Page 17 of Pack and Forth

Nash grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “In my defense, I was only twelve. And the girl was really cute.”

Then they turned their attention back to the case, going over the information Nash had gathered and trying to piece together the clues. Nash couldn’t help but marvel at Kira’s brilliance, the way her mind worked to connect the dots and see patterns others might miss.

“I think we might be onto something here,” Kira said, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she pointed to a name on one of the files. “I see a few names here that look promising.”

Nash leaned in closer, his shoulder brushing against Kira’s as he studied the file. “You might be right. Let me see what I can dig up on them.”

He pulled out his laptop and started typing furiously, his fingers flying over the keys as he searched for any information he could find on Franklin Dupont. Kira watched him work, her eyes wide with admiration.

“You really are a tech wizard, aren’t you?” she said, a hint of awe in her voice.

Nash grinned, his chest puffing up with pride. “I do my best. And it helps to have a secret weapon.”

Kira raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “Oh? And what might that be?”

Nash leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Rex’s mom. She’s the best hacker I know. Taught me everything about computers.”

Kira’s eyes widened, a surprised laugh escaping her lips. “No way. Rex’s mom is a hacker?”

Nash nodded. “Yep. And let me tell you, that woman is a force to be reckoned with. I once saw her take down a corrupt corporation’s entire network with nothing but a cell phone and a bag of gummy bears.”

Kira shook her head, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Remind me never to get on her bad side.”

As the sun began to set outside the window, Nash and Kira finally took a step back from the case, their minds buzzing with new leads and theories. Nash stretched his arms above his head, his muscles aching from hours of sitting hunched over the files.

“I don’t know about you, but I could use some fresh air,” he said. “What do you say we take a break and go for a walk? I know a great spot in the park where we can clear our heads and recharge.”

Kira hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking to the pile of files still scattered across the table. But the temptation of a break and some fresh air was too much to resist.

“All right,” she said. “But only if you promise to buy me a hot dog. I’m starving.”

Nash grinned. “Deal. Ice cream sounds like a good idea too.”

Kira laughed, shaking her head in amusement. “You’re on, Mr. Jeter. Let’s go.”

They walked to a nearby park, the cool breeze ruffling their hair and the leaves crunching beneath their feet. When they reached a secluded spot beneath a large oak tree, Kira’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of a picnic blanket spread out with a variety of lunch items.

“Nash, what is all this?” she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

Nash shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face. “I wanted to do something special for you to thank you for letting me be a part of this case. The bakery may have had a hand in setting this up.”

“May have?” she said. “With all you bought this morning, I can see why they’d do about anything for you.”

They sat on the blanket, the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting a warm glow over everything. As they ate, the conversation shifted to more personal topics, their laughter ringing out through the quiet park.

Nash found himself lost in Kira’s eyes, in the way her smile made his heart race and his palms sweat. He knew in that moment that he would do anything to keep her safe and make her happy.

Nash loved the way Kira’s cheeks flushed when he complimented her, the way her eyes sparkled with mischief when she teased him back.

When it was time to head back, Nash walked Kira to her door. Normally, he’d take things easy, but he really wanted to kiss her. He pulled her in for a soft, lingering kiss, his lips brushing against hers with a tender promise of things to come. He didn’t want to push it but he wanted Kira. She was so sexy and beautiful. He could eat her up from head to toe.

“Kira, I don’t know how I’m going to focus on work the rest of the day,” he told her with a groan. “You taste amazing.”

She brushed her lips over his and sighed. “You do too.”

“How about we do something fun? There’s a fair a town over this weekend. Wanna go?”

She grinned. “I’ve got a date with Rex tomorrow. Are you asking me out on a date too?”