Page 5 of Dark Endures

Should I even be here?

“You Mindy?”

Don’t stare.

Don’t stare at the incredibly amazing-looking muscle man. They must have a copy machine that prints out stunning-looking men because this neighborhood is filled with them. “I’m Mindy Peters. You must be Mr. Locke.” At least I’ll have some eye candy, as long as he isn’t the handsy type. Fea said he was a gentleman, and that I wouldn’t have to worry about anything like that.

“Nope. My name is Canyon.” He gives me a slow smile.

Which is completely dreamy and I’m sure dozens of women fall for it every day, but he doesn’t do a single thing for me. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Canyon.”

“Just Canyon.” He stands there staring at me for a long moment.

This is just silly. “Are you going to take me to Mr. Locke?”

“Oh, yeah.” He shakes his head and turns towards the elevator. “You’re not from around here.”

Huh? “I live in Urbium.”

“But not on The Street?”

Oh, he’s asking me if I’m one of them. “No.”

“You thinking of moving here?”

As if. “No.”

He looks me up and down one more time, probably taking in what could only be considered eclectic color choices. “You should think about it. You’d fit in really well around here.”

“Do you always ask strange women to move into your neighborhood?”

“Pretty ones, yep.”

For some reason, I find him funny and not threatening. “Does that line ever work?”

Canyon grins. “Never used it before.”

“Something tells me you have plenty of them that do.” Why did I say that? He’ll think I’m flirting.

“Yup. But it didn’t work on you. Why’s that?”

Because I’m impervious to hot men.

That’s not quite true. My boss, Adonis, makes me all flustered. “I’m impervious to male charm.”

He laughs as we step off the elevator into a small area with three doors and an empty desk.

Each door has a keypad and some sort of scanner next to it.

What kind of business needs that level of security?

One door is ajar.

Canyon stops. “Since you’ll be around for a while, I can practice my lines on you.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “I think I’ll be too busy.”

“You’re never too busy to flirt.” His grin is too precocious not to laugh. “There you go. Now you’re ready for your interview.”

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