Chapter 16 "Where are we going again?" Flash looked at the woman next to him and was in awe of her all over again. The hits for her just kept on coming, and yet she always bounded back, taking one day at a time. She was exactly the kind of woman he'd been looking for. Someone who didn't sweat the small stuff, sure...but Kelli wasn't even sweating the big stuff. She had every right to be upset. To be lamenting the fact that she couldn't go back to her apartment because the person who'd broken in could still be watching and waiting for her. Didn't cry about life being unfair. Didn't complain about only having enough possessions that could fit into a single suitcase. She was still friendly, upbeat, and trusting. And Flash wanted her more with every passing day. It was getting harder and harder to sleep next to her and not take advantage of their situation. Namely, the fact that Smiley's apartment only had one bed...a queen-size at that. Yes, he could sleep on the couch, but Kelli had put her foot down and said that if he took the couch, she'd sleep on the floor. Which was ridiculous. So every evening since her apartment had been broken into, they'd crawled into bed together and slept in each other's arms. For five torturous nights now. Flash wasn't sure how much longer he could hold out and not slip his hand under those sexy boy shorts she wore to bed every night...show her just how much he admired and wanted her. "Flash?" Oh, she'd asked him a question. "Aces Bar and Grill. It's owned by Jessyka Sawyer, who's married to Benny. You remember them, right?" When she nodded, he added, "I thought it would do us both some good to get out." She murmured her agreement. Then changed the subject abruptly. "I think I've decided what I want to do. You know, as a career." Flash looked over again, this time in surprise. She'd been poring over the literature she'd gotten from the advisor at the community college, and they'd even had a couple of conversations about the pros and cons of a few different jobs. "Yeah?" Flash asked, genuinely interested. "Uh-huh. Electrician," Kelli said with confidence. "Wow! Electrician. Okay, how'd you come up with that?" "I just thought, what's something I could do that would be seriously useful? I mean, there are tons of jobs that are important, but are they truly useful in our own everyday lives? Like...linemen or surgical technologists. They're both vital in our society, but it's not as if I could use those skills when I came home at night. But if I knew the ins and outs of electrical stuff, I could totally help our friends if they needed something looked at, or I could install fancy lights in my apartment. If I ever own a house, I can put up a gazillion holiday lights and know how to manipulate the electrical system so it's not overloaded." She shrugged. "It was either that or plumber...and I think I'd gag if I had to unclog a poopy toilet." Flash couldn't help but laugh at her verbiage. "I think that's great." "You do? You aren't just saying that or humoring me?" "Not at all. If that's what you're interested in, go for it." "Thanks. I feel good about the decision. I'm going to go back to the community college as soon as I get the chance and see about signing up for classes." He was proud of her all over again. "Flash?" "Yeah?" "Is the food good at Aces? I'm not trying to be rude by asking, it's just that some bars have great drinks but crappy food. Like it's all frozen and they just throw it in a fryer." "I know what you mean. And Aces has excellent food. Jessyka has done a great job in making sure her establishment is safe for women-and men, for that matter-and that it has a welcoming atmosphere, good food, and a wide assortment of drinks." Flash pulled into the parking lot of the bar. He tried to see it from the eyes of someone who'd never been there before. It appeared somewhat run-down. It didn't have any flashing lights, it wasn't modern-looking, but it was like a lot of things in life...it was the inside that mattered. After parking, Flash got out and met Kelli at the front of his SUV. He took her hand in his and smiled down at her. "It doesn't look that great from the outside, but trust me, it's a hidden jewel for sure." "Of course I trust you," Kelli said, as if it was a given. She gave him a crooked smile. "Did you notice that the S in the Aces sign is out? I could fix that...I mean, after I learn how in my classes." Flash chuckled. "That you could," he agreed. He opened the door and when they walked in, he heard several people call out his name in greeting. Kelli giggled from next to him. "What?" he asked, leading her toward the bar, where Jessyka was beaming at them. "It's just...walking in with everyone saying your name reminded me of that old show, Cheers. Remember? Everyone would yell 'Norm!' when that one guy entered." Flash knew exactly what she was talking about, and