Page 14 of Blazing Joysticks

There was something in his tone that made Cat look up, meeting his gaze. For a moment, she felt like he truly understood her in a way few people ever had. The intensity of his hazel eyes made her breath catch in her throat.

Desperate to break the tension, Cat blurted out, “What about you? I find it hard to believe women aren’t beating down your door.”

Keir chuckled, the sound sending a pleasant shiver down Cat’s spine. “Oh, there are plenty of women interested in dating the CEO of Sharpe Drakon Games,” he said wryly. “But finding someone who’s interested in me, Keir, the person? That’s a bit more challenging.”

He paused, then added with a smile that made Cat’s heart flutter, “Though I’d gladly open the door for the right woman.”

Was he looking at her more intently as he said that? Cat couldn’t be sure. She turned back to the puzzle box, her cheeks burning, trying to ignore the way her pulse had quickened at his words.

They continued working through the room’s challenges, their natural competitiveness driving them to solve each puzzle faster than the last. Cat found herself genuinely enjoying the experience, laughing at Keir’s jokes and feeling a surge of pride every time they cracked a particularly difficult clue.

As they neared the final puzzle, Cat realized with a start that she’d completely forgotten about her anxiety. Working with Keir felt natural and easy. They complemented each other’s strengths, anticipating each other’s thoughts in a way that felt almost magical.

Finally, with a satisfying click, the last lock opened. “We did it!” Cat exclaimed, turning to Keir with a triumphant grin.

Without thinking, she threw her arms around him in an exuberant hug. Keir’s arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close, and suddenly Cat was acutely aware of every point of contact between their bodies. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her neck, smell the intoxicating scent of his cologne.

As they pulled back slightly, Cat found herself mere inches from Keir’s face. His eyes, usually a warm hazel, seemed to glow with an otherworldly light. Cat’s gaze dropped to his lips, and for one heart-stopping moment, she thought he might kiss her.

The urge to close that small distance was overwhelming. Cat had been dreaming about kissing Keir since her first day at Sharpe Drakon, imagining how his lips would feel against hers, wondering if he’d taste as good as he smelled. Her tongue darted out to wet her suddenly dry lips, and she saw Keir’s eyes track the movement.

Reality crashed back in like a bucket of cold water. This was her boss. She couldn’t kiss her boss, no matter how much she wanted to. With a herculean effort, Cat stepped back, breaking the embrace.

“We, um, we should probably let them know we’ve finished,” she said, hating how breathless she sounded.

Keir nodded, looking a bit dazed himself. “Yeah.”

As he moved to the door to signal their completion, Cat took a moment to collect herself. What was she thinking? She couldn’t afford to jeopardize this job, not when she was finally doing work she truly loved. But it was getting harder and harder to ignore the way Keir made her feel.

She thought about all the times he’d stopped by her desk over the past weeks, offering advice or just a friendly smile. The way his hand would sometimes graze hers as they looked over code together, sending sparks of electricity through her body. How thinking about kissing him had become a nightly ritual, leaving her frustrated and yearning.

Just as Keir reached for the door handle, the lights flickered and went out. Emergency lighting kicked in, bathing the room in an eerie red glow.

“What the...” Keir muttered, trying the door. It remained stubbornly shut. “It seems we might be stuck here for a bit longer.”

Cat’s heart rate, which had just started to slow, kicked into overdrive again. Trapped in a small room with Keir Sharpe? This had to be some kind of cosmic joke.

Keir pulled out his phone, tapping out a quick message. “I’ve let Beck know about the situation. They’re working on getting us out, but it might take a little while. Looks like there’s been some kind of power surge affecting the whole building.”

He turned to Cat, concern evident in his expression. “Are you okay? I know small spaces can be challenging with anxiety.”

Cat took a deep breath, touched by his thoughtfulness. “I’m all right,” she assured him. “It helps that I’m not alone and that I know what’s going on. Uncertainty is usually what triggers me the most.”

Keir nodded, looking relieved. “Well, since we’re stuck here, we might as well make ourselves comfortable. There are some sodas in that mini-fridge over there – part of one of the puzzles, I think. Shall we?”

They settled onto a small loveseat, the only seating in the room, their thighs just barely touching. Cat tried not to focus on the point of contact, instead concentrating on the cool can in her hands.

“You know,” Keir said after a moment, “I understand more than you might think about the social anxiety. I actually really dislike crowds myself.”

Cat looked at him in surprise. “Really? But you always seem so confident at events and presentations.”

Keir chuckled ruefully. “Years of practice. My job requires me to be an extrovert, to network and schmooze. But it takes a toll. That’s why I often take time off after big events, just to decompress and spend some time alone.”

Cat nodded, a wave of empathy washing over her. “I know exactly what you mean. That overwhelmed feeling, like you need to retreat and recharge.”

Without thinking, she reached out and placed her hand on top of his. Their eyes met, and Cat felt that same electric connection she’d experienced earlier. But this time, it wasn’t just physical attraction. It was a deeper sense of understanding, of being truly seen.

The moment stretched between them, heavy with unspoken possibilities. Cat found herself leaning in slightly, drawn by some invisible force. Keir’s eyes darkened, his gaze dropping to her lips...

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