That was bullshit. “According to Austin your brain rivals Einstein.” I’d been around plenty of smart people in my life but Delaney far surpassed them. But she didn’t talk down to people, she spoke as plainly as someone with her intelligence could. And it was nice to talk to a pretty girl who didn’t talk about fashion and reality TV.
“I don’t think I’m that smart, but I do have an eidetic memory,” she paused and looked at me. “That means-,”
“I know what it means Laney.”
She blushed and shook her head. “Right. I apologize.”
“Don’t be. Now tell me how you’re not that smart,” I joked, drawing another stunning blush from her.
“With my memory comes a very high IQ and the fact that I have been attending one of the best schools in the country since I was twelve, so yes I am smart. Technically a genius, but I don’t have regular people skills.” She seemed nervous as she spoke of her supposed shortcomings.
Yeah she was damn smart. A genius who didn’t wield it as a weapon. “I can’t imagine that much time in school. I mean I did well during my education, but only because I worked toward a goal.”
“That’s what I’m doing as well. After getting my first Ph.D. in applied physics I was still too young to get a job, but it has worked out for the best. I spent a few years playing around with research and now I just need more engineering knowledge and I figured I may as well get my Ph.D.”
“Why physics and not chemistry? You could probably make a killing with pharmaceuticals.”
She laughed and shook her head, seemingly lost in memory as she spoke. “Chemistry was my first love but after too many explosive accidents my parents put their foot down. Besides that, I still don’t have the bedside manner to be a physician, and I believe knowing the human body and speaking with patients is the best way to create drugs that could actually benefit them.” She blew out a breath as the path curved and looked up at me. “When I got to Stanford I had already developed a love of physics so the explosions wouldn’t have mattered, but it was already done.”
Damn I couldn’t imagine the pain she must still carry at basically being abandoned by her family. “Well it all worked out, hasn’t it?” She shrugged so I changed the subject. “What’s next after Ph.D. number two?”
“That’s the question everyone has,” she shot back with a self-deprecating smile. “I have no idea. It’s all so overwhelming, the options and choices I get to make. I’ve never lived anywhere but here and Texas and soon I could live anywhere in the world.” Her smile beamed so bright, so hopeful I just wanted to gather her in my arms and hug her. “What about you Bennett, do you miss the Navy?”
I didn’t want to lie to her but I couldn’t tell her that I was still an active SEAL. “Once a Navy man, always a Navy man. It will always be a part of me.”
She didn’t speak for so long I thought maybe she wouldn’t. Perhaps that was the end of our conversation. “That,” she began as she slowed to a stop and sat on a patch of springy green grass, “was a very diplomatic answer.” She didn’t sound annoyed, but the words definitely weren’t a compliment.
My gaze narrowed on the movement of her breasts as she sucked in air, hypnotizing me for so long I lost the thread of the conversation for a moment. “I’m still getting used to it,” I told her absently and when she didn’t respond I had a feeling I had disappointed her.
She was silent for so long, only unlatching the water bottle from her leg and taking small, slow sips. Finally, her breathing returned to normal and she smiled at the big puffy clouds hovering above the park, eyes closed as the sun beat down on her.
“That’s nice,” she groaned and stood, stretching her body in a way I found unintentionally sexy. “Ready to head back?”
The walk back to the car and the drive home were done in silence. Mostly, anyway. It was a comfortable type of silence, the kind I had only experienced with the guys on my team. Women typically worked to fill silence, but not Delaney Watson. She mumbled to herself on occasion, as a thought occurred to her and she tried to work out an equation in her mind but she didn’t talk bullshit just to keep conversation going. I appreciated that, and I found it damned adorable. I needed to maintain a healthy distance with this woman if I wanted to keep her safe. The intel we had didn’t say exactly who was after her, only that her name had come up in several intercepted communications. We knew she was a target and we knew why. The who was the part of the equation I was here to figure out while keeping her alive.
It could be the Russians who simply want to destroy her research to maintain their oil rich status, but my money was on any number of nations who lined their pockets with billions thanks to our dependence on oil. Only time would tell.
“Thanks for the run,” she said and hopped from the car, bounding up the short steps to the door with an energy I didn’t expect. She continued up the stairs and disappeared into her room while I headed to the shower and tried like hell not to think of the sexy genius under my care.
She was as attracted to me as I was to her which didn’t help one damn bit because I couldn’t act on it. I wouldn’t.
No matter how much I wanted to.
***
I spent the first day of class sitting in the back of the room. Observing. The students couldn’t possibly be the threat because they were mostly freshmen and sophomore students taking Delaney’s class to fulfill a science requirement. They had neither the time, nor the energy to learn of Delaney’s research never mind the value of it. And most of all, I’d already had background checks run on them and none of them had international connections. So I spent the two morning courses watching mostly bored students, save for two nerds who seemed enamored with the young professor.
“Are you bored yet?” She laughed when I approached her. “Dr. Austin gave me these courses to aid my public speaking skills, but I’m afraid the basics are no longer all that appealing.”
“Maybe not the most compelling topic, but you make it easy to understand, and that’s a fine skill.” Besides she didn’t seem to have a problem with public speaking from what I could tell. “What’s wrong with your public speaking?”
She let out a shaky breath and rolled her eyes. “I tend to speak too formally and rush through information when I’m nervous. Austin says the only way I’ll get comfortable is to be comfortable. I assume he means to get me comfortable by allowing me to get used to doing it regularly.”
“That’s how we do it in the SEALS. Practice and practice and practice until you can do it in your sleep.” I fell into step beside her as we made our way down to the first floor where the offices were.
“In that case, I will work to get used to it.” She flashed a grin at me and dropped down into her lopsided leather desk chair. “We probably need to get you a desk or something, but feel free to make room here. I rarely use it other than for reading.”
