families, keeping them from starving to death and dreaming of a day when their children might have more security than they did. My family has been bred from hard work. The money you see today is a result of their remembering their poor roots. And the members of my family who work at the shipping company are perfectly aware that it could all go away if one generation of the family lacked that inborn philosophy.”
“I think those two bloodlines definitely tie into you being the CEO of Artemis Security. Don’t you?”
“Well,” she admitted, “I do feel the responsibility of it all. All three of us kids were taught by our parents, uncles, aunts, and grandparents how to hold ourselves accountable.” She smiled a little. “In a sense, Artemis had to be created, because the world has gone on a global terrorism footing. I love the idea of working covertly to help our many charities, as well as putting security on board all our ships. And honestly? I’m so glad Matt and Alexa are going to be there with me. We all get along well, we respect one another, and we bring different tools and experiences to Artemis. I feel these will make the company even stronger in the long run. In a way, they’re all CEOs in their own right, too. We work well together.”
“So you’re saying responsibility has never scared you,” Wyatt offered, and watched her eyes flare with amusement.
“No, I’m used to the horse’s harness,” Tal admitted dryly. “Funny, Alexa and I were just discussing the same theme this morning over at the chow hall.”
“You seem very serious about it. Why?” Wyatt saw her fidget a bit, a sign she was uncomfortable. He also noticed a slight pursing of her ripe, full mouth, one he was eager to taste sooner, he hoped, than later.
“Do you always ask all the right questions?” Tal said, studying him intently.
“I don’t know. Do I?” Wyatt teased. Tal wasn’t going to answer his question, and he realized he’d hit a tender spot. Wyatt didn’t think she realized how much she gave away to him. He wasn’t about to tell her, either. He needed every advantage so he could understand her better and keep that door propped open between them.
“That’s the onion in you,” Tal said, a faint smile ghosting her lips. “You have so many layers, so much depth, and I realize now you were hiding a lot from me. You’re like a psychiatrist. You know people and their modus operandi far better than they will ever realize.”
“Don’t you think good managers always have that skill set?” Wyatt asked. “I know you do. And as chief of a SEAL platoon, it’s absolutely essential for me to have those tools in place.”
“I suppose you’re right, Wyatt. It’s just that your legend here at Bagram was less . . . flattering . . . and I was working from what I heard about you.”
He grunted. “Yeah, well, base gossip is a bitch. I hope you’re looking at me differently now.”
“I’m starting to. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?”
He looked at his watch and stood up. “Well, I have nowhere to go but up, then, right? Hey, speaking of going up, are you ready to fly?” He held his hand out toward her. Wyatt saw her stare at it, then decide to ignore it. He allowed his hand to drop to his side and walked to the door, opening it. Wanting to laugh, but wisely not doing so, he stepped aside as Tal walked through the entrance of the briefing room and out into Ops, toward the doors leading to the helicopter outside of it.
She was conservative by nature, careful, studious, and missed no details. The good news was that Tal remained open to him, as curious about who he really was as he was about her. They’d just had a very good chat, and Wyatt barely felt his boots touching the highly polished white-and-green tiled surface as they wove their way through Ops to those exit doors.
His focus shifted forward to that Shinwari village they’d be flying into. Wyatt was looking forward to seeing how Tal interacted
“I think those two bloodlines definitely tie into you being the CEO of Artemis Security. Don’t you?”
“Well,” she admitted, “I do feel the responsibility of it all. All three of us kids were taught by our parents, uncles, aunts, and grandparents how to hold ourselves accountable.” She smiled a little. “In a sense, Artemis had to be created, because the world has gone on a global terrorism footing. I love the idea of working covertly to help our many charities, as well as putting security on board all our ships. And honestly? I’m so glad Matt and Alexa are going to be there with me. We all get along well, we respect one another, and we bring different tools and experiences to Artemis. I feel these will make the company even stronger in the long run. In a way, they’re all CEOs in their own right, too. We work well together.”
“So you’re saying responsibility has never scared you,” Wyatt offered, and watched her eyes flare with amusement.
“No, I’m used to the horse’s harness,” Tal admitted dryly. “Funny, Alexa and I were just discussing the same theme this morning over at the chow hall.”
“You seem very serious about it. Why?” Wyatt saw her fidget a bit, a sign she was uncomfortable. He also noticed a slight pursing of her ripe, full mouth, one he was eager to taste sooner, he hoped, than later.
“Do you always ask all the right questions?” Tal said, studying him intently.
“I don’t know. Do I?” Wyatt teased. Tal wasn’t going to answer his question, and he realized he’d hit a tender spot. Wyatt didn’t think she realized how much she gave away to him. He wasn’t about to tell her, either. He needed every advantage so he could understand her better and keep that door propped open between them.
“That’s the onion in you,” Tal said, a faint smile ghosting her lips. “You have so many layers, so much depth, and I realize now you were hiding a lot from me. You’re like a psychiatrist. You know people and their modus operandi far better than they will ever realize.”
“Don’t you think good managers always have that skill set?” Wyatt asked. “I know you do. And as chief of a SEAL platoon, it’s absolutely essential for me to have those tools in place.”
“I suppose you’re right, Wyatt. It’s just that your legend here at Bagram was less . . . flattering . . . and I was working from what I heard about you.”
He grunted. “Yeah, well, base gossip is a bitch. I hope you’re looking at me differently now.”
“I’m starting to. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?”
He looked at his watch and stood up. “Well, I have nowhere to go but up, then, right? Hey, speaking of going up, are you ready to fly?” He held his hand out toward her. Wyatt saw her stare at it, then decide to ignore it. He allowed his hand to drop to his side and walked to the door, opening it. Wanting to laugh, but wisely not doing so, he stepped aside as Tal walked through the entrance of the briefing room and out into Ops, toward the doors leading to the helicopter outside of it.
She was conservative by nature, careful, studious, and missed no details. The good news was that Tal remained open to him, as curious about who he really was as he was about her. They’d just had a very good chat, and Wyatt barely felt his boots touching the highly polished white-and-green tiled surface as they wove their way through Ops to those exit doors.
His focus shifted forward to that Shinwari village they’d be flying into. Wyatt was looking forward to seeing how Tal interacted
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