Chapter 6

SIX

T he cool night air bit at Brianne's skin as she stood in the dimly lit alley outside the restaurant, her heart pounding like a jackhammer in her chest. The adrenaline from the attack slowly ebbed away, leaving behind a cocktail of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. Shock, fury, and a gut-wrenching sense of helplessness swirled within her, making her head spin.

"Those frick-fracking jerks," Brianne muttered through gritted teeth, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. The prototype - her baby, her future - was gone, snatched away in a blur of violence and fear. But beneath the anger, a steely determination took root. She'd get it back. She had to.

Ever since her home was broken into and some of her work stolen, she kept most of her work portable to keep it with her. She figured she was less likely to be mugged. But so much for that thought.

As the initial shock wore off, Brianne's emotions surged like a tidal wave. The loss of her game prototype felt like a physical wound, raw and aching. But amid the chaos of her thoughts, an unexpected warmth bloomed. The memory of Reid Parker's strong arms around her, holding her protectively after the attack, sent a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the chilly night air.

Brianne glanced at Reid, who stood nearby, his tall frame taut with tension as he scanned the alley for any lingering threats. His presence was oddly comforting, a steady anchor in the storm of her emotions. She'd known him for less than a day, yet in this moment of crisis, she didn't feel alone.

"We'll get your prototype back, Brianne," Reid's deep voice cut through her tumultuous thoughts. His dark eyes met hers, filled with a calm confidence that soothed her frayed nerves. "I promise you that."

Brianne took a shaky breath, nodding. "Thank you, Reid. I... I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here." The words tumbled out before she could stop them, raw and honest.

A ghost of a smile touched Reid's lips. "You'd probably be hacking into every security camera in a five-block radius by now, trying to track down those thieves yourself."

Despite everything, Brianne found herself chuckling. "You're not wrong. Though I'm pretty sure that's illegal."

"Highly," Reid agreed, his tone dry. "Which is why it's a good thing you've got me. I have... resources that might be helpful in recovering your game. If you'll let me help, that is."

Brianne studied him for a moment. This man, who'd started the evening as a potential business contact, was now offering to help her track down a gang of thieves. It was absurd, like something out of one of her game plotlines. Yet, looking into Reid's eyes, she saw nothing but sincerity and determination.

"Okay," she said finally, squaring her shoulders. "Let's do this. Team Brianne and Reid, taking on the evil game snatchers."

Reid's eyebrow quirked up. "Team Brianne and Reid?"

"What, you don't like it? I could workshop it. How about... The Prototype Hunters? No, too Indiana Jones. Ooh, what about Code Crackers?"

"How about we focus on actually finding the thieves before we worry about team names?" Reid suggested, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Fine, fine. Spoilsport," Brianne grumbled, but she couldn't keep the smile off her face. Even in this dire situation, bantering with Reid felt... right. Natural.

"Come on," Reid said, gently guiding her away from the alley. "Let's go somewhere we can talk and plan our next move."

They ended up in a cozy 24-hour café a few blocks away, the warm glow of its windows a stark contrast to the cold fear still lingering in Brianne's gut. As they settled into a corner booth, the familiar sounds and smells of the café - the hiss of the espresso machine, the rich aroma of coffee - helped ground her.

Reid ordered them both strong black coffees, and Brianne wrapped her hands around the warm mug gratefully. "Okay," she said, leaning in, "where do we start?"

"Let's go over exactly what happened," Reid replied, his voice low and focused. "Every detail you can remember about the attack might be important."

Brianne closed her eyes, forcing herself to relive those terrifying moments. "I was on the phone with my sister. She wanted me to watch the kid for a couple hours." She smiled faintly at the memory - trust her sister to call at the worst possible moment. "Then suddenly, these guys in masks were all around me. One of them grabbed my bag - the one with the prototype in it. I tried to hold on, but..."

She trailed off, her throat tightening. Reid's hand covered hers on the table, a gesture of comfort that sent a jolt of warmth through her.

"You did the right thing letting go," he said firmly. "Your safety is more important than any game."

Brianne nodded, swallowing hard. "They knew exactly what they were after. This wasn't some random mugging. They wanted my prototype specifically."

Reid's brow furrowed. "Which means this was planned. Someone knew you had the prototype and where you'd be tonight. Can you think of anyone who might have that information? Rivals, disgruntled ex-employees, anyone who might want to sabotage your game?"

