Nerds Are From Mars

by Vicki Thompson

  “So I think Fagan Harcourt will win.” She smiled at Nolan. “Don’t you?”

  “Probably.” Nolan focused on the woman as best he could. “But if anyone succeeds in colonizing Mars, we’ll all win. Establishing a community of human beings on another planet would provide all kinds of benefits and scientific breakthroughs.”

  “Is Fagan going up in that rocket?” The woman’s dark eyes sparkled with eagerness.

  “I’ll bet he will,” Nolan said. “That’s his style.”

  “Oh, yeah, he will.” Chewbacca nodded. “That dude’s intrepid. I love that.”

  “Me, too.” The gray-haired woman’s expression grew dreamy.

  Nolan realized she was a Fagan Harcourt groupie. At fifty-eight, Harcourt had women of every age fawning over him, and not just because he was wealthy. His silver-haired good looks didn’t hurt, plus he obviously had brains, but the main draw was his show-stopping charisma. He could walk into a room and immediately gain everyone’s attention. Now that he’d split with his fourth wife, the lineup for a replacement was forming quickly.

  “How soon will you be selling tickets for the first trip?” Chewbacca asked. “I have some money socked away, but I doubt it’s enough.”

  “It’ll be pricey.” Nolan adjusted the shoulder strap of his laptop case. “But Harcourt doesn’t believe in only letting rich people have this kind of opportunity. I’ll ask him if he’ll address the cost question at the banquet Saturday night. I doubt he’ll give an on-sale date for tickets, though. All I can tell you is that you can’t buy one now.”

  “I would if I could,” the gray-haired woman said. “I’d sell my house and both cars if I had to.”

  And that, Nolan thought, was the kind of excitement and loyalty Fagan Harcourt inspired in people. They’d follow him anywhere. If he ever went into politics, he’d win in a landslide, but he had no interest in government and had never announced his party affiliation. He might not have one.

  The room began to fill with people again, which meant the break between sessions was nearly over. Nolan glanced at the three people standing in front of him. “We probably need to take our discussion out in the hall to make way for the next speaker.”

  “That’s okay. I have another lecture to attend.” Chewbacca stuck out one hairy paw. “Thanks for your time, Dr. Bradbury.”

  “Yes, thank you.” The gray-haired lady also shook hands with him. “It was an informative session.” She walked out behind Chewbacca.

  That left Nolan standing face-to-face with Darcie.

  Her smile was tentative. “Hi, Nolan.”

  “Hey, Darcie.” A trickle of sweat ran down his spine. “It’s good to see you.”

  “Same here. It’s been awhile.”

  “Yeah, sure has.” His chest hurt from not breathing. “Listen, we should probably –”

  “Do you have time for coffee?”

  He gulped. “Uh, sure! Sure, I do.”

  “There’s a Starbucks in the hotel.”

  “I know. I was just . . . I was just thinking about getting some coffee.” Thank God he’d caught himself before admitting he’d been down at Starbucks right before the session had started. And because of that, he had to pee, but he’d worry about that after they’d made the trek to the coffee shop and solidified the coffee date.

  Coffee date? Was he really about to have a coffee date with Darcie Ingram? Amazingly, it seemed that he was. “Let’s head on down there,” he said with as much savoir faire as he could muster when he was nervous as hell and had to pee.

  “Sounds good.”

  It sounded more than good to him. It sounded like a goddamn miracle.

  Chapter Two

  Darcie thought Nolan seemed on edge, but then, so was she. Back in high school they hadn’t been close, so he might logically wonder why she’d shown up fourteen years later to attend his lecture. The short answer was curiosity, but the long answer was far more complicated. Depending on how this coffee date worked out, she might or might not offer him the longer explanation.

  He took big strides, and she had to extend hers to keep up. But she was tall and could manage. In school they’d been about the same height – five-eight.

