I was here to showcase my work on JUNIPER, to teach people how effective we could be as a team. This was what the retreat was supposed to be about—getting to know one another so we could trust each other when the time came to learn JUNIPER, to implement it, and to be the best team we could be, for the good of the country.
Rodney came to hang out with us just as the sun set. Right before the bonfire, I told Lucas I had to go back to my cabin to change.
“Change for what? We love you in your bikini top and skirt,” Rodney joked, his innocent flirting a welcome distraction in the latter part of the day. Not that he was the only one, I’d seen a few people doing the same today. We were all having a good time.
It was probably not the smartest professional move, but again, everyone had come from different states to learn about JUNIPER to prepare for the election. We weren’t going to see each other again, so there was really no HR protocol, and with most everyone being single, except for one or two people, hookups were bound to happen.
I was single, aside from my very hot boss whom I was sharing a cabin and a bed with, even though I’d never wanted to. The boss whose hands I thought about every chance I got. The boss who was a billionaire tech mogul that I needed to stay away from.
I was single, I repeated to myself as I smiled at Rodney. Very single. “I’ll get bit by mosquitos and be freezing if I wear this all night.”
Rodney chuckled, yanked his hoodie over his head, and pushed it over mine. The warmth of it wrapped around me fast as he pulled my arms through and stood back to look at me in his clothes. “There. You’re all set now.”
I rolled my eyes but smiled at his wink, while Lucas whistled. “Rodney knows a good-looking woman dressed nice when he sees one.”
We made our way to the campfire and found Adirondack chairs to lounge in. I silenced my phone, knowing this was going to be more of an intimate setting, and ignored the numerous texts I had from Gerald, my family, and even Cade.
I couldn’t avoid glancing over at his cabin, though. It glowed bright even as the horizon dimmed behind it. He hadn’t come out to socialize all day, and it was a good reminder that he wasn’t one of us. I probably wouldn’t see him all night until I went back to our cabin.
The bubbly blonde event coordinator, Ms. Heather, practically skipped over to the sixteen of us in our Adirondack chairs as the moon showed its face. “I’m so happy you’ve all made it. I believe Mr. Armanelli should be on his way soon. He’s informed me”—she waited a beat as if to make sure we had all noted that she was speaking directly with him—“that he’s made some tweaks to JUNIPER and has been working on other classified projects so far this week.”
I caught the grunt before it flew out my mouth. If my pussy were classified, he’d worked on it very well.
“He’s sorry for his absence but is so excited to meet everyone tonight. There will be a bartender, and food stations are set up for dinner, which we’ll have after we go over introductions. Because this is team building, we’d like everyone to introduce the person to the right of them, and from there, please tell us how you got into cybersecurity.”
Everyone went around the circle. We’d all already met and had a great day, so the introductions felt like cheesy formalities.
Rodney and I were the very last people to go. “Yep, so, Lucas is right,” I said. “I’m Izzy Hardy, and he calls me Izzy Bizzy. I got into data security while I was working undercover for the government... before I got transferred.” I shrugged.
Melanie didn’t let my short answer suffice, though. “What got you into undercover work?”
“Honestly, a family friend pulled me in.” I took a deep breath. This was about team building. So, I tried my best. “He thought I needed redirection after getting out of juvie.”
I waited for a gasp or two but none came.
“The first day on the job, someone on his team called me an addict. They said I wouldn’t be able to hack it. Most of you probably saw that tattoo on my ribs today—the one that readsaddict. I got it because Iamone. I’ll always be even if I’m not using, but I wanted to remember to be more than that too.”
A few of the people glanced at my drink. I didn’t explain that my addiction was to opioids and that I’d monitored my alcohol intake since day one of my recovery. I knew the risks of a drinking induced relapse. I also trusted myself enough after nine years, but the lack of confidence in me still stung.
“I’m also a recovering addict,” Lucas chimed in.
And then two others joined in, along with Rodney. “I’m seven years sober, so I won’t be drinking. Thanks for sharing, Izzy. Good to know we all have struggles, whether it’s addiction, mental health, or something else. No one gets through life unscathed, right?”
Something about Rodney’s acceptance of the world made me envy him. “Well, without further ado, the last man of the evening—Rodney.” I waved a hand in front of him. My tone lightened the mood, and as the fire crackled in front of us, I described him. “Rodney’s an excellent paddleboarder, decent at the game of chicken, and can probably beat me in pull-ups. I also enjoyed how he made me and Lucas a mean cup of coffee with extra sugar just the way I like it this morning.”
“I’m hoping she’ll enjoy more than that soon.” He waggled his eyebrows at me, and my only response was a blush staining my cheeks. Harmless flirting. Without any sort of depth. That’s what I should have been pursuing. Rodney gave me butterflies but didn’t knock my socks off. Cade, though, he’d corrupted the butterflies, scared them away, and brought lightning in as a replacement.
Handbook be damned when it came to people hooking up on team-building work retreats. I had a feeling most were thinking about the same thing because we were all around the same age, intelligent, and very good-looking.
Rodney went on to tell the team why he was involved in data security, but I didn’t really hear him because my eyes were on the corner cabin. Would he want one of these women? Would he indulge if he got the opportunity? It made me hope he wouldn’t leave those walls, and I hated the way my jealousy flared when I realized Cade’s light was off.
And from the wooded shadows, I felt him before I saw him. Close.
Hovering.
Listening and analyzing everything we said.
Rodney finished up by looking at the event coordinator. “And since I’m the last to introduce himself—”