The Geek Tycoon Read Online Free PDF Page A

in disbelief. He’d bought his share of balky electronics and he hadn’t been able to sleep until he’d made them work. He couldn’t comprehend how she could just leave her components sitting for days.
    “Don’t look at me like that. I feel stupid enough already.”
    “You’re not stupid.”
    “I am, too! Thousands of dollars of non-working equipment sits in my living room because I thought I could put it together. I told the delivery guys that I didn’t need their help, even though the service came included, so I suppose the adult thing would be to call them, but my pride won’t let me. See? Stupid!” She downed the last of her beer.
    “Would it hurt your pride if I put it together?”
    She gazed at him. “Yes.”
    “Look, Charlotte, it won’t –”
    “But not as much as if I called the guys from the store.”
    “All righty, then.” He pushed away his beer mug. “Let’s go.”
    “Now?”
    “Of course now. You need that system up and running ASAP.” He grabbed his jacket and started to slide out of the booth.
    “Wouldn’t you rather come by this weekend?”
    “That’s three days away!”
    “So?”
    “So it would drive me nuts between now and then, that’s what.”
    “Now that you mention it, you do have a sort of manic gleam in your eye.”
    She picked up her coat and purse. “But it’s past eight already. This could take hours.”
    “I doubt it.”
    “Ouch.” She slid out of the booth and laid her purse down while she put on her coat.
    “Sorry.” He managed to get there in time to help her with one sleeve. “Didn’t mean to insult your efforts.”
    “That’s okay.” As she turned to smile at him, her silky hair tickled the back of his hand.
    His pulse rate shot into the red zone and he fought the urge to run his fingers through that glorious hair.
    Fortunately she stepped away immediately and began buttoning her coat. “If my pride’s going to be wounded, I’d rather you do the wounding than those other guys. I could tell from their attitude that they doubted I could manage the job. I don’t want to give them the satisfaction of being right.”
    “For all you know, it’s one toggle switch away from running perfectly, which means you almost did the whole thing yourself.” He reached in his back pocket for his wallet.
    “Put that away. This is on me.” She laid money on the table.
    “Nope.” He picked up the bills and tried to give them back to her.
    She waved off his efforts. “You’re going to get my home theater up and running so let me treat.”
    “If that’s your reasoning, I should pay for dinner. Tackling your electronics is my kind of fun.”
    “I believe you.” She folded her arms so he couldn’t hand her the money. “But you let your other friends pay sometimes, so why not me?”
    She had him there. He had no choice but to accept unless he wanted to admit that in his mind it was a date, and the best one he’d had in a while. The only one he’d had in a while, come to think of it. Over the years he’d tried and failed to find a substitute for Charlotte. Now that he saw her five days a week, he wasn’t even motivated to try.
    “All right.” He put the cash back on the table. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” She turned and led the way toward the front door. Once they were outside, she glanced at him. “In case we get separated on the way over, do you know where I live?”
    “I have a vague idea.” He knew exactly where she lived, in a townhouse complex about ten minutes away. When she was married it hadn’t mattered where she was located, but after her divorce he’d made it his business to find out her new address.
    She gave him specific directions and he nodded as if memorizing them. “Got it.”
    “I have a two-car garage, so just pull into the empty space.”
    “Will do.”
    “See you shortly.” She hurried toward her Prius and he walked to his Maserati.
    Her car’s distinctive hatchback design made it easy to follow in traffic.