  She was still five-eight, but he’d grown at least another six or seven inches and must have put on another forty pounds or so. Most of it was muscle judging from the way he filled out the shoulders of his sport coat. After all, he planned to go to Mars and he’d advised keeping in shape for the rigors of the trip.

  As if he’d realized that he was making her work to keep up, he slowed the pace. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to turn this into a literal coffee run.” He cleared his throat. “Is this your first Space Expo?”

  “It is.”

  “What do you think so far?”

  “I’ve only heard your lecture, but I thought it was wonderful. I can see why you’re one of their headliners.”

  “Thank you. The rest of the speakers are excellent. You should really go hear –”

  “I mostly came to see you.”

  He stopped dead in the middle of the hallway. “Me?”

  His sudden halt came as a surprise. She had to spin around and walk back to where he stood. “I saw a flyer for the event and your name and picture were on it. I decided to satisfy my curiosity.”

  “Why on earth would you be curious about me?”

  She looked into gray eyes framed in black-rimmed glasses that were far trendier than what he’d worn in high school. But the intelligence in those eyes hadn’t changed. He had great eyes, in fact, with nice long lashes.

  She’d noticed that once in their sophomore biology class when he’d taken off his glasses to look into a microscope. He probably hadn’t known she was watching or he would have blushed. He’d had a gigantic crush on her all through high school, but it had become way worse their senior year.

  Guilt over her response to his adulation was another reason for being here, but she wasn’t prepared to say that yet. “You were the smartest guy in our graduating class. I knew you’d end up doing something great with your life, but you never came to any of the reunions.”

  He shrugged. “I didn’t see the point.”

  “The point would have been to show off that you’re a big-deal astronomer who’s heading to Mars, but I see what you mean. You’ve never been about showing off.”

  “Not really.”

  “Anyway, since this conference was within driving distance, I decided to see for myself what you were into these days.” She hadn’t exactly answered his question, and she wondered if he’d call her on it.

  Sure enough, he did. “I still don’t understand. You could have Googled me and found out everything you wanted to know.”

  “Google only goes so far. I wanted to see you in person because . . . well, mostly to talk about what we’re both doing all these years later.”

  Interest sparked in those gray eyes. “And what are you doing?”

  “Let’s talk over coffee, okay?”

  “Okay.” He fell into step beside her. “You said you’re within driving distance. Where is that?”

  “I’m in Ojai.”

  “Pretty place.”

  “I like it. How about you? The flyer didn’t mention where you live. I know you’re working for Fagan Harcourt, but that doesn’t mean anything in the age of telecommuting.”

  “No, but I don’t live all that far from his Mars Research Center. I bought a little place up in the hills outside L.A.”

  “Nice. Wife and kids?”

  “Nope.” He hesitated for a beat. “You?”

  “Nope.” She’d told herself from the moment she’d dreamed up this scheme that it didn’t matter whether he was attached or single. She was here to connect with him and perhaps redeem herself for being a jerk in high school. Hitting on him hadn’t been part of her plan.

  However, he’d turned out to be kind of hot with his broad shoulders and his impressive Ph.D. in astrophysics. His clothes fit him perfectly, and he’d even worked a litt
le gel into his hair, indicating that he wasn’t oblivious to how he looked anymore. He smelled good, too. A nerdy guy who’d become conscious of his appearance most likely had spent time with one or more girlfriends who’d coached him on those things.

  In other words, Nolan Bradbury had become a sexual being. She hadn’t thought of him that way when they’d been eighteen, but now that he was thirty-two, he had an air about him that indicated he knew stuff, specifically about the female of the species. Darcie found that quite stimulating.

  Neither of them had ventured more questions after the double-reveal of their single status. She thought that was telling. He might be considering the ramifications of that information the same way she was.

  He could have a steady girlfriend, of course, but she doubted it. If that had been the case, he would have said no wife and kids, but I am seeing someone. Nolan Bradbury wasn’t the type to hide significant facts. If he’d had a serious girlfriend, he would have let her know so there would be no misunderstanding.

