Chapter 5
Sadie followed the GPS directions down the lane, her rental SUV’s tires crunching softly on the gravel road as anticipation and anxiety battled for dominance in her chest. Her stomach churned with nerves she hadn’t experienced since her original CIA recruitment.
Even then, they’d approached her while she was still in the military, making the transition feel more like a natural progression than a desperate leap into the unknown.
She stifled a yawn that reminded her of the precious few hours of sleep she’d managed after she and Todd had finally gone to sleep, still tangled in each other.
Despite the exhaustion, her body still hummed with the afterglow of their night together.
Her muscles relaxed in ways she’d forgotten were possible, her skin was still sensitized from his touch, and her heart was lighter than it had been in months.
Waking to an empty bed hadn’t been ideal, but the hastily scrawled note on hotel stationery had salvaged her mood.
Todd’s chicken-scratch handwriting, clearly rushed but still legible, had left his phone number along with an apology for having to leave early for work, and that he wanted to see her again.
No hearts or flowery declarations, but by leaving his phone number with the note, he indicated that they certainly weren’t a one-and-done.
She’d tucked the note into her purse with a smile.
She was already planning to call him after the interview and suggest they test the structural integrity of her hotel bed one more time before she had to check out.
If she got the job, she’d have to figure out what to tell him, but when she saw the gate in the distance, anxiety about the interview flooded her again.
The security checkpoint ahead forced her to compartmentalize, pushing thoughts of naked limbs and whispered endearments into a mental lockbox.
The guard who approached her vehicle moved with the unmistakable straight spine and alert eyes of a former military man.
He verified her identity on his tablet with professional efficiency before waving her through, giving precise directions to the outer office building.
As she drove deeper into the compound, the landscape took her breath away. A large house nestled against the base of snowcapped mountains. A hangar in the distance confirmed Logan Bishop’s reputation as a pilot, as well as a businessman. She was not surprised to see that he kept his own birds.
Closer to her destination, a low-slung wooden building came into view just as two men emerged from it.
One headed toward the hangar with purposeful strides while the other climbed into a dusty Jeep.
The easy camaraderie in their brief exchange spoke of a tight-knit team, exactly the kind of work environment she’d hoped to find.
She was used to working in a male-dominated environment and knew she could hold her own.
She parked outside the smaller building, alighted from her vehicle, and took a steadying breath. She knocked on the wooden door before entering at the called invitation.
Logan Bishop commanded attention the moment she stepped inside.
Tall and powerfully built, with dark hair and penetrating hazel eyes that seemed to catalog everything about her in seconds, he moved forward with the confident grace of someone accustomed to leadership.
When he extended his hand, she clasped it firmly.
“Sadie Hargrove, sir. It’s an honor to meet you.”
His eyebrows lifted slightly. “Honor? That’s an interesting word choice, Ms. Hargrove. I’m not sure what I’ve done to merit that greeting.”
She maintained eye contact, letting her respect show clearly.
“I’ve served alongside some of the best operators in the world, Mr. Bishop.
Some I’ve respected more than others. But what you’re building here is something to be genuinely proud of.
I’d hoped to be considered by either Mr. Hanover or Mr. Dyer for their operations.
” She kept her tone professional, not wanting to sound like she was name-dropping, though she had indeed spoken with both founders of the original LSI and the West Coast branches.
“What prevented that from happening?”
The question hit exactly where she’d expected it would. She inhaled slowly, feeling the familiar ache expand in her chest. “When I left the agency last year, my mother needed my full attention and care. Now that I’m available for placement, Mr. Dyer suggested you might be willing to interview me.”
Logan nodded with understanding and gestured toward the chair across from his utilitarian desk.
As she settled into the seat, she felt an unexpected sense of calm wash over her despite the high stakes.
She wanted this position with every fiber of her being, but she also recognized that the decision rested entirely with the man now studying her from behind his desk.
