Page 21 of High Country Escape

“No.” Dalton grimaced. “Not exactly. I told you it’s complicated. And none of your business.”

“But you really like her, right?” Bethany said.

He didn’t say anything.

“You do,” Bethany said. “I can tell.”

He turned to glare at his sister. “How can you tell?”

“Because you’re acting the same way you did when Amanda Dietrich went to the prom with Derek Robinson. You wanted to ask her out but didn’t work up the nerve soon enough and she ended up going with him instead.”

“That was in tenth grade!” Dalton protested.

Bethany shrugged. “You’re still just as mopey.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” he said.

“If you like her, just be her friend,” Carter said. “Give things time to develop.”

“We are friends,” he said. “She knows she can call me anytime.”

Carter groaned.

“What? Why are you groaning?” Dalton asked.

“You are so clueless. You don’t want to depend on her to call you. You call her.”

“I don’t want to come off as a stalker.”

“You won’t come off as a creep if you have a good reason to call,” Bethany said.

“I can handle my relationships on my own,” Dalton said. “I don’t need you two managing my life.”

“You’re not doing such a great job so far,” Carter said. “What kind of work does Roxanne do?”

“She’s a programmer.”

“That’s perfect!” Bethany’s voice rose almost to a squeal. “The two of you can geek out together.”

“I’ve got it,” Carter said. “Call her up and tell her you need help figuring out a problem with the new software you’re developing.”

“I don’t have a problem with my new software,” Dalton protested.

“Caleb said the calendar doesn’t sync up like it’s supposed to all the time,” Carter said.

“I’m going to fix that.”

“Ask Roxanne to help you,” Bethany said. “It’s a way for the two of you to spend time together, but not a date.”

“I don’t need to trick a woman into spending time with me,” he said.

“You wouldn’t be tricking her,” Bethany said. “Isn’t it a good idea to have another set of eyes look at your project? She’ll help make it even better.”

“I’m going to handle this my way,” he said. “You two need to stay out of it.”

Bethany sighed and sat back. “We’re just trying to help.”

“Sometimes you’re too cautious for your own good,” Carter said.