“I’m trying to help you here?—”
“Dr. Kelly, when and if I need help from achemist, I’ll seek out a chemist based on his or her résumé, background, and standing in the professional community. Not on who I know personally. If you’ll excuse me?—”
“There’s an opening on my research team. I want you to fill it.”
Her jaw flapped open.
“We’re working toward a similar goal,” he said. “A hybrid project makes sense. You’re among the best physicists here, and with the funding I’m working on, I think I could help you really take off.”
“Who’s helpingwhoto take off?” Of the two of them,hehadn’t been invited to speak at a major international symposium on the next generation of efficient combustion technology.
“Think about it. My experience?—”
She shut the door in his face.
And when she turned around, Lance’s roses leered at her.
“Goodgravy,” she muttered.
Ron knocked again.
She locked the door.
There were too many things red roses could mean. And bytoo many things, she meantone bad thing.
That the man was falling in love with her.
Why else did men bring red roses?
She plucked the card out of the plastic lining and settled into her desk chair, refusing to contemplate if it was still warm from Lance’s recent occupation of it.
He’d brought her flowers.
To work.
And then left nearly as soon as she asked him to.
Wasthe man falling for her?
She pulled the note out of the white envelope.
His handwriting was strong and dark, in black ink.
Kaci,
Hope the flowers don’t give you the wrong idea. Figured it was the easiest way to get help getting into your office.
She let out an indignant squeak.
What kind of man all but saidI don’t like you like these flowers say I like youin a note?
Whatever his offer, she was saying no.
I’ll make you a deal. Three hours of flight-prep training and one hour in the air, plus I’ll give you an entire day alone to do whatever you want with my catapult.
In exchange, you go on a date with me.
One date.
