The phone on Miranda’s desk rang. She glanced at the caller ID before answering it on speakerphone.
“Hey, Jackson, what’s up?”
“Hey, beautiful. I need a favor.”
Joey raised her eyebrow at the endearment. Jackson drove her absolutely crazy with his larger-than-life ego. It seemed like he made it his mission in life to annoy her.
“What do you need? And just so you know, Joey’s in here with me.”
Jackson’s tone brightened. “Hey, J-Rod. I thought you got fired?”
Joey glared at the phone. “We both know if anyone is getting fired, it’s going to be you. And don’t call me that.”
He laughed. “Fine, fine. Since you asked so nicely.”
Joey huffed at his arrogance, but before she could get snarky in return, Miranda was answering his questions, blushing as she assured him she could get what he needed.
“I’ll send you the address of a safehouse in Houston. And I’ll have that package waiting for you when you arrive.”
Joey didn’t know how Miranda made arrangements for things like housing, equipment, and vehicles magically arrive all over the country when Black Tower needed it, but she was a magician.
“You’re amazing. Do me one last favor?”
Joey rolled her eyes. What else could the man possibly want?
“Sure, anything you need,” came Miranda’s breathy response.
“Look up the words brilliant and beautiful on that computer of yours.”
Her friend leaned back with a grin on her face. “Oh, would you look at that? It’s me,” she replied cheekily.
Joey raised her eyebrows. Jackson was shameless.
“Gotta go, sweetheart.”
The call disconnected, and Joey stared at her friend expectantly.
“What?”
“Are you two always like that?”
“Like what?” Miranda said.
“He is flirting with you like crazy!” Joey let her animated disapproval show.
Miranda shrugged. “Yeah, maybe. I’m flirting with him, too. But we’re just friends. It’s just fun, you know?”
Joey shook her head. “No, I don’t know. Because, unfortunately, I talk to Jackson all the time. He has never once called me baby girl, princess, sweetheart, or beautiful.”
Miranda shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you, Joey.”
“Just be careful. If he hurts you, we’re going to have a big problem.”
“He won’t,” Miranda assured her. “It’s not like I think he means anything by it. I know better than that.”
Did she though? Joey hoped so, because her friend was hilarious and confident, but Jackson was… well, he was the kind of guy that girls threw themselves at. The prom king and the football star. Miranda was quirky and colorful and entirely too good for him.
“If you say so, sweetie. I’ll let you take care of whatever it was he needed. I’ve got to get a few more things ready before I head back to Zia later anyway.”