Kasey smiled over at Faith as they drove to pick up Noam. "So are you going to sign up for that art class you wanted to take?"
Faith shrugged. "I might. I'm still not really sure I'm good enough."
"Isn't that the whole idea of taking a class? You hope to learn and get better?"
"Yeah, I guess. It's just hard, ya know? Sometimes I'm okay, but other times I get scared. I'm afraid I'm going to have a panic attack or something in public and everyone will laugh at me."
Kasey had no idea how to answer that. He glanced over at her. "You've been through a lot, Stripes. I think anyone would understand if you get scared every once in a while. I know it's hard, but you can't stop living. If you want to take the art class, you should." He almost offered to sign up with her just so she wouldn't be alone, but that wasn't what she needed, besides, he couldn't make a stick figure look like a stick figure. He had no artistic ability.
"So who is this guy we're picking up?" Faith asked.
"Just a friend I met at the gun range. He wanted to hang out, so I thought he might have fun going with us." Kasey hoped Faith wasn't upset he'd invited a stranger, but the truth was, he wanted someone there to help him through his first evening with Faith. Not that Noam knew anything more about teen girls than he did, but having him there made it seem easier.
"Boyfriend?"
"You know I don't date, Stripes."
"I know you aren't dating, but that doesn't mean you don't." Faith laughed.
"True, very true." Kasey stopped at the red light before looking over at Faith. "Truth is, I'd like to date him, but I'm not really sure what's going to happen. I'm happy to have him as just a friend if that's what he wants."
"Have you asked him?"
"Well, no."
"Why not?"
"We just met. We're still getting to know each other."
Faith rolled her eyes. "I thought that's why people dated. You date to get to know someone, and if you like them you get married."
Kasey needed to change the subject quickly. "What about you? Anyone you like?"
Faith shifted, and he noticed a blush coming over her cheeks. "Not really. Besides, Xander says I can't date until I'm forty. I know he's joking, but I don't think he'd like me dating anyone until high school."
Kasey laughed. He pitied the men who tried to date Faith. Xander was scary enough, but add in Matt's hacking skills, they'd know everything about a guy before Faith could ever accept an offer. "That's good. They love and want to protect you."
"But you're old enough to date, so I think you should." She grinned.
"Well, if things keep going good with Noam, maybe I will." He pulled up in front of Noam's house. "Now, no more dating talk with him around. We can talk about it more when we get home if you want." He prayed she wouldn't say anything. "Come on inside. I want you to meet Casper."
"Who's Casper?" She got out of the car but waited on the sidewalk for him to come around.
"You'll see." He led her up to the door, noticing how as they got closer to the house, she got closer to him until she was nearly curled against his side as he knocked on the door. Putting an arm gently around her shoulder, hoping it was okay, he smiled. "Noam's nice. I trust him. He's a police detective. If you don't like him or are uncomfortable at any time, we can go home, okay?"
She nodded. "Thanks, but I should be okay."
He'd talked to Matt a bit about what she could handle, making sure that going out in public and doing things wouldn't bother her. He was more than happy to sit home with her if that's what she wanted, but he really wanted to surprise her with what they were doing tonight.
The door opened, and Noam smiled as he stared at Faith, his eyes widening just slightly, not enough for Faith to catch, but Kasey did.
"Welcome, you must be Faith." Noam stepped aside. "I'm Noam, welcome to my home." He glanced up at Kasey.
"I wanted to introduce her to Casper." Kasey grinned.
"Oh, of course. Casper, come here," Noam called.
As Kasey gently led Faith through the doorway and into the house, Casper came bounding from out back, excited when she saw them walking in. She danced circles around their feet, her tail wagging as she looked up, her eyes almost pleading for attention.
Faith dropped to her knees, giving Casper all the attention she could want.
Kasey grinned. "I knew they'd be good friends."
Noam smiled, but he was still staring at Faith, his eyes narrowing as he glanced back up at Kasey.
He should have known there was a chance Noam would recognize her from when she'd been kidnapped. He hadn't even thought about it being a possibility. He gripped Noam's shoulder while Faith was distracted by the dog and mouthed, "later."
Noam nodded, but still stared at Faith as if he was surprised to see her. He shook his head a minute later. "Do you want to give her a treat before we go?" Noam walked toward the kitchen and came back with a small dog biscuit. "Here, give her this." Noam offered it to Faith.
She glanced up at Kasey, and when he nodded, she carefully took the treat from Noam's hand and gave it to Casper.
Casper ran across the room to lay beside the couch to eat it.
Faith stood, moving beside Kasey again. "She's pretty."
"She's a good girl. Keeps me company, and for the most part, she stays out of trouble." Noam grinned. "So where are we headed tonight?"
"He won't tell me." Faith frowned at Kasey.
"Because it's a surprise." Kasey laughed.
"All I know is he said to wear sweatpants and tennis shoes." Noam shrugged.
"Me too." She sighed.
"Well, the sooner we go, the sooner you will both know where." Kasey turned toward the door. "You ready?" He glanced over at Noam.
"Yep, let me turn on a lamp in case it's dark when we get home." He clicked on a lamp beside the couch before meeting them on the front porch.
Faith hurried to the car and climbed into the backseat as Kasey waited for Noam. "Thanks for coming along with us. I'm way out of my comfort zone."
"Ah, it looks like she trusts you. And that's saying a lot if she's who I think she is." Noam narrowed his eyes.
