Page 16 of Isolated (Harper Security Ops #21)

I grabbed some drinks from the refrigerator while Iris went about plating the food.

After picking up some utensils, I joined her back at the table for dinner.

She’d made baked honey mustard chicken with rice and broccoli.

I wasn’t terrible in the kitchen, but with just one bite, I could admit my skills didn’t compare.

“Is there anything you’re not good at?” I asked after I’d taken a second bite.

“Pardon?”

I shook my head, swallowed that bite, and used the fork to indicate the food. “This is delicious. ”

“Yeah? You like it?”

“I do. And I guess I’m wondering what it is that you can’t do, because from where I’m standing, it doesn’t seem as though there’s much you aren’t skilled at.”

Though her lips twitched with amusement, Iris squinted. “Are you just attempting to cheer me up tonight?”

That hadn’t been my goal at all. “No. But if I can accomplish two things at once, I’ll take it. Is that what’s happening?”

Her eyes sparkled in a way I hadn’t seen for the past two days with all that had been weighing on her. “If I’m honest, you’ve always cheered me up.”

My body stilled, my fork coming to a stop in front of my mouth. “Really?”

“I’ll admit that it’s not very often I’m feeling down in the dumps, but even on a good day, I find myself smiling just a bit more when I have a workout session with you,” she revealed.

My heart rate kicked up a notch, but I remained still to hide how her words were impacting me. “That’s probably just the result of the endorphins.”

Another giggle filled the air, the sound like music to my ears. “No, I don’t think that’s it at all. There have been very few instances when you weren’t at the gym when I was, but those days did not feel anywhere close to being the same.”

She was joking. Either that, or I was dreaming.

This couldn’t be real. Was it a dream come true? Was she saying what I’d been wanting her to say for months?

Too stunned to speak, I simply continued to stare at her. And that inaction led to Iris getting the wrong impression.

The sparkle in her eyes that I’d just gotten back had vanished, and a flush crept over her cheeks. “Gosh, I’m so sorry, Landen. I… I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t know what came over me.”

Finding my voice, needing her to know that there wasn’t anything to be upset about, I insisted, “It’s okay.”

Iris shook her head. “No. No, I’m sorry. You’ll likely never want to work out with me ever again.”

“What would make you think that?”

Her shoulders fell, and she set her fork down. “I think Robert was right. Maybe I am losing my mind.”

“Iris, you don’t?—”

“I can’t seem to do anything right these days. It’s like I’m no longer in control of what’s happening with me. I would never openly admit what I just did to you.”

“I’m glad that you did.”

She blinked, lifting her eyes to meet mine. “What?”

For several long moments, I allowed my gaze to travel over her. I took in every beautiful feature as I attempted to calm my racing heart. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to ask you out on a date?”

Her lips parted. “You… What?”

I smiled at her. “I hate going to the gym on Wednesdays, because you’re not there. It’s just not the same without you. And for months now, I’ve wanted nothing more than to ask you if you’d like to spend some time together outside of the gym.”

Iris swallowed roughly, her green eyes searching for answers in my expression. “Why haven’t you?”

“I was worried about ruining your time there. I didn’t want you to think you couldn’t come to the gym and get a workout in without having some guy hit on you.”

“But you’re not just some guy.” She nibbled on her plump bottom lip.

If only I had known she felt this way…

“Would you like that? Could I take you out some time, so maybe we could get to know each other a little bit better?”

The sparkle was back, the corners of her mouth curving slowly into a smile. “I would love that, Landen.”

“Are you free this weekend?”

“My sisters are coming to visit with me.” She reached for her drink and curled her fingers around the glass. “They were supposed to come the other weekend, but they needed to cancel. They’re coming out on Friday evening and are staying until Sunday morning.”

Damn.

“That should be fun.”

“Yeah, I guess. Oddly enough, when I went home to celebrate my birthday, the lack of fun in my life became a topic of conversation, and that led to my family suggesting my sisters come out to visit me here in Steel Ridge in hopes that they might, despite their own lack of expertise in the field, help me find a guy who’s interested in me.

