“Let’s keep this efficient,” she said, holding his gaze. “Start with the intake pumps, then filtration, then output tanks. I would like to review all your operational logs from the last six months. And your hazard response procedures both written and demonstrated.”
He hesitated. “Demonstrated?”
“That’s what I said.” Her tone sharpened, not because of him but because her heartbeat was climbing again at the faint glint of water beyond the intake pipes. “If a containment breach occurs, I want to see exactly what happens. My approval depends on the efficiency of your response.”
The team moved as she directed, and they became a flurry of clipboards, cameras, and notes. Riley moved with them, every step controlled, her questions sharp and precise. She reviewed intake calibration, checked filtration efficiency, and verified output testing protocols. Every answer was noted. Every gap was flagged.
They skirted the outer walkways toward the river mouth, the blue-green water flashing in the sunlight. Her pulse thudded hard in her ears.
Not the same ship. Not the same day. You’re here because you chose to be.
The inspection wrapped two hours later, the station manager sweating but compliant.
“Your paperwork is cleaner than I expected,” Riley said, flipping her clipboard closed. “But I’m going to want quarterly audits from now on. Full transparency.”
“Yes, Ms. Shoemaker.”
Back in the SUV, the salt air still clung to her. Her hands itched faintly, and her feet still vibrated from the movement of the station’s catwalks beneath her boots. But when she looked down at her notes, her handwriting was steady.
She’d done it. The water hadn’t won.
CHAPTER 11
Talon checked his watch for the third time in five minutes. The soundless click of the second hand was impossibly loud in his ears. 1847. Riley had said 1900, but he’d been outside the Arjun Ridge administrative building for fifteen minutes already. Sitting at the training compound while pretending to review tactical reports had become impossible. So, he showed up early.
The heat clung to his skin, a sticky weight even this close to dusk. The metallic smell of the nearby processing facility mixed with the faint scent of dust from the hard-packed red earth and tickled his nose. He shifted his weight, the fine grit crunching faintly under his boots.
“Boss, you’re pacing,” Jug’s voice crackled in hisearpiece. “Did you ever think she might’ve gained five hundred pounds and grown a beard?”
Talon stopped mid-stride, realizing he’d worn a shallow track in the dirt. “I’m deeper than that, shithead. She’s an amazing woman.”
“And if there isn’t chemistry?” Jug asked pointedly.
“Then I have a damn good friend.” But the thought had crossed his mind more than once. God knew he didn’t want to relegate her to the friend zone, but if she weren’t attracted to him, he wouldn’t push her. Even after a year, he still remembered her beautiful eyes and the strength the woman had shown.
“That would suck.” Jug sighed heavily. “For all of us, not just you. You’ve been happier with her in your life, even though it’s just been texting.”
He didn’t acknowledge Jug’s statement. Instead, he asked, “Status report?”
“All quiet. Perimeter’s secure. And you need to mute your comms before you go on your date.”
Heat crept up the back of Talon’s neck. His team knew about the date. Of course, they knew. You didn’t spend a year watching your team leader’s expression shift every time his phone buzzed without figuring out a woman was involved. He betJug had told them everything he knew. Nothing stayed private around his team, but hearing Jug say it out loud made it real in a way Talon wasn’t ready to admit.
“It’s not a date,” he said automatically.
“Right. And I’m not cleaning my rifle for the fourth time today because I’m nervous about you being off comms for more than thirty minutes.”
Talon almost smiled. Almost. “Just muted. If you need me, Dude can alert me. I’m tapping out now.”
“Copy that. And, boss? Try to relax. She’s going to love seeing you.”
The comms clicked silent. Talon tapped his earpiece to mute and tried to ignore the faint tremor in his hands. Special operators didn’t get nervous. They assessed. Planned. Executed. But this, well, this was new horizons for him. He was seeing Riley after a year of nothing but encrypted texts. Yeah, this was uncharted territory.
He adjusted his stance, forcing his breathing even.
The glass doors opened.
Talon’s breath caught like someone had driven a fist into his chest. Make that two fists and a fucking RPG at the same time.
