Page 35 of Isolated (Harper Security Ops #21)

“Crap,” she hissed. Her eyes darted around frantically. “Do you work late?”

I shrugged. “Depends on the day and what cases I’m working on. Why? Do you want to try to get together after work?”

She smiled at me, but her eyes were pleading. “Would you be okay with that? We don’t have to go out or anything. You can come over for dinner, and maybe we can just spend an hour or two together.”

I’d give her a lot more time than that if she wanted it. “If that’s what you want, I’ll make it happen. What time do you want me?”

“All the time.”

I smiled, loving that she felt that way. “Good to know. But on Wednesday, when would you like me to come to your place?”

“Does six o’clock work?”

I nodded. “I’ll be there.”

“Okay. I should probably give you your kiss to make up for yesterday, so you can give me the ones I need to last until tomorrow. Then I’ve got to get going, so I can get home and shower before work.”

My palms rubbed over her ass and outer hips. “I’m waiting on you, sunshine.”

Her eyes were dancing as she closed the distance between our mouths and kissed me. And after I’d made sure she’d gotten what she needed to last her until tomorrow, I opened her door for her and waited until she folded inside.

“See you tomorrow morning, Landen.”

“See you tomorrow, Iris. Have a good day at work.”

“You, too.”

For good measure, I leaned in, kissed her once more, and closed her door. Then she took off, and I finally made my way into my own vehicle.

I drove myself home to shower and get ready for work, and before I knew it, I was in the Harper Security Ops building, walking toward my office. I sat down at my desk, thoughts of Iris consuming my mind, as I went about sorting through my case files for the day.

“Did you just solve a case?”

I looked up from the paperwork on my desk and found one of my closest friends, Hart Anderson, standing there with a questioning look on his face.

I was just as curious, because I wasn’t sure I understood the reasoning behind his question.

“I just arrived a few minutes ago. I mean, I’m good at what I do, but I’m not that good. ”

He shrugged. “I knew you just got here. I was pulling into the parking lot when you were walking through the front door. But I guess I assumed you must have figured something out on a case over the weekend or something. You seem much too happy to be at work, otherwise.”

My lips twitched as I thought back on my weekend and the time that I’d spent with Iris this morning before I left the gym. “I met someone.”

“I was wondering when you were going to say something.”

“What? ”

He shrugged. “Word gets around quickly in this office.”

Nodding, I muttered, “Avalon.”

“So, the last one of us is down for the count.” Hart pushed off the door jamb and stepped inside my office, ultimately lowering himself into one of the chairs on the opposite side of my desk with a huge grin on his face. “Well, that explains your mood this morning.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m down for the count.”

“Yeah, I said something along those lines not that long ago,” he reminded me.

He had. And if there was anyone who worked in this building that I suspected might never get there, it was Hart.

As happy as I was for him, I could admit I was frustrated when he got there before I had.

“The difference is that you were hooking up with Reagan for a year before anyone knew about it. Iris and I only just went out on our first date on Friday.”

Hart inclined his head with understanding. “Fair enough. So, where did you meet her?”

“The gym.”

“The gym? You go there first thing every morning.”

I nodded. “Yeah. She does, too.”

His eyes turned to little slits as he assessed me. “Is she a new member?”

“What? No. Iris moved to the area about two years ago, and she started coming to the gym not long afterward.”

Hart asked, “So, you’ve been admiring her from afar all this time, watching her while she works out?”

“No. I’m not some creep.” I shot him a look of disgust. “Way back, not long after she first came there, she asked me if I’d give her a spot. Obviously, I did. And ever since, we’ve worked out together, offering spots and encouragement.”

My friend nodded slowly. I could see the wheels turning in his head. “So, how is this any different than what I had with Reagan?”

He couldn’t be serious. “Uh, you and Reagan were sleeping together for an entire year.”

“And you and Iris have been working out together.” I snapped my lips together. “Having been there myself, I know what can happen with that kind of time around someone. Feelings get involved.”

They certainly did. “Fair enough.”

“So, what’s her deal?”

“What do you mean?”

Hart leaned forward, his forearms resting on the edge of my desk. “I think we can all handle it. But it’d be nice to know what we’re heading for. What is the deal with Iris? What’s the crisis that’s coming down the pipeline?”

I shook my head. “Nothing.”

His brows shot up. “Nothing? Do you hear yourself?”

My eyes darted back and forth. “I’m not sure what you’re looking for me to say. There’s no crisis on the horizon.”

He studied me for a moment. “Is there a crazy ex-boyfriend?”

“Not that I’m aware of. She hasn’t dated since she moved here.”

“Okay. So, why did she move? Maybe she was moving away from someone.”

Shaking my head again, I explained, “She moved here for work.”

“What does she do for a living? ”

Hart was digging, trying to figure out some nonexistent threat. I decided to humor him. “She’s the marketing director at a company called Mono Mark Solutions, but she’s being promoted to Vice President of Marketing at the start of the new year.”

“Ambitious. Nice. Well, there’s got to be something I’m missing, something you’re overlooking. Because not one of us got out of this unscathed. Not that I’d ever wish that kind of heartache on anyone, but it has sort of become a rite of passage around here. You should be prepared.”

I laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I’m not joking, Landen.” His expression turned serious. “Be diligent with her. Because I didn’t suspect anything with Reagan, and what happened with her turned out to be my worst nightmare. You don’t want to be in that position.”

I didn’t.

God, I didn’t want that.

I’d witnessed first-hand what that did to him. Reagan had been randomly targeted, so Hart had no clue that there was anything to be worried about. I wouldn’t have wished what he went through, what they both went through, on my worst enemy.

“I’ll be cautious.”

He smiled. “Good. And once you two get to a place that you’re ready for it, let’s get the girls together.”

“Reagan and Iris?”

Standing, he shrugged. “You said she just moved here two years ago. Is she looking for friends? Reagan wouldn’t mind another one.”

I grinned. “Iris can make friends with anyone. ”

He jerked his chin up. “Reagan will be excited. Whenever you two want, just let me know.”

My lips twitched as I shook my head. “I never thought I’d see the day that Hart Anderson sets up a double date.”

Rolling his eyes, he moved to the door. Then he stopped, looked back at me, and said, “Give it some time. If she’s the one, you’ll be the exact same way, doing everything you can to make her happy.”

I didn’t need to give it time.

I already felt that way about her.

But I wasn’t going to give Hart that detail just yet.

“I’m happy for you, Landen. Really happy for you.”

“Thanks, man. I appreciate that.”

He tapped his hand on the door frame, and a moment later, he was gone.

Of course, I spent the next few minutes considering all the possible crises that we could encounter with Iris. All of them left me feeling wildly unsettled.