Page 102 of Hidden Ascent

“It’s not better all the way open?” Whitlock said, pacing the floor.

“We need to at least look like we’re trying to be discreet.”

“Right.” He cleared his throat. “Where should I be? Should I sit at the desk?”

“Uh. I don’t know. Why don’t you stand?” She looked out the window, then back at him. “A little more my way, I think.”

He stepped closer. “Here?”

“Maybe. Let’s see.” She reached out to him and gave him an awkward hug. “I guess this will do. Now…um…kiss my cheek.”

After he did, her earpiece chirped to life.

“I can’t say I’m disappointed you’re so bad at this,” Jay said. “But you guys are both terrible. I think Whitlock may be worse than you at undercover work.”

She couldn’t see him, but she knew Jay was out there somewhere with a telephoto lens.

“Excuse me a second,” she said to Whitlock and walked to the other side of the room, whisper-hissing to Jay. “Do you know how weird this is for me? He’s my superior, by a long way.”

“I told you we can get one of the twins to pretend to be you. That was my original plan.”

“I can do it. Sharpe will know if it’s not me.”

“Then you’re going to have to do better.”

“Any ideas?”

“He did save your life at the jail. Let him know how grateful you are.”

“Don’t be stupid.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you what, have Whitlock sit down and you sit on his lap.”

“What? That is never gonna happen. There must be a way we can get the shot without it being gross.” She looked at Whitlock and mouthed, “Sorry.” He waved away her apology.

“A stiff hug and a peck on the cheek isn’t going to sell it.”

“Give us a sec. But keep taking photos. I don’t want to miss a chance and have to redo it.”

Jay groaned. “This is going to take all day.”

“You want to do it?”

He laughed but didn’t say anything.

Isla turned back to Whitlock. “We’re failing miserably.”

“That’s pretty obvious. So what do we do?”

She remembered the kiss she shared with Jay and scrunched up her face. That was a line she was unwilling to cross with Whitlock, and she was sure he felt the same. But there had to be a way to recreate that without actually doing it.

She could remember clinging to Jay when he kissed her. It carried a desperate longing she’d never experienced before.

Maybe that would be enough for now.

“Let me try something.” She walked up to him. “Just go with me on this.”

“I’ll do my best.”

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