Page 17 of Isolated (Harper Security Ops #21)

Landen

You’re not just some guy.

The words had echoed in my head since last night. Since Iris said them to me and admitted she’d be interested in going on a date.

I couldn’t have asked for anything more, especially not when she’d shown up in my office, looking like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Unfortunately, I was quickly learning there was one small problem with what happened between us.

It was late Thursday morning, and I couldn’t stop thinking about Iris. About the time I spent with her yesterday and the words we’d exchanged. I was doing everything I could to focus on actual work instead of only her, but it was proving to be rather difficult.

No matter how hard I tried to concentrate on the cases in front of me, visions of Iris danced in my head.

Prior to yesterday, all the thoughts I’d had involving Iris always felt like impossible longing. Like I was a kid in a candy store without a dime to my name. I could look all I wanted, I could long for just one taste, and I’d never get the chance.

But it was different now.

Now, I had something else. I had hope.

And my thoughts had shifted from being filled with yearning for something I’d never have to excitement about the reality of finally getting a chance.

After so many months of never believing that something so wonderful could be a possibility, I didn’t want to stop myself from experiencing every part of this.

Even if it meant being a little less productive at work.

So, I would suck it up. At least for a little while. At least until I could learn to live with the constant visions and thoughts of Iris and her gorgeous face flashing in my mind.

Maybe it’d get easier over time.

Maybe, if things went in the right direction between us, the excitement would dull just a touch, and I’d have some measure of my former ability to concentrate back.

It was as I was having that thought, Blaze came to a grinding halt just outside my office. “Hey, Landen. You got a minute?”

I offered a quick nod. “Sure. What’s up?”

He stepped forward, moving to one of the chairs on the opposite side of my desk. As he sat down, he slid a case folder across it. “I was hoping to get your thoughts on this, on where you’d suggest going next. I’m a bit conflicted.”

A distraction.

With one of my coworkers depending on me, with the man sitting just a few feet away, I’d have no choice but to center my attention on what was in front of me and accomplish something. It wouldn’t matter if it wasn’t for one of the cases I was working on. At least I could say I did something.

I placed my palm flat on the folder and slid it the remaining distance across the desk. “Yeah, I can look at it for you.”

“Thanks. I’ve done a couple days of surveillance already, but I’m not making the progress I was hoping for at this point. I have a hunch on how to speed up that process, but I thought I’d make sure there’s nothing I’m overlooking.”

Blaze’s request wasn’t uncommon. As two of the five members of the private investigation team at Harper Security Ops, Blaze and I often requested the input from other team members.

They did the same with us. Sure, there were plenty of cases we’d all solved entirely on our own.

But sometimes, especially when it seemed that no progress was being made, it was necessary to ask for help.

Getting a fresh set of eyes on a case was the only thing that allowed for different perspective.

So, I dropped my gaze to the folder and reviewed what was inside. As I thumbed through everything, Blaze offered some explanations and clarification. I asked a couple of questions about some of his findings.

After getting through most of the file, I asked, “You haven’t made an approach yet, have you?”

Blaze didn’t get a chance to respond before Jax walked in. “Everything okay?”

Jax was a fellow private investigator.

“Just looking for another opinion on a case I’m working on,” Blaze answered, twisting in his seat to look back at our friend. “What’s that?”

Jax lifted the container he’d been holding.

“Sophie. She’s not happy unless she’s sending me to work with more food and desserts than I can manage on my own.

I’m not sure what makes her think I can handle dozens of cookies in a single day.

Even if I could, I’m not sure that I should, so I was going to put them in the break room. Care for any?”

He opened the container and revealed an assortment of Italian cookies inside.

Blaze didn’t hesitate to reach for a couple of them.

Though they looked and smelled delicious, I did my best to avoid consuming too many treats, so I lifted my hands and shook my head.

“No, thanks. They look and smell great, but I shouldn’t. ”

“Shouldn’t what?” At the sound of the newcomer, we all shifted our attention to the door. “Oooh, did Sophie make Italian cookies?”

“Yep.” Jax held the container out to her. “Want some?”