he supposed Aces was kind of like the bar Cheers. "It's about time you brought her here!" Jessyka admonished when they got close. "Hi, Kelli! It's so good to see you again. How're you doing? After the break-in, I mean. Did the police find out who it was? Did they catch him?" "Breathe, Jess," Flash told her with a grin. "Sorry. I tend to talk fast because it's a given that someone will need me and if I don't get all my questions out quickly, I'll forget what I wanted to ask when I have to step away to deal with something else." "It's good to see you too," Kelli said happily. "And I'm good. Flash doesn't think it's smart to go back to either of our apartments yet, and Smiley's been so generous in letting us use his place. And yes, the police ran the prints they found on the container of bacon the person handled when they broke in...and it's exactly who Flash and his friends thought. The guy from Jamaica." "Holy crap! Really? And he went to your apartment? Why?" "Money. Revenge," Flash guessed, already wanting to change the subject. He'd brought Kelli out to try to relieve some of the stress from everything going on, not rehash the details. "Benny has kid duty tonight?" he asked. Jessyka beamed. "Yup. He said he was going to have a karaoke night. Trust me, I'm glad I'm missing that. I love my children, but they can't carry a tune to save their lives. What can I get you two?" "I'll take whatever's on tap," Flash said. "I think I'll have a rum and Coke," Kelli told her. "Coming right up. You want to sit here at the bar or at a table?" "Table," Flash said. "Sure thing. I'll bring your drinks out when they're ready. Here, take a menu with you. I'll take your order when I swing by." Flash took two menus from a stack on the bar and put his hand on the small of Kelli's back, leading her away from the hubbub of the bar, and also away from the pool tables on the opposite side of the room. They sat, and Kelli said, "I like it. This place feels...homey." "Jess and Benny have worked hard to make customers feel safe and comfortable." "Well, they've succeeded. It's wonderful." By the time Jessyka arrived at their table with drinks, they were ready to order. "I think I'll have the Santa Fe burger with fries, please." "Oh, good choice. We make the guacamole in-house and that chipotle mayo is so addicting. Flash? What are you having?" Jessyka asked. "I think the hickory burger. I haven't had that in a while and I'm craving your barbeque sauce. I don't know what you put in it, but I swear it's of the not-quite-legal variety." Jessyka chuckled. "Nothing illegal, promise. And I agree, it's so good." When she'd left, Flash put his elbows on the table and leaned toward Kelli. She looked great tonight. The jeans she had on clung to her curvy legs, making him think way too much about how they'd feel wrapped around his waist. And the shirt she chose was dark blue with a V-neck, giving him small glimpses of her ample cleavage. It was enough to drive a man crazy. He loved it. She was classy and sexy at the same time. Her gaze was fixed on him, making him feel as if he was the center of her universe at that moment. He'd noticed that about Kelli; when someone was talking to her, she maintained eye contact, letting whoever she was chatting with know that she was one hundred percent engaged. "How are you really doing with everything that happened last week, Kelli? And I don't want to hear platitudes. It wasn't that long ago we were in quite the precarious situation. And then you came home, had the shit scared out of you with our kidnapper breaking into your apartment, had to move out, go to a stranger's apartment with almost none of your stuff...and I leave you alone all day while I go to work. I'm worried about you. Worried that you're pushing your feelings down in order to try to make me feel better about everything that's happened." Kelli reached out and took his hand in hers. "Here's the thing, Flash," she said quietly, looking him in the eyes. "Bad shit happens in life. It's inevitable. But I'm here. I'm alive. I survived. And I'll keep on surviving whatever life dishes out. I learned from a young age, when my dad was killed, that crying doesn't help. Being a bitter bitch doesn't work either. All it does is make me feel bad. I firmly believe that anyone who's experienced tragedy looks at life differently. Losing a job...dropping a full cup of coffee right after walking out of the store...getting stuck in traffic? It's nothing compared to the trauma I experienced with my dad." She shrugged. "I learned how to process something really bad at a pretty young age, so now when I'm faced with things that aren't very fun, my brain also processes those things differently than a lot of people would. It's just how I'm wired. Yes, being kidnapped sucked, but I wasn't alone. It would've been a very different situation if I was. And yes, I