I arched a brow. “As much as it blows my mind that you aren’t already spoken for, I can assure you that there’s at least one guy who’s interested in you.”

Iris dropped her chin toward her chest, her gaze shifting to the plate in front of her as she smiled shyly. “I had no idea.”

“Now you do.”

“So… ”

“We’ll plan something for next weekend,” I assured her. “Unless, of course, your sisters’ efforts to find you a guy who’s interested in you are successful.”

Laughter spilled out of her again. The more I heard it, the more I craved it. “I’ve been here for two years, Landen. There’s not a chance that’s going to happen.”

Iris didn’t know it yet, but now that I had this opportunity with her, I wasn’t going to leave anything up to chance. She’d see soon enough just how serious I was about her.

I drove my fork into the last bite of chicken. “Alright, so, what’s your plan?”

“My plan?”

“With work.”

She shrugged. “There’s not much I can do.

I’ll take these next couple of days to work on some projects from home.

When I go back on Monday, I’m going to keep doing my job properly, like I always do.

I have to believe this email situation was just a freak thing, and as frustrated as I am about it, I’ve got to keep pushing forward and doing the right thing. ”

Slowly but surely, it felt like I was getting back the woman I’d been missing the past couple of days.

Her mindset, her attitude, was what I’d grown to like so much about her.

Even when things weren’t going the way she hoped, she still found a way to be so upbeat and positive.

She really did light up the room for me.

“I think that sounds like a great idea. And I hope this was merely a rough patch. You’re such a hard worker, so I’m sure you’re going to be right back on track in no time.”

Iris set her fork down and pushed her plate back a touch. She shifted her attention between our two plates, noting that I’d left not a stitch of food on mine. “Can I assume you enjoyed your dinner?”

“It was delicious.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t make any dessert. I didn’t wake up this morning expecting any of this to happen, but I promise I’ll make something special for dessert the next time.”

Containing the emotions that moved through me at her indirect admission of wanting me to come over again was an effort.

I wasn’t the kind of guy who needed dessert after a meal—I often avoided it—but if Iris was offering to make something, nothing would stop me from missing it.

“No apologies necessary. You name the time, and I’d be happy to come back again. ”

Her eyes brightened. “You really turned my day around, Landen. I owe you.”

The last thing I wanted was for her to think I’d done any of this with the idea that she’d be indebted to me.

I merely wanted all the time I could get with her.

“Don’t think too much about it. This was a very nice change of pace for me, too.

I’m just sorry I couldn’t help you out with the email situation. ”

Iris’s features softened. “It’s truly okay. Not everything about this evening was bad. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to spend some time with you outside of the gym. And it was nice not having to eat alone. It’s only on the rare occasion that Walter comes over, so this was wonderful.”

If I had anything to say about that moving forward, Iris wouldn’t be going home to an empty house every night. Even if I could see her just a few nights a week, I had to believe it’d improve both our lives.

“I should help you clean up before I head out. ”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s only an extra place setting. I’ll take care of it. You’ve already done so much today.”

“I don’t mind.”

She gave me a nod of understanding. “I know. But I promise it’s okay. I can walk you to the door.”

Iris and I made our way to her front door, where I slipped on my sneakers. “So, am I going to see you at the gym tomorrow, or are you going to sleep in, since you have the rest of the week off from work?”

She thrust her chest out, her shoulders pushing back. “I’ll be there. I’m not missing that for anything.”

“Alright. Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

There was a moment of awkward hesitation before Iris opened her arms and offered a hug. I nearly fumbled over myself at the invitation, but quickly recovered and wrapped my arms around her. “Thanks, again. I appreciate what you did for me today.”

The feel of her body against mine like this was everything I thought it would be, and then some. I offered a gentle squeeze in return. “It was all my pleasure. I’m just glad you’re feeling better now.”

She loosened her hold on me and took half of a step back. “Have a good night. And drive safely.”

I smiled at her. “I will. Goodnight, Iris.”

“Goodnight, Landen.”

A moment later, I was out the door and walking to my car. My body buzzed with the lingering effects of hugging her. And I didn’t stop smiling from ear to ear the entire drive home.