“Look. I said I was sorry and I meant it. So where do we go from here?”

The elevator stopped and the door opened.

“We get off of the elevator,” Eric answered. He held up his hand allowing Tanner to leave first.

She smiled and stepped off the elevator. Eric followed.

“I mean…can we at least work together? Be professional. Friendly. See what else develops?” Tanner asked.

“We have to work together. Whitley has given you total access. But I don’t think anything else will develop. I can’t start ‘dating’ and focus on what needs to be done here.”

Tanner looked at Eric and held up her finger. “Can’t date a flake and focus on what needs to be done here.”

Eric smiled. “Couldn’t have said it any better.”

“Professionalism.” Tanner extended her hand and Eric shook it. “But don’t get upset if I work on friendly.” Tanner lifted her left hand to touch Eric’s arm. Her thumbnail sliced a gash in the sleeve of his jacket. She quickly pulled her hand back. “Oops. Sorry about that.”

Eric looked at the hole in his jacket. “Don’t work too hard on friendly.” He reached out for her left hand. She gave her hand to him and he examined it. After a moment he ran his index finger along the titanium nails at the end of each of her fingers.

“Is there any pain?” he asked.

“Not any more.”

He turned her hand over and gently traced a pattern across her fingers and palm with his own index finger. “How much sensation have you gotten back?”

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