Chapter 6

SIX

C at Reeves stepped into the bustling lobby of “Escape the Big Apple,” her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The team-building event had sounded fun when it was first announced, but now, faced with the prospect of being locked in a room with Keir Sharpe, her mind raced with possibilities both thrilling and terrifying.

“Cat!” Beck’s voice cut through her reverie. “Glad you could make it. You’re with the boss for this one.” He winked, a mischievous glint in his eye that made Cat wonder if he knew something she didn’t.

“Oh, um, great,” she managed, trying to keep her voice steady. “Where is Keir?”

As if summoned by her words, Keir appeared beside her, his presence instantly setting her nerves on edge. “Ready to put that brilliant mind of yours to work, Cat?” he asked, his smile warm and inviting.

Cat nodded, not trusting herself to speak. As they were led to their assigned room, she couldn’t help but notice how good Keir looked in his casual attire – designer jeans and a soft-looking sweater that made her want to reach out and touch him. She quickly shoved that thought aside. This was a work event, for crying out loud. She needed to focus.

The door closed behind them with a definitive click, and Cat found herself alone with Keir in a room designed to look like a 1920’s speakeasy. Dim lighting, vintage posters, and the faint sound of jazz music set the mood.

“Well,” Keir said, rubbing his hands together, “shall we get started?”

Cat nodded, forcing herself to concentrate on the task at hand. She moved to examine a nearby shelf, acutely aware of Keir’s presence as he began searching another part of the room. The puzzles were challenging, requiring them to work together to decipher clues and unlock various compartments.

As they worked, Cat found herself relaxing slightly. This was familiar territory – problem-solving and using her intellect. She could do this. But then Keir would brush past her, or lean in close to examine a clue she’d found, and her heart would start racing all over again.

“You know,” Keir said casually as they pondered over a particularly tricky puzzle, “I’m surprised someone as smart and beautiful as you is single. If you don’t mind me asking, why is that?”

Cat froze, caught off guard by the personal question. Was he flirting with her? Or was this just casual conversation? She couldn’t tell, and it was driving her crazy.

Taking a deep breath, she decided to be honest. “Well, it’s not exactly by choice,” she admitted, fiddling with a small, locked box to avoid meeting his eyes. “I have pretty bad social anxiety, especially in crowds or with people I don’t know well. It makes dating... challenging.”

Keir’s expression softened. “That must be difficult. I’m sorry you have to deal with that.”

Cat shrugged, surprised by how easy it was to open up to him. “It’s not all bad. I’ve learned to manage it over the years. But it did contribute to my last relationship ending badly. After that, I just threw myself into work. It was easier, you know?”

Keir nodded, his eyes never leaving her face. “I can understand that. Work is a safe haven when the rest of the world feels overwhelming.”

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...

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.