Avalon, our front desk receptionist, stepped forward and snagged a couple. “I really shouldn’t, but since Sophie doesn’t make anything that tastes bad, I’m not going to turn them down. So, did you ask her to make these, Jax?”

He shook his head. “When have I ever needed to ask her to make anything like this?”

She shrugged, but her expression indicated she had some scheme swirling. “I just figured you might have requested them to coax Landen into talking. That is what’s happening here, right?”

I should have known.

Avalon didn’t happen to walk by and see the three of us here. She had come here intentionally. And given the look on her face, her visit had nothing to do with work.

“Coax him into talking? Why would I need to do that?”

"To see if she’s the one.”

Jax’s brows pulled together as Blaze asked, “Who? What are you talking about?”

Avalon sighed and sat down in the chair beside Blaze. “All these private investigators, and nobody seems to pay any attention to what’s going on around them.”

“I’m so lost,” Jax admitted.

“I think Landen’s lady has finally arrived,” Avalon shared, her eyes dancing with excitement. “How can I be the only one to have noticed? Aren’t you supposed to spot things like this?”

As she shifted her attention between Blaze and Jax, my attention zeroed in on two words. Landen’s lady.

Visions of Iris danced in my mind for what felt like the hundredth time today.

And no matter that there wasn’t technically anything happening just yet between us—we hadn’t been on an official date for crying out loud—it didn’t seem I’d be able to keep this thing under wraps for much longer.

If it didn’t work out the way I hoped, it’d be tragic.

Blaze asked, “Why would we spend our days taking notice of stuff like that when you’re so good at it?”

He wasn’t wrong. It was no secret that Avalon loved to talk, but as much as she did that, she observed. And being in her position in this office, she saw a lot.

Avalon laughed. “Fair enough. But now that I’m here and have made you aware of it, aren’t you the least bit curious? ”

All eyes came in my direction. Jax asked, “Did you meet someone?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. How crazy would it sound when I told them I’d known Iris for just shy of two years and had done nothing to pursue her?

“She showed up here yesterday, just before lunch,” Avalon revealed.

Snapping my lips together, I sighed through my nose. This woman would never allow a piece of gossip to go to waste. But I wasn’t mad. If this conversation meant that things were going to go the way I wanted with Iris, I’d be happy with Avalon sharing it.

When I said nothing, Avalon added, “She looked so sad. Don’t get me wrong; the woman is an utter vixen. But it was clear she was having a rough day.”

A vixen. Easily the most accurate description of Iris.

Since Jax and Blaze kept their focus pinned on Avalon, she continued, “Her name is Iris. I got that much from her when she walked in and specifically asked about Landen. But I’ve been wondering since yesterday if she’s a new case, or if she’s just a woman he’s been hiding from us.”

It now seemed it was my turn to talk. I thought it was best to set the bar low and be grateful for at least part of the reality. “There is no new case. She’s just a friend.”

“A friend? How do you know her?”

“We go to the same gym.”

My response was met with silence and three sets of expectant gazes pinned on me.

Confused by it, I asked, “What? Why are you all looking at me like that?”

“Is there more?” Blaze countered .

“More what?”

“You said she’s a friend. Now, you’re saying that you both go to the same gym. Is there something else? Do you live near one another, or did you know each other in high school or something?”

I shook my head. “No. We just know each other from the gym.”

His brows pulled together as Jax chimed in. “But you said there’s no new case you’re working on for her, and Avalon said she was upset when she came in yesterday.”

Nodding, I confirmed, “Yes. That’s true. So?”

“So…” Avalon leaned forward, her mouth curving into a smile. “Don’t you find it strange that you’re saying this woman is just a friend when you only know her from the gym, and she came to where you work when she was upset?”

Right.

Valid point.

“Iris is not from Steel Ridge,” I shared.

“She’s been here just shy of two years. So, it’s not like she has family around.

And I noticed she wasn’t herself the past few days, so I told her I’d be willing to listen if she ever needed to talk.

” I shrugged, sitting back in my chair. “She took my advice and came to talk.”

Avalon grinned. “And you took her out for lunch.”

“What makes you say that?”