Couples

Chapter 132

Smiling at Bambi, Esposito forks jalpeño rings from a jar and mixes them with his macaroni and cheese. "Thanks for getting these."

She snuggles into his shoulder. "I know you like them, so it was nothing to pick them up while I was shopping. But I'm glad you don't have a taste for ghost peppers. Just opening the container would send me running."

"I can't handle those either," he confesses. "But jalapeños add just the right heat and tang to almost everything I like."

"Ice cream?" Bambi teases.

Javi kisses the top of her head. "I haven't tried that yet. I could check it out for the holiday. So are your students all excited about getting Christmas goodies?"

"Not just Christmas. Bennie Cohen celebrates Hannukah, and it's already started. His mom sent in some of the special doughnuts they eat. The kids got jelly all over them, but they had a great time."

"Ryan's always teasing me about getting powdered sugar on my shirt when I eat doughnuts," Javi confides. "Maybe some of your kids will grow up to be cops."

Bambi sighs. "I just want them to grow up to be whatever makes them happy."

"You're always thinking about everyone else being happy," Javi murmurs, pulling her close. "That's one of the things I love about you."

She looks up at him, wide-eyed. "That's the first time you've ever used that word about me. Did you mean it? And please don't say you did if you didn't. I couldn't deal with that."

His workout-roughened hand cups her cheek. "I meant it. But if I kiss you now, you're going to taste the jalapeños."

Bambi brings her lips close to his. "I won't mind. I love you too."

"After this, the final serving of judgment," Elton Greene announces.

"You know, you didn't have to wait for the show to air," Kate notes. "You could have just called Auchincloss or Christine to find out how they did."

Rick points down at Lily's rapt concentration on the screen. "I promised her she'd see them. Good thing the show isn't on too long after supper. We would have a hell of a time getting her down tonight if I had to record it and show it to her tomorrow."

Kate rolls her eyes. "I think she's becoming as much of a T.V. addict as you are."

"Says the woman who can't miss a single episode of her favorite soap opera," Rick retorts. "At least cooking competitions are educational. Although come to think of it, I did steal a book plot from General Hospital, the thing about the weather machine."

"I thought I read all your books. I don't remember that one."

"That's because it was so bad that I threw it out. But, ooh, wait, the show's coming back on."

"Today, two teams of chefs met to clash in the kitchen," Elton proclaims, unfolding a scorecard. "Here are the results of the battle. Team Red Fielding, an outstanding total of 45 points, but Team Auchincloss, only two points short of perfection, 48 points. A hard-fought Kitchen Klash victory goes to Team Auchincloss!"

Rick stares open-mouthed at the screen. "Is Auchincloss hugging Christine? I didn't think that man hugged anyone."

"Heat of the moment?" Kate speculates.

Rick studies the chef's expression. "Maybe, but I suspect Christine may have touched the tender innards of a crusty heart. But that's not the only surprising development." Rick points down at a suddenly sleeping Lily and gently scoops her up. After expertly laying her in a new toddler-sized bed without disturbing her slumber, he returns to Kate. "Whew! Alone at last! You know We haven't had a chance to talk about your case. Did you get through to any of your FBI contacts?"

"Only one. Apparently, that militia that seized a ranger station out west a couple of years ago is stirring things up again. This time, it's mobilized affiliated groups all over the country, and for the FBI, it's pretty much any free hands on deck. Will said that the forensic accountants are always looking at Russian transactions and added that he'd inquire about anything that seems unusual. But it didn't sound to me like Russian activities are high on the bureau's priority list, at least not on the domestic front. He hinted that foreign intelligence might have a stronger interest, but he has no deep connections in the other agencies."

"Not too helpful," Rick observes. "We may have stronger alliances than he does – if we can use them."

"Are you thinking about your father?" Kate asks.

"He's not my only inroad. You know that. In fact, he made sure he wasn't. And you've had your share of reading in on missions. So it looks like the way to go here is to send up as many flags as possible and see who responds. I can start right now if you like."

Kate's fingertip traces Rick's lips. "Lily's dead to the world, and even Felicia is dreaming whatever cats dream. I think running things up the flagpole can wait a while, don't you?"

He jerks her tightly against his groin. "My own personal flagpole appears to be craving activity of a different sort."

"So it does," Kate agrees. "And we should always attend to the homefront first."

Rick's hands trace her curves. "I heartily concur. And if the other denizens of this domicile have settled into comfortable bowers, there's no reason why we shouldn't do the same."

Kate grabs a handful of his behind. "As long as we don't settle too much. Sleeping is definitely not what I have in mind."

Rick's face crinkles in a quirky grin. "Not what I or the flagpole have in mind either."

She presses against the heat of his arousal. "It is definitely sending me a message of its own. I should respond as soon as possible."

"Then, by all means, lead the way."

Jack's been sitting at a table in the Atlantic Street Middle Eastern Market for more than an hour. He slowly worked his way through a chunk of halvah and two cups of coffee before deciding that Azra isn't going to show. He's about to get up when the bell over the door tinkles. It still takes him a moment to associate Azra with the appearance of the woman who enters the shop. But the brilliance in her eyes is unmistakable. For a fleeting moment, they lock gazes.

Azra buys a coffee and portion of baklava at the service counter, noting that since all the tables are full, sharing one with Jack would not be remarkable. And, of course, if she were portraying a strict adherent to religious law, she wouldn't be out without a male relative in the first place. Also, she's wearing a sleek turban, not a hijab. Fortunately, most patrons of the market are relatively liberal and won't pay much attention to a woman's choice. Many are not even Muslim and only come to enjoy Middle Eastern flavors.

With a slight nod, Jack gestures her to a seat opposite him. "Long day?" he inquires softly.

"Watching a bear swipe its claws at fish in the river. It was clumsy and tore one up pretty well. We were tracking the path of the blood.

"Do you think it got the meal it was after?" Jack queries.

"I believe it came away hungry." Azra smiles, pointing to her gooey dessert. "It should have tried some of this."

"Will you be doing any more animal watching? Relatives of my family are observing bears as well, particularly how they choose their dens."

Azra takes a sip of coffee. "Then, I believe we may have converging interests. Perhaps we'll be in the hunt together."

Jack's lips hint at a smile. "Perhaps we will."