Page 15 of Blazing Joysticks
A loud bang from outside the room made them both jump. “Keir? Cat? We’ve got the power back on. You should be able to open the door now,” Beck’s voice called through the intercom.
Reality reasserted itself once again. Cat pulled her hand back, clearing her throat awkwardly. “We should, um, probably join the others.”
Keir nodded, looking as flustered as she felt. “Right, yes. Of course.”
As they made their way out to rejoin the rest of the team, Cat’s mind swirled. What had just happened? What would have happened if they hadn’t been interrupted? And how was she supposed to go back to being just coworkers after this?
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of team-building exercises. Cat threw herself into the technical skills tests, grateful for the distraction. With her newfound comfort around her teammates, she was able to showcase her abilities confidently, earning impressed looks from both her colleagues and Keir.
As the event wound down, Cat gathered her things, ready to head home and process everything that had happened. But as she made her way to the exit, Keir appeared at her side.
“Heading out?” he asked, his voice sending a now-familiar thrill through her.
Cat nodded. “Yeah, I was going to catch a cab home.”
Keir glanced at his watch, frowning slightly. “It’s rush hour. Why don’t you let me give you a ride?”
Every logical part of Cat’s brain screamed this was a bad idea. Being alone with Keir in a car after everything that had happened today? It was asking for trouble.
“Are you sure?” she heard herself asking. “I don’t want to put you out.”
Keir smiled, that warm, genuine smile that never failed to make her heart skip a beat. “It’s no trouble at all. I’d like to make sure you get home safely.”
Against her better judgment, Cat found herself nodding. “Okay. Thank you.”
As they walked to Keir’s car, Cat’s body thrummed with nervous energy. She didn’t know what to expect from this ride home, but she had a feeling that whatever happened, things between her and Keir would never be quite the same again.
SEVEN
Cat’s heart raced as Keir’s sleek sports car glided through the New York City traffic. The interior smelled of leather and his cologne, a heady combination that made it hard for her to focus. She stared out the window, trying to calm her nerves.
“So,” Keir’s voice broke through her reverie, “what are your dinner plans for tonight?”
Cat shrugged, turning to face him. “Oh, you know, probably just a bowl of cereal. I’m not much of a cook.”
Keir’s eyebrows shot up in mock horror. “Cereal? After a day like today? I can’t allow that.” He grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. “There’s this amazing Italian place right around the corner from your building. What do you say we grab a bite there instead?”
Every logical part of Cat’s brain screamed that this was a bad idea. Dinner with her boss? Alone? But the way Keir was looking at her, hopeful and warm, made her throw caution to the wind.
“You know what? That sounds great,” she heard herself say.
The restaurant was intimate and cozy with soft lighting and the gentle strains of Italian music filling the air. The maître d’ greeted Keir by name, leading them to a secluded corner table.
“Ah, Keir.” A jovial man approached their table, clasping Keir’s hand warmly. “It’s been too long. And who is this lovely lady?”
“Marco, this is Cat.” Keir introduced her, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back. The touch sent shivers up her spine. “Cat, Marco owns this little slice of heaven.”
Marco beamed at her. “Any friend of Keir’s is family here. I’ll bring you my best wine on the house.”
As Marco bustled away, Cat raised an eyebrow at Keir. “I’m getting the feeling you didn’t just stumble upon this place online.”
Keir chuckled, the sound low and rich. “Let’s just say I have a weakness for good Italian food.”
The wine, as promised, was exquisite. Cat felt herself relaxing as the conversation flowed easily between them. Maybe it was the wine or the romantic atmosphere, but she found herself noticing things about Keir she’d tried to ignore before - the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, how his hands moved expressively as he talked.
“You know,” Keir said, leaning in slightly, “you look absolutely stunning in this light.”
Cat felt a blush creep up her cheeks. Two could play at this game. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she replied, surprised by her own boldness. “That shirt really brings out your eyes.”