  Although she’d kept her distance in high school, she’d observed him from afar. She was very good at reading people, and he’d always struck her as a very honest guy. That had been another trait she’d admired about him. Had she been a braver teenager, she would have befriended him. But that would have meant suffering the mockery of her cool friends and she hadn’t been strong enough then.

  She was now, and the irony didn’t escape her. Nobody would mock her for hanging out with Dr. Nolan Bradbury, head of the Mars Research Project. Most people would give her kudos for that.

  But he might not want to hang out with her. She had no idea whether he carried a grudge from their high school days. If he did, she could hardly blame him. Maybe, over a cup of cappuccino, she could find out how he felt about becoming friends.

  When they ordered, he insisted on paying even though she’d invited him. In the end, she decided it wasn’t worth arguing about and thanked him for his chivalry.

  He smiled at her use of the word. “I think knights are supposed to be dashing figures. That’s not me.”

  “Isn’t it?” She stood at the end of the counter with him as they waited for their coffee. “Your Mars project might end up saving the human race from extinction. If you ask me, that’s quite dashing.”

  He laughed, which showed off his dimples.

  She’d forgotten about the dimples, probably because he hadn’t laughed much in high school, at least not when she’d been around. She pursued her point. “The group in your session was totally buying the argument that we need Mars, and that your team is going to deliver it to us before the apocalypse.”

  His smile continued to display those cute dimples. “That’s a dramatic touch that Harcourt insists we add to every presentation. I’m not sure I believe it.”

  “Stephen Hawking thinks we need to have a spare planet to use in an emergency. Why not you?”

  He blinked, as if her comment had surprised him. “I don’t always agree with Stephen Hawking.”

  “And you’re also amazed that I’ve read him, aren’t you?”

  He flushed. “Well, no, I –”

  “Oh, come on, Nolan. I wasn’t a scholar in high school, so you couldn’t expect me to turn into one as an adult. But I have.” And she wanted him to know that. He might not be into showing off, but maybe she was, at least a little bit.

  “That’s great. What’s your field?”

  “Astrology.” She’d hoped for a positive response, but she hadn’t truly expected one. If he was a typical scientist, he wouldn’t have an ounce of faith in her chosen field of study.

  Clearly, he didn’t. His expression transformed from animated to extremely cautious. “Oh.”

  “You think it’s hokum, don’t you?”

  His internal struggle was reflected in his beautiful gray eyes. “Well, I know astrology has its followers, but . . .” He trailed off, seemingly at a loss.

  “That’s okay, Nolan. I didn’t think you’d greet that information with a brass band and confetti. But I’d love to believe that you can listen with an open mind.”

  He sighed. “That’s asking a lot of someone in my position.”

  “So you don’t think you could listen with an open mind?”

  “I . . . I don’t know.”

  “People used to think the world was flat.”

  “Exactly! Because they were hampered by limited knowledge and surrounded by superstition. We’ve moved beyond that kind of thinking. Nobody in the scientific community, at least no one I know, believes that our lives are ruled by the constellations.”

  “Not the constellations.” She had expected this attitude, but still, she was irritated by it. “The zodiac. There’s a huge difference. And ruled is not a good word to use. Influenced would be a better one.”

  He frowned. “Constellations and the zodiac mean pretty much the same thing to me.”

  “That’s because you haven’t studied this. I have.”

  “Okay, but –” Their coffee arrived on the counter, interrupting him. “Let’s find a place to sit.”

  Darcie glanced around. “Over there.” She picked up her coffee and headed toward a couple of easy chairs in a cozy corner away from the steady influx of caffeine seekers. She chose a chair and settled herself in it. She tucked her messenger bag at her feet before popping the top off her cappuccino and taking a sip.

  Nolan claimed the other chair and deposited his laptop case beside his chair. Instead of drinking his coffee, he put it on the small table between them. “Listen, would you excuse me for a minute?”

