“That was just an unfortunate phase he went through,” Holder said, waving away the idea.“He’s with a highly secret white hat organization now, working on how AI can be used for security vulnerabilities.”
“You both just got done saying that whatever the issue is with the naked half-elf, it couldn’t be AI,” I pointed out, drawn into the conversation despite my sudden need to frolic all over Corbin’s delectable self.Our anniversary was less than a week away, and we’d come to England to both celebrate that and attend a massive game-software convention in hopes we’d network our way into finding a couple more people needed for the upcoming game.“So how could Asher help?”
“He knows what sorts of things to look for,” Holder said darkly, then turned when a buxom blond woman poked her head into the room and told him if he wanted to take pictures of her in the new ale-wench costume, he’d better get to it, because she wasn’t going to delay her goat yoga class for his silliness.“Ah, my sweet, the sun will never rise on a day when I don’t wish to ogle your outstandingly fine form, with or without ale-wench ensemble.Yes, yes, I’ll be right with you.Corb and Amy and I are just wrapping up our call.”
“Sorry we’re keeping him, although he made me try on the ale-wench costume last week, and after one look at me in it declared no one but you had the right stuff to dazzle players’ eyes,” I said with a cheerful wave at Holder’s wife, Linda.She gave him a look fraught with meaning, wished Corbin and me a lovely visit and anniversary, and then retreated.
“I’ll call Asher and see what he has to say,” Holder said, frowning at something on one of his monitors.“Even if we don’t get him involved in checking the code, he might have ideas.Speaking of hiring, how is the hunt going?”
“Not great,” Corbin answered, watching me from the corners of his eyes.I could see that my nail down his spine had done much to put him in my state of mind, and he was clearly sending me smoldering looks that I had no trouble sending right back to him.“We liked one woman for heading up the engine tweaks, but she didn’t seem any too keen on us.”
“She made rude comments about California,” I agreed, reaching behind Corbin to fondle what I could reach of his attractive ass.
He jumped slightly.“That is not in the least bit fair, Amy!I can’t possibly grab your ass in response without Holder seeing that, and you know how it feeds his ego when he sees us pounce on each other.”
“It does,” Holder agreed without even glancing our way.“It makes me nigh on intolerable, according to Linda.What about the leads you got for the other two positions?Much though I want you two to have a good anniversary, we really need the team filled out.”
“The con opens in two hours,” Corbin said, making a grab for me when I slid off the bed and went to shake out the dress I planned to wear to the gaming developers’ convention.“We’ll do the best we can.I’m counting on Amy to make it clear just how wonderful it is to work for Buckling Swashes.”
“Whereas I’m counting on Corbin’s irresistible charm to sway people into signing on,” I said from where I gathered up undergarments.I was out of view of the computer’s camera, and held up my laciest bra.“But as he says, we’ll do what we can.I guess I’ll get dressed.”
“The hell you will!”Corbin said, and added as he closed the laptop, “We’ll talk later, Holder.Right now, I have a wife to appease.”
Holder’s laughter was cut off as the laptop switched into sleep mode.Corbin divested himself of the laptop, the sheets, and the sleeping shorts he habitually wore when traveling.I tossed my bra back onto my suitcase and sashayed my way over to where he was waiting, the light in his eyes making me feel like I was made of molten gold.
Corbin’s eyes were truly the window to everything he was—kind, funny, charming, and far too sexy for his own good.All those facets of his being shone from within, and I never tired of simply being near him.
“I never get tired of you,” I told him approximately an hour later, when we rode the elevator down to have a fast breakfast before heading to the convention.
“Thank you,” he said gravely.“You keep me on my toes, too.I’m never one hundred percent sure what you’re going to say or do.”
“That’s because I’m a woman of infinite depths,” I told him without a single shred of modesty.“But also because I know you like quirky.Do you want to tackle the engineers, while I head up the interviews with the others?”
“Yes.And I’ll be in meetings with the Chinese reps, don’t forget.”
We discussed our upcoming interviews, meetings, and press sessions while we hurriedly ate our way through what the Brits called a full English breakfast.
Four and a half hours later, I was drained, but stood up to greet the woman who had been escorted into one of the cubicles set up for companies hiring.“Hello.I’m Amy Monroe, CFO of Buckling Swashes.I’m afraid my husband was called into another meeting, but I’m happy to chat with you about the job.”
“I’m sorry to miss your husband, but I’m pleased to meet you.I’m Emily Williams, soon to be Baxter.”
“Getting married?”I asked, studying her.According to her résumé, she was in her early thirties, had a degree in physics, and enjoyed gaming with her partner.But beyond that, I liked the fact that she had laugh lines, and wore a tailored navy blue skirt and suit jacket but paired them with a faded Pride flag T-shirt.
“In eight days, yes,” she said with a bright smile.“It’s just a little wedding, really, with my parents, aunt and uncle, and a couple of friends.Fang and I—Fang is my fiancé—have a favorite hotel in a small town on the Cornwall coast.It’s a hidden gem, but the owners are beyond amazing, and the walks around the area are outstanding, so much so that we try to visit once a year.Fang loves the big hill walks, so if you’re into hiking, you’re golden.Also, the town used to be fishing oriented, but now it’s mostly given over to the visitors, since there is a long stretch of nice beach and a ton of rentals.Boy, I sound like I’m getting a kickback from the town council, huh?”
I laughed with her, and said a bit wistfully, “It sounds like the perfect venue, to be honest.Corbin and I were married at a judge’s chambers, because we were caught in the middle of some legal issues with his former partner—business partner, not romantic—so we thought it would be best to get it over and done with so we could focus on restoring Buckling Swashes.In fact, our anniversary is two days before your wedding.I was hoping we could spend a little time in England to celebrate, but I’m not sure that will happen.”I stopped myself from telling this stranger—nice as she seemed—the worry that something was awry with the new software.
Emily made a face.“I hate it when life gets in the way like that.Where were you planning on visiting?Because if you didn’t have a destination, I can wholeheartedly recommend St.Gwynn.It’s the cutest town, and you can go sailing, or hiking, and there’s a stable that will take you out riding all day, and the shops are to die for.Honestly, if Fang’s practice would let him move, I’d have us living there so fast his head would spin.”
“It sounds ideal, it really does,” I said, pulling out my phone.“What did you say the name was?”
She gave me the information on where the town was located, how to get to it by train, and even the name of the hotel she and her oddly named fiancé loved so much.
“Would you mind telling me why it is you are leaving your current company?”I asked, glancing again at her résumé.She’d listed what I assumed was a green power company as her employer.
“Sure.They’re being sucked up into the mother ship.”She gave a little laugh at the fact that my expression read confused.“Sorry, that’s a little in-joke.Vert Research is being acquired by an energy mega-conglomerate that we liken to a mother ship hoovering up all the smaller companies until there’s no competition left.I don’t want to work for a soulless corporation, so I’ve opted to take the leave package.Fang’s bestie owns the company that organizes cons like this one, and he told me about Buckling Swashes joining the pool of those companies who are hiring.And since I like to game when I can, I thought it might be a good fit, jobwise.”
Although she spoke with a breezy, almost nonchalant attitude, I didn’t catch so much as a whiff of insincerity.