Either her qualifications and personality would mesh with his vision, or they wouldn’t.
He consulted the tablet in front of him, and she knew he wasn’t a man who wasted his, or anyone else’s, time. She wouldn’t have made it this far if he weren’t genuinely considering her as a viable candidate.
When he looked up again, his expression had softened slightly. “I’m sorry for your loss. My grandfather died of cancer. It’s a bastard of a disease that steals something from the survivors as well as the victims.”
The acknowledgment sent a sharp blade of pain through her chest, but she nodded her appreciation for his understanding.
“I’ve already reviewed your background extensively,” he continued. “Your computer software engineering and cybersecurity credentials are impressive and well-documented.”
For the next several minutes, they discussed her military service and CIA operations in terms that danced around classified details while still conveying the scope and significance of her experience.
Logan’s questions were probing but respectful, and she could feel him evaluating not just her technical skills but also her character and resilience.
Finally, he leaned back in his chair and fixed her with that penetrating stare. “Can you hack living and working here? Montana can be unforgiving.”
For the first time since entering his office, she allowed her gaze to drift toward the window. The view of the mountains rising like ancient guardians in the background stole her breath. The dense forests filled their lower slopes, and endless plains stretched toward horizons.
She took a deep breath before meeting his eyes again.
“Mr. Bishop, I spent my mother’s final months in Florida, where it was hot as hell.
And crowded. No matter where I went… to the grocery, to the doctor’s offices, then to the hospital, I was surrounded by people.
Some were rude, some were wonderful, some were indifferent, and some did all they could to make life better.
But I never had a chance to be alone and just breathe. ”
She pressed her lips together, realizing she was sharing far more than she’d intended in a professional interview. But something in Logan’s expression encouraged her honesty.
“As soon as I stepped off that plane and started driving here, this place called to me.” Her lips pressed together tightly.
“I realize that might sound stupid, but if I’m going to work for you, then I need to be honest. I can do the work required to take on whatever LSI Montana needs.
I can be part of the camaraderie of your business.
But I also want to be somewhere that allows me just to breathe. ”
Logan’s slow nod felt like validation of everything she’d been feeling since her arrival. She held her breath, suddenly aware that her entire future hung on his next words.
His smile transformed his entire face as he reached across the desk with his hand extended. “Welcome aboard, Ms. Hargrove.”
Relief flooded, settling the nerves that had fired since she’d first received his call for an interview. She eagerly grasped his hand. “Sadie, sir.”
“And you can call me Logan.”
Her smile felt like it might split her face as the tension she hadn’t fully acknowledged finally released its grip on her shoulders. After last night with Todd and now landing this dream position, she finally felt like her world was stabilizing on its axis again.
“I’ll have someone show you around and then connect you with Mary,” Logan explained, already moving into logistics mode.
“She’s our support coordinator and a former Army logistics specialist. To be completely honest, she’s already the real power behind LSI Montana’s daily operations.
She’ll handle all your paperwork and can get you started immediately if you’re ready. ”
“That sounds perfect,” she managed, trying to keep the tremor of excitement out of her voice. From Logan’s amused expression, she wasn’t entirely successful.
“Do you have housing arrangements?”
She shook her head with a laugh. “I literally arrived yesterday, and I’m staying at a hotel downtown. I’ll start looking for an apartment soon.”
“Rental options are extremely limited in this area, and what’s available tends to be expensive despite the remote location,” Logan warned.
“I’ve constructed a bunkhouse with six private rooms, a communal kitchen, a large common area, and three bathrooms. There’s no charge for LSI employees.
Mary has her own place in town, so you’d be our first female resident.
One bathroom would be exclusively yours, and all rooms have secure locks.
I guarantee you’ll be completely safe. No one I employ would be guilty of inappropriate behavior. ”
The offer was beyond generous, and practical considerations made the decision easy. “I appreciate that more than you know. And I trust your word completely.”