was terrified when someone broke into my apartment and I had to hide, but you were on the other end of the phone, and you said you were coming. That made it more bearable. "And of course I wish I didn't have to move out of my place, and that this Brant guy wasn't still out there, apparently looking for me...but silver lining? I've gotten to spend more time with you. And I'm here at an amazing restaurant, about to eat a humongous burger, having a great time being with a man I admire and like a whole lot. "So I'm fine, Flash. More than fine." It took all Flash's control not to stand up, haul Kelli to her feet, and drag her out of Aces back to his car. He wanted her. Now. But more than that, he needed her brand of positivity in his life. Her unique way of looking at the world was a direct result of trauma when she was younger, but he couldn't deny that it was extremely addicting. And attractive. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Kelli asked, her cheeks turning a rosy pink from his scrutiny. "I'm falling in love with you," he blurted. Kelli's eyes widened. "I'm not telling you that to freak you out. But just so you're forewarned. I'm addicted to you. I want to be around you all the time. I think about nothing other than getting back home to you when I leave for work each morning. And when I walk through the door and see your welcoming smile, and we talk about our days...it's as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders every damn time. "So...just as I warned that I was giving you a week to decide if going on a date with me was what you really wanted, I'm giving you advance notice that two years from now, I want to already have my ring on your finger, and yours on mine. I want you to be round with our baby, and I want us to have a house of our own. When I look at you, I see my future in your eyes, Kelli...and instead of freaking me out, it soothes me." "Flash," she whispered. He had no idea if that was an appalled whisper, or a yearning one. "I'm sorry. I know. Too much, too soon. I just thought you should know where I stand on whatever's happening between us. That this isn't a casual thing for me. I don't usually move in with women I've met while on vacation or on the job...no matter what might've happened between us." Kelli licked her lips but didn't say anything. Just stared at him with those big brown eyes of hers. The door opened, and they both looked up to see who'd entered. Kevlar and Remi smiled as they saw them, making a beeline for their table. Flash wanted to wave them off, tell them to sit somewhere else, because he and Kelli were having a very important discussion. The most important discussion of his life. But he supposed it might be good for Kelli to let what he'd said sink in. He just hoped he hadn't scared her, fucking things up between them for good. "Hey! Can we sit with you?" Remi asked. "Of course," Kelli said. As his team leader settled into the seat next to Kelli, Flash noticed that he looked a little...off. He couldn't put his finger on what was up, but his friend definitely wasn't his usual laid-back self. He wanted to question him, but not in front of the women. Maybe he was worried about the mission they were researching. It would be an intense op. They were headed to Greenland, of all places. It wasn't exactly a hotspot for terrorism, but there'd been chatter about a group recently setting up a home base for getting operatives into the US. Their team would be heading to the country soon to take out the man in charge of the operation, before things could get too out of hand. Cold-weather missions weren't Flash's thing-weren't any of their favorite kind of op-but taking out bad guys before they could injure or kill innocent civilians was what they did, no matter the temperature. Jessyka stopped by their table and took Remi and Kevlar's drink and food orders, and she apparently put a rush on them, because by the time Flash and Kelli's burgers arrived, the salad and steak Remi and Kevlar had ordered were also delivered. Kelli seemed happy to chat with Remi, and while Kevlar kept up his side of the conversation, Flash was still aware that he seemed tense. The question of why was answered after they'd finished eating, when Remi was telling Kelli all about sleepovers at Caroline's house and how much fun they were. Kevlar suddenly stood up. Remi didn't seem too surprised by his abrupt movement, until he moved around to where she was sitting-and went down on one knee. It felt as if everyone in the entire bar stopped talking at once. "Remi. I told you once that I was going to marry you. Was going to put my ring on your finger, my baby in your belly, and that I'd glare at anyone who dared look sideways at my beautiful wife. You've been through several deployments. You've had more than enough time to know what you're getting with me. I'm not perfect. I