  She glanced over at him. “Need to bring in your fellow scientists to do an intervention?”

  “No.” He grinned at her. “I need to find a bathroom.”

  “Oh.” His honesty and cute smile dispelled some of her irritation. And maybe, after the way she’d treated him in high school, she deserved some payback. “There’s one down the steps to your right.”

  “Thanks.” He levered himself out of the chair and walked away.

  She watched him go. His sport coat partially hid his ass, but she could extrapolate from her view of the rest of him. No doubt about it, Dr. Nolan Bradbury had turned into one gorgeous specimen.

  After he left, she reluctantly pulled her mind away from thoughts about his body and considered his reaction to her astrology announcement. Although she was disappointed that he’d behaved like every other science-minded geek she’d met, he’d spent his entire career in a field that mocked hers. She couldn’t have logically expected him to be anything other than skeptical.

  But fourteen years ago he would have been too intimidated by her to argue for his beliefs. He was far more self-confident now, and that intrigued her. Of course he would be confident. He was renowned in his field and he’d spent time with Fagan Harcourt, who was famous for his sophisticated lifestyle. As Chewbacca had said earlier, Harcourt was intrepid. Some of that must have rubbed off on Nolan.

  However, if he totally rejected the field of study she held dear, then maybe friendship wasn’t possible. He’d been intellectually curious as a teenager, and he must still have that quality. Yet if he only investigated subjects approved by his colleagues, the two of them would have little to talk about.

  Intuition had led her here, and intuition had been her trusted guide for years, ever since she’d stopped pretending that her spiritual gifts were all in her imagination. The conference flyer had appeared like a messenger, and she’d always suspected that she and Nolan had unfinished business. She’d give him a few more chances to prove her intuition wrong.

  Even if she didn’t pursue a friendship with Nolan, she intended to enjoy Space Expo as long as she was here. The science of space exploration fit beautifully with the study of astrology if only the scientists would give up their long-standing prejudices. She’d attend lectures, soak up knowledge, and keep her vocation to herself. Nolan had been a test case. She’d been naïve to think he’d escaped the narrow-mindedness of his fellow scientists.

  He ca
me back down the hallway and she watched him walk toward her. He not only looked like a different man, he moved like a different man. His loose-hipped stride turned her on, and she wasn’t ashamed to admit it. Too bad he didn’t respect her area of study.

  He sat down and glanced over at her. “Sorry about my remarks regarding astrology. Whether I’m into it or not, you are, and I’m afraid I was rude.”

  She let out a breath. “Apology accepted.”

  He picked up his coffee and took the top off. “You asked if I could listen with an open mind, and I said that would be difficult for someone in my position. Talk about stuffy. Ugh.”

  His apology put her in a generous mood. “You do have a position to consider. How would Fagan Harcourt react if he thought you were factoring astrological predictions into your Mars project?”

  Nolan choked on his coffee and set the cup on the table.

  She handed him a napkin so he could cough into it. Then she waited patiently as he cleared his throat and settled back in his chair. At last she spoke. “Scary thought, isn’t it?”

  He glanced at her. “At the risk of being an ass about this, after all, I never even remotely considered factoring astrological predictions into my project.”

  “Maybe you should.”

  He grimaced, which also caused his dimples to appear. “I’m not going to respond to that, because it’ll only get me in more trouble. Could we not talk about using astrology in my work, at least not yet? Could we maybe ease into the subject from another angle?”

  She took pity on him. “We can if you want to. Or if you’d rather forget the whole thing, that’s okay, too.”

  “And then what?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You came to Space Expo because of me, right?”

  “Mostly. I’m also drawn to the study of space, so I wouldn’t mind attending some of the other lectures now that I’m here.”

  He hesitated. “Look, don’t take this the wrong way, but you might want to keep your interest in astrology to yourself when you talk with any of the scientists. The people in costumes could be a different story, but I can’t guarantee you’ll get a good reaction from the eggheads.”