Page 16 of I Dated a Holiday Hero (Blind Date Corporation #19)

A fter a meeting with Zera, Hever spent the morning working on Desmond’s desk, clearing up what the investigators had left behind.

She headed to lunch and came back to a seriously tall woman smiling and standing near her desk. “Hello, Ms. Hever.”

“Who are you?”

“My name is Dex, and I have engineering skills, am a heavy-hitter, and a good conversationalist. My name is at the end of the list because I have been in the float pool, so I thought I would come in and put my two cents in. My most recent occupation hasn’t been in mechanics or engineering.”

Hever cocked her head. “Can you replace the axle on that rover?”

“Sure. Do you have the replacement?”

“On that rack.”

Dex walked over and lifted the rover, checking the angle of the axle. She checked the break and chuckled. “It’s an easy fix, but I am guessing this is a hard-use unit.”

“Yes. Good guess.”

Dex lifted the vehicle to a working level, reinforced the supports, and shook them to make sure they would hold.

Hever watched as Dex got the replacement in position, grabbed some tools, and lay on her back to remove the offending part.

She hummed softly as she got the axle in place, pressed it, fastened it, and pulled at it to make sure it was steady.

The tire went back on, and Dex set the rover back on its wheels.

Hever grinned. “Do you want to take it for a test spin?”

“Wait. What?”

“We have an underground test track. Just for this purpose.” Hever grinned. “So, do you want to?” She dangled the keys and hit a switch on the wall that let the garage door lift to expose the test track.

Dex smiled. “That sounds like fun. Shall we? I love testing my work.”

“Yeah, you won’t say that when I use you to test bullet-proof fabric.”

Dex chuckled. “I am bullet resistant.”

They climbed into the vehicle, and Dex started it up.

Hever opened her com. “Zera, I found a new mechanic.”

“ Who? ”

“Her name is Dex.”

Zera paused. “ Dexandra? She isn’t even on my list. ”

Hever shrugged. “She can do the job.”

“ She’s a wedding planner! ” Zera shouted.

Hever laughed. “I need one of those, too.”

“ No, way. Krix proposed? ”

“He did. I said yes, in case you were wondering.”

Zera sighed. “ I will put it through the payroll. ”

“Good. And next year, we are going to have our department holiday party with all the other departments. This is four years in a row that you have missed R it is hard enough to get clothing in my size.”

She smiled and ate.

Zera looked at her. “I am not sure you are suitable for this position.”

Hever nodded. “I am. She fits.”

Zera looked at Dex. “You don’t know her complications.”

Hever looked to Dex. “You will tell me when we are back at the lab?”

“Sure. It isn’t really a secret.”

Zera sighed and turned serious. “Can I get a plus four for the wedding?”

Dex nodded and made a note on her tablet.

Hever grinned. “This is going to be huge. And fun. But mainly huge. Auntie Salmet called, and she wants the whole family, plus my mom and her new beau. Plus, Leska and her two, so I count over a hundred on my side, and that is before Krix’s side is there.

I think they are good for about another hundred. ”

Zera blinked. “This is going to be big.”

Dex nodded. “I am guessing at close to four hundred after all of the ambassador’s associates are invited.”

Zera smiled. “How many are actives?”

“About seventy percent.”

“You know that already?”

“Sure. Known associates are common online. I have a program to estimate large and intimate family crowds.”

Zera blinked. “You do?”

Dex smiled. “I am a professional. I am very good at this.”

“Fine, ladies, but keep R&D going. I am running a business here.”