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I poured myself a cup of coffee, added a generous dollop of milk, and sat on a barstool. I nibbled on the bagel and started reading the newspaper on my phone before Slash joined me ten minutes later. Dressed in a light blue dress shirt and dark slacks, his long black hair slicked back, he took my breath away. I’ve known him for over a year, and had been dating him for several months, so logically I should be used to the way he looks, but somehow I’m not. Maybe I won’t ever be.

“Why are you dressed for work when you’re supposed to be on vacation?” I asked.

As he leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek, I caught a faint trace of shaving cologne. He smelled heavenly.

“I’m going to New York for the day,” he explained. “I want to run some tests on the new simulation software I’ve been working on.”

Besides working at the NSA, Slash owns a company in New York called Frisson International, LLC. The company works on data integration, tactical computing, sensor management, simulation-based training, and fusion analysis. He’d hired scientists and engineers to run the company while he worked at the NSA, but the vision is his, especially the new cryptologic simulation and training system he’s developing for the U.S. government.

“You’ll be there overnight?”

“Of course not. Any day away from you that’s unnecessary will be avoided at all costs. My flight lands at 6:15 this evening, and I should be home by 7:00. Will you hold dinner for me?”

“Sure.”

He was pouring some coffee into a travel mug when his cell rang. He pulled it out of his pocket, reviewed the number and answered it.

“Good morning, sir, what can I do for you?”

I caught his eye with a question and he put the call on speaker so I could hear.

“It’s been brought to my attention that you were involved in an armed robbery situation yesterday.” I recognized the voice. General Norton, Slash’s boss.

Uh-oh.

“Yes, sir. I was in the Quick Mart when the perpetrator entered with his weapon drawn. Luckily there was no one else in the store at the time other than the cashier, and I was able to bring him down without anyone getting hurt.”

“You do understand you’re supposed to be on vacation, not fighting crime.”

“It was a chance encounter.”

“Well, good job. I saw you on the news last night talking to reporters and juggling...items.”

There was a long, uncomfortable stretch of silence before General Norton cleared his throat. “Anyway, as your boss, I’m ordering you to relax, avoid dangerous situations, and be ready to get back to work after Thanksgiving. No more incidents like the Quick Mart or I’m personally reinstating your Secret Service detail.”

“No need for that. I’m working on relaxing, sir.”

“That’s what I want to hear.”

Norton hung up and Slash turned toward me, slipping his phone back into his pocket. He looked strangely relieved.

I studied him for a moment. “What is it?”

“What is what?”

“You seemed relieved about something. What?”

He took a sip of his coffee from the travel mug before popping the top on. “I’m grateful he had the courtesy not to mention the box of tampons I was holding front and center.”

I turned my phone around to show him the article I was reading in theWashington Post. The headline readMan Buying Tampons for Girlfriend Ends Robbery/Hostage Situation.

He slowly lifted his gaze to mine. “TheWashington Post?”

“Don’t worry. It’s buried in the back of the local news. No one will read it.”

“So, she says.” Sighing, he joined me at the counter, sliding on a barstool. “How’s the bagel?”

“Delicious. Who knew I’d actually like almond butter?”