Page 12 of Adam’s Obsession

For their date.

For tonight.

How on earth could she have forgotten?

Though, while the prospect of finally hearing Savage’s voiceexcited her, there was always the possibility he might sound like a munchkin onhelium. The latter would, no doubt, ruin the fantasy. Was she willing to riskit? Just so she could have both hands free?

She contemplated the conundrum—like, for a second—anddecided that yes, it was worth it.

So she went in search of Jack Maris.

In normal circumstances, Jack was the last person in theworld she would go to—for anything. But if she wanted to get a copy of thatapplication for her laptop, she would have to talk to Adam or Jack. And shewasn’t going to talk to Adam. Yikes. The thought gave her palpitations.

Oh, Jack was a nice guy—most of the time—but he did have hisissues. As cofounder and lead programmer for Trillo–Maris, he was thedefinitive computer geek, right down to all the classic stereotypes—brilliantcode writing, superiority complex, extreme social insecurity, obsession withprefabricated microwavable sandwich pockets. The usual. When it came to women,he was stuck in adolescence, weebling between painful shyness and clueless,cheesy come-ons.

She really wasn’t looking forward to this.

But Savage was worth it.

He’d damn well better appreciate it.

She found Jack in the lunchroom, nuking a cardboard-flavoredsandwich in the microwave.

“Hey, Jack.”

His eyes widened behind the thick lenses of his glasses.“Hey, hot stuff. What’s the haps?”

Katherine didn’t roll her eyes but just barely. “I waswondering if you could help me out.”

Jack sidled closer and she caught a whiff of…onions? “Whatdo you need, baby?” He waggled his bushy eyebrows.

Dear God. This was going to be difficult. Katherine suckedin a deep breath—a huge mistake. Jack’s eyes locked on to her breasts andboggled. He licked his lips and the tips of his ears went red.

Katherine quickly adopted her most professional demeanor. “Ineed to get a copy of the VoIP software for my laptop.”

In a heartbeat, his expression morphed from expectant tosuspicious. He put out his lower lip. “Did Adam ask you to run a programanalysis?”

She hesitated. She could lie and say yes but that might sendJack running to Adam to whine about “being spied on” like the last time Adamhad ordered a program analysis of one of Jack’s projects. She would hate forAdam to think of her as a liar, so she opted for the truth. Part of the truth.“No. I just need a VoIP. I researched it and discovered yours is the best.”

Jack preened like a proud, portly peacock. “It is, isn’tit?”

“Of course.”

“Do you want the original version or the beta?”

Katherine shrugged. Whatever. Computer nerd wordsmade her brain hurt. “It doesn’t matter.”

Crossing his arms over his doughy chest, he stared at her.Katherine could see the tiny wheels turning in his overheated brain. His eyesnarrowed and he pinned her with a hungry stare. “Here’s the way I see it. IfAdam didn’t order it and I go ahead and give you the beta, I’d be doing you ahuge favor.”

Uh oh.

“And if I’m doing you a huge favor, it stands to reason youshould reciprocate.”

Double uh oh.

Katherine frowned. “What exactly did you have in mind?”

“Oh, I don’t know. How about a date?”