The weight of the air between them was now nearly palpable.
Their tenuous peace had lasted for days, but the tension had simply changed rather than decreased. Not as aggressive, more... complex.
In Alexander's private office, Isabella stood across from him, the city lights dimly leaking through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The building was mostly deserted due to the late hour, but neither of them appeared eager to depart.
The inquiry was slowly moving forward. There were leads coming in. Each new discovery seemed to bring them closer to each other and the truth.
She also detested her increased awareness of him. Problems were made worse by her perceptive mind, which now knew how frequently he breathed.
His sleeves were rolled up just enough to reveal his forearms' slight flex. His voice had a peaceful calmness that could go from authoritative to personal in an instant. The way he observed her, as though attempting to comprehend her, rather than only viewing her as a resource.
She despised being so aware.
since it was risky.
So she was becoming distracted.
The quiet was broken by Alexander, who spoke in a pleasant but tired tone. "The secondary audit returned the shipment logs. There are no differences. The person who planted that signal scrambler was accurate enough to fully hide their footprint.
Frustrated, she let out a breath. "So we're starting over?"
"Not completely." He moved in closer and gave her a printed report, which she accepted with a brush of their fingers. "I asked Harris to broaden the search. Weeks prior to the initial intrusion here, the identical signal interference was found at one of our foreign locations. A different city. The same motif.
They looked at each other.
Close. Too near.
She could not explain the magnetic pull she felt or how her pulse changed simply by being close to him. His gaze on hers showed that she wasn't the only one who sensed it.
Oh no. Too risky.
This was not intended to occur.
She needed the space, so she returned her focus to the report. Reyes, pay attention.
Despite her emotional turmoil, she spoke steadily as she stated, "This proves it's bigger than internal sabotage." "A long-term operation is being run by someone. This theft isn't arbitrary. It's planned.
Alexander nodded, yet there was a change in the look behind his eyes. "But nonetheless... You don't really trust me.
Her brows furrowed as her head snapped up.
"Pardon me?"
"You're still holding back." His tone was one of understanding rather than accusation. He seemed to be able to look straight through her. "You pause before sharing a lead every time you locate one. You seem to be waiting for me to make a mistake. As if you anticipate my involvement in this.
As keen as a sword, silence stretched.
The things she shouldn't speak were rising too quickly, and she could feel her heartbeat in her throat.
"You believe I don't have faith in you?She spoke softly as she moved closer, closing the distance between them with each sentence. "I'm risking my life and career here because I think this mission is important." However, you? All you've done is distance yourself from me. Trust is reciprocal, Steele.
He clenched his jaw. Not with rage, though.
No, there was another reason.
Something that isn't said.
Do you believe I'm doing that? Keeping away from you?There was no denying the heat in his voice when he lowered it.
It crackled in the air.
She detested the way her body responded to it—the pain and awareness she didn't request.
Her chest constricted as she said, "I think you're scared," the truth she shouldn't be speaking out loud. "Of permitting someone to enter." of losing command.
The distance vanished between them.
Now he was nearer. She was close enough to sense the warmth emanating from him, the subtle, clean, yet unmistakably him aroma of his perfume.
"I'm not afraid," he muttered. But he was betrayed by his voice. His gaze lingered on her lips and the pulse in her throat, too.
Untruthful.
"Then prove it," she said, her voice almost audible above a whisper.
Once more, his eyes fell to her mouth.
And for a single heartbeat, she believed he might.
Instead, the moment snapped like a wire pulled too tight, and he let out a quick exhale. Pushing his hands into his pockets as though he were physically restrained, he turned away and took a step back.
His voice was gruff as he stated, "We should concentrate on the case."
The distance he had just created between them felt warmer than the words.
Isabella forced the burning in her chest to subside with a forceful swallow.
She gave a nod. "You're correct. Just business.
However, as she turned to go, she sensed—
His eyes weighed heavily on her back.
And she was aware that, despite their best efforts—
It was far from over. It was only beginning.