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She had him alone. Was this her chance to get to know him and see if they stood a chance?
No. They were work associates. Nothing more, nothing less.
But even being in the vehicle with him made her pulse skyrocket. Ike Porter was unique to her for some reason. Too bad she’d never figure out why. Because even if she did, she couldn’t act on it.
Chapter
Two
They eased out of the airport and headed north. Of course it was Myra who broke the silence.
“How did you get assigned the privilege of chauffeuring Charli’s number one op around?” She grinned at him, pumping her eyebrows. She teased with everybody. It broke down barriers, helped the guys relax around her and feel she was just another buddy.
He gave her a slight smile. “Tippin told me to load up in my ‘sweet ride’ and get to my assignment early this morning. Interrupted my five a.m. workout. That assignment includes you.”
Her heart pounded double-time. She’d secretly crushed on him the entire time she’d worked with Charli, cataloguing each word and glance when they passed in the hallway at headquarters, when the team discussed difficult assignments, or when she saw him on video chat.
They’d never been assigned together. Most of her assignments with Charli had been solo or with an entire team for events. She hadn’t had a one-on-one partner before. This opportunity being Ike made her nervous. What if she made a mistake because their unexpected connection? The unfamiliar tingles she experienced when he looked at or touched her could definitely be a distraction.
“Oh? Lucky you, eh?” she teased, hoping she didn’t sound like a breathless Ike groupie.
“Definitely.” His smile broadened.
She swallowed and had to look away, gripping the seat next to her right leg to release the tension and hoping he wouldn’t notice.
They motored onto I-5 South.
“You drove all the way down here from Carmel? Why didn’t Charli just have me fly home?”
“Because our assignment is at Dana Beach.”
“Okay.” She waited for more details.
Ike drove the vehicle, in no hurry to elaborate. He never appeared in a rush. His well-defined body seemed relaxed, but she knew he was anything but. He could react and fight as if he weren’t a mere mortal. She’d seen him spar with the other male ops. He was lightning fast and could move like a ninja. She’d never seen the likes of it.
Except on some YouTube videos of a security expert named Captain Aiden Porter. Ike’s younger brother, apparently. Not that Ike had given her that information, but she’d bought a twelve-pack of Monster Energy Ultimate Strawberry for Tippin and he’d spilled what he knew about her dream man.
Stop, she commanded her brain. Ike was simply an intriguing enigma. She didn’t have a dream man. The Warrior Woman didn’t have the luxury of relaxing and thinking like a girl.
But she had been dying to know more about him, so she had bugged Tippin. Usually Tippin had conspiracy theories galore, but even he didn’t have much on Ike, real or imagined. Tippin quietly told her that Ike scared him a bit. She’d smiled at that. Ike wasn’t scary, but he could be intimidating. He definitely wasn’t someone you messed around with, and Tippin loved his jokes.
The factual information Tippin found for her was that Ike’s dad had been a captain in the Marines when his wife was murdered. Ike had been seven at the time, his brother Aiden five. Ike’s dad, Eisenhower Porter III, had retired from the Marines and had spent all his time and energy training Ike and his brother. They both went into the military. Aiden became a Marine, Ike an Army Ranger. Sadly, their dad had died two years ago. That was all Tippin had.
It was interesting that Ike’s dad had trained him like her dad had trained her. If only she dared bring up that connection. She could Google the brother and have a weeklong binge fest watching all the videos and footage on the charming security expert. Aiden appeared to love attention and the women loved him. He claimed to be the next Sutton Smith.
Ike … nothing. Not a YouTube video or social media profile out there. She needed to know more about him. Anybody would be intrigued by him. It wasn’t as if she longed for the man or was obsessed with him. Okay, maybe a little obsessed. Maybe some repressed romantic yearnings since she’d never had the luxury to date or be a ‘normal’ teenager or young adult. She’d given all that up voluntarily to excel as a police officer and now a security specialist. Because of her hard work, she was excelling and her siblings were enjoying college and high school life.
“And what kind of dangerous and tough assignment could require both of our impressive skill sets?” She asked the question with a smirk, but she was serious. She could admit she wasn’t as impressive as Ike, but she was proud of her skills.
She gave her best effort and hadn’t let Charli down yet. Her boss had commended her for being professional, observant, smart, talented, and responsive. She suspected Charlie liked her being a tough lady op. A Woman Warrior was unique and sought after. Myra could spar and often beat most of the other male ops, but Ike was a league above all of them. She’d never sparred with him. The few times the guys had tried to get Ike to fight with Myra, he’d given some excuse and disappeared.
“Have you heard of Beau Alexander?” Driving with one hand, the muscles in Ike’s arm flexed. She was accustomed to being in close proximity to muscular men. Why did Ike’s muscles make her mouth dry?
Focus.
Who hadn’t heard of Beau Alexander? There was famous and then there was the likes of Beau. The all-star quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers. Beau was suave, handsome, wealthy, talented, and confident, quite the ladies’ man.
“I’ve heard of him.”