can be a dick. But I love you more than I ever thought I could love another person. Will you marry me? Have my babies? Grow old with me?" Remi was beaming. "And I told you that when you asked, I'd say yes. I think I knew you were the man for me back when we were floating in the ocean together and you shared your air with me. Yes...to the ring, the baby, and even though no one is going to look twice at me, I'll let you glower-not glare, you said glower, when you first warned me of your future intentions. Yes, Vincent! Yes to it all!" Kevlar stood up and lifted his now-fiancée out of her chair, spinning her around in a circle. They were both grinning like fools as the entire bar cheered and clapped for them. Flash looked over at Kelli, and saw she had an ear-to-ear smile on her face. It was obvious how happy she was for her new friend. Flash couldn't help but reach over and take her hand in his. She turned that happy grin to him, and it felt as if they were the only two people in the world. If he could bottle this moment, her happiness, and bring it out when life got tough, he would. Kevlar put Remi back on her feet and slid a beautiful emerald-cut diamond ring on her finger. It wasn't ostentatious, but it definitely would tell anyone who might care to look that this woman was off the market. "And we're having our party here, right?" Remi asked. "I talked to Josie, and she already asked me about a double ceremony with her and Blink. I love that idea! He means so much to me, and you too, I know. I may or may not have already brought up the idea of having the reception here at Aces to Jessyka. She said yes, that all she needs is a date. She'll close the bar to everyone but our people. Oh! And Josie wants to make sure Blink's twin and his helicopter friends can come too. And of course, Wolf and his team and all their families. Marley is already looking for the perfect dress to wear, even though I told her that I'm not sure I want the traditional bridesmaids. How could I choose who would stand up with me? It's impossible! I have too many people I love and I don't want anyone to feel slighted. It'll be a tight fit for everyone here at Aces, but this is the perfect place! It's casual, friendly, and the food and drinks are perfect⁠-" "Breathe, Remi. We can do whatever you want. All I care about is you being mine, and belonging to you officially in return." "You're already mine, and I'm already yours," Remi said almost casually, as she put her hand on Kevlar's shoulder so she could admire her ring. "Damn straight." "Champagne on the house!" Jessyka announced loudly from behind the bar, holding up a bottle. Cheers rang out all around them once more as everyone celebrated not only Remi and Kevlar's official engagement, but also free alcohol. Flash kept hold of Kelli's hand as Remi and Kevlar sat back down, swapping seats this time so Remi could show off her ring to Kelli. "Congrats, man," Flash said, slapping Kevlar on the shoulder. "Thanks. Honestly?" his friend said quietly. "I'm glad that's over. Lord, I knew what her answer was going to be, and yet I was still nervous as hell." "I could tell. Glad that's what was up, because I was getting a little paranoid over here," Flash joked. "Wait until it's your turn," Kevlar warned. "You'll see what I mean. Even though you know you love your woman, and she loves you, there's just something nerve-racking about actually asking the question." Flash wasn't sure about that. He looked at Kelli. When he asked her to marry him, he wasn't going to do it in public. It would be an intimate thing between the two of them. Not because he'd be afraid she'd say no, but because he wanted to spoil her, make her feel like the most cherished woman in the world. Visions of flowers, a dinner for two, maybe a beautiful view sprang to his mind, as he thought about where and how he'd ask her to marry him. It wasn't until she laughed at something Remi said that he shook his head and concentrated on the here and now. He was getting ahead of himself for sure. But he knew down to his bones that this woman would wear his ring one day. Just as he'd wear hers. The party atmosphere in the room lasted for quite a while. There was just something about a successful marriage proposal that made everyone happy. So when Flash's phone rang, he was still enjoying the jovial mood. Looking at the screen, he saw it was Smiley calling. "Hey. You'll never guess what our team leader did. He finally got the nerve to ask Remi to marry him," Flash said. "Looks as if another one is biting the dust," he joked. "That's great. Listen, there's no good way to say this, so I'm just gonna say it. Someone tried to burn down your apartment complex tonight." Flash's blood ran cold. "What?" "Everyone's fine and it was caught before any real damage could be done. But from what the firefighters are saying, the origin was your