“Jake Tanner, this is Victoria Corielli.” Jake steps forward and offers me his right hand, which I shake firmly. He grips me a bit too tightly, but maybe he can’t tell given that it’s a prosthetic.
“Nice to meet you,” he says.
“Same,” I grin and let go of his hand. At his direction, I settle into a chair in front of the desk. Ian sits down beside me while Jake circles around behind the desk to his chair. Steve leans against the wall, arms folded across his chest. I’m not sure who he’s guarding in this scenario.
“Do you always conduct interviews with Batman and Robin here?”
Jake looks like he’s choking on something but manages to get out, “Does that make me Superman?”
“I don’t know. Can you fly?”
“I’ve got the bionic hand and leg,” he says, lifting up his foot and pulling back his pant leg to reveal another prosthetic.
“Then I think you’re the Six Million Dollar Man,” I answer.
At this he gives a shout of laughter, and Ian squeezes my hand. When I look at him, he’s got a huge smile on his face. Even Steve looks a little less grim.
After he’s done chuckling, Jake leans across the desk. His fingers entwine, making him look a little like Robocop or some futuristic bad ass. “Ian’s explained you have a disability, and I’m fine with that.” He raises his metal fingers and waves them at me. “All I’m looking for is someone who can, using her own methods or systems, keep track of all my guys in the field and what projects they’re working on, along with making sure that the calls we get are properly screened. Ian says that you’re quick and have a great memory.”
“That’s right.” I nod. “Your reception desk has a black phone with a shoulder rest attached to the back of the handle. There are two modules attached to it with digital screens. I might have trouble reading those. There are two chairs in front of the desk, one is purple and one is blue. You must have bought them thinking that they were the same color. I’d call and have one of them hauled away and replaced with a true match. Behind the desk, there are three art prints depicting a highly-stylized U-boat split into three parts—”
He holds up his hand to stop my recitation. “Okay, that’s good enough for me. Ian vouches for you. Says that you were doing some stuff in the past that might not pass muster for security clearance but otherwise you’re clean. That right?”
“Yes,” I nod. I’ll have to ask Ian later exactly what he divulged to Jake, but now is not the time.
“Then I’m ready to hire you—but given your face, you can’t come back until the you’re fully healed or the customers are going to think I suck at security services.”
With that, the interview is over. Jake stands up, and Steve pushes away from the wall and heads out.
“Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Tanner,” I say shaking his hand again.
“Jake, please.” And he smiles at me, revealing perfect white teeth.
Ian cups my elbow and leads me back down the hall. Steve is nowhere to be seen.
“You’ve got a good one there,” Jake says as we reach the front door.
“I know,” Ian replies and then places an arm around me, subtly drawing me away from Jake. “And I intend to keep her.”
“Don’t blame you.”
Embarrassed by the talk, I chirp, “Nice to meet you again,” and then hastily exit. Combined male laughter follows me out. Outside, I can see that Steve is already in the car, ready to take me back home.
A touch on my elbow has me turning, and Ian smiles down at me. “I thought you two would be a perfect fit.” There’s smugness in his voice, but I guess he’s entitled.
“Because we both have disabilities?” I ask.
“Because you both understand that others place limitations on you that don’t exist.” He leads me to the car and opens the back door. I crawl in and Ian climbs in behind me. “Do you wish I would have said something prior?”
Shaking my head, I say, “No, why would it matter?”
“Why, indeed.” He leans forward. “Central Towers.”
“Not back to the f**kpad?” I joke lightly, but I’m worried that means he doesn’t intend to stay with me.
“No, I figured you would want to be with your mother. Besides, so long as you scream into the pillow, we should be fine.”
His careless words are arousing, and I cross my legs to assuage the sudden ache. When I see Ian’s dark gaze pinned to my chest, I think that those words weren’t so careless after all. But I’m glad, too, that his first thought was to how we’ll be managing to have scream-worthy sex again. I want that. Oh how I want it.
Chapter 27
“RICH TEXTED ME,” I SHARE that evening. “I meant to tell you but I had the accident.”
“Someone beating you up is no accident.” Ian’s face is grim. “An accident is when your bike wheel gets caught in a pothole and you fall down. Getting beat up is an assault and battery.”
“Oookay.” I can see that he isn’t ever going to let this go. “Anyway, I can’t read all the messages, but he did send a picture of himself. It’s not really incriminating. Just a picture of him drinking. Does he really have a wife? He doesn’t ever mention her.”
Ian gives me a disbelieving look. “If you were trying to pick up a new girl, would you tell her about the one you have at home?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never had two guys on a string before. Seems complicated.” I hand him the phone. He proceeds to read the texts out loud.
Sorry for running off at the mouth about your friend Ian.
No doubt he’s a good guy but if you ever need to talk let me know.
Oh dear. If possible, Ian’s grim face has gotten even darker. “What did he say? Is he responsible for your doubts?”
I rub my hand down his arm, a gesture meant to soothe his mood. He captures my hand and brings it to his mouth. But he doesn’t kiss it softly. He opens his mouth and bites down on the fleshy bit right under my palm, which sends shock waves right to my core. I gasp and then moan when he licks the bite. “He’s poison. Don’t forget it.”
There’s nothing for me to do but nod. Ian presses another kiss to my palm and then returns to reading the rest of the messages.
Thought of you today when I got some flowers delivered to my mom. Realized how convenient bike couriers are. Bet your legs are super strong.