The Love Game

Iris didn’t disagree. “I have a feeling a lot is riding on this game launch. And we’ve gotten a late start.”

“Whose fault is that?”

Iris smiled at her friend’s unwavering support. Sometimes the little designer was like an overprotective pit bull. “This is also the first time he’s led a product launch.”

“Stop defending him.” Her friend waved both arms in an impatient gesture. “He was way out of line.”

Cathy was right. Tyler had crossed the line. Then why am I making excuses for him?

Iris dropped her gaze to her sandwich. But instead of turkey and provolone on rye, she saw Tyler’s chiseled sienna features, penetrating ebony eyes, leanly muscled frame and tight, tempting glutes. She put a lid on her rising attraction. Being tall, dark and handsome didn’t give him a pass.

“You’re right.” Iris picked up her sandwich. “There’s no excuse for his accusation. It was insulting and unprofessional. I’m just trying to understand his perspective.”

“Don’t.” Cathy’s tone was firm. “Instead of

getting in touch with Tyler Anderson’s feelings, you need to work on strategies to protect yourself.”

“From what?”

“His warped sense of reality.” Cathy snorted. “Make sure you continue to act in a professional manner. You have to remain above reproach. And document everything.”

Iris swallowed a bite of her sandwich. Now that her appetite had disappeared, the turkey and provolone tasted like sawdust. “I know all of this, Cathy.”

“Obviously, you need to be reminded. Remember, he didn’t want you.”

Iris caught her breath. “No, he didn’t.” The words hurt more than they should. Why? Tyler Anderson was just a client.

After vanquishing her brownie, Cathy dug into her chicken-noodle soup as though she hadn’t eaten in days. The gray scarf around the neckline of her black blouse hung close to the bowl. “No doubt he’s looking for you to slip up and show some kind of weakness to prove he’d been right in the first place and shouldn’t have hired you.”

“But he did hire me.”

“He never should have hesitated in the first place.” Cathy adjusted the length of her scarf with jerky motions, pulling it away from her soup bowl. “But he only came to his senses after Kimball & Associates ignored his request for a bid. That doesn’t mean he has faith in you. He may be digging for evidence that his first instincts were right.”

Iris shook her head. “Any mistakes could put his product launch and his company in jeopardy. Why would he want that?”

“You know these corporate types.” Cathy gave her a superior look. “They’re not rational.”

“They say the same thing about designers.” Iris could understand why. She considered her friend, seated on the other side of the small square table.

“You need to protect yourself.” Cathy apparently chose to ignore Iris’s comment. “Play it cool. No personal conversations—you’re all about business.”

“You know that’s not me. I’m naturally outgoing. I can’t be something I’m not.” She wished she could. Something told her she would need to keep her guard up around Tyler. Iris stared morosely at her sandwich.

“You have to try. You’re too trusting. That’s one of the reasons RGB was able to take advantage of you for so long.”

“Anderson Adventures isn’t RGB.”

Cathy lowered her half-eaten sandwich. “What does he look like?”

“What does who look like?” Iris squirmed under her friend’s narrow-eyed stare.

“You know who I’m talking about. Tyler Anderson. What does he look like?”

“You know. Tall. Fit.” Iris shrugged. Her gaze darted around the little café, landing anywhere but on her friend.

“Handsome?”

“Very.”