Free Silver Spoon by Cheyenne Meadows Page B

opportunistic canine discover the remains. Achilles had lumbered along the walking trail before finding the appropriate spot to do his business, then picked up the pace back to the apartment where the air conditioner battled the hot and humid day to keep the small area temperate. Upon returning, the gigantic dog had flopped down on his extra-large bed, ate his treat, and stretched out to sleep.
    Spoon glanced down at Achilles who snored to beat anyone he'd ever met. With a shake of his head, he couldn't help but see the humor in the big lug. While not fat, he carried more weight than when found, his ribs now only slightly noticeable beneath his tan-colored skin. Fast progress in a few short days.
    A feminine growl caught his attention.
    "What's wrong?"
    She maintained her attention on the computer screen. "I'm stuck."
    "Computer lock up? I can help with that."
    She shook her head. "No. I'm stuck on this scene."
    Standing up, he walked to her side, quickly reading the words over her shoulder. "Action?"
    Her green eyes looked at him. "Yes, which I struggle with anyway. The hero is supposed to sneak in and rescue the heroine, but I can't seem to figure out how."
    Intrigued, he leaned closer, bracing his palms on the desk. "Can I see?"
    "Sure." With a nod, she stood up, relinquishing her chair for him. "I'm going to get a drink while you do."
    "Go for it." He promptly sat down and scrolled up, taking in the chapter's contents thus far. Not bad. Not bad at all. She set up the scene nicely with description and enough details to give the reader an accurate image. "I think I see your issue."
    Riley sauntered over to squat at his side. "Really?"
    "Yep. The hero is by himself, correct?"
    "Yes. I thought he needed to distract the guards to allow himself access to the place where his heroine is being held." She pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
    Swiveling the chair, Spoon looked down at her. "Ah, but in causing that big distraction, it would put all the guards and everyone else on notice that something was up. Wouldn't it be much easier to use stealth, sneak in, and rescue the damsel in distress without clueing in the whole band of bad guys that he's there?"
    She tilted her head this way and that as if puzzling over his line of thinking.
    "If the guards are worth their salt, they'll realize the distraction is just that. While it may give him a momentary reprieve to get in, it also ensures he's going to have a firefight to get out. Being alone with her in tow, it's not going to work. Stealth works better. With luck, he can sneak in and out, avoiding a gun battle entirely."
    She tapped her chin with a finger then beamed at him. "That's brilliant!" Impulsively, she threw her arms around his neck.
    Spoon caught her enthusiastic bounce, holding her tight for a second before dipping his head for a quick kiss.
    "Thank you!" She rubbed her nose against his.
    Chuckling, he pressed his lips to her forehead once more. "You're very welcome." Her joyous reaction and sheer happiness sent a surge of longing and pride zinging through him. As much as he wanted her, he beat the thought aside, unwilling to risk unsettling her once more. Patience and time won the day every time.
    Her hand tugged a drawer open, pulled out a pad of scratch paper, headed to the nearby couch, and jotted down a few notes. Finished, she stared over at him, her head tilting in question.
    "You said if my computer froze you could fix it?"
    He nodded, reclining back in the comfortable office chair, twiddling his fingers on his jean-clad lap. "I'm good with computers."
    "How good?"
    "Masters in computer science and software design."
    "Wow." Her eyes widened in amazement.
    Noting the obvious surprise, he opted to tack on another juicy tidbit. "Not to mention I was a decent teenage hacker in my day."
    She blinked as her mouth fell open. "Oh, my. You must be a genius."
    "Not even." A snort followed. "I just happen to know a few tricks is all."
    "Few tricks? I know a few tricks