"She probably is," Kasey admitted. "I'll explain all that when she's not around. It's not something she likes others knowing."
"I don't blame her, but I admit, seeing her was a shock." Noam shut and locked the front door, shoving his keys into his t-shirt pocket.
"I didn't even think that you might have dealt with her back then." Kasey slowly walked to the car.
"I didn't, but we all knew about her, followed the case." Noam looked at Kasey over the top of the car before he got in. "It's good to see her doing so well."
Kasey smiled and nodded before he opened his own door and got in. "So, I know dinner will be late tonight, but I have something I want to do before we eat because it won't be as fun if we have full stomachs."
"Just tell us." Faith groaned from the backseat.
Noam laughed. "Sweatpants and tennis shoes, I hope he's not expecting us to run a marathon."
"Nope, I don't run." Faith folded her arms over her chest.
"It's not running. It's physical, but it's fun. We'll be there in five minutes. You both can wait." Kasey grinned as he pulled out on the road.
Noam glanced back at Faith. "He's enjoying this a bit too much if you ask me."
"He likes to tease. All of them do," Faith told him.
"All of who?" Noam asked.
Kasey's breath caught. Faith knew enough about the team that she could take them all down if she said the wrong thing. He knew Xander and Matt had talked to her about things, but he still held his breath, worried how she would answer.
"All his friends. That's how I met him. His friend married my dad, so now they all come around, and they all tease. Well, all but Becca. She helps me come up with ways to get back at them."
Relief flooded Kasey as he nodded. "When Becca and Faith get together, we have to look out."
Faith laughed. "You deserve it."
"Probably, but it doesn't mean we aren't going to get you back sometime." Kasey smiled at her in the review mirror.
"I'm thinking I should keep my distance. I'm not sure I want in the middle of this." Noam laughed.
Kasey grinned. He loved the idea of having Noam around his friends, but it probably wasn't smart. It would be too dangerous for the team. Noam had to know about the stings the team performed, and he would have to follow up on anything he might hear. The team was careful, but things slipped out sometimes. It was best to keep Noam far away from them. "They're the reason you see me jogging so much. I have to work off the tension while I think of new pranks."
"You're lucky to have such good friends, Faith."
"I know. They make me laugh."
Kasey glanced at Noam, wondering if he knew how laughing was a huge deal for Faith. It had taken her a long time to start smiling and laughing again. "Okay, we're about to pull into the parking lot. First, I need to say that I tried to talk to your dad about a trampoline, Faith, but he and Xander said no way. Nothing I said was going to change their minds. So, since you want to jump, and your dads aren't here to complain, I figured we could have some fun here."
Faith leaned forward, looking out the window. "Trampoline Haven?" She sounded confused.
Noam laughed. "I've heard of this place. It's a big warehouse with nothing but different trampolines. You can jump into these big pits of foam and do all kinds of tricks. It sounded fun."
"Really?" Faith unhooked her seatbelt as they parked.
"Yep, you can jump until you wear yourself out, then we'll grab dinner after." Kasey got out of the car, surprised when Faith jumped out and hugged him. "Thank you."
He hugged her back, enjoying the rare affection. "Just remember, when your dads find out, we blame everything on Noam." He grinned at Noam as he came to stand with them and Faith pulled away.
"Ah, I see how it is. You only invited me for a cover story. And here I thought you wanted to spend time with me."
Kasey winked. "I brought you with me to hold my hand on the high jumps. I'm scared of heights."
"That would be my pleasure." Noam reached for Kasey's hand, linking their fingers.
Kasey's breath caught at the sudden rush that soared through him as they joined hands. It was like tiny electrical currents shooting straight up his arm and right into his heart. He forced back any reaction, afraid of what Noam might see in his eyes. Instead, he gave Noam's hand a squeeze, keeping hold as he glanced over at Faith. "Follow the rules, stay where I can see you, and no matter what, don't break any bones. I don't want Xander chasing me down if you have to go to the hospital and visit Beau tonight."
"Beau Maddington?" Noam asked.
"You know Beau?" Faith's eyes lit up.
"I've met him several times. I've had to work some cases involving some of his patients," Noam told her.
"I'm going to be a doctor like Beau when I get older. He's helping me learn," Faith said proudly.
"You couldn't have a better mentor. He's one of the best." Noam smiled. "He even sneaks me lollipops when I stop by."
"Me too." She laughed, and suddenly Noam seemed to have earned her trust because she stepped right beside him. "He told me candy makes everyone feel better."
"I have to agree with him." Noam glanced at Kasey and grinned.
"As much as I love hearing how amazing Beau is, I want to jump, so how about we get inside and play for a bit. We can praise Beau's amazing talents later." Kasey tugged Noam's hand toward the door of the building.
Faith ran up and opened the door for them. "Thanks for bringing me, Uncle Kasey, this is going to be so much fun." She rushed past them to the desk so they could pay to get in.
Kasey gave Noam's hand a squeeze. "I'm more worried about having to call Beau for medical attention for me rather than for her. You okay with this?"
Noam laughed. "This is going to be fun. It's something I'd never have thought of us doing together. I'm glad you invited me."
"Me too." Kasey lifted their joined hands and softly kissed Noam's knuckles. As he watched fire blaze in Noam's eyes at the simple gesture, Kasey realized he was screwed. He wasn't going to be able to stop his attraction to Noam, and no matter how dangerous it was, he didn't want to.