The Hacker by Herkness Nancy

Author:Herkness, Nancy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-08-03T16:00:00+00:00

Once they were settled around the antique refectory table in Alice and Derek’s spectacular kitchen, Alice served them eggs benedict topped with caviar before she poured them more champagne. “I’m so excited to have you help me with my gown,” she said. “I know I want it to evoke my favorite Regency romances but I also want it to have a modern edge. You’re going to figure out how to do that.” She beamed.

“Well, some stretchy yoga pants would say ‘twenty-first century,’” Dawn said. “And you’d be comfortable at the reception.”

Alice laughed. “Okay, so maybe Natalie will help more than you will. Now eat.”

The conversation devolved into ridiculous suggestions about how to give a wedding dress a contemporary feel until Natalie announced into a lull, “Dawn is sleeping with Leland.”

Alice choked on her eggs and had to grab a glass of water to wash them down.

“Jeez, Nat, could you maybe wait for a natural lead-in?” Dawn said. “Or let me tell her myself?”

“Why?” Natalie showed no remorse. “It’s significant news.”

“When? How?” Alice croaked. “Wait, is this about the gym Wi-Fi problem? Oh my God!” She fell back in her chair, laughing. “History repeats itself.”

“Just because you and Derek fell in love when you were working on that accounting fraud doesn’t mean the same thing is happening with me and Leland. It’s just sex.”

Alice took a swig of her champagne and shook her head. “Wow! I don’t think Derek knows or he would have told me.”

“It’s pretty recent . . . like Friday night,” Dawn admitted. “Which is why Nat shouldn’t make such a big deal about it.”

“I didn’t make a big deal of it,” Natalie said. “I just told Alice what was going on between you and her fiancé’s partner.”

“Has it been okay?” Alice’s voice was soft with concern. “I mean, despite being a computer nerd, Leland’s a tall, well-muscled guy from all that swimming he does. He hasn’t triggered any panic attacks?”

“He’s figured out that sometimes I get uncomfortable and he lets me shift positions when that happens.”

“So he doesn’t know?” Alice asked.

“We aren’t close like that.” With a pang, Dawn realized how true that was.

Alice reached across the table to touch the back of Dawn’s hand. “I’m so glad. It means you’re healing.”

“Or maybe the sex is just good enough to overcome all obstacles,” Natalie theorized.

Dawn laughed. “Maybe.” She sobered. “It’s so strange. I trust him without knowing him.”

“What do you mean?” Alice asked.

“Well, I know what’s in his bio on the KRG website. Schools, degrees, awards, stuff like that. I know he was an only child and hated his school uniform. And that’s about it.”

It was a strange kind of trust. She trusted him not to set off a panic attack but she didn’t trust him to want a relationship with her. She pulled herself up short. There was no relationship after a mere four days. Working so closely together on the gym’s issue just made it feel that way.

A melodious but mechanical woman’s voice interrupted them to say, “An authorized visitor is arriving on the elevator.

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