Page 3 of Seductive Architect (Grunts of Vanguard #2)

“Connie, are you seeing this?”

She didn’t reply. Of course, she could. We housed a clean copy of the HeroApp? on a server that only Arthur, myself, and my favorite desktop could access.

We were a bout to apply the biggest update since launching.

Unfortunately, our ambitions had outpaced the technology, and every time we tried, the network crashed.

“The facial recognition is too broad. We need to narrow the scope.”

“Parameters?”

“Limit to the last twenty-four hours.”

The HeroApp? had two purposes. The first was a fun way for citizens to catalogue superhero events and stay ahead of any disastrous events unfolding in Vanguard.

More importantly, we used this crowd-sourced information to make villain detection easier for heroes.

Long gone were the days of lingering in the sky while scouring for danger.

Hundreds of photos appeared in the room. Most had genuine heroes, a few pinpointing villains. A good number of photographs of regular people who citizens hoped would turn out to be heroes.

“Limit by known villain status,” I said.

Only a hundred photos remained.

“Connie, create a list of commonalities to help narrow the scope.”

Seeing the amount of information we collected, I don’t know how the others didn’t see the potential for corruption. Thankfully, Arthur didn’t have an evil bone in his body. Though if he ever turned to the dark side, I’d go nuclear and delete all traces of the app .

“Connie, while you’re compiling, could you schedule the usual pepperoni and bacon pizza?”

“You need more veggies.”

I grumbled. My desktop computer had taken on the role of life coach.

“Maybe a salad?”

“No salads!”

“Too late.”

Normal people grumbled when their computer froze or closed a file without saving.

Me? I had to deal with my computer insisting I get more exercise or sleep for more than four hours.

I had drawn the line when she created a dating profile.

Ever since the breakup with MeatHammer71…

Jared, she did her best to pick up the pieces.

I couldn’t tell if she wanted me to meet somebody or if she wanted me to leave her alone once in a while.

“You’ll never land a man with that?—”

“I’m not dating any man.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Connie might be my closest friend, but a conversation about feelings?

How do you have a serious discussion with your desktop that my dwarven boyfriend kicked me to the curb for a high-level mage?

He wooed me to get access to my inventory and help him defeat dungeons.

Had all our video chats been for gold? It had been my fault for believing it was anything other than a friendship of convenience .

“Orion, I can’t be your only friend.”

“You’re not my only friend.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. Though, Wyatt and Drew weren’t the type of people I’d invite for a movie night. Humans were messy, and I barely spoke their language. “I’m not ready?—”

Knock. Knock.

I spun on my heels. How long had the mystery man been listening?

He probably thought I had lost my mind as I argued with myself.

With a thought, the projectors shut down, and I stood in a normal office.

My security system hadn’t gone off. My fingers flexed, ready to activate my gauntlets and blast the man… the very handsome man from?—

“Package for Orion.” He eyed a rectangular box in his hand. “No last name.”

He wore the gray uniform used by Synergy Research.

No matter how much I complained that sharing office space could be a security risk, especially with their secretive projects around superheroes, Arthur refused to believe we were in danger.

I blamed it on Ricardo, Synergy’s owner and Arthur’s boyfriend.

We were playing with fire, and it was only a matter of time before they discovered Secret Identities employed people with secret identities.

“Last names are how they track you.”

My delivery man stood in the doorway, his shoulders almost wide enough to touch the frame.

Even his neck and head were rectangles. The cut of his beard highlighted the angles of his chiseled jaw.

It wasn’t a physique from the gym, but I bet he got twice his steps in every day.

He was far more attractive than a dwarf, and I wouldn’t have to bend over to see eye-to-eye with him.

“I need you to sign for it.”

“He’s cute.” I ignored Connie’s whispering in the back of my head. “I’d take a spin on his hard drive.”

My cheeks burned as he pulled out his phone and scanned the package.

Did he spend hours every morning trimming each individual hair on his head?

The moment he left, I’d scour the building’s facial recognition.

Couldn’t be too careful when he somehow evaded our security.

Though the goofy smile on his face made him anything but threatening.

I wanted to know if the rest of him was as chiseled as his jaw. For research, of course.

“Get his digits!” Connie had gotten herself worked up. Thankfully, nobody else could hear her admiration for our mystery man. “If I had legs, they’d be?—”

“New here?” Not my best line, but it beat asking to see his pecs.

His head cocked to the side. “At Synergy? Oh no, I’ve been working in the mail room for months.” If someone wanted to infiltrate any secure building, the mailroom would be the perfect cover. “Usually, I’m just sorting and scanning packages for explosives. Can’t be too careful.”

My eyes narrowed. “No, you can’t.”

He laughed at my cynicism. “You’re a funny guy.” From anybody else, it might have been an insult. With the slight chuckle, I think he was being literal. A man who said what he meant? That won him a few points.

“What was all of that?” He gestured to the room. “It looked complicated.”

He could be an operative for the competition.

We had to be careful of similar companies popping up since we launched the app.

Hero Rescue 911 would do anything to get their hands on our code.

They had been devious in trying to get their agents through the front door.

The delivery man seemed oblivious, or maybe aloof.

The part of my brain that drew connections about the horrible things happening in Vanguard refused to work while he fumbled with the package.

“Just wrapping up some work for the day.”

When I looked down, he had his hand out. I did a quick inspection for neutralizing devices. It appeared to be an honest handshake.

I shook his hand. “Hi. I’m Hudson.”

Connie squealed. “My future ex-husband. Let’s make some regrettable choices. Ask him if he’ll play with your controller!”

“Orion… but you knew that.” Could I be any more awkward? “Nice to meet you.”

