Finding Kenna (SEAL Team Hawaii #3)(30)

“Seriously, she’s one hundred percent anti-dating right now. So we’re friends. I just want to make sure that asshole ex of hers is obeying the protective order and isn’t harassing her,” Jag said.

“And is he?” Slate asked.

“So far, yeah. But it’s only been days, and we all know assholes like that usually don’t slink back to their holes so easily.”

Aleck nodded. It was true. He worried about Kenna as well, since she’d been up in Shawn’s face the other day. He definitely hadn’t been happy about that.

“Oh, hey, if you guys aren’t busy the week after next, Lexie could use some help moving to the new location of Food For All,” Midas said.

“That’s finally happening?” Pid asked.

“Yeah. There’s not much furniture in the new location, but her boss, Natalie, is letting her take a bunch of extra stuff from the downtown location over there.”

“They need a donation to get some things?” Aleck asked. It didn’t really matter what the answer to his question was…he was already planning on making sure Lexie had what she needed to be comfortable and successful at the satellite location of the food pantry where she worked. Located in Barber’s Point, it was closer to Midas’s house, and would really help out the residents in that area. Traveling to downtown Honolulu was out of the question for the families in Barber’s Point who needed help the most.

“It wouldn’t go unappreciated,” Midas said diplomatically.

Aleck nodded.

“Elodie is super excited to work with her,” Mustang told them. “She’s been researching all sorts of healthy meals for box lunches. She’s also talking about the possibility of making dinners too. She said Lexie is working on finding volunteers who wouldn’t mind delivering the meals to the people who can’t make it to the center.”

“Lexie told me about that,” Midas said. “I guess Ashlyn is interested in helping. Maybe even heading up that part of the program.”

Slate growled, surprising everyone.

They all looked over at their friend.

“You don’t approve?” Midas asked.

Slate shrugged. “Just don’t think it’s safe for a woman to be driving around to strangers’ houses by herself.”

“I agree,” Pid said.

“Me too,” Midas added. “But no one said she’d be by herself, and one thing I’ve learned after getting to know Ashlyn through Lexie is that she isn’t someone you say ‘you can’t do that’ to. It makes her dig in her heels and become more determined than ever to prove you wrong.”

Aleck heard the note of warning in his teammate’s voice, and wondered if it was aimed at Slate. He’d just opened his mouth to say something sarcastic, because that was what he did, when their conversation was interrupted by a deep voice from behind them.

“Well, well, well, Smart Aleck’s gone and got hisself some pats on the back.”

Sighing, knowing exactly who was behind him in the hallway, Aleck turned to face the sailor who’d been a pain in his ass ever since the man had arrived on base.

Kylo Braun.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Pid asked the other man.

“I’m just congratulating the big bad SEAL on tackling an unsuspecting civilian and causing a ruckus,” Braun said.

Aleck crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the other man. Kylo had taken an immediate disliking to Aleck the first time they’d met. They’d all been on a company run, and a little girl hadn’t been paying attention and had dashed out into the street, right in front of an approaching SUV that was driving way too fast.

Braun had yelled, “Watch out!”

Aleck had acted. He’d barely gotten to the child in time, diving for her and snatching her out of the way of the approaching vehicle with inches to spare. He’d gotten a hell of a case of road rash out of it…and a commendation from the base commander.

Aleck suspected Braun was embarrassed he hadn’t tried to do anything, even though he was closest to the girl. It probably didn’t help that he’d most likely gotten a rash of shit from the other guys in his platoon. From that moment on, Braun had taken it upon himself to be a thorn in Aleck’s side.

“Thanks,” Aleck said, even though he knew that wasn’t what Braun wanted to hear. He’d done his best to stay away from the man, especially after reading his service record. He wasn’t supposed to have it, but an envelope had appeared at his condo one day and Aleck hadn’t been able to resist reading it.

Somehow, Baker Rawlins had gotten wind of Braun’s antagonistic attitude toward Aleck and had taken it upon himself to get a hold of his records. Baker wasn’t someone Aleck ever wanted to cross. The man was spooky as hell, and could get just about any information he wanted on anyone, as evidenced by the packet on Braun that had appeared on his doorstep.

Apparently, Braun had tried out to be a SEAL but hadn’t made it. He’d been cut fairly early in the process, hadn’t even made it to BUD/S. He’d failed the psychological assessment, which wasn’t exactly a surprise. The man was a bully who hated not being the center of attention.

The fact that the SEAL teams on base definitely got preferential treatment probably didn’t sit well with him. Regardless, Braun went out of his way to cause trouble for the teams whenever he could, and for some reason, he’d singled out Aleck for his own special brand of attention.