by Melissa Blue
It's why he chose the outfit morning after morning. No one expected much from a man who could barely dress himself. “And?”
“But I can make it work. Could be interesting to see people's reaction to you talking about the molecular structure of a star while looking like a surfer.”
Smart. She was choosing to fight the battles that mattered. “You're taking all the fun out of arguing with you.”
She tried to hold back a smile at the compliment but it broke through anyway. “I told you I was going to listen this time. You don't want a Tim Gunn makeover and I don't want you being an ass to people because I made you cut your hair.”
He needed a cut and had only held off because she'd wanted one. A childish stance, but Sophie tended to make him want to fight at all costs. Right now she was being reasonable.
He grumbled, “I can't promise nice if I'm asked dumb questions.”
Sophie winced. “What do you consider a dumb question?”
He'd never written out a list, but that didn't mean the task was impossible. “Is global warming a hoax? That's the one that makes me a little homicidal.”
She sighed. “We can put together a list of things you won't talk about.”
Where was the woman who had moaned his name? Who had begged for more? What the hell had she done all those days she'd hidden? This woman—this was the Sophie Lake who had waltzed into his office and asked for a tour.
He shifted in the chair. “'Cause you're my ally.”
Something soft entered her gaze. “I'm trying to be. And speaking of that, if at any time your...reticence is more than discomfort let me know.”
He wished he hadn't seen that flash of emotion. Wade scrubbed a hand over his face. “You heard Victor?”
The pen went back to her mouth, the gesture a clear tell of her nervousness. “Snatches of your conversation. You take meds. You took off a month for health reasons.”
He waited and no questions came as though she deserved to know. Sure he could see the curiosity, but that was different from entitlement. Wade wanted to kiss her. “If my health becomes a problem I'll let you know.” He thought about that. “Nothing on Mondays.”
“Done.” She put the pen down. “Is that a firm yes?”
He shook his head. “How will it work if I'm technically your client?”
“Dr. Scott and my boss agreed there should be a separate agreement between you and I. I explained the previous...resistance, and the process in which you were picked as a good candidate.” She smiled again, beaming this time. “It should be your choice without threats or under any kind of duress.”
Yeah. This was why he liked her. This time he was the one who put his feet on the desk. Her gaze tracked his movements and she tried to hide the eye roll, but he'd caught it. “And all I have to do is agree?”
She tilted her head and then straightened in the chair. “Trust me to listen.”
He clasped his hands in his lap. If he cut out sex, what could he say about Sophie Lake? She was good at her job. She was willing to go above and beyond for a client. That hard professional shell hid a bleeding heart. He didn't have to tell her how he was broken in detail. She suspected, if not knew the full details. Finding out was probably what she did while hiding. She'd protect him, because that's the kind of woman she was.
What right did he have to give her a hard time when, if anyone, he should be angry with Dr. Scott for pressing the contract clause? All she'd asked of him was to lie about being normal. He did that almost every day.
Wade sucked in a big breath. He was doing this for h—the observatory. What he needed, wanted—miracles couldn't be quantified, and he wouldn't hold his breath for one to happen.
“All right.”
Her brows went up, surprise clear in the simple reaction. “That's it?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Do you want me to reconsider?”
“I'm good with this yes,” she said in a concise, certain way, but her tense posture told him a different story. “I'll email you a packet...Never mind. I'll let you know when to show up for the podcast and we'll go from there.”
At least she learned fast. Give him room to wiggle out of something and he'd bust his way out. There was only one thing missing in the entire conversation that needed to be dragged out into the light. “Good then.”
She gave him a sidelong glance. “Yes?”
He nodded.
Her shoulders inched up as her gaze narrowed on him. “Wade...”
He lifted one shoulder. “With all that other stuff out of the way, we need to talk about the fact we fucked.”
She jolted out of her tense pose. “Like I told you—”
His skin went cold. “You told me—I see.”
She flushed, anger bright in her eyes. “You agreed just so you can make this difficult anyway. You're my client now. No more...” She swallowed. “It can't be repeated if I'm going to work for you.”
She believed that. He could see the certainty in her gaze. Wade balled his hands to keep from shaking her. “Isn't the pussy out of the bag?”
Sophie bit out the word, “Cat.” She gripped the pen, and only for a second did he think she'd stab him.
“Pussy, cat...there's a difference?” He paused, held her stare. “Yours tastes—”
“Back to lashing out,” she snapped.
Likely. Her scent permeated the air, knotting his gut with need, and she wanted to be stubborn about the truth—they had chemistry. They worked better in bed than out of it. He clenched his jaw to stay quiet long enough to let the irritation go. And to think.
She wanted to be stubborn, wanted to believe they'd never fuck again. He'd let her. The only thing to soothe him was the fact she'd fold before he'd even consider doing the same. Perks of being a jackass, and being more bullheaded than anyone else.
“There's actually a theory—”
“Your reaction to no more sex between us is that there's a theory? Math geeks and their sex appeal is so underrated.”
He wanted her in his bed, but God, he still hated her sometimes. “Is that all?” he asked, his words sharp. “I need to get back to work.”
