Page 206 of Ironwood Ranch Cowboys

“You don’t know what I was going to say.”

“I know enough.”

His green eyes hold mine for one heavy second.

Then… the system kicks me out.

Just like that.

One second, I’m exporting files. The next, my screen flashes white.

ACCESS DENIED.

I blink. “What?”

I try again. Wrong password.

No.

Impossible.

I type slower this time.

Carefully.

ACCESS REVOKED.

My blood turns to ice.

Beside me, Cody straightens. “What happened?”

“My login…”

I try again.

Nothing.

Every folder locks. Every file path disappears. Every access point slams shut in front of me one by one like doors sealing during a fire.

“What the hell?”

Cody moves beside me fast, grabbing the mouse.

He attempts an override.

Denied.

Again.

Denied.

His expression changes from focused to lethal. “Who did this?”

As if summoned by the question, the office door opens. Sherry stands there clutching her clipboard so tightly her knuckles have gone pale.

Immediately, I know something’s wrong. Because Sherry is always composed, always cheerful, always organized.

Right now she looks like someone trying not to panic in real time.