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"High value assets…” I said with a grin. “Like Wall Street bankers?”
“Exactly.”
"Are you a vet?”
He nodded, but didn’t elaborate.
“A lot of vets go into the private military after they return," I said, trying to encourage him to speak.
He nodded. "You have family in the military?"
"You come from a long line of drunks?” I said and smiled. “I come from a long line of soldiers and law enforcement types."
He nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I was glad to get back to the real world. My time in the service was short, intense and I’m glad it’s over.”
I wanted to know more, what branch of the military he had been in, but he seemed closed off once it was mentioned so I returned his IDs and went back to filling drinks.
Beckett was glad to be back to the real world? That wasn't what Dan said when he came back before being redeployed the last time. He couldn't adjust. Hated the quiet. Hated the calm. We argued about him going back to Afghanistan, given the increasing violence there and our recent wedding. A few days before his last mission started, he said that if he didn't have incoming screaming in over his head, he didn't feel alive. That was why he went back – he needed that adrenaline rush.
I never saw him again.
"So, what do you say about that drink?" Beckett said, his voice pulling me back to the present. "You should unwind a bit from your long day of work. A shot of bourbon would be good for what ails you."
I pulled up a fresh bottle of lime juice for the drink I was mixing. "A shower and then a bed would be best for what ails me."
He grinned mischievously. "I could arrange that."
I laughed out loud. He was persistent if nothing else. "You are so charmingly direct."
"I know what I want when I see it."
"Oh, yeah?" I said, trying but failing to keep the smile off my face as I worked. "And what exactly is it that you want, Monsieur Tate?"
"What I see."
"And why, may I ask? A girl is curious…" I said, making a Game of Thrones reference.
I stopped pouring and turned to him, facing him squarely. I was enjoying his attempt to pick me up. He wasn't trying to hide it. He was going for broke. I had to admire that.
"Because what a man sees is just about the most delicious thing he’s seen for a long time."
"Only just about?"
"Let me rephrase that," he said and leaned forward, licking his bottom lip. "What a man sees is the most delicious thing he’s seen for just about ever."
Our eyes burned into each other's and heat rose in my face. Damn. He was the hottest man I'd ever met – next to Dan. He totally knew my Game of Thrones reference. Sadly for me, and given my career aspirations, I wasn’t into one-night stands with strangers even if they knew about faceless men. That would make me a security threat.
"It's that just about that keeps getting me, Beckett." I leaned forward, our faces just a few inches away from each other. "I really don't appreciate feeling like second best."
"You can't tell where something ranks until you try,” he replied. “Besides, life is short. You should just live dangerously for once, sha. Come on. Have a drink with me …"
I sighed, wishing I could. “You're very tempting, Monsieur Tate with the Cajun accent. I’m hoping to get into the FBI when I finish my degree. Living dangerously is not on the agenda until after that. I have to watch my associates if I hope to get in.”
“Well, in that case, I’m one of the safest men you could talk to.”
“So you say.”
“I’m scouting out locations for a staff retreat I’m planning. I spent some time at Camp Lejeune when I was with Special Operations Forces and I like the area. Besides, there’s a convention in Wilmington coming up and so I thought I’d find a nice place for my staff retreat. Kill two birds with one stone.”