“We agree, it's over between us...in that way?”
He dropped his feet to the floor. “Sounds good to me.”
She pursed her lips and only stared at him for a long, hard second. “You're just going to drop it?”
He stood. “Don't you want me to?”
Indecision flickered in her gaze. “Yes.”
He nodded, understanding completely she wasn't just lying to him, but herself. “I need to actually do some work. Good seeing you again.”
Wade didn't ask her to repeat whatever she muttered, but when he'd turned his back, he let the grin bleed through. Sophie had a well-endowed ego. His acquiescence would drive her up the wall. She'd spent a day in his bed, rocking his world and he had no qualms with walking away.
Sophie would break. He only had to wait.
*****
Sophie worried the strap on her purse, but managed to throw the two high schoolers a wide smile. “He'll be here any second.”
The boy on the right rolled his brown eyes. The one of the left took off his glasses to clean the lenses, again. They both had a mop of blonde hair that veered closer to unkempt by the second. They'd been waiting in an auditorium for fifteen awkward minutes. Wade wasn't late but he sure as hell wasn't early. Nerves kept her spine straight, and every tense muscle was that egghead's fault.
Every time she'd called him or sent an email with an updated schedule for press events, he'd agreed with such grace it should have left her suspicious. She'd itched to drop by his office or home to see his face when he agreed. He wasn't an open book she could read, he simply didn't bother to hide his true feelings. He'd be here, because if he didn't want to he'd have told her to fuck off.
The doors slammed open. Her eyes widened. The man walking down the aisle toward them had Wade's sharp, angular chin, full mouth and blue eyes, but this man had a hair cut that bordered on professional.
He had on a dress shirt and a tie. Constellations decorated the silk. He topped it off with slacks and dark brown loafers that matched the brown belt. Not only did he look like he'd never seen a beach in his life, he could even pass for a science teacher. An incredibly sexy one. The kind you didn't miss a day of school over.
The boys stood up while Sophie tried to find her legs. Wade offered a smile and his hand. “Ron and Larry, I presume.”
Ron nodded. “It's great to meet you, Dr. Addison. After you said yes I hunted down your thesis statement. Very interesting reading.”
“Should have read Newton or Gottfried if you have an eye on becoming an astrophysicist. Might as well know your betters.”
“I consider you among them.”
Wade laughed. “Buttering me up. I like you.” He moved his focus to Larry, and the kid seemed a bit star struck.
Sophie exhaled and faded into the background. This wouldn't end in disaster. She could relax. After the short introductions they jumped right in. Both of the boys impressed her by handling the interview like pros and being on top of any technical hiccups. Some radio stations didn't have that kind of ease.
For the next hour she got to watch Wade. He had an openness to his personality when he talked about his work and what it meant to him—hell when he talked science. That made sense. He probably never felt more uncomfortable than having to have a “normal” conversation. What could a smart kid talk about with someone his age? Scratch that. Where would he meet someone his age if he didn't go to school with them, didn't play sports?
He likely took those same communication skills into his adulthood. The finer points disregarded because that wasn't efficient. She took note of questions she'd never ask him.
“...love as a construct or a biological function?” Wade asked.
Sophie shifted in her chair interested to see what he thought of either.
Larry fiddled with his glasses. “Wouldn't the answer to one negate an answer for the other?”
“Not necessarily,” Wade said. “Love can be all biology. When you hit puberty, you're flooded with hormones that urge you to procreate. Attraction is more about our primitive selves finding a good mate to carry on our genes. You find someone then your brain is doped with serotonin, adrenaline and dopamine. When you've been with that person long enough that's when you get hit with oxytocin and vasopressin.”
Sophie huffed and apparently the sound was loud enough that Wade threw a smile in her direction before focusing on the boys again.
“Romantic, isn't it?” he asked them.
Ron snorted. “So your brain is just doing its job. It's not real, just biology?”
“But why that person? Their physical appearance sets off adrenaline. Their scent passes the pheromone test. You're ready for the basic requirements to procreate.”
Larry asked, “You think love is more than biology?”
“Science is only one component of understanding. Knowing a star is a big ball of gas doesn't make it any less beautiful when you see it in the night sky.”
“Ron, I think that's our closing. I want to thank Dr. Wade Addison. You can find him at the Dr. Elijah Scott Observatory.”
Wade slouched in his seat as they closed out the rest of the show. They exchanged handshakes. She lingered a moment to watch the boys after Wade turned his back to them. They geeked out quietly and he was none the wiser.
Wade fixed his gaze on her for a second then kept going. She gathered up her things to follow him out—not at all perturbed he hadn't said so much as a boo to her. She caught up with him outside the auditorium's doors.
“You did great back there,” she said, a little winded.
He didn't slow his stride. “Figured as much when you didn't jump in with an 'I'm sorry, he's a bit...' They were smart kids who didn't ask dumb questions.”
“I booked them first for a reason. They are in high school but their podcast rakes in a lot of donations for the science club and they have hundreds of reviews on iTunes.”
“What do they do with all that money?”
“Funds an annual trip to NASA.”
“Smart kids, indeed.”
