Sometimes I forget that Colt used to be a student here. He seemed so confident and in control, especially now that he’s running the whole place. His confidence is sexy, but I didn’t like that he rarely had time to hang out with me anymore with his new workload.

Reis makes no move to unlock the door, and instead turns to me, leaning casually against the wall to study me. “Colt’s never had a girlfriend as far as I know. And you’re not his usual type.”

There’s so much I want to inspect in his comment, but I prioritize. “What do you mean not his type?” I’m terrified he’s measuring my looks against people like Bria and Samantha, the gorgeous girls Colt’s been known to go for.

He looks me up and down and seeing the hurt on my face, he steps closer, his hands raised in a gesture of innocence. “Oh, no. I didn’t mean it that way. You’re hot, so I can see why he likes you. I just meant – you’re younger. He doesn’t normally do younger.”

“Oh.” I guess he’s right. Colt’s always had his eighteen and older rule. I blush knowing that Reis thinks I’m hot.

“And you’re kind of a shrimp.” He pats the top of my head, drawing attention to my height – which clocks in about a foot shorter than him and Colt.

I roll my eyes. “You’re just as charming as Colt, aren’t you?”

He chuckles. I think he secretly likes that I just compared him to his older brother.

“Come on, Shrimp. I need you to show me around.”

Reis slips the key into the lock and holds the door open for me. I hadn’t planned on staying, but I step through. I’ll give him a quick tour so I don’t seem rude. I point to things as we progress through the room. “Seating area. Computer.” I motion to Colt’s sofa and desk. “TV.” I pick up the remote, handing it to Reis as I go. He sets it back down.

“Uh, bed.” My cheeks flamed pink against my will. Reis grins. He smiles easily and often, not like the usually serious Colt.

“So I guess that pretty much completes the tour.”

“Shower?” Reis turns to face me, cocking one eyebrow.

“Oh, right.” I point to the door at the end of the room. “His bathroom’s through there. There should be some towels in the cabinet.”

Reis stands solidly before me. “Well unless you care to join me, I guess that’s it then.”

Join him? In the shower? I attempt an awkward laugh, hoping he’s kidding, but his face is serious. “I’m good, thanks.”

“Knock, knock,” MJ calls, pushing open Colt’s door. Whenever I’m not in the dorm or the computer lab, MJ knows I’m most likely in Colt’s room.

I step back from Reis, thankful for the reprieve from the intensity between us. “Hey MJ.”

Reis grins looking between MJ and I.

“I figured you’d be in here,” she says.

“This is Colt’s brother, Reis. He’s just moving back from California and I was showing him around.”

Reis extends a hand towards MJ, and she places her hand in his. “MJ,” she says, introducing herself while her hand remains locked in his.

Reis is completely at her mercy, taking in her smooth honey-colored skin, chocolate eyes and brilliant smile all in an instant. The way she straightens her shoulders and pushes her chest forward tells me that she’s into him. Which is strange, because she’s so anti-Colt and they look so much alike. He doesn’t shake her hand, he just holds it, releasing it almost reluctantly a moment later.

“Well I was just leaving,” I say to MJ, interrupting the unspoken reverie between them.

“And I was just about to shower. If you care to join me.” Reis tips his chin toward the bathroom, but his eyes rest on MJ.

I stifle a cough. “Um, no. Come on.” I pull MJ by the arm. She doesn’t say anything, but I can tell she considered it for a second. “MJ,” I scold under my breath, pulling her to the door.

“So I guess that’s a no on the shower?” he calls.

I slip out of the room as quickly as I can, towing MJ behind me. I hear Reis chuckling from the other side of the door.

What a little shit! He only did it to get a rise out of me. I stalk away, needing to blow off some steam and keep my distance from Reis.

Colt

I check my email for any new cases, find one and assign it out to a field agent, then check in with Vera. All the first years are set to arrive today. Vera will be busy. We have a new class of seven students starting. It’s the smallest class we’ve had in several years, but I’m new at all this and don’t have all the connections my dad did to recruit new students.

Then later I need to drive Reis home. Mrs. Lee has him enrolled at a local public school. Neither of us has ever gone to public school, and I know he’s pissed. But he can’t go to school here. It wouldn’t make any sense. He needs a regular high school experience, soccer, getting ready for college – not following in our dad’s footsteps, like I’m doing.

I figured it’d be good to have Reis close by, but I didn’t like the way he’d looked at Taylor this morning. His eyes roamed her body, moving from her hips, back up to her face, then resting on her chest. I wanted to thump him upside the head, but it’s his first day back, and he’s my brother so I let it slide. Sending him off with Taylor was the last thing I wanted to do. I’m craving alone time with her, and wish I could hang out and not have to worry about running this place. When I was an instructor showing up for classes two hours a day, and taking on the occasional assignment, I never realized how easy I had it.

This year, I’ve hired a black belt from the local karate school to teach my old class to the first years, I’ve upped Vera’s responsibilities to handle more of the affairs with the students, and I’ve taken over all of McAllister’s work. I’ve emailed him occasionally when I can’t figure something out on my own, but for the most part, I’m handling it.

I’m working on securing a deal for a new long term partnership rather than one case at a time. It would be nice to have the steady work, and steady income coming in. There’s a total of thirty-nine staff members here to pay, not to mention the mortgage and utilities for the school. I’m hoping a major deal like this could free me up from having to constantly hunt for new cases. Plus I’m not willing to take on some of the shadier things that my dad was willing to do, so I’ve already had to turn down some work from his old contacts. I won’t put Taylor or anyone else in a position to do something illegal ever again. That’s why this securing this deal is so important to me. I open the latest email from Geoffrey, the director of a firm that works directly with the British military that I’m hoping to partner with.

TO: Colt Palmer

FROM: Geoffrey James

SUBJECT: Wiltech partnership

Mr. Palmer,

I appreciate the information you provided on the various skills you employ on your staff. I would like to propose we work together on a trial basis – I have a case you could work now, and if all goes well, we can discuss the long-term arrangement we’ve spoke of.

I’d like for you to come to London, meet with myself and a senior officer to negotiate the details. In addition, you can actively work the case I have in mind from our headquarters in London. We anticipate it shouldn’t take longer than a few weeks.

Let me know if this arrangement is suitable to you.

Best,

Geoffrey

Wow. A few weeks. In London. I hadn’t planned on being away from here – my duties, and of course, Taylor and keeping an eye out for Reis, but if I can secure us a long term contract, it’ll be more than worth it. I won’t have to constantly worry how to keep paying for this staff. About of the bills and invoices come through our office manager to me, and I would’ve never imagined how expensive it is to keep this place up and running. Gas and electric bills, school supplies, food for the cafeteria, and of course salaries for the teachers. McAllister always insisted on giving all of the students a free ride here, so he could easily recruit students to work the cases he wanted, but I’m considering changing that practice in the future. Tuition would help to cover some of the costs.