Page 110 of Spies Don’t Fall for Their Best Friend

Reese: 7:00?

I begin typing Yes when Nora’s voice stops me. “Miles.”

I look up. She is standing behind her workstation, one hand pressed to her headset. “Acer just left.”

I glance toward the clock. “So soon? Where’s Ledger?”

“Equipment.”

Nora’s expression changes as she looks at my phone in my hand. “Bad timing?”

“The worst.”

“Target’s heading west on Interstate Seventy.”

I look down at Reese’s message again.

For one irrational second, I consider how quickly we could complete the surveillance, find the target, and identify the contact. Could it all happen before seven?

No. I know better than that. Operations do not respect schedules, dinner reservations, or first kisses.

Miles: I’ve just been pulled into something. I can’t see you tonight.

The message shows as delivered. I hate how much it resembles the kind of text I sent her for years. An abrupt cancellation. A vague explanation. The difference is that now she knows what the words mean.

Reese: Classified something?

Miles: Yes.

Reese: Okay. Go do mysterious government things.

Reese: But I’m putting the kiss on your pending-task list.

I smile despite the ache of disappointment.

Miles: It was already at the top.

Reese: Good.

Reese: Stay safe. I’d hate to have to start over with another best friend.

Miles: Impossible. The position has been permanently filled.

Ledger crosses the floor carrying two equipment bags and stops beside me. “Are we leaving?” I nod, and his gaze drops to my screen before returning to my face. “You’re smiling.”

I slide my phone into my pocket. “Target is already moving.”

Ledger studies me for another second. Then his expression changes. “That was Reese.”

I take one of the bags from him. “She asked when I’m going to kiss her.”

Ledger goes completely still. It is the most effective way I have ever found to silence him. Then his face splits into a grin. “She asked?”

“Keep your voice down.”

“So, why aren’t you kissing her right now?”

I look at him, and he looks toward Nora. “Yeah, that’s some terrible timing.”