The Charmer (Harbor City 2)

She nodded.

“What’s going on with you two?” he asked, his gaze narrowed in on her. “I was surprised to see you at dinner with him.”

Okay, this was her opening. She had to take it. “Why, don’t you think I date?”

That would have sounded a whole lot more convincing if the last word hadn’t come out in a squeak.

“No, because of him,” Tyler said. “He doesn’t seem like your type. He’s got a certain kind of reputation and, anyway, let’s just say I have a history with the Carlyle family.”

Not wanting to go anywhere near what she imagined to be Hudson’s reputation, she swapped topics. “Want to talk about it?”

“Sorry, that touchy feely crap isn’t for me. I’m more of a man of action.” He slid a piece of paper with a single name scrawled on it toward her.

Oh yes. The whole reason for this coffee date. Not because he saw her as date potential, but to ask a favor of a friend. “And of schemes.”

“Exactly.” Tyler twisted the end of an imaginary mustache. “So, you’ll do it?”

She took the piece of paper and nodded.

“Thanks, Felicia,” he said as he pushed his chair back and stood. “I hate to ask a favor and dash, but I’m late for a client meeting.”

Pushing back her disappointment—after all, she was well-practiced at it when it came to Tyler—she smiled. “No problem.”

“Thanks again. I knew you’d help.”

And he was gone, lost in the sea of tourists and Harbor City regulars gathered under the great white shark hanging from the ceiling. Well, so much for a date. This was more like a dead drop. She glanced down at the name. Gregori Sirko. Beyond a name in the financial section of the Harbor City Journal, it meant nothing to her.

Gathering up her tea and phone, she stood up and then made her way through the throng of people and back up the employee stairs to her office. Her phone vibrated the moment she sat down in her chair. Damn. It really was like he had her office bugged.

Hudson: How’s it going?

Felicia: It’s gone.

Hudson: And…

Felicia: No change.

That was putting it mildly. Oh sure, she had some kind of don’t-tell-anyone spy mission, but that didn’t c

hange the fact that Tyler still didn’t see her for anything beyond his friend’s nerdy kid sister who he’d known forever.

Hudson: Don’t worry. We’ll make it happen.

She sat her phone aside without responding. What could she say? All of her predictions had proved wrong. A few minutes later, she was analyzing the data from her latest field report and trying not to think about the Tyler situation when her phone buzzed.

Hudson: So, what color underwear? I’ve been distracting myself with ant jokes, but the internet is out of them.

She laughed despite herself. He didn’t give up; she had to give Hudson that.

Felicia: Red cotton with little white hearts.

Hudson: Can’t wait to see them.

Her legs clenched against the tingle of anticipation, making her pulse skyrocket. She set her phone down, her hand a little shakier this time. Fighting to ignore the way her body had gone into overdrive at his text, she tried to work it out logically.

1. She was attracted to Hudson in some kind of cruel transference joke of fate.

2. She had to spend time with Hudson in order to get Tyler to finally notice her.