Page 5 of Phishing for Love
“In the name of everything splendid and sacred,” Sofia murmurs, “look at those shoulders.”
I respond with only one word. “Matt.”
“I might be married, but I’m not dead,” Sofia reminds me in a playful whisper. “I also have a fine appreciation of art.” Her lips curve into a smile. “And that man is a work of art.”
I have to agree with her there. The dark hair, serious blue eyes, and wide shoulders make for an attractive combination.
“He just looked at me,” Kenzie whispers, her voice slightly dazed.
Staring at the handsome stranger, a scrap of an idea flutters into my brain. “I think I know why Calvin’s called this meeting.”
They drag their gazes away from the man to regard me with curiosity.
“You know Calvin’s been talking for a while about filming a tearjerker commercial to rival Hallmark’s viral ads?” They both nod. “I’ll bet you anything this pretty boy’s a male model hired for our first commercial.”
Unfortunately, it is at precisely this moment that there happens to be a lull in the general conversation and my words carry clearly across the conference room.
Calvin lifts his eyes from the stack of folders in his hand to direct a displeased frown my way.
“Oh, Tess,” Kenzie mumbles.
I swallow, my face heating up as though a dozen blowtorches are aimed at it.
Why, oh, why, don’t I test out the words in my head before I speak? I always seem to be blurting out the wrong things at the worst possible times.
In the excruciating stretch of silence, the stranger turns his clear, cool blue eyes in my direction and holds my gaze, assessing me. My breath catches in my throat. I’ve made a serious misjudgment. This is not a boy smoldering into a camera lens all day. This is a man who’s lived through some things, and it’s written all over his face.
I lower my gaze to the floor, unable to hold his stare.
In his trademark booming voice, Calvin says, “Let’s get started, shall we.” He pauses, and I dig my nails into my palms. I know what’s coming. “I mean, if that’s all right with you, Tess?”
I look up, aware of everyone’s eyes on me. “It’s fine,” I mutter.
“Thank you.” Calvin clears his throat. The man does love an audience. “I called you all in today because I’ve been informed we are vulnerable to an attack.”
A number of people shift nervously in their seats, as if at any moment gun-toting terrorists are about to burst into the room and start mowing people down. Mark is so pale I worry his heart will give out.
Seemingly satisfied he’s secured everyone’s attention, Calvin gestures to the man standing silently next to him. “This is Aaron Sinclair. He’s here to help us implement a security awareness plan.”
“Hello, everyone,” he says in a deep voice that has Kenzie curling her toes.
Before he can say anything further, Rick pipes up, “Why do we need extra security? We’ve got Bob down below.”
I hide a wince. Bob, our sweet, sixty-something security guard, who takes five minutes to extricate himself from his chair,who cheerfully waves visitors through while using the sign-in book to jot down his shopping lists.
It’s clear from Aaron’s grimace that he knows exactly who Bob is. “Out of interest, why was Bob hired?”
Hannah in HR says, “He’s second cousin to Calvin’s stepsister Mabel. Mabel owns the building,” she adds.
Aaron Sinclair appears momentarily lost for words.
“Bob stays,” Calvin declares. “He’s not part of this discussion.”
I feel a spurt of pride in Calvin for standing up for Bob. He probably knows there’d be a riot (not to mention Mabel would make a eunuch of him) if he tried to get rid of him.
“I’m here to talk about cybersecurity,” Aaron says, scanning the room. “Eighty percent of small businesses have suffered a cyberattack in the past twelve months, and seven in ten businesses lack the capability to withstand a cybersecurity incident.”
A statistics man. Sofia and Kenzie let out disappointed sighs. Nothing like a dull, data-loving heart to crush any lustful imaginings.
