Chapter 8

EIGHT

B rianne stepped into Reid's office, her heart doing a little flip as she caught sight of him behind his imposing desk. The floor-to-ceiling windows framed the New York skyline behind him, making him look like a corporate superhero. She stifled a grin at the thought.

"Brianne," Reid greeted. "Thank you for coming. I have some information about The Glitchers."

"Hit me with it, Mr. Security Expert," Brianne said, plopping down in the chair across from him. "What nefarious deeds have our digital ne'er-do-wells been up to?"

Reid's lips twitched, almost smiling. "They've been spotted frequenting a hacker den in Brooklyn. It's our best lead so far."

Brianne leaned forward, her eyes widening. "A real-life hacker den? Like in the movies? Please tell me there are neon lights and people dramatically typing while shouting ‘I'm in!'"

"I... don't think it's quite like that," Reid said, his brow furrowing. "But it is our best chance at finding your prototype."

The conviction in his voice made Brianne's breath catch. For a wild moment, she wanted to leap across the desk and kiss him senseless. The memory of their kiss after he saved her life flashed through her mind, sending a warmth spreading through her chest.

Clearing her throat, Brianne tried to focus. "Well, with you on the case, how can I doubt it? You're like the James Bond of cybersecurity. Just... you know, with less martinis and more firewalls."

Reid chuckled, a sound that did funny things to Brianne's insides. "I've been cooped up in this office all day," he said, standing. "How about we continue this over lunch? I could use a walk."

"Lunch sounds great," Brianne agreed, perhaps a bit too eagerly. "I know a great pizza place nearby, if you're interested."

They strolled through the park, the summer sun warming their skin. Brianne found herself relaxing, her earlier nerves melting away.

"So," she said, bumping her shoulder against Reid's arm playfully, "what's the Reid Parker origin story? How does one become a bear-shifting security mogul?"

Reid's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "It's not as exciting as you might think. Grew up in Savannah, moved to New York for business school, took over the family security firm when my father passed away."

"I'm sorry about your dad," Brianne said softly.

Reid nodded, his expression softening. "Thank you. It was tough, but it brought our family closer together. My mother... well, she's a force of nature. Took on running the sleuth while helping me transition into leadership."

"Sounds like quite a woman," Brianne grinned. "I'd love to meet her someday."

"Be careful what you wish for," Reid warned, but his tone was light. "She'd probably have us married off before dessert."

Brianne laughed, ignoring the little flutter in her stomach at the idea. "Oh, she and my mom would get along famously then. Martha Ellis, professional meddler and aspiring grandmother."

They reached the pizza place, grabbed slices to go, and headed back to the park. Finding a bench, they sat to eat.

"So, pizza, huh?" Reid asked, eyeing his slice appreciatively. "I wouldn't have pegged you for a pizza aficionado."

Brianne took a big bite, sighing contentedly. "It's my second favorite food, right after donuts. I'm a woman of refined tastes, I'll have you know."

"Clearly." Reid chuckled. "Any other deep, dark secrets I should know about? Secret talent for yodeling? Closet stamp collector?"

"Well," Brianne said, her eyes twinkling, "I can recite the entire opening monologue from ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' backward. It's my party trick."

Reid raised an eyebrow. "Now, that, I'd like to see some time."

As they continued to chat and laugh, sharing stories about their families and childhoods, Brianne felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the pizza or the summer sun. The park around them buzzed with life - joggers panting, children shrieking with laughter on the nearby playground, and a group of elderly men engaged in an intense game of chess. But for Brianne, it all faded into background noise, her focus entirely on Reid.

"Okay, your turn," she said, wiping pizza grease from her chin with as much dignity as she could muster. "Most embarrassing childhood memory. Go!"

Reid groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Do I have to?"

"Hey, I told you about the Great Science Fair Disaster of '98. Fair's fair, Parker."

He sighed, a smile tugging at his lips. "Fine. When I was twelve, I had my first shift during a school camping trip."

Brianne's eyes widened. "Oh no."

"Oh yes," Reid nodded, his cheeks tinged with red. "One minute I'm telling ghost stories around the campfire, the next I'm a bear cub running through the woods with my pajamas in tatters."

Brianne burst out laughing, nearly choking on her pizza. "Please tell me there are pictures."

"If there were, I've made sure they were destroyed," Reid said dryly. "My mother, on the other hand..."

"Note to self: befriend Reid's mom immediately." Brianne grinned.

There was something about Reid - his dry humor, his quiet strength, the way he listened like every word she said was fascinating - that made her feel... seen. Understood. When she rambled about the intricacies of game design, he didn't zone out or change the subject. Instead, he asked thoughtful questions, genuinely interested in understanding her world.

"So, what about you?" Reid asked, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement. "Any embarrassing stories?"

Brianne snorted. "Hate to disappoint you, big guy, but I'm 100 percent boring human. No furry alter egos here."

"Trust me," Reid said, his voice dropping to a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine, "there's nothing boring about you, and disappointed is the last thing I am."

Feeling her cheeks heat, Brianne deflected with humor. "Flatterer. But I'll have you know, I can be plenty boring. Why, just last weekend I organized my sock drawer. By color AND length. Beat that for excitement."

Reid chuckled, the sound rich and warm. "Truly, you live life on the edge."

