Page 19 of Secret

Noam wondered why. Someone like Kasey should have had people banging on his door to go out. He wasn't going to question it. If Kasey was for spending more time together, so was he. "How about we head out to the gun range on Saturday again? I'll bring some rare guns you might enjoy trying out and you can help me improve my aim. We can grab dinner after if you're up for it."

"That all sounds good, other than improving your aim. I'm not sure you need any help. From what I saw, you should be giving me pointers."

Noam shrugged. "Comes with the job. Everything I've ever done has involved guns, for the most part. Like you, I enjoy them, but in my line of work, especially before I was a detective and was working the streets, my life depended on being a good shot. Thankfully, I've never had to use my gun, but you never know."

"Do you enjoy your work?" Kasey asked.

"I do. I feel like I'm making a difference most of the time. Some of the things I see can be hard, but I try to focus on the good and not the bad." He thought about the two missing girls he still didn't have a lead on and wondered how much longer he'd be able to fool himself into thinking the good outweighed the bad.

"How'd you end up here from Israel?"

Noam bit his lip, unsure how much to share. He didn't like talking about his past much. He decided to skirt the edges of the truth. "After I left the IDF I decided to move here. It was time for a change. Both my parents had passed away and there was really nothing there for me any longer. I had a friend here. He invited me to come give the United States a try. I got here and loved it. My friend ended up getting married and moving to Houston, but I joined the force here and have been here since."

"Do you miss it?"

"Israel? Sometimes, but not much. I had a good life there, but I'm happy here. Casper and I have a great life here."

Kasey glanced down at the dog who was now asleep under the table. "Almost makes me want to get a dog."

"Almost, but not quite?"

"There are times I have to leave town for a few days for work. I'd have to find someone to watch my dog. I had one growing up, but since I've been on my own, I've just never taken that step. Watching you and her makes me reconsider."

"It's nice having someone to come home to." Noam met Kasey's gaze across the table. "Keeps things from being so lonely all the time."

Kasey didn't break the stare. "I know lonely."

Noam nodded. "Maybe we can help each other with that."

"Maybe." Kasey nodded before looking up as the food arrived.

Noam hoped he wasn't leading Kasey on. He was all for having someone to hang out with, but any more than that and he'd have to put a stop to it. He couldn't be enough for someone else. He had too many issues. He needed to watch himself. It would be easy to fall into something more with a man like Kasey. The more he learned, the more he liked.

As they dug into their dinner, Noam tried not to think about everything. He was going to stop worrying and just enjoy the new friendship. He didn't have to look ahead, didn't have to think more into it than it was. As long as he was honest with Kasey and didn't do anything to make him think this could be more than friends, then he would be okay. But as he stared across the table at Kasey, he was finding that it might be easier said than done.