Page 14 of Synced to Us

“Pardon?”

“Shut up and listen.” I shoot up from my seat, my words coming out rapid fire. “My co-worker thinks I’m engaged to you”—Wyn’s brows do a slow rise—“and he’s about to come in here any second. I know you don’t owe me anything, but if you could—hey, Dennis!” Bright, fake cheer coats my voice.

Wyn staggers back, fully disarmed and appalled at the sudden veer in conversation.

“What are you doing here so early?” I ask Dennis, smile straining. “You never show up until nine thirty.”

“Well, if it isn’t the happy couple!” Dennis ignores my question and offers his hand to Wyn. Wyn takes it, but his hand is more stunned than firm when they shake. “Now I understand why I never see you around here. Early morning sessions are your jam, huh?” Dennis winks. “I get it. Our Dee’s irresistible, especially before regular business hours.”

Swallowing, the paper coffee cup crumpling audibly in my hands, I wait for Wyn’s reaction.

He blinks at Dennis. “Before…business hours?”

“Yes, well.” Dennis chuckles, taking back his hand and resting it on his stomach. “She’s a rare jewel around here. She always seems to be open.”

I take a breath. Long and deep, internally lecturing myself that launching over my desk and digging my nails into Dennis’s eyeballs would do nothing but bring down an HR nightmare on my head.

Wyn sneers. “I never thought hard work could be used as such an insult.”

Dennis jolts as if he’s unexpectedly called out. “I didn’t mean it like that—Dee’s a favorite at this firm, especially with the big man. She works so much for our clients. I never thought she’d have the time to get a boyfriend, never mind a fiancé. Yet here you are, in all your…” Dennis looks him up and down. “Fashionable glory.”

Wyn’s pecs twitch under his shirt, loosened now by a tear in the back. “Veiled insult number three. Wow, you’re good.”

Dennis lets out a boisterous laugh, but retreats a step. Or two. “Just having fun with ya, buddy. And making sure this whole thing is real. Dee brought up the existence of your relationship at such a convenient time. And now, here you are, at yet another opportune time. Our boss is due down this hallway any minute.”

“I didn’t realize our personal life was such a concern to you,” Wyn says. His eyes move to me, the question in his face urging me to speak, but I’m too mortified to say a word.

“Only when it comes to my upward movement in this firm.” Dennis’s smile curves with snakelike precision, like he knows I’m desperate and he has nothing to lose by insulting the former Nocturne Court member. “Dee has herself a secret, one I’d love to cash in on, yet I can’t seem to when this relationship with you comes with this firm’s handling of Emerald Spin Records.”

Wyn’s nose twitches as he absorbs the information, cogs turning in his head. As lazy and messy as he appears to be, I’m aware of his hidden smarts. Before the creditors came down, he’d been managing his upstate property quite well, making improvements and increasing the value until a sudden turn last year when everything—well, to use his words, went to shit.

As if proving my suspicions, Wyn says, “I get it. If you out her, I’ll take my complaints to Emerald Spin and have them pull their account from Whitecrest Investments.”

“And lose my well-deserved promotion. I see you’re aware of Dee’s hidden…talents.” Dennis nods somberly, as if the turd actually cares about my particular outcome. “I was rather hoping it might come as a surprise.”

“Dude, if you knew me, you’d understand my past is no convent, either. My best buddy’s dating an ex-call girl, too. I assume you know who he is—Mason Payne. If my math is right…” Wyn looks to ceiling, brows furrowed as he pretends to count. “That would be two Nocturne Court members you’d piss off. And we won’t wait for corporate approval before we drown you in a sewer line.” Wyn lowers his head and nails Dennis with a glare.

Dennis clears his throat, retreating from Wyn’s looming shadow. “Listen, no harm, no foul. But you might as well be aware, since this is technically a client-employee interrelation, you two have a duty to report to HR.”

Speaking of HR nightmares…

“Dennis,” I warn. He’s finally pissed me off enough to make my voice curdle. “Not now.”

“Why not? It’s the perfect time. Larry’ll be here any sec.” Dennis thumbs the door. “Want me to get him?”

“No,” I say, at the same time Wyn says, “Sure.”

Both my and Dennis’s heads swivel to Wyn.

Wyn turns to me with a suspiciously wide grin. “Why not, honey? We’re telling my family this weekend. We might as well tell your firm, too.”

My mouth opens and closes before I gulp it into submission. “Shouldn’t we talk about this, dear?”

Wyn shrugs. “Not much to chat about. The smartest supervillain in the world seems to have uncovered our tryst. We have no hope of hiding now.” Wyn moves his saccharine smile to Dennis, who answers with a wry sneer.

“I’m doing you a favor, advising you on our company handbook,” he says.

“Something tells me, if Dee left and the firm fell into your hands, you wouldn’t be able to match her skills if you copied all her spreadsheets.”

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