Brianne's mind raced. "Well, there's always competition in the gaming industry, but stealing a prototype? That's next level. Although..." She bit her lip, thinking. "There's this group called The Glitchers. They're notorious for leaking unfinished games online. But they usually hack systems, not... you know, mug people in alleys."

"It's a lead worth investigating," Reid said, pulling out a sleek smartphone and making a note. "I have some contacts in the security world who might be able to dig up information on this group. And we should look into anyone at your company who knew about the prototype. Inside job?"

"God, I hope not," Brianne sighed. "But yeah, we should consider it. I'll make a list of everyone who had access to that information."

As they continued to brainstorm, Brianne found herself impressed by Reid's strategic thinking. He asked pointed questions that helped her focus, drawing out details she might have overlooked. For his part, Reid seemed equally impressed by Brianne's knowledge of the gaming community and her quick mind. She couldn't keep her eyes from his lips or her brain out of the gutter. She kept wondering how his lips would feel. It was getting ridiculous. She had much more important things to worry about but her brain decided to focus on that. A kiss. His lips. And she couldn't shut it up.

"You know," Brianne said after they'd outlined their initial plan of action, "when I woke up this morning, I definitely didn't expect to end the day planning a sting operation with a security expert slash bear shifter."

Reid chuckled, a deep, rich sound that made Brianne's heart do a little flip. She glanced at his lips again. How would he kiss? Would it be soft and sweet or hard and wild? Why was she thinking of that? "And I didn't expect to be diving into the world of video game espionage with a brilliant game designer. Life's full of surprises."

Their eyes met across the table, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The connection between them hummed like a live wire, full of potential and promise. Brianne felt her cheeks warm, and she quickly looked down at her now-empty coffee mug.

"We, uh, we should probably call it a night," she said, hating how breathless she suddenly sounded. "Long day tomorrow, what with all the detective work we've got planned."

Reid nodded, his expression unreadable. "You're right. I'll reach out to my contacts first thing in the morning. You focus on those online forums - see if anyone's bragging about their new acquisition."

They exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet the next day to share any new information. As they left the café, the cool night air seemed to clear Brianne's head a little. She turned to Reid, suddenly feeling shy.

"Thank you," she said softly. "For everything. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there tonight."

Reid's expression softened. "You're welcome, Brianne. We'll get through this together. I promise."

When they arrived at her car, she turned to Reid and wasn't sure what to say. The fact he'd come to her rescue meant more than she could express. Instead of words, she lifted a hand to his jaw. She'd been dying to caress his short beard.

"Reid?"

His gaze held her entranced. "Brianne, you should-"

"You should kiss me."

"Are you sure?"

She gave a quick nod. "Yes, please. I've been wondering what that would be like and I don't want to wait any longer."

He swooped down and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was raw, deep, hard. Just like Reid. It was addictive and sexy as sin. Their tongues entangled, dancing in a sensual caress that made her body go up in flames. She wanted him. Oh, my gosh, did she want Reid. She'd never had that intense, bone-deep desire for any man in her life.

The need to take him home and let him have his way with her became her entire thought process. Why the heck now? The thoughts turned hazy as he pressed her against his body, his hardness pushing at her belly. They broke apart, both struggling to catch their breaths.

She licked her lips and cleared her throat. "Good…uh…goodnight, Reid. Thank you for saving me."

She slipped into her car and watched him staring at her drive away. What had she done? Now that she'd had a taste of Reid, she wasn't sure she'd be able to stop. She didn't need to think about a relationship now. She had too much going on. But she wanted Reid and she wasn't going to deny it. No. She was going to get her game back, but she'd also get Reid out of his clothes in the process.

Back at her brownstone, Brianne sat at her computer, fingers flying over the keyboard as she delved into gaming forums and chat rooms. The memory of Reid's protective embrace fueled her resolve. She was not some newbie. She was a badass creator of worlds and conqueror of code. And with Reid Parker by her side, she'd take on anyone who dared to steal her dreams. And that game was her baby.

"Game on, you prototype-pilfering punks," she muttered, cracking her knuckles as she prepared for a long night of cyber-sleuthing. "Team Brianne and Reid is coming for you."

And if her heart gave a little flutter at the thought of seeing sexy-pants Reid again tomorrow? Well, that was just part of the game.