Page 57 of Seductive Architect
“We need to talk.”
He frowned. “Wow. That is an awful phrase.”
I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “We’re good.”
“That makes me even more nervous.”
“Come on, we need to go.”
“But work.” He pointed at the building. “I still have packages to deliver.”
Even in a life-or-death crisis, I glanced down. Every time he used the word “package,” there was only one that came to mind. When this was over, I wanted to spend a weekend in bed, naked, adding entry after entry to his little black book.
“It’s life or death.”
“Oh.”
Hudson turned back to the building. That distress—the conflict—that was his humanity. What Apex saw as a flaw, I saw as a strength. Funny, coming from the guy who always claimed machines were better. Apparently, I just hadn’t met the right human.
“I’m asking you to trust me.”
I reached for his hand, lacing my fingers through his. Even with danger lurking around every corner, I wanted to freeze this moment. If we had time, I’d have spent the afternoon trading stories and asking him about his plans for the future. Right now, we had to save the world;thenwe could plan our next day.
“I do.” He smiled. “Very much so.”
Normally, I compartmentalized my life. Work stayed in its neat little box. My research stayed there. I thought my dating life would be the same. The walls had come tumbling down as everything mushed together. If it were anybody else, they’d be racing toward the door and ignoring my text messages. Hudson… he wasn’t like the men before.
Hudson wasn’t a dwarf.
“Let’s go.”
“What is this place?”
We walked down the stairs into the basement before reaching a dented fire door. In the heart of the business district, anybody who spotted the door would assume it was just another access to the basement. Even as we entered, it looked like storage for an old office building. Shelves held old computer monitors and boxes filled withextra printer paper. Need an extra keyboard? There were dozens.
“I’ve been renting this basement for years.”
Hudson poked at a broken filing cabinet. We weaved through shelves, holding boxes with old files. Since taking over the lease, I had never bothered to open the boxes. They could be old case files from the lawyer on the thirteenth floor, or they could be annual reports for the accountant. I didn’t care.
We reached a wall covered in old metal cabinets. I pushed against one of the doors, the scanner inside reading my palm. When the door hissed, I pulled it open, gesturing for Hudson to step inside.
“I thought the wall was the extent of yourtheories.”
“I’ve been prepared for the hostile takeover for years. I thought it’d be aliens. Iwishit were aliens.”
When we stepped inside, the lights turned on. It looked like the typical living room found in an industrial warehouse. One end had a kitchen, shelves stocked to the brim with non-perishables. If I were careful, I could survive down here for at least three months. I had put off including a hydroponics garden. Lesson learned. If we survived, I’d be more prepared for next time.
“What is this place?”
“Doomsday bunker.”
“We’re not living down here, are we?”
I chuckled. I’d have to change inventory and double up on food if I had a companion with me. The thought of being trapped with Hudson for months with nothing to do wouldn’t be horrible. We’d have to find our own entertainment. I’m sure by the time we left, his book of firsts would be filled to the brim.
“No, at least I hope not. You’re standing in a clean room.”
“I guess it’s clean.”