"You know it," Brianne winked. "I'm thinking of going pro in extreme organizing. X Games, here I come."

As she watched him laugh at her terrible pun, his normally serious face transformed by merriment, Brianne realized she was in serious danger of falling for Reid Parker. Okay, maybe she was already halfway in love and wholly in lust with him. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners, the deep lines etched around his mouth from years of hidden smiles, the slight dimple in his left cheek that only appeared when he was truly amused - all of it combined to make her heart die in her chest.

"What?" Reid asked, noticing her stare.

"Nothing," Brianne said quickly. "You just... you have pizza sauce on your chin."

Before she could think better of it, she reached out and gently wiped the nonexistent sauce away with her thumb. Reid went very still, his eyes locked on hers.

For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Her heart pounded in her ears. She was acutely aware of how close they were, of the warmth of Reid's skin under her fingers.

Then a frisbee whizzed by their heads, breaking the spell.

"Heads up!" a voice called out belatedly.

Brianne jerked back, laughing nervously. "Well, that was almost a very different kind of game over."

Reid smiled, but there was something in his eyes that made Brianne's breath catch. "Indeed. Though I think I prefer our current game."

Looking at the way his eyes softened when he smiled at her, Brianne couldn't bring herself to care about the danger of falling for him. After all, some games were worth the risk. And this one? It was shaping up to be the best she'd ever played. And the more she thought about their kiss, the more she wanted a repeat.

"So," she said, picking up her pizza slice with renewed enthusiasm, "tell me more about little Reid. I bet you were a real terror as a cub. Did you hibernate in the principal's office?"

As Reid finished his story about the koi pond incident, Brianne leaned in, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "So, what you're telling me is that you've always been a troublemaker? I'm shocked, Mr. Security Expert. Shocked and appalled."

Reid's lips quirked into a half-smile that made Brianne's heart skip a beat. "I prefer to think of it as... creatively interpreting the rules."

"Oh, is that what we're calling it now?" Brianne teased, unconsciously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "And here I thought I was the only rule-breaker in this dynamic duo."

"Dynamic duo, huh?" Reid raised a brow, his voice lowering slightly. "I like the sound of that."

A blush crept up her neck. "Well, you know, every good game needs a balanced team. You're the brawn; I'm the brains."

"Is that so?" Reid leaned in closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "And here I thought I was bringing some intelligence to the table."

"Oh, you definitely are," Brianne said, her voice a bit breathier than she intended. "But let's face it, with arms like those, you're definitely the muscle of this operation."

As if to prove her point, she reached out and gave his bicep a playful squeeze. The moment her hand made contact, a jolt of electricity ran through her. Reid's muscle tensed under her touch, and for a split second, Brianne forgot how to breathe.

"I, uh," she stammered, quickly withdrawing her hand, "I mean, you know, metaphorically speaking. Because of the whole bear thing. Not that I've been thinking about your arms or anything. That would be weird, right?"

Reid chuckled, the sound sending warmth pooling in Brianne's stomach. "I don't think so," he said with a wink. "Although, for the record, I wouldn't mind if you had been."

Brianne's eyes widened. Was he... flirting back? Two could play at that game.

"Well, in that case," she said, putting on her best coy smile, "I might have to admit that I've been admiring more than just your... security expertise."

Reid's grin widened, showing a hint of teeth that reminded Brianne of his predatory nature. It should have been intimidating. Instead, she found it thrilling.

"Is that so?" he murmured, leaning in even closer. "Care to elaborate, Ms. Ellis?"

Brianne's heart was pounding so hard, her shirt bounced. "Well," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "let's just say that if you were a video game character, I'd definitely be trying to unlock all your special features."

For a moment, Reid looked stunned. Then he threw his head back and laughed, a full, rich sound that made Brianne's insides melt.

"That," he said, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes, "might be the best pickup line I've ever heard."

Brianne grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. "What can I say? I'm a woman of many talents."

"So I'm learning," Reid replied, his voice warm with admiration. He reached out, gently brushing a crumb from the corner of her mouth. The casual intimacy of the gesture made Brianne's breath hitch.

"You know," he said softly, his hand lingering near her face, "I'm starting to think that this prototype theft might be the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Brianne raised an eyebrow, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. "Oh? And why's that?"

Reid's eyes softened, a smile playing on his lips. "Because it led me to you."

As cheesy as the line was, Brianne couldn't help the goofy grin that spread across her face. "Wow, Reid Parker," she said, shaking her head in mock disapproval. "Who knew you were such a smooth operator under all that gruff exterior?"

"What can I say?" Reid shrugged, his eyes never leaving hers. "You bring out the best in me."

The air between them crackled with tension, and for a moment, Brianne thought he might kiss her again. But then a group of noisy teenagers walked by, breaking the spell.

Clearing her throat, Brianne sat back, trying to calm her racing heart. "So," she said, her voice only slightly shaky, "about this hacker den..."

As they slipped back into discussing their plans, Brianne couldn't help but steal glances at Reid. The way the sunlight caught his dark hair, the strength in his jawline, the intensity in his eyes when he looked at her...

She was definitely in trouble. But as Reid's hand brushed against hers, seemingly by accident, Brianne decided that some kinds of trouble were worth getting into.