three lines of data that was not present in the information we found on my ring finger or on yours, but if the data is consecutive enough, they can figure out the missing pieces. If not, we look for alternate images on other machines, and filter for those missing cells.”
Unfolding her own napkin slowly, she frowned. “Do you have to review each piece of data to know what to look for?”
“Not exactly. The program does it. It can catalog and identify the cell numbers, every piece has a unique identifier that we can enter as an if-then statement.” He salted his potatoes before cutting into the omelet.
“Okay, that means if you want blue shoes, and three inch heels come after one inch heels, you know that two inch heels have to come between them or are missing when you review the final product?” Not everything came down to shoes, but it was the first analogy she could think of. The scent of peppers, onions, ham and cheese teased her nostrils and her stomach growled. She took the time to cut into the omelet and steal a bite. Her mouth watered.
Perfect.
She caught him staring at her, a small smile on his lips. “Exactly.”
Okay, maybe computers weren’t that hard after all. She grinned.
“Thank you,” he murmured and took another bite.
She washed down hers with a drink of orange juice. The cold, tart liquid braced her against the flip-flop of her heart. “For what?”
“For being curious. Not a lot of people ask what I do or when they do, they glaze over if I explain it. So, thank you.”
“Well, you’re very welcome. I may not understand it all, but you explain it very well.”
“Shoe analogies and all?” he teased and she couldn’t help laughing.
“I like shoes.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” He picked up his glass. “To shoes.”
Her laughter bubbled up. “To bits and bytes and fingertips and all the other missing pieces you bring home.”
Their glasses clinked together and she relaxed. The day seemed a bit brighter too.
* * *
A book slammed into the floor with a thump and her son of a bitch echoed through the hall. Curious, he stood and stretched. The program code he tried to debug wasn’t cooperating. Neck cracking as he rolled it from side to side, he crossed his office to glance out at the living room where Alyx stood in the center of the room, an encyclopedia in her hands. She faced off against Victor, her expression a grimace of distaste.
“It’s going to break my foot if it keeps falling.” She’d changed since the morning and wore a halter-topped dress and sling-back heels, both in a forest-green shade. The color accented her golden tan and brought out the highlights in her reddish-brown hair.
“Then don’t drop it. When a princess walks, she floats with a casual grace that must seem effortless. You can’t roll your hips or shake your assets, but rather draw the eye with ethereal grace.”
Daniel’s gaze roamed over her. She looked more likely to hit Victor with the book in question than to float with grace.
“Again,” Victor ordered in a tone that brooked no argument. She sighed, but set the book back on her head. Her shoulders pushed back, her chin came up and she began to walk. He knew the moment she became aware of him. Her soft brown eyes widened, and a falter hitched her step. The book wobbled and Daniel held his breath.
She walked toward him—no. She glided forward. Her shoes barely clicked against the tile, each step floating a little more than the last. He locked his jaw, fingers crossing mentally, but when she paused in front of him he grinned. “Very nice.”
“Acceptable.” But this time, Victor sounded pleased.
She ducked her head and caught the book as it slid off her hair, mussing the strands falling toward her eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He folded his arms and leaned against the doorjamb. His palms itched to stroke her face.
Or at least give her a hug.
Better to stand his ground and not do either. He teetered close to
Unfolding her own napkin slowly, she frowned. “Do you have to review each piece of data to know what to look for?”
“Not exactly. The program does it. It can catalog and identify the cell numbers, every piece has a unique identifier that we can enter as an if-then statement.” He salted his potatoes before cutting into the omelet.
“Okay, that means if you want blue shoes, and three inch heels come after one inch heels, you know that two inch heels have to come between them or are missing when you review the final product?” Not everything came down to shoes, but it was the first analogy she could think of. The scent of peppers, onions, ham and cheese teased her nostrils and her stomach growled. She took the time to cut into the omelet and steal a bite. Her mouth watered.
Perfect.
She caught him staring at her, a small smile on his lips. “Exactly.”
Okay, maybe computers weren’t that hard after all. She grinned.
“Thank you,” he murmured and took another bite.
She washed down hers with a drink of orange juice. The cold, tart liquid braced her against the flip-flop of her heart. “For what?”
“For being curious. Not a lot of people ask what I do or when they do, they glaze over if I explain it. So, thank you.”
“Well, you’re very welcome. I may not understand it all, but you explain it very well.”
“Shoe analogies and all?” he teased and she couldn’t help laughing.
“I like shoes.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” He picked up his glass. “To shoes.”
Her laughter bubbled up. “To bits and bytes and fingertips and all the other missing pieces you bring home.”
Their glasses clinked together and she relaxed. The day seemed a bit brighter too.
* * *
A book slammed into the floor with a thump and her son of a bitch echoed through the hall. Curious, he stood and stretched. The program code he tried to debug wasn’t cooperating. Neck cracking as he rolled it from side to side, he crossed his office to glance out at the living room where Alyx stood in the center of the room, an encyclopedia in her hands. She faced off against Victor, her expression a grimace of distaste.
“It’s going to break my foot if it keeps falling.” She’d changed since the morning and wore a halter-topped dress and sling-back heels, both in a forest-green shade. The color accented her golden tan and brought out the highlights in her reddish-brown hair.
“Then don’t drop it. When a princess walks, she floats with a casual grace that must seem effortless. You can’t roll your hips or shake your assets, but rather draw the eye with ethereal grace.”
Daniel’s gaze roamed over her. She looked more likely to hit Victor with the book in question than to float with grace.
“Again,” Victor ordered in a tone that brooked no argument. She sighed, but set the book back on her head. Her shoulders pushed back, her chin came up and she began to walk. He knew the moment she became aware of him. Her soft brown eyes widened, and a falter hitched her step. The book wobbled and Daniel held his breath.
She walked toward him—no. She glided forward. Her shoes barely clicked against the tile, each step floating a little more than the last. He locked his jaw, fingers crossing mentally, but when she paused in front of him he grinned. “Very nice.”
“Acceptable.” But this time, Victor sounded pleased.
She ducked her head and caught the book as it slid off her hair, mussing the strands falling toward her eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He folded his arms and leaned against the doorjamb. His palms itched to stroke her face.
Or at least give her a hug.
Better to stand his ground and not do either. He teetered close to
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