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“I’ve seen how well you can fight and heard about your value on any team project for Charli and Fitz. I’ll respect you and treat you as a partner.” He meant the words, but implementing them would be difficult. As quick as he could respond, and with his high level of training, he took over in a battle situation. He’d learned to trust his Ranger unit to each do their assignments, and how to ‘stand down’ at times, but it was never easy and he’d often stepped on egos during his military career. That was why he almost always worked alone now.
Myra nodded, stepped into her room, and shut the door behind her.
Ike was left staring at her door and wondering what kind of mess he’d gotten himself into.
He dragged his suitcase to the room next door, shut the door, and yanked out his phone.
“Call Aiden,” he barked into the phone.
“Calling Aiden, the best brother on earth and the second best top security expert in the world.”
Ike smiled, wondering when Aiden had programmed that into his phone. Aiden idolized Sutton Smith, his former boss and surrogate father now, but he still planned on becoming the best. Sutton encouraged and supported Aiden’s plan and affectionately called Aiden a ‘barmy chap’.
The phone rang and then went to voicemail. Ike dropped it on a table next to the door and stared out at the ocean. If he couldn’t talk to Aiden for some advice… He didn’t know what to do or how to react.
Usually his reactions were controlled, unless he was fighting or in a battle, then it was all instinctive from a lifetime of preparing and performing.
Right now, his reactions were unfamiliar and unexpected. He was drawn to and impressed with Myra, annoyed with Beau flirting with or looking at her, and not certain how to treat Myra as an equal partner when he knew he’d instinctively protect her.
Ike passed a hand over his face. Myra was his partner for this assignment. She’d dated ‘so many men,’ he wasn’t her type, and he wasn’t in the market for a girlfriend … ever.
He had to get in control, or he wouldn’t make it through this week without kissing Myra and dismantling Beau’s face.
Both sounded pretty great, actually.
Chapter
Seven
Myra sat next to Ike in the bleachers watching Beau instruct the high school students. A large group of parents were in the stands as well. Beau had explained on the way over that the students hadn’t been informed he was coming but had been told they could invite their parents to a ‘special guest practice.’
She was so stirred up by the man sitting next to her that she could hardly think straight. One moment she wanted to prove she could fight by his side and the next she wanted to hug him for a very long time.
Ike didn’t seem to know how to act around her either. His gaze was casual but constantly scanning the field, the stands, the exits; he never seemed to let down his guard.
She’d never heard of him doing a job with a partner and could understand that would be hard. She didn’t want to get caught up in the issue of him being a gentleman, but he needed to respect her skills and let her do her job too. He was uncomfortable with her touch—or maybe it affected him like it did her when they touched. She shouldn’t have hugged him to thank him earlier. He was probably confused by her mixed messages and trying to navigate this odd double-dating assignment just like she was.
She focused on Beau so she wouldn’t turn and stare at Ike. Beau looked different to her right now. The man changed when he was talking about or playing football. He was engaging, settled, and genuine, the way she’d always thought he was, before he cheated on Bermuda and went on his drinking binge.
“Do you think Beau was putting on a façade with us initially?” she asked Ike. They were far enough away from the parents that nobody could overhear them. They’d gotten a few curious glances, but nobody had approached them.
Ike did a perimeter check before he angled toward her. She wished he would hold her hand and edge closer, and that worried her. A job. That was all this was and all she should want it to be. She’d never had any kind of desire to hold her partner’s hand before. Yet this was Ike Porter. It was hard to not get caught up in how he appealed to her on every level. Her body wanted to gravitate toward his. No way could she let it, especially in public.
“I don’t know. The happy-go-lucky everybody’s friend is how he comes across on the media, but I’ve seen him play and he’s very driven and focused like he is right now. I think he plays to his crowd.”
“I’m tempted to agree, but look at him right now.” She gestured. “He’s focused, but he’s also happy, in his element, confident, and great with the kids. It seemed like back at the house he was trying to flirt initially and then trying too hard to impress us or something. Which is weird. You’d think a guy of his status of wealth and stardom wouldn’t care about impressing anybody.”
“He didn’t impress me,” Ike grunted.
She only smiled at that. Ike clearly wasn’t a Beau fan.
“Did he impress you?” Ike asked, studying the field and any entrances. “Make you want to renew your fan club membership?”
Was there something in his tone? Something possessive? Why was she reading into her co-worker’s tone? Yes, she could admit she’d crushed on Ike, but it was like crushing on a superstar much more elite than Beau in her mind. Ike wasn’t hitting on her, and of course she was reading too much into everything he said, every look he gave, and especially the times they’d touched. She couldn’t get caught up on the connection and sparks she felt with him or he’d never treat her like an equal partner.
“I was kicked out of the club,” she teased. “It is odd, the change in his demeanor and body language.”
Ike nodded. “You’re right. Right now, he looks the same way he looks when he’s playing football—comfortable, happy, and like a freakishly-good natural athlete who has worked his tail off to be the best.” There was grudging respect in his voice.
