Page 13 of A Soldier's Pledge
The guys went outside to the patio to come up with their plan of action while she heated dinner. Microwaving she usually could handle. But that was the extent of her prowess in the kitchen. No one could be good at everything, and growing up with a cook meant her mother never taught her the basics. Once she was older, she was too busy doing everything else and learning to cook was low on her priority list. But having a man who could cook was like a dream come true. There were only so many salads a girl could eat.
***
“You were right, she’s a keeper. After listening to you bitch about how hard it was to get close to her, I wondered if it was really worth the effort, but yup. You got lucky. Now don’t fuck it up and lose her.” Steele imparted his sage advice as he paced the patio.
“Yeah, tell me something I don’t know. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve almost fucked it up. But she’s amazing, and I think my perseverance finally paid off.”
“What are you persevering at?” Anna asked as she opened the French doors while juggling the platter of chicken.
“The case,” Steele answered, and Ethan was grateful. He’d probably have put his foot in his mouth—again.
“Good because I really want you to find out who’s behind it, and I know it’s not Hugh. The sooner you get over that, the better.”
“I think we should call Chase.”
“Who’s Chase?”
“My brother, he runs the Eagle Security and Protection Agency. Basically, a fancy name for a private security company.”
“Why would we need private security?” Anna asked as she looked between the two of them. Steele might have a point. He could run things that they couldn’t without a warrant.
“Because he doesn’t have his hands tied while he waits for enough proof to get a warrant. Go ahead, give him a call, but I don’t think we should tell the LT until we have something concrete because he’s going to have our ass for this.”
“No shit. But Chase is family, and an ex-SEAL if he’s not trustworthy then who is?”
“He’s an ex-SEAL?”
“Yeah. And before you decide to start matchmaking again, don’t. He’s had his panties in a twist for years for a woman he left behind in San Diego,” Steele added.
“I don’t think she’s going to try matchmaking, you can relax, right, Anna?”
“Umm, sure, yup, right. I wouldn’t dream of it.” His woman had a very wicked gleam in her eyes, and if he didn’t think it was so funny, he’d have to warn Steele to be on the lookout for women in his path.
While Steele went off to call Chase and see what he could dig up on her employees, Ethan had to propose their plan. She was going to hate it, of that he had no doubt. She protected her employees like a mother hen, which wasn’t a bad thing, but in this case, it might mean she was assisting a felon.
“So, as far as Hugh is concerned, you have to at least admit that it’s too much of a coincidence. I do agree about Adria. There’s no way she’s involved.”
Steele was back before she had a chance to respond. “I told Chase to start with Hugh and Adria to be on the safe side. He’ll call as soon as he has something. He has a computer guy who can find a flea in on a sheepdog.”
Ethan didn’t like the clouds building in Anna’s eyes as Steele kept talking. He needed to get a handle on this, knowing how close Anna and Adria were, but surprisingly she agreed. What was up with that?
“Just don’t do anything stupid, Steele. She’s my best friend and has already been through seven levels of hell. I don’t want her hurt.”
“Chase is going to look into her financials and background. I’m not checking her out to marry the woman. Fuck.”
“Yeah, you say that now. Anyway, who’s going to help me bring out the rest of the food?”
They followed her into the house, then grabbed a dish and brought it out to the patio.
“Does Ethan cook for you?”
“Nope, but he has brought food into the station. Not often. I think he’s worried they’ll make him cook all the time.”
“I wouldn’t blame them, either.”
“Cut it out. It’s just food. It’s not like I’m a Cordon Bleu Chef or anything.”
Anna looked like she was considering it as she chewed. “How come you aren’t? What made you go into the Air Force?”
