangled up in my sheets."

She scooted forward and gave him a kiss. Then she said, "I didn't actually miss this sight. I gave you a long, long look before I left that morning. But this is better."

"I'll say." He kissed her again, wishing they had more time, but the room was getting brighter by the minute.

She gave him a helpless look as she sat back. "I'd love to keep this going, but…"

"We need to get to the bagel shop."

"Yes." She slid out of bed, then hesitated. "We could shower together, save time."

He grinned. "Do you really think that will save time?"

"No, but it will be fun, and it might be our last chance for a while to have some fun."

"Say no more. I'm in, and I know just what to do to relieve that stress." He scrambled out of bed and proceeded to show her exactly what he meant.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ryker was disappointedto see a long line when they arrived at Bagel Mania a little before eight. The café offered up sixteen varieties of bagels as well as bagel breakfast sandwiches and a wide assortment of spreads. There was also coffee, tea and cold-pressed juices. A half-dozen small tables filled the room in front of the counter, with additional tables outside. But since it was February in DC, those tables were empty. The sun was out, but the temperature was still in the forties.

He shifted his feet restlessly as they waited their turn, keeping his eye on the door and also the sidewalk outside the café. He wanted to be alert just in case one of his other teammates decided to get a bagel for breakfast. He doubted Hank would eat anything but a protein bar, if that. He was probably fasting until noon and then downing a vegetable smoothie. The man was insane about fitness.

Todd would be a good candidate for a bagel, though. He'd always had a weakness for food. When they'd been stuck in the desert for days on end, he'd literally dreamed about chocolate bars and triple-decker chili burgers. And then he'd felt compelled to talk about food for hours on end until they'd told him they were going to make him eat some dirt if he didn't shut up.

As he thought about Todd, he couldn't help wondering if Todd knew about the attack on him, if he had any idea what had happened to Paul. The shooter hadn't stuck around to assess Paul's condition, but he might have been able to get information from the hospital or one of the first responders.But would the shooter relay that information to the rest of the team?He would, only if they were in on it, too, if they were on the same page as him. He was really hoping for some dissension in the ranks. But these guys were military men. They followed orders. If they'd pledged loyalty to a leader, it would take a lot for them to abandon that person.

His gaze swept the café once more, then settled on Savannah. "You look beautiful today, Savannah. In case I don't get a chance to tell you that later."

She flushed at his words. "Parisa put some expensive makeup in the bag."

"It's not the makeup."

"Well, thank you. You don't look so bad yourself. I wish we could have just had the day together to get some bagels, go for a walk, hit up a museum, take a bike ride…"

"Is that your idea of a perfect day?"

"I don’t know about perfect, but it sounds nice, doesn't it?"

"It does. Although, I'm not really a museum guy."

"Really? Museums are wonderful. I love wandering around centuries-old art and thinking about the people who made it, who lived in that time. I'm a little bit of a history buff."

"It sounds like it." He couldn't help thinking that the more he got to know Savannah, the more he appreciated how unique and individual she was.

"Looks like we're next," she said, as the line moved. "I'm going to order breakfast sandwiches along with information."

"Get me two. And coffee as well."

Savannah stepped up to the counter and gave the teenage boy with the glasses and bad case of acne a smile that probably blinded him. His jaw literally dropped open, and Ryker bit back a grin. He knew exactly how that kid felt.

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