Was he walking faster through the school's hallways or was that her imagination? Her lungs believed it to be true. Wade was being a pain in her ass in the most benign way. She couldn't accuse him of being non-communicative since he answered every email and phone call. He didn't argue, didn't flirt...She stopped, realizing the problem—he was being a client and she hated every second of that change.
A blast of fresh air rushed into the hallway, and much to her surprise Wade held the door open for her. “Thanks,” she said.
“No problem.” Wade brought his gaze down as she passed and their bodies touched for a breath of a second.
Before the tingle could finish sliding its way down, he'd walked down the school's steps. He'd meant to leave her breathless and wanting. She had to respect his subtle push. Even had to admire the smooth way he blew past his car to hers.
But she was up to his games and unlocked the door with a push of a button. Had her back to him and a hand on the handle before throwing out, “I'll see you in three days?”
He pressed his palm against her car door. He didn't touch her, but he was close enough she could feel the heat of him. They could stand there all night like that or she could face him. Sophie sighed and tried to muster up the courage, the will to keep saying no to more sex. It would take everything.
He smiled when she turned.
Wade asked, “Anything else you want to tell me?”
Rip off my clothes? Take me home? Use that mouth for something useful?
“Nope,” she said, breathless. “You cleaned up nice and you behaved yourself. I like what you said about love being biology, but science is only a small part of it. It actually made me think you'd fallen in love.” She mentally winced at how that came out. “I mean—I'm just going to stop talking and get into my car now.”
He leaned down, letting his gaze trail to her mouth. Yes. Kiss me. Sophie held her breath and braced herself for the shock of his lips on hers. She'd welcome the reprieve from the tension keeping her up at night.
“I'm supposed to be the one saying thoughtless shit,” he said. “I'll see you in three days.”
In one fluid motion he pushed off the car and turned away from her. Without another word he headed back to his side of the parking lot. She was still buzzing from the short, frustrating exchange. And she would be for the rest of the night. She didn't have sex with clients, but Sophie didn't have a rule against landing a kiss square in their ass.
Kick. Kick, dammit.
Sophie got into her car and rested her head against the steering wheel until she could think straight.
*****
Wade glared at his front door from his relaxed position on the couch. He was starting to understand Grady's annoyance at uninvited visitors. The knock came again—two short thuds instead of a wailing. So, not Victor. Oliver would have called first. His brother would have tapped out a beat. That left one person he wouldn't too much mind being around.
He got up to answer the door. Porter held a food tray. This was why they were friends.
“Ribs?” he asked, hopeful.
Porter grinned. “Yup.”
Nothing more needed to be said. Wade headed straight for the kitchen to pull down plates. He took another second to get two handfuls of napkins since the only barbecue his friend made or bought tended to be messy. They settled in to eat without much talking—the way he liked it. But Wade wasn't stupid. The real reason Porter dropped by would come up sooner or later.
Though Porter had the good sense to wait until a fourth of the ribs were nothing but sauce and bones. “Haven't really talked to you since the award ceremony. So...” He smiled. “Sophie?”
Three weeks. No one else would have waited that long to tease him. “Who?”
Porter laughed at the obvious deflection. “Victor told me about his visit the other day.”
Wade c
ould only stare. “That was two and a half weeks ago.”
“You know Victor. Chatty sort.”
Victor used five words when ten were needed. “Ah.” Wade picked up another napkin to get the sauce that had crept under his fingernails. “When did you talk to him?”
“Earlier this morning.”
Porter's tone was the first clue. Wade settled on, “Huh.”
“Then I talked to Grady to coordinate watches.”
“A game day?”
“Eva's feeling better. Still tired.”
“My brother's a loveable idiot.”
Porter spread his hands. “Grady told me all about Sophie. The phone calls, the need to apologize to her a few weeks back.”
And with that Porter would put two-and-two together. Sophie was more than a woman he kissed and a publicist. She was someone Wade cared about. There was a big difference in fucking someone and liking them. And Grady gave Porter that ammunition. Wade shouldn't care what they knew, but...
“Fratricide is something that needs to make a comeback.” He picked up another rib from the pile. “But I don't think you came over here with food to be nosy.”
His friend shook his head. “Pulled up to Grady's as planned, Victor had his tongue down Ashley's throat. My first instinct was to turn him into a speed bump.”
Porter waited three weeks to tease him, which meant he had the patience of a saint. He let most things bounce off him, but Ashley was the one person who could make him see red. For her and against her. Depended on the day.
“Still?” Wade snorted.
“Still.” Porter inhaled then exhaled slowly. “I picked up food and came here.”
“You need to let that go.” Then Wade laughed at that irony. His head was all about Sophie these days, but Ashley left a bitter after taste in his mouth. He swallowed the useless emotions down. “Victor's going to treat her better than good. You already consider him a brother. Quit fucking whining, and get him a damn dog. Or like I said, tell Oliver to do it.”
“And that's why I came over. Victor would feel guilty. Grady and Oliver would listen to me bitch. You tell me what I need to hear.” Porter shrugged. “By the way, I heard the podcast. I'm impressed. Who knew you could go an hour without telling someone to fuck off?”
