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She was one of his favorite people. Ever since his mother had died, she’d done her best to ensure he had a maternal figure in his life. He wasn’t going to let her down or allow this sabotage to hurt their company.
And after the investigation? What would he do about the person who’d leaked the damaging test results?
What any good future CEO would do: fire them.
* * *
Iris let Tyler into her townhome Sunday evening. She was moving in slow motion, still weighed down by the day’s events. They’d worked hard to prepare for their meeting with the “Osiris’s Journey” product-development team. Her mind had short-circuited and her body felt abused. She could only imagine how Tyler felt. Waves of tension coming from him battered her like an unskilled pugilist.
“Would you like some iced tea?” Iris locked the door behind Tyler, then turned to him. His dark eyes were tired. Worry lines bracketed his full lips.
“I could use a beer.” Humor eased some of the strain on his handsome features.
Iris found a smile. “Sorry. I have iced tea, lemonade and cucumber water.” She set her purse on the corner table at the entrance to her living room and lowered her briefcase beside it. She toed off her shoes.
“Iced tea would be great.”
Iris crossed her living room and made her way into her kitchen. Tyler followed, a warm presence at her back. She took two glasses from one of her cupboards and filled both with ice and homemade iced tea.
She presented one of the glasses to Tyler, surprised to find him so close behind her. “I could make dinner for us.”
Tyler thanked her for the drink, then downed half of it. “I’m not hungry.”
Neither was she. “We should eat something.” She pulled open the fridge again and scanned its contents. “I’ll make us a sandwich.”
“Thank you.” Tyler rested his hips against one of the kitchen counters.
His tall, broad-shouldered frame made her modest kitchen seem tiny but Iris didn’t mind. She toasted four slices of wheat bread, then added turkey cold cuts, mozzarella cheese and a generous helping of spicy mustard. Iris kept their conversation light as she prepared dinner: weather, sports, and the pros and cons of mozzarella versus cheddar cheese. Anything to distract them from the product leak at Anderson Adventures. They needed a mental break.
“Cheddar cheese lacks imagination.” Iris poured them both more iced tea and put their sandwiches on green porcelain plates. She handed Tyler his drink and a sandwich, then carried hers to the dining room table.
“And you call yourself a cheese connoisseur.” Tyler’s humor was forced but at least he was trying. She appreciated that.
“What’s your favorite movie?” Iris took a seat at the table.
“The Matrix.” Tyler sat opposite her. “I love sci-fi action flicks. What’s yours?”
“Hitch,” Iris answered without hesitation. “I’m a sucker for romantic comedies.”
“Comedy is very subjective.” Tyler bit into his sandwich. A look of pleasure crossed his face.
“It’s the mozzarella.” She gave him a cheeky grin. “Okay. Favorite song. I have so many. For today, I’ll say Alicia Keys’s ‘A Woman’s Worth.’ What’s yours?”
“I don’t have a favorite song.” Tyler washed down another bite of sandwich with her homemade iced tea.
Iris blinked at him. “How can you not have a favorite song? Everyone has a favorite song.”
Tyler shrugged. “I don’t. It depends on the day and my mood.”
Iris leaned into the table and lowered her voice. “I know. Your favorite song is the theme from Star Trek, isn’t it? You can tell me. Just whisper it.”
Tyler chuckled. “I don’t have a favorite song. If I did, I’d tell you. I promise.”
“Okay.” Iris gave him a skeptical look. “Favorite book?”
Their list of favorite things carried them through dinner. Iris was encouraged by their shared interests and excited to try some of the books and movies he’d mentioned to her. She also was determined to get him to admit to a favorite song, even if it was the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey. This was what she’d yearned for, someone to unwind with after a long day. Her sisters were great. But there was something extra special about a romantic interest.
“This is nice.” Iris stood from the table, collecting her dishes. “I feel much more relaxed after dinner and your conversation.”
