Page 13 of Hard Wired

Chapter Five

Tanner stopped by Sylvie’s desk. “Fish tacos after work today?”

She glanced around for her assistant. “Yeah, but don’t let Priyanka hear that. She’ll invite herself.”

“You don’t like her?”

“I do like her. But she really likes you. I don’t want to give her any new excuses to be hanging around you.”

Tanner chuckled. “You sure about that? Don’t you think I’m a little old for her?

At thirty-five, Tanner had over a decade on Priyanka. “I completely agree. But she clearly doesn’t see it that way.”

Tanner just shrugged, shaking his head.

Sylvie felt nothing for him but friendship, but even she could attest that Tanner had sex appeal. He was one of the few men in their office who didn’t have an inflated ego to go with his massive body.

“I’m just warning you,” Sylvie said, “because I’m afraid she’s going to try to feel you up in the hallway one of these days.”

“Then you’d better protect me. Good thing you’ve been working out. You’ve got some serious guns going on.”

Sylvie flexed her biceps. She was wearing a tight black T-shirt today, which showed off both her muscles and her newest ink—a heron with its wings outstretched.

She’d been working out in their gym lately, as well as practicing her shooting at the range. Sylvie made her living behind a desk, but her visit to Crane’s house had reminded her that she still worked for a security company. Her job had inherent dangers, and she wanted to be ready for them.

It had been three weeks since she’d seen Crane. She hadn’t heard anything further from the man. Nor had Max mentioned him. She figured that Crane hadn’t complained about her bad attitude, probably because he’d put her sufficiently in her place. And Priyanka hadn’t spread any rumors about their steamy confrontation in the entryway, which had definitely increased Sylvie’s affection for her new assistant.

All in all, the whole incident was behind her.

So why couldn’t she stop thinking about him? Replaying that scene inside his house, only with a different ending than him smirking at her and walking away?

The workouts had helped distract her, but clearly, it wasn’t enough. She needed a new guy to take her mind off things. But every time she swiped through a dating app, her mind wandered off to Dominic Crane again.

She had been pretty rude to him. Would he have behaved differently if she’d been kinder? Even mobsters had feelings, presumably.

Not like it matters, she reminded herself. Because you aren’t going to see him again.

An hour later, she and Tanner were walking along the beachside path to their favorite fish taco stand.

“What’s new with you, besides your fitness regimen and your fresh ink?” the bodyguard asked. “Seeing anyone these days?”

“Um, what?”

He laughed. “That wasn’t a proposition. I’m asking as your friend. You seem…different.”

“Why would me seeing someone make me different?” She’d never change herself for a man.

“Not different in a bad way. You just seem a little…dreamy. Sometimes you’re looking off into space and smiling, and I’m just curious what you’re thinking about.”

Tanner might not be able to tell when a girl was crushing on him, but otherwise he was pretty damn observant. “I guess I’ve been thinking of someone. I’m surprised I’m smiling about him though. Because there’s definitely no potential.”

“Do I know this guy?”

She was so not going there. “Not really. It doesn’t even matter. He’s not remotely interested in me.”

“Our Sylvie? You kidding? What’s this guy’s problem?”

“It’s okay, Tanner. You don’t have to make me feel better. I’m a big girl. He wouldn’t be good for me anyway.”

---