“Try.”

She ate a couple of bites, then lowered her dark lashes as she said, “It’s just, well, I get the impression that you’re smarter than the average bear.”

Her explanation wasn’t what he’d been expecting. Not that he was sure exactly what he’d been expecting her to say. Then again, she’d just agreed that it was much more likely that he’d just not gotten caught rather than that he was a rule-follower. Whatever it was, he found her answer humorous and he grinned. “You think?”

She went from looking at him, to her eyes widening, to her choking on her burger. When she kept coughing and sputtering, he worried. He stood from his stool and slapped her across the back. Not hard, but enough that if she had food stuck, it would hopefully be dislodged.

Apparently, Harry was ready to act, too—the dog jumped to his feet and gave a loud ruff of concern.

Eyes watering, Sarah sputtered. “You didn’t have to do that. I was okay.”

“Sure you were. I could tell by the gasping sounds as you tried to breathe.”

“See?” She put her hand over her mouth and cleared her throat. “There you go showing how smart you are again.”

“Doesn’t take a genius to recognize the universal sign for choking.”

Wiping at her watery eyes, she said, “I wasn’t clutching my throat.”

“Much,” he corrected, amused at her prideful denials.

Her eyes wide, she asked, “Was I really?”

He nodded.

“I didn’t realize,” she admitted, staring at her burger. “I, um, was distracted, and, well, my food just went down the wrong direction and then I couldn’t breathe, but I was okay.”

Thinking back over their conversation, he wondered which part had distracted her. Nothing had seemed out of the ordinary about their conversation other than that they’d been teasing each other a little. Surely that hadn’t caused her to swallow her food wrong?

“Glad you’re okay,” he told her, truthfully. His own ability to breathe had gone on hiatus when Sarah had been coughing and sputtering. Knowing she really was fine, he added, “Now that I saved you.”

She arched a brow. “Hero complex much?”

She had no idea. “Just calling things as I see them.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she teased, then met his gaze. Her eyes crinkled at the corners. “But thank you for saving me.” Taking a much smaller bite, she chewed it carefully. “So, Oh Smart One, tell me what you got done today.”

Her gaze dropped to the notepad he’d pushed to the side when she’d come in with food. Still chuckling, he finished off his burger, wadded up the foil wrapper, and tossed it into the paper bag it had come out of.

“Those are my recommendations on what needs to be done and what I need to do to accomplish each task. I’m going to pick up tools, supplies, and so on. Strategizing a game plan, figuring out the variables, is the best way to get the job done right and meet your Christmas deadline.” Feet propped on a barstool rung, he leaned back a little to better look at her. “You want to see?”