any other talents? Can I experiment with them?” She was moving on already. Ironically, that was usually his role.
“We can talk to my friend Truman. He knows when people are lying.”
She snorted. “Truman can sense a liar? How did his parents know about his talent in time to give him such an apropos name?”
“He never knew them. In fact, he doesn’t remember much about his childhood. He literally grew up on the streets of Hudson. I’ve never asked him about his name, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he picked it himself.” Since Truman had scoped her out in the bar, that meant he could read her. Cal said nothing—she already seemed disappointed enough. He didn’t want to twist the knife. “Let me know the next time you get a boo-boo. I’ll call the Doc,” he offered. “We’ll see if she can fix you up.”
“Thanks.”
“Eggs okay?” he asked.
She nodded, and he began assembling the ingredients for a breakfast burrito. He had an excellent zucchini and tomato gratin and a couple of baked potatoes left over from last night. He shook off his disappointment. It was hypocritical to warn her that he didn’t form relationships and then get all heartbroken when she left him in the dust.
“Can I do anything to help?” she asked.
“No, I’ve got it. I’m just going to scramble some eggs and wrap them up with the zucchini. Fry some potatoes. Sound good?”
She nodded, still looking glum.
“It didn’t hurt at all?” he asked, brushing a hand down her back.
“Nope.”
“I’ll have to try harder next time. Like I said, the effects are cumulative. I think we should continue our study of your response.” Electrons leapt inside him, as if they were as eager to play with her again as he was.
“Tonight?” Audrey tried to look cool. He had made her think there wouldn’t be a next time. No matter what he said about being a science geek, the man was hot and a sex god to boot. She had too much pride to chase after him if he was giving her the brush-off, but if he still wanted to experiment, she certainly wouldn’t turn him down. Maybe further experiments would produce more data, because this one had been a total bust. Why did that make her want to cry? She’d lived without talent her whole life. She should be used to it.
Cal scraped scrambled eggs onto tortillas. “Any time you are willing. Although I think you should get some rest first. I find I have endless energy for you.” He gave her that stunning smile again before he turned his attention back to their midnight snack.
She realized she was still staring at him a few minutes later when he presented her with a burrito, crunchy fried potatoes and fruit salad.
“Wow,” she said, pretending she was talking about the food. “This looks wonderful.”
“Are you free tomorrow?” he asked.
She nodded. “Except for a lunch date.”
“Would you like to get together after lunch, then?”
“Possibly. Can I call you? I don’t know how long I’ll be.” She speared a strawberry, hoping he wouldn’t think she was blowing him off.
“Of course. I’ll give you my card.” His self-deprecating smile told her he also thought it was a funny thing to say after what they had just done together. “It will be interesting to see how you respond to higher voltages, other metals, maybe a few probes.” His eyes danced with sparks and desire stirred inside her, making her wonder exactly how much of his energy she could handle. If she heard music when he was in control, what would she feel if he let go? A full-body orchestra?
She swallowed. “Do not turn me on and kill my appetite for this beautiful meal.”
He chuckled. “I’m glad it’s not just me.”
“Definitely not.”
They finished the meal in charged silence. Afterward, he waved away her offer to help with the dishes and walked her to the door, dimming the lights as they reached the hall.
“Are you up for a quick experiment?” he asked.
“Always.”
He had shed the
“We can talk to my friend Truman. He knows when people are lying.”
She snorted. “Truman can sense a liar? How did his parents know about his talent in time to give him such an apropos name?”
“He never knew them. In fact, he doesn’t remember much about his childhood. He literally grew up on the streets of Hudson. I’ve never asked him about his name, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he picked it himself.” Since Truman had scoped her out in the bar, that meant he could read her. Cal said nothing—she already seemed disappointed enough. He didn’t want to twist the knife. “Let me know the next time you get a boo-boo. I’ll call the Doc,” he offered. “We’ll see if she can fix you up.”
“Thanks.”
“Eggs okay?” he asked.
She nodded, and he began assembling the ingredients for a breakfast burrito. He had an excellent zucchini and tomato gratin and a couple of baked potatoes left over from last night. He shook off his disappointment. It was hypocritical to warn her that he didn’t form relationships and then get all heartbroken when she left him in the dust.
“Can I do anything to help?” she asked.
“No, I’ve got it. I’m just going to scramble some eggs and wrap them up with the zucchini. Fry some potatoes. Sound good?”
She nodded, still looking glum.
“It didn’t hurt at all?” he asked, brushing a hand down her back.
“Nope.”
“I’ll have to try harder next time. Like I said, the effects are cumulative. I think we should continue our study of your response.” Electrons leapt inside him, as if they were as eager to play with her again as he was.
“Tonight?” Audrey tried to look cool. He had made her think there wouldn’t be a next time. No matter what he said about being a science geek, the man was hot and a sex god to boot. She had too much pride to chase after him if he was giving her the brush-off, but if he still wanted to experiment, she certainly wouldn’t turn him down. Maybe further experiments would produce more data, because this one had been a total bust. Why did that make her want to cry? She’d lived without talent her whole life. She should be used to it.
Cal scraped scrambled eggs onto tortillas. “Any time you are willing. Although I think you should get some rest first. I find I have endless energy for you.” He gave her that stunning smile again before he turned his attention back to their midnight snack.
She realized she was still staring at him a few minutes later when he presented her with a burrito, crunchy fried potatoes and fruit salad.
“Wow,” she said, pretending she was talking about the food. “This looks wonderful.”
“Are you free tomorrow?” he asked.
She nodded. “Except for a lunch date.”
“Would you like to get together after lunch, then?”
“Possibly. Can I call you? I don’t know how long I’ll be.” She speared a strawberry, hoping he wouldn’t think she was blowing him off.
“Of course. I’ll give you my card.” His self-deprecating smile told her he also thought it was a funny thing to say after what they had just done together. “It will be interesting to see how you respond to higher voltages, other metals, maybe a few probes.” His eyes danced with sparks and desire stirred inside her, making her wonder exactly how much of his energy she could handle. If she heard music when he was in control, what would she feel if he let go? A full-body orchestra?
She swallowed. “Do not turn me on and kill my appetite for this beautiful meal.”
He chuckled. “I’m glad it’s not just me.”
“Definitely not.”
They finished the meal in charged silence. Afterward, he waved away her offer to help with the dishes and walked her to the door, dimming the lights as they reached the hall.
“Are you up for a quick experiment?” he asked.
“Always.”
He had shed the
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