Page 25 of High Country Escape

She scooted her chair closer and leaned toward the screen to scrutinize the lines of code showing there. But even as she tried to focus on the code, she was aware of his thigh next to hers and the warmth of his skin so close to her. She inhaled a steadying breath and caught the scent of his soap or shampoo and the clean cotton of his clothing.

Normally, being too close to people—especially people she didn’t know well—was uncomfortable for her. But she was drawn to Dalton. There was physical attraction, but also the comfort of being accepted just as she was. There was no burdenof expectations with him. The idea had a heady novelty that kept her off-balance.

She forced herself to read the code and translate it into the functions it represented. She didn’t trust herself to read people accurately, but she knew programming. The correct code produced the desired results, every time. “Tell me what this section of the program is doing,” she said.

“Sure.” He clicked from the code to the actual page. “This is where we log in details of the accident. There’s a spot here to put the date, and that’s supposed to automatically make it possible to print a report or pull up types of calls sorted by date.”

“Huh.” She reached past him to switch back to the string of code, then straightened. “I see your problem. You left something out.” She began typing in the correct string of code, fingers lightning-fast on the keys.

“How did I miss that?” he asked.

“You know it’ssupposedto be there, so your mind fills in the blank and makes you think it is there,” she said. “That’s my theory, anyway.” She sat back. “Is that the only place you’re having a problem?”

“There are two others,” he said. “I bet it’s the same problem.”

He navigated to the other trouble areas. One had the same problem, which he quickly corrected. The second page had a different string of corrupt code, but she spotted it and together they rewrote the correct instructions.

“Thanks,” he said when the work was done.

“You’d have figured out the mistake on your own eventually,” she said.

“Maybe, but you helped me solve the problem a lot faster.” He turned toward her and she couldn’t look away. He had such beautiful eyes—green flecked with gold, fringed with thick, dark lashes, magnified by his glasses. But the best thing about hiseyes was the way he looked at her, as if she was something amazing.

Heat rose to her cheeks at the thought, and her gaze shifted to his lips. How would he react if she leaned forward and kissed him? She had never spontaneously kissed a guy before but right now, with this man, that was exactly what she wanted. Would he think she was coming on too strong? Would things get out of hand too quickly?

Was she overanalyzing this?

Yes. Just kiss him already.

She closed her eyes and leaned closer.Here goes nothing...

The jangle of a phone that sounded like it was coming from the narrow space between them sent her reeling back, gasping, eyes wide-open. Dalton swore fluently and groped for the pocket of his jeans and pulled out his phone. He swore again, then looked at her. “Sorry about that. It’s my mom.”

“That’s okay.” She slid her chair a little farther back. “Go ahead and answer.” She had to raise her voice to be heard over the insistent chiming of the phone.

“If I don’t, she’ll just keep calling.” He swiped at the screen. “Hi, Mom, I’m kind of busy right now.”

“Too busy to eat?” The voice of the woman on the other end of the phone sounded clearly in the small room. Even though Roxanne pretended to be focused on the computer screen once more, she couldn’t help overhearing. “I’m calling to invite you to dinner.”

“I’ll just grab something here,” Dalton said.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m making your favorite—lasagna. And your brothers and sister are coming. You can bring whoever owns that white car that’s been parked at your place all afternoon.”

Roxanne let out a startled laugh.

Sorry,Dalton mouthed.

“I’ll wait while you ask her to dinner. Or him. No judging.”

Roxanne did laugh then. She couldn’t help it. Dalton’s face was red. “Sorry,” he said again, out loud this time.

“It’s all right,” she said. “I’d love to have dinner with your family.”

“I’ll expect you both in half an hour,” his mother said and ended the call.

Dalton laid the phone on the desk. “You don’t have to go,” he said. “I’ll make some excuse to Mom.”

“You don’t want me to go?” The idea disappointed her.