The Geek Tycoon Read Online Free PDF Page B

admitted her pride was involved. How would she feel if he accomplished in minutes what she’d labored over for days?
    Besides, once he was finished he had no excuse to stay and he liked being in Charlotte’s house. No big surprise, there. Glancing up from the papers she’d given him, he frowned. “I’d hoped this would be a quick fix, but these instructions are garbage.”
    “If you’re saying that to soothe my battered ego, then thanks.”
    “I’m saying it because it’s true. No wonder you had trouble. I’ll be better off winging it.”
    “Sure you don’t want to put it off until this weekend?”
    He scowled at her.
    “Okay, okay. Just asking.”
    “I could use a little more light, though.”
    “Sure. I have recessed lights in the ceiling. I’ll turn those on.” In moments she’d increased the wattage considerably. “Anything else you need?”
    He put down the directions and rolled back his sleeves. “I’ll let you know if I do.”
    “Then I’ll just sit here and watch the master at work.” Kicking off her shoes, she curled up on the sofa.
    “It won’t be very exciting. You might want to grab a book to read.”
    “That seems rude.”
    “Trust me, it isn’t. Once I get into this I’ll forget you’re even there.” He wasn’t sure that was true, but he hoped it would be. He wasn’t used to having someone watch his every move. When that someone was Charlotte, the experience could get intense.
    “In that case, I know exactly what I’ll do. If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen.”
    “Doing what?”
    “You’ll find out eventually.” Leaving her shoes beside the sofa, she walked barefoot through the dining room and into the kitchen where she began opening cupboards and rattling pans.
    He couldn’t imagine what she was up to since they’d just eaten, but having her out of the room was a relief. Although he had excellent powers of concentration under normal conditions, being alone in this house with Charlotte was frying his circuits. Instead of thinking about electronics he was thinking about sex.
    A carpeted staircase that led to the second floor drew his attention. With no other doorways nearby, he made a guess that the bedrooms were upstairs. That information didn’t affect his work unless she had wireless speakers in her bedroom. She hadn’t mentioned anything like that, but he’d added that feature to his system.
    He should at least ask. “Do you have speakers upstairs?”
    “Yes,” she called back. “Two in my bedroom. They don’t work, either.”
    “They will.”
    “That would be wonderful.” She turned on a mixer.
    It was a very domestic sound and suddenly he had the oddest feeling, as if he’d stepped into an alternate reality in which he was living with Charlotte. How ridiculous. Just because she drove a Prius didn’t mean she was ready to date a nerd, let alone live with one.
    Blowing out a breath, he got to work. He was deep into the job when the most amazing scent drifted out from the kitchen. As he identified what it was, his mouth began to water. Putting together her entertainment system felt a little like foreplay, although she’d laugh if she knew how it affected him.
    But the buzz he got from configuring components was nothing compared to his visceral reaction to that delicious aroma. He was already jacked up from being alone with her and fooling with her electronics. Now she was baking cookies.

Chapter Four
    C harlotte could have happily watched Tony put components together. When he’d rolled back his sleeves she’d noted with considerable interest the manly look of his forearms. They weren’t bulging with muscles but they appeared strong and capable. Desire had stirred in her. Silly when he’d merely rolled back his sleeves.
    He’d done it so matter-of-factly that he couldn’t have intended to arouse her. Yet the simple action had initiated a surge of sexual awareness that wouldn’t go away. He favored long-sleeved dress shirts these days so she