balcony. Someone doused it with gas and made an incendiary device. A neighbor saw it smoking and called nine-one-one, then they were able to grab a hose from the apartment next to yours, and they got the fire under control before it did more than burn the shit out of the crap you had outside...like your grill and that patio chair." "Shit! All right. You're okay?" "Yeah. I was inside...and maybe it's TMI to admit this, but I was in the bathroom. Didn't hear a thing until the shouting outside from your neighbor." Flash's stomach rolled. Smiley could've been hurt. Hell, an entire apartment complex full of people could've been hurt, or at the very least, lost everything. Thank God for his observant neighbor. He owed the man a beer. No, a lifetime supply of beer. "I'm going to drop Kelli off and then I'll be right there." He was aware the conversation around the table had stopped and he was being stared at, but for the moment, all he could concentrate on was Smiley. "No need. Things are fine here. I've given the detective on scene your phone number and gave him the rundown about Williams. I'm sure he'll be in touch soon, and you might have to go in and give a statement, but things here are under control." "You need to come back to your place. I'll take Kelli to a hotel." "Don't be stupid. Stay put. Both of you. I'm good here. I kind of like your kitchen. And I'm currently binge watching your DVDs of Criminal Minds. I know it's on streaming, but there's something so old school about watching it on disc." Frustration ate at Flash. "We need to find him. Stop this shit." "I agree," Smiley said. "Which is why I told Tex to step things up. To get that chick from New Mexico involved. He's busy. Has his hands in a million different pies, as usual. We need someone on this exclusively. And...I think her name is Ryleigh, or something like that...she's just as good or even better than Tex, even though he doesn't like to admit it. She might be able to find this asshole, tell the cops where he is, maybe even provide the evidence they need to lock him up for good." "All right. If you need anything-and I mean anything, Smiley-you call. Understand?" "Of course. I'll see you at PT in the morning." When his friend hung up, Flash looked up to see three sets of eyes locked on him. "What happened?" "Is Smiley all right?" The first question came from Kevlar, the second, not surprisingly, from Kelli. "There was an incident at my apartment complex. Everyone is fine." "Williams," Kevlar said. It wasn't a question. "Most likely," Flash confirmed. Kelli frowned. "What should we do?" "For now, nothing except stay vigilant. Keep our doors locked, our eyes open. You aren't going to like this, but I'm going to need you to stay inside Smiley's apartment while I'm at work. If you need something, you can order it to be delivered, or let me know and I'll pick it up on my way home." "I can drive her somewhere if she needs to go out," Remi volunteered. "I appreciate that, but this asshole might know about you and the other women by now. I don't want him deciding to follow one of you to find out where we're staying. And I definitely don't want him using you to get to either Kelli or me." "Should I leave?" Kelli asked quietly. "I can go to Florida. Or New York. Hell, Maine. It's pretty rural there." "No!" Flash exclaimed. He took a deep breath. "No. Smiley is going to ask Tex to put his computer genius friend from New Mexico on this exclusively. She'll locate Williams, so the cops can put him away. We just have to be patient for a little while longer." Kevlar frowned. "I don't like this." Flash snorted. "Neither do I." "I'm willing to be cautious, but what if this computer person can't find him? I don't want Brant to win by having you and I hiding and not living our lives. And what happens if he's not found before you guys get deployed? Am I supposed to hide in Smiley's apartment forever? That's not acceptable. I want to live my life! I want to start classes at the community college so I can become an electrician and fix Jessyka's sign." Kelli was breathing faster now, almost panicking by the time she finished speaking. Flash shoved his chair back, reached over, and pulled Kelli out of her seat. He settled her onto his lap so she straddled him and they were eye-to-eye, holding her face in his hands. "Do you remember what I told you before Remi and Kevlar arrived?" he asked. He saw her swallow hard, then nod. "You think any of that can happen if we have to hide out? It can't. So I'm going to fix this. I'm going to find that coward and make sure he knows he picked the wrong people. The day he decided to put us in that bus was his downfall, he just doesn't know it yet." "I don't want to lose you," Kelli whispered. "Lose me? How?" "If you kill him, you could go to jail." "I'm not going to jail," Flash told her confidently. He wasn't going to promise