Chapter 498:
Juanita Greene, a lively, outspoken teacher, took a sip of her hot soup and grinned around the table. “You know, most of us here are the married-and-settled type. Where are all the younger folks? Allison, I heard you just got engaged?”
Allison Hansen blushed and nodded.
Naturally, Juanita’s gaze drifted to Rylie, who had been quietly eating. The young teacher’s composed beauty, coupled with the poise she’d shown in the auditorium, had already won her colleagues’ respect.
“Rylie,” Juanita asked, “You’re young, gorgeous, talented — got a boyfriend?”
Rylie, spoon poised over her bowl, lifted her gaze without the slightest fluster. “Thanks for asking, but no. I’m single.”
“Single’s great — freedom’s a beautiful thing,” Talbot, one of the male teachers, chimed in with a teasing grin. “But I bet you’ve got plenty of admirers. If you haven’t met the right one, we’ll set you up. Our school and partner institutions have no shortage of good men.”
“Oh, for sure!” Juanita leaned in, eyes bright. “What’s your type? More mature? Playful? My husband’s office just hired a few top-notch guys…”
Soon, the whole table was in on it — half-joking, half-serious — some even scrolling through their phones to show her photos.
Rylie smiled faintly, offering polite, noncommittal responses to each suggestion without shutting anyone down.
What felt like harmless teasing to the teachers wasn’t lost on Brad at the next table. He’d been absently pushing beans around his plate for nearly half an hour, but when a teacher tried to add Rylie on social media — and pushed a man’s contact toward her — and she actually reached for her phone to scan it, something in him snapped.
Clack! He slammed his spoon down, and the soldiers at his table stiffened, all eyes on him.
“Admiral Morgan, is something wrong?”
Brad’s jaw flexed as he turned to Brock with a frosty glare. “Didn’t you have a box of pastries this afternoon? Hand them out. Don’t keep them all to yourself.”
Brock blinked, thrown. “Yes, sir.”
To the others, it felt like they’d just dodged some serious trouble. The mood loosened instantly as Briar clapped Brock on the shoulder, snatching the box away.
“Whoa, these cookies are adorable! Who gave you these? A girl?”
“You were gonna keep them? Selfish!”
“I’m innocent!” Brock protested. “Didn’t even want them!”
Those cutesy, heart-covered bear cookies were Zaylee’s love offering to the admiral — and the last thing he wanted to eat.
Seizing the opportunity, Brad rose smoothly, stool in hand, and crossed to Rylie’s table.
Conversation cut off mid-sentence. Every teacher turned to stare at the tall, broad-shouldered admiral suddenly looming in their midst.
Brad acted as if the tension didn’t exist. Without hesitation, he planted his stool beside Rylie — crowding into the already tight space — and sat down.
Brad’s tall frame cast a looming shadow over Rylie, nearly engulfing her. With a commanding presence that left no room for hesitation, he stepped in and placed himself between Rylie and the male teacher who had been insistent about adding her on WhatsApp.
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