intelligent, but not wildly attractive. Somebody like Blackstone could use her insecurities to get her into bed, use her for sex and discard her without a second thought.”
“Yeah, I picked up on those tendencies. Is she here?”
“No, thankfully. She had another obligation. I’m happy about that. I want to like Blackstone, and watching him prey on somebody like Jan would make liking him tough.”
“Why do you want to like him?”
“Because he’s a good scientist and we’re working toward the same goal. If Harcourt and Sterling would allow it, we could share our research and be way ahead of the game.”
“Would he be okay with sharing his research?”
“Oh, yeah, definitely. So would I. We’ve talked about the ridiculous rivalry and how it’s only getting in the way of scientific progress. That’s why we’re staging our own little rebellion tonight.”
“Then I’m glad to be a part of it.”
“I can’t imagine going without you.” He glanced down at her. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.” She touched his arm briefly.
That single touch meant more to him than if she’d hauled him into a corner and kissed the breath out of him. She understood that they shouldn’t be openly affectionate on the conference floor, but she apparently craved a physical connection as much as he did.
Luckily Starbucks wasn’t busy. Most of the lunch crowd had left and the mid-afternoon caffeine seekers hadn’t arrived yet. They stood in line together, bodies brushing as if by accident, but Nolan knew now that it was no accident. He was in heaven. His agitation during lunch seemed like a silly overreaction.
He bought Darcie a sandwich and ordered flavored coffee drinks for both of them. Their same cozy corner was available. As they sat down, he thought of how different the relationship had become in a little more than twenty-four hours. As Einstein had believed, time really was relative.
Because he thought Darcie must be hungry, he coaxed her into eating half of her sandwich before she showed him what she’d brought from Ojai. Now that she was here, he could wait to find out why she’d made the trip.
But after eating that first half of her sandwich, she blotted her lips with a napkin, took another drink of her coffee, and reached in her purse. “I don’t want to worry you, but I sense negative influences around you and I want you to take some steps to counteract them.” She pulled out a small purple drawstring bag.
Yesterday he would have been suspicious of what she might have in it. Eye of newt? Toe of frog? But he’d evolved since then and now he was only curious. And maybe a little nervous. He had some evolving yet to do.
But whatever she had in that bag had been important enough that she’d driven four hours and suffered through a major traffic jam to bring it to him. If she believed that was necessary, then he’d do his best to understand why. He was honored that she considered his well-being worth going through all that.
She lowered her voice. “Like I said, I don’t want you to panic or anything but I’m afraid you’re in danger. I’m not sure if the danger is physical or psychic, but I’m prepared to help you protect yourself, whichever it is.”
Holy shit. He could either laugh at the absurdity of that, or he could believe her and accept her help. He’d only known her, really known her, for twenty-four hours, but his instincts told him not to laugh. He was a man of science, but in this case, he decided to follow his instincts. “I trust you, Darcie. I’ll do whatever you think is necessary.”
Chapter Nine
Darcie sighed in relief. If Nolan had balked at all, she’d have a much harder time trying to keep him safe. She pulled a smooth black stone out of her pouch. It fit neatly into the curve of her palm, a perfect size for clasping as a stone of protection. “I want you to carry this in your pocket.”
“What is it?”
“Polished hematite. It’s a powerful
“Yeah, I picked up on those tendencies. Is she here?”
“No, thankfully. She had another obligation. I’m happy about that. I want to like Blackstone, and watching him prey on somebody like Jan would make liking him tough.”
“Why do you want to like him?”
“Because he’s a good scientist and we’re working toward the same goal. If Harcourt and Sterling would allow it, we could share our research and be way ahead of the game.”
“Would he be okay with sharing his research?”
“Oh, yeah, definitely. So would I. We’ve talked about the ridiculous rivalry and how it’s only getting in the way of scientific progress. That’s why we’re staging our own little rebellion tonight.”
“Then I’m glad to be a part of it.”
“I can’t imagine going without you.” He glanced down at her. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.” She touched his arm briefly.
That single touch meant more to him than if she’d hauled him into a corner and kissed the breath out of him. She understood that they shouldn’t be openly affectionate on the conference floor, but she apparently craved a physical connection as much as he did.
Luckily Starbucks wasn’t busy. Most of the lunch crowd had left and the mid-afternoon caffeine seekers hadn’t arrived yet. They stood in line together, bodies brushing as if by accident, but Nolan knew now that it was no accident. He was in heaven. His agitation during lunch seemed like a silly overreaction.
He bought Darcie a sandwich and ordered flavored coffee drinks for both of them. Their same cozy corner was available. As they sat down, he thought of how different the relationship had become in a little more than twenty-four hours. As Einstein had believed, time really was relative.
Because he thought Darcie must be hungry, he coaxed her into eating half of her sandwich before she showed him what she’d brought from Ojai. Now that she was here, he could wait to find out why she’d made the trip.
But after eating that first half of her sandwich, she blotted her lips with a napkin, took another drink of her coffee, and reached in her purse. “I don’t want to worry you, but I sense negative influences around you and I want you to take some steps to counteract them.” She pulled out a small purple drawstring bag.
Yesterday he would have been suspicious of what she might have in it. Eye of newt? Toe of frog? But he’d evolved since then and now he was only curious. And maybe a little nervous. He had some evolving yet to do.
But whatever she had in that bag had been important enough that she’d driven four hours and suffered through a major traffic jam to bring it to him. If she believed that was necessary, then he’d do his best to understand why. He was honored that she considered his well-being worth going through all that.
She lowered her voice. “Like I said, I don’t want you to panic or anything but I’m afraid you’re in danger. I’m not sure if the danger is physical or psychic, but I’m prepared to help you protect yourself, whichever it is.”
Holy shit. He could either laugh at the absurdity of that, or he could believe her and accept her help. He’d only known her, really known her, for twenty-four hours, but his instincts told him not to laugh. He was a man of science, but in this case, he decided to follow his instincts. “I trust you, Darcie. I’ll do whatever you think is necessary.”
Chapter Nine
Darcie sighed in relief. If Nolan had balked at all, she’d have a much harder time trying to keep him safe. She pulled a smooth black stone out of her pouch. It fit neatly into the curve of her palm, a perfect size for clasping as a stone of protection. “I want you to carry this in your pocket.”
“What is it?”
“Polished hematite. It’s a powerful
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