Page 36 of No Way Forward

Back when they were closer, they enjoyed the time spent together every week. It was a low blow for him to choose this place. At the same time, she believed he just wanted to please her. Maybe she could give him a break while they ate.

“Ms. Kagen, welcome back.” The smiling hostess startled Novette when she entered the restaurant.

“You remember me? I haven’t been here in forever.”

“Of course.” The fifty-something woman wearing a stark black uniform with short black hair looked more like a man, but she had a genuine air about her. She seemed to care about people regardless of the demands of her job. “I even remember your favorite meal—Norwegian salmon with sautéed vegetables and macaroni and cheese.”

“Wow, you’re good.”

The hostess chuckled. “Right this way. Your table is ready.”

Novette and her dad were seated but soon stood again as two men about thirty-something approached the table. Both men were blessed with good looks and decent builds.

The two men were above six feet, and if Novette knew her dad they probably had deep pockets. To have both looks and money seemed unfair to the average person, but she

wasn’t mad at them.

Good looking out, Daddy. Not that it matters.

“You’re Novette.” The taller of the men took her hand and kissed it. Novette barely kept herself from rolling her eyes, but she smiled and acknowledged his words. He pretended to be bowled over with her appearance. “I never imagined you were so beautiful. I’m glad I came. I’m Elon.”

“Nice to meet you.” She had to tug to get her hand back.

The other man moved up, but he waited for her dad to introduce them. His quiet demeanor was so different from Elon, who made a point of trying to keep her attention.

With the food ordered, Novette let her mind wander. She wondered what business Zaid had to take care of. Did it have to do with the kidnapping? Zaid must be keeping her dad informed. If she asked him to update her, he would no doubt tell her not to worry about anything.

“Elon is the head of his family and the company his father left him,” her dad was saying.

Novette nodded as if she cared one way or another.

“He increased profits by three percent in the first quarter after taking the position of president.”

“That’s interesting,” she murmured.

Elon went on to tell her about his two sisters. Talk of siblings turned Novette’s mind to the night before when she spent it in Zaid’s arms. After their intimacy, they had rested next to each other while Zaid opened up for the first time about himself.

“I have a brother and sister,” he’d said. “But we aren’t close. My brother joined the military almost twenty years ago. Initially we got a few calls and letters and then nothing.”

“Oh no. He’s okay, isn’t he?”

Zaid had affirmed his brother wasn’t injured while deployed to Novette’s relief.

“I looked into it because we feared he had been hurt or killed. He wasn’t. In fact, he received a promotion to sergeant and is by all accounts well-respected.”

“I can’t believe he wouldn’t want to stay in touch with his family.”

Zaid had shrugged like it didn’t hurt him, but Novette doubted that was true. That is, until he shared more about his family. “My sister also enlisted in the army, but she served only six years. Currently, she lives in California and is co-owner of a small security firm.”

“Wow, that’s interesting and similar to what you do.”

“I’m not a bodyguard.”

“But you’ve been guarding my body just fine.”

He grinned. “And I always will.”

She had smacked his arm playfully, and they were back to making love the rest of the night, hardly getting any sleep. Novette wanted to learn more about Zaid. She knew that his parents also lived in California and that in the time she’d known him he had only visited there once. When he requested time off for a week, her dad had let him go, saying he never took a break and he deserved it. That entire time, Novette missed him, and when he returned he was stoic as usual. He didn’t look like a man who had just enjoyed the special time of visiting his parents. She would have to get to know him even better.

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