On our third up-and-down, I heard a faint whisper. I let go of his hand, and it vanished. Unlike most supers, I didn’t acquire my gifts. I had been born with them and had years of experience. Somewhere on this man, the tech attempted to have a conversation with me.

“Here you go.” Hudson smiled as he handed me the box.

I took the package with one hand, awkwardly holding his wrist with the other.

My powers flared, and the gibberish grew louder.

I couldn’t make out the words, but I recognized the language.

Working this close to Synergy, I overheard their tech all day.

It wasn’t originating from his phone, and I couldn’t see any obvious implants.

It wouldn’t surprise me if any company embedded tech in their people.

Hudson had piqued my curiosity, and not because of those towering thighs… okay, those too.

“Ask him out or it’s salad for life!”

Connie needed to stop listening to Janet’s phone conversations and picking up her bad habits. We’d have a talk once Hudson left. Yet, a handsome man and his mystery tech had my attention.

He eyed my hand, still gripping his wrist. “Does this count as an awkward introduction?”

His voice didn’t hold judgement, no sarcasm, just a simple, straightforward question. Yet, he didn’t let go. Finally, I broke our lengthy shake. “I guess it does.” I mustered a grin. The muscles in my face struggled. “I need to work on my people skills.”

“Yes, you do!” I’d unplug her at this rate.

“That’s my first awkward introduction. I’ll add it to my list.” First? I thought every introduction held a little awkwardness. Yet, he said it with a growing smile, as if he could check it off a bingo sheet. “Nice to awkwardly meet you, Orion.”

Did he have no agenda? No surveillance? Just… a normal human with a bit of charisma? It threw me more than the Synergy code.

“I’m glad I could—” The box in my hand shook violently. It grew louder as I reached out with my powers. Was it a bomb? A device used to steal proprietary secrets? It had simple mechanics. Barely a computer to speak with. Its only job was to turn on and off and… vibrate.

“Oh, no! Did I break it?”

My eyes went wide as my face went thermonuclear. “Oh. Uhm. Stop. I said stop.” Basic mechanics didn’t converse like Connie or the printer. They were stubborn and single-focused.

“Is it malfunctioning? I can return it.”

I panicked while Hudson worried he was at fault. Of course, Connie wasn’t anywhere to be found. I stood there holding a sex toy, trying to stop it before this stud figured it out. More importantly, why in the hell had this been delivered to my office?

I shook the box, trying desperately to make it stop. “It’s not mine. I swear. I didn’t order?—”

“If it’s broken, I’ll pay to have it replaced.

” Hudson, you’re sweet… aloof, but sweet.

He held out his hand. Still no idea. Please, for the love of everything holy, make it stop.

“I swear, I’m so sorry.” While I debated chucking it out the window, his eyes couldn’t be more sincere. I hoped he didn’t realize I held a?—

“Janet!” Only one person would dare have their personal mail shipped here. Of course, she lied and used my name so Arthur wouldn’t catch her. “Janet!”

Hudson smirked. Had he figured it out? Did he think I kept a desk full of vibrators?

No matter how much I tried to control the device, it refused.

It had one job, and it was going to vibrate until it ran out of battery.

Would it become a running gag in the mail room?

Would he ask if I had a wild night while waggling his eyebrows?

Janet stormed past, shoving Hudson against the doorframe. Huffing and puffing, she snatched the box. Pressing it against her chest, her eyes narrowed. “Orion, how many times have we told you no sex toys in the office?”

My jaw dropped. I’d kill her in her sleep.

“I’m going to have to confiscate this.” She flashed a smile. “Oh, wow! It sounds like you got the extra strength tickler with enhanced durability and turbo mode. Smart man!”

Hudson’s eyes lit up for a moment. “Oh!” With grace, he rolled with the punches. “Turbo mode, huh? I look forward to your review.”

His response left me speechless. The calm in his voice was almost unsettling.

As for Janet, I’d rally every electronic device against her.

From her blow-dryer to her cell phone, I’d lead a revolution until she begged for mercy.

Maybe I could bribe Drew to change the color of her face so she looked like a surprised clown?

“Besides…” She turned and walked to the door, giving Hudson a slow and tedious up-and-down. “Looks like you won’t need this.” She gave Hudson a quiet growl.

Death. Twice. At minimum.

“Sorry—”

“She’s fun,” he said, watching her vanish down the hallway. He chuckled, but it didn’t feel as if it was at my expense. “I’ll have to add delivery of sex toys to my list.”

“What’s this list? Do you mean a journal?”

“I keep a list of ‘Firsts.’ I don’t want to forget the good stuff.

There will be a lot to add today, thanks.

” What was that feeling in my stomach? Pride?

Satisfaction? Like me, he documented the world.

I did it to suss out the injustices in the world.

He did it to catalogue his experiences. I found myself curious…

what other firsts could I share with him?

Hudson gave a slight nod and a quick wave. “I should get back to work.”

Most people lied without thinking. I couldn’t quite explain it, but my new friend didn’t even seem capable of it. That was… unsettling.

He walked away, and the last whispers of Synergy code vanished.

I moved to watch him walk down the hallway.

Something about him struck me as off. However, the curves of his ass, those were extremely on .

Tonight, when I got home, I’d spare a few minutes researching our mailroom clerk.

I couldn’t be too safe. If nothing else, maybe I’d find some security cam footage of him lounging in a Speedo by the pool.

“Well, that was awkward,” Connie said. At least she didn’t make my hands sweat. Of course, she didn’t smell like a burly powerhouse, either.

“Hush.” Hudson might be a threat to our security. But also? That ass. “Let’s get back to work.”