Page 14 of Finding English

Henry nodded. “Yes, we do. The Special Air Service or the SAS as it’s more commonly known have a base there. We also have at least two teams that do Black Ops in the town. My partner Aubrey is engaged to Will, the owner of one of them, and incidentally, he’s the technical expert for the other.”

“Wow, that’s crazy having all that in one town. No wonder the crime rate is low.”

“I guess, but then if you think about it, when they retire from the SAS, they want to use the skills they learned to earn a living and stay in the place they call home. It makes more sense then.”

Henry pulled up outside the place where they would spend their date and killed the engine.

“Does everyone know who they are?”

“People who live there know but don’t really know if that makes sense. I’ve had a little contact because our paths crossed on an investigation into a cult. But it quickly became clear they’d be handling that particular one alone or at least between them. Fortis Security has the most involvement, and I was happy for my department to step aside. Between them and Eidolon, the other group, they have the experience, skills, and firepower to handle it and the police don’t.”

Cassie tilted her head to look at him. “Aren’t police meant to fight with people over jurisdiction?”

“Not in this case. They have the skills and the backing of the government to do the job, and I don’t have the resources. The way I see it, as long as we both have the same objective, then why would I fight for something they can do better?”

“That’s very mature, Henry.”

He chuckled at that. “Why thank you, Cassie.” He nodded at the bar he’d brought them too. “We’re here, would you like to go in?”

Cassie seemed stunned as if just realizing they’d stopped. “Yes, please.”

Henry got out and reached her door as she jumped down. Taking her hand, he led them inside the darker space set up with tables and chairs dotted around the left side near a stage and the bar running the length of the right side.

He walked them to a table with a reserved sign on it and pulled out her chair as she looked around them with delight in her expressive eyes.

“I thought we could grab some food, and they have a quiz from eight-thirty until ten-thirty. I know you love this kind of thing, so I entered us.”

Her face lit up with a smile, and he was shocked when she leaned forward to kiss him lightly on the mouth. “This was really thoughtful. Thank you.”

Henry fought the ridiculous grin her compliment gave him, not wanting to look like an idiot. “It’s my pleasure. That smile is worth it.”

“Stop it, or I’m going to start falling for you,” Cassie chided.

“That’s the plan.”

He grinned as a waitress came to take their drink orders. He stuck with a light beer as he was driving and wouldn’t take any chances with her precious life. He was glad to see her relax and order a pomelo gin and tonic.

“I don’t drink a lot, because of having Micky. There’s only me to look after Mic and I don’t want to be caught unawares.”

He hated that she never got to relax and vowed he’d change that if she let him. “Makes sense, but now you can enjoy it. You’re safe with me, Cassie.”

“Fine, but don’t blame me if we lose the quiz because one drink went to my head. What’s our team name?”

“The Science Nerds. I didn’t have a lot of time to think it up.”

“I love it.”

As they ate a meal of rosemary fries covered in Texas pulled pork with apple slaw and corn, they chatted about everything and nothing. She told him about her work before here and how she’d met Calder, Dax, and TJ and fallen on her feet in the friend department with their wives.

He told her about his parent’s recent move and how tempted he was to make the jump too, even surprising himself with that admission. They talked movies, bands, politics, and he loved how her face lit up when she spoke of her daughter.

The quiz started, and he saw a new side to her which had him grinning as she wrote the answers down instantly, then looked around to see if others had the answer too.

“I see a competitive streak in you, Cassie.”

She looked contrite. “I hate to lose.”

“It’s a good thing. Your spirit is sexy as hell.”