Page 21 of Justified Fear
“Wow, I didn’t know the Bravo had been around that long,” Keely said as she handed him the platter of French toast.Then, she took the empty seat beside him.Immediately, his body reacted.Hell, it wasn’t getting any better.Anytime he even thought of her, heat blazed through his body like he was a thirteen-year-old with his first crush.
He cleared his throat.“Team Bravo.”
“Excuse me?”She was smiling at him, giving him a view of her one dimple.It was the cutest thing.He lost his train of thought.
“What?”
Kap took pity on him.“Task Force Hawaii started with one team, but as the need with other issues started to overwhelm the local and state resources, they decided to expand us.The original team is Alpha.We’re Bravo.Our mission is usually just search and rescue, but we are also on call to help out with any situations on Maui.”
“And that’s why you were sent after me.”
Ryan nodded.“Maya’s the best dog on the island.”
She looked over at his partner.“Is she allergic to anything?”
“Just certain types of grasses.”
Another smile.
“So, there are just two teams?”Riki asked.
“No, well, right now yes.Team Charlie will be up and running within the next six months.They’ll be our counter-terrorism arm.There’s also a plan for Delta and Echo.”
“You can’t tell that our commander was in the military, can you?”Kap asked with a chuckle.
After that, they dug into their meals.The moment the French toast hit Ryan’s taste buds, he had to fight back a groan.Jesus, it was good, but then…it could be that Keely made it.Ryan was starting to think anything she made would be delicious.
As the meal progressed, Kap and, to a lesser extent, Ryan, did their best to find out more information.He didn’t want her family to think they suspected her.Granted, he was sure there were people at TFH who might still suspect she was in on it.It didn’t make sense that she was involved.She had no connections to the men or the Kellys before that night.They were also finding out that while the Templetons stayed out of the limelight now that he was retired, they were okay with sharing information with Kap and Ryan.
“So, you ran away to the CIA,” Riki said.
He shared a look with Kap, who said, “Come again?”
“Daddy, you’re confusing them.”She turned to both him and Kap.“CIA is the Culinary Institute of America.It’s where I went to school.”She glanced at her father again.“And I didn’t run away.It’s the premier culinary school in the country.”
“You could have gone to UT on a full ride,” her father insisted.He looked over at Kap and Ryan.“She was an honor student.”
“Who did not have a culinary program.I wasn’t made for regular college.”She glanced back at the men.“So, you two are not from Hawai’i originally, right?”
He nodded.“California.Most of my family is from the Bay Area.”
“And I’m from Georgia.”
“Where in Georgia?”
“Tifton.A little place very few people have heard of.”
“It always interests me how people end up in places.The things they bring with them.”
“You mean the recipes, Keely,” her mother said with a chuckle.“She’s always loved to hear about family recipes.”
Since he knew next to nothing about cooking, he let her and Kap talk about Southern food.Before he was ready, the meal was over.He tried to offer to clean up, but her mother wouldn’t hear of it.
“Don’t worry.This was a meal of thanks,” Monica said when it was just Ryan and her.“Just offer to clean up next time.”
Before he could ask her about the confusing comment, Kap called out that it was time to go.
He joined Kap, Keely, and Riki by the door.