that he wouldn't kill Williams-because if he got the chance, he was definitely taking the man out. If the guy simply went to jail, the opportunity for him to get out would hang over their heads forever. And Flash had no doubt that if Williams was let out of prison, he'd be gunning for them once again. He didn't know how, or when, but Brant Williams was going down. He wasn't going to stand in the way of Flash and Kelli living the life he saw in his fantasies. No fucking way. Kelli closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then looked at him once more and nodded. Her trust, her belief in him, was a gift. And it was something Flash would cherish and protect with his life. He always wanted to see her looking at him as she was right now. With hope and their future in her eyes. Turning his head without taking his hands off Kelli's face, he told Kevlar, "I'm going to need you to talk to the commander. Take me off the next mission. I'm not leaving as long as Williams is out there." Kelli started to protest, but he ignored her. "Done," Kevlar said with a nod. "Shhh," Flash murmured as he pressed his lips to Kelli's forehead. "It'll be fine." "I'll call Wolf too. Let him know what's up. Tell him to get word out about Williams. Every former and current SEAL in the area will be on watch for this guy. We'll catch him. I have no doubt," Kevlar said. "Instead of Smiley's place, can you maybe come stay with us instead? I mean, there's strength in numbers, right?" Remi asked. "Maybe," Flash hedged. She wasn't exactly wrong, but still, putting anyone else in this asshole's crosshairs felt wrong. Smiley was single. Staying with Remi would mean leaving two women alone while he was at work. He ached to go to his apartment and check out the damage. Make sure Smiley hadn't downplayed any injuries that himself or his neighbors might have incurred. But his desire to stick by Kelli's side was stronger. He'd see Smiley soon enough. "You ready to head home?" Flash asked Kelli. She nodded. "We should be going too," Kevlar said. "I'm sorry we ruined your night," he told his friend, as he helped Kelli off his lap. "You didn't ruin anything," Kevlar said, sounding exasperated. "Remi agreed to marry me, we're going to have a huge party here at Aces...what's to ruin?" "Exactly," Remi agreed, giving Kelli a long hug. "Trust Flash. He'll figure this out." Kelli nodded and gave her friend a small smile. Flash waved at Jessyka, and she waved back from behind the bar. They'd paid the tab earlier so nothing stopped them from heading straight for the door. Looking around, Flash saw nothing out of the ordinary as they exited. Visiting the bar again might also be out of the question until Williams was found. The last thing he wanted was the thwarted kidnapper deciding to take his frustrations out on the place where Flash and every other SEAL liked to hang out. The drive back to Smiley's apartment took longer than usual, as Flash made a lot of extra turns, doing his best to try to evade Williams if he happened to be following. He wouldn't breathe a sigh of relief until they were inside the apartment, with the door double bolted behind them. Williams could always try to burn Smiley's complex down, but he was fairly sure the man didn't know where they were...yet. Which was probably why he'd taken out his irritation on Flash's apartment. The man was a menace and had to be stopped. But for tonight, Flash had different plans. There was no telling what the future held. What plans Williams had up his sleeve. And Flash had no intention of letting one more day pass without showing Kelli how serious he was about wanting her in his life...forever. Of course, anything happening would be up to her. She might be too distraught after hearing about Williams' latest attempt to fuck with them. But tonight, when they got into bed, she'd know without a doubt that he was serious when he'd told her what he wanted. And what he wanted was her. Under him. Over him. Any way he could get her. His mouth watered with thoughts of tasting her, of spreading her thighs and seeing her pussy soaking wet for him. He was ninety percent sure she wanted him too. Her signs of arousal weren't as obvious as his, but she hadn't once shied away from his touches. And when his hand slipped under her shirt and rested on the small of her back the night before, she'd arched into him. His timing wasn't great, and if she really was too worried about Williams, he wouldn't push. But with the way her gaze flicked between his legs and how often she blushed, he had a feeling they'd both get a break from their real life tonight. By losing themselves in each other. He couldn't wait. In a romance-themed observation show, several participants undergo a series of interactions and conflicts filled with love, misunderstandings, and power struggles. In the end, one couple rises to over...