“We’ll make it work,” I told her confidently as a knock sounded at the door.
“Dr. Watson how are you enjoying the first day of classes?”
The man I immediately identified as Dr. Jason Howard entered without invitation and wrapped his arms around his oversized gut. He cast me a glance but quickly dismissed me, I was sure, as a meathead idiot. He wasn’t the first, and he wouldn’t be the last. And it gave me the perfect excuse to watch him.
“So far so good Dr. Howard. How about you, any promising students yet?” Her words sounded right but everything about her—her words and her expression—was too damn bright.
“None as promising as you of course, but a few solid thinkers.” His light brown eyes took in her small shoebox office, but I could see the muscles in his eyes squint to take it every detail. Then it hit me. He was looking for something. “How is your research coming along?” He rubbed his shiny bald head, wisps of hair standing in all directions on the sides. His ruddy skin spoke of a man on the border of a drinking problem, and his ill-fitting clothes told me that he either had money problems or he had no regard for his appearance.
“So far so good. It will be ready soon enough,” she told him casually. Just two colleagues talking shop for her. For him it was more, but I couldn’t tell if it was simple jealousy or something more sinister.
“You really should let someone more seasoned look at your research before you get too deep in to change Dr. Watson. Don’t worry so much about secrecy when you need help.”
Easy for him to say since he wasn’t the one with the potentially world changing research. But Delaney to her credit, didn’t flinch at the intended admonishment.
“If I need help you will be my first call Dr. Howard. In the meantime, I’m good.”
“You’re far too young to be quite so mistrustful.” His tone said he was joking, but I could see the signs of tension. The skin around his mouth was pulled tight until his lips were white, his eyes showed signs of a migraine and behind his ears showed beads of sweat. Nervous.
“It’s not mistrust, I’m just working on a few details and waiting for some tests to pan out Dr. Howard. I do actually know how to conduct research and write a paper.”
Interesting. So Laney hadn’t told him about the additional grant funding she’d requested. She might not be well versed in the ways of the world, but she knew how to protect her work.
“Well,” he clapped his hands together loudly, “I am happy to help in any way I can for our little star.” His emphasis on that last word confirmed my theory of jealousy and put him firmly on my list of suspects, right along with the other professors in the science department. I watched his retreating back until he disappeared from sight.
“That man is so jealous of you he can hardly stand it.”
“Its hard for him,” she turned to me, nothing but sympathy for her mentor swimming in those big trusting eyes. “He hasn’t had any research pan out in the last few years and though he has tenure he’s losing his favor within the department and funding agencies.”
“Then maybe he should focus on finding something new instead of working so hard to see your research.”
She gave me an indulgent smile, one that spoke of affection and gratitude. “Thank you.” She blushed and looked away and I couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t know why he’s so eager to see it because it is well out of his area of expertise. Now how about I buy you lunch?”
“I never say no when a pretty lady wants to buy me food.”
With a dramatic eye roll, she grabbed her heavy-duty rucksack and slung it over her shoulder. “Come on Sergeant Charming.”
Sergeant Charming. I liked it. We made our way towards a deli a few blocks off campus. “What kind of deli girl are you?”
“I like a big sloppy sandwich with lots of vinegar and pickles. Spicy peppers too.”
Damn I could love a woman with an appetite like that. “I think I’ll let you order for me then.”
She laughed. “You’re roast beef or pastrami guy, right?”
“Both, yes.” I answered with a straight face and she burst out laughing as we came to a red light.
“I think my people observation skills are getting better,” she told me, stepping off the curb when the walk sign flashed.
I knew something was off immediately. The sound of a vehicle accelerating too fast. I looked up and immediately spotted the black SUV with dark windows plowing straight towards us.
“Laney!” Grabbing her by the waist I yanked her back forcefully until she fell against me, sending us both to the ground as the car corrected its path and rejoined traffic.
Delaney’s small hands pushed against my chest as she tried to sit up, chest heaving deeply. She gave a shaky smile and brushed wild red curls from her face. “I would like to say that was an accident, but judging by the direct path and the way the car revved at the end, and the way they carefully avoided hitting the row of parked cars, I have to say it felt intentional. The only question is, were you the target or me?”
It was a fair assumption, since my whole job was covert missions, is covert missions. And this presented the perfect opportunity to find out more about her research. “Depends. Why on earth would anyone want you injured or dead?”
She smiled sweetly and pushed herself up using my chest as leverage, and then offered her hand. Which I accepted because she was so damn sweet and tiny, it sent all my protective instincts rushing to the surface. “Let’s grab those sloppy subs and I’ll tell you all about it.” She paused outside the shop and looked up at me. “Do you need to go back to campus?”
“Nope.”
“Good.” We went inside and she ordered for both of us, grabbing chips and cookies to go along with it. “I don’t normally eat so much junk, but I think a near death experience warrants indulging.”
She waited until we were back at home, settled in the dining room with our food half gone before she spoke again. “I’ve found, at least I think I’ve found, a method that will allow us to harness all three forms of sustainable energy into a standalone power unit which will allow us to produce more power more efficiently.” She let out a haggard sigh. “It would be detrimental to fossil fuel industries around the world.”
Holy. Shit. Commander Mahoney had told me she was working on new energy harnessing equipment but that was understating it massively. What she was working on was…
“Fucking incredible.”
“Uh, thanks.” She blushed, and took a big unladylike bite of her sub, sealing my crush on the young genius. “So, so good.”
Delaney Watson was so good. Too good. Too damn appealing for my peace of mind.
Delaney
Something odd was going on. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what, but I felt it, and while it’s true I wasn’t really the type to give in to gut instincts, I couldn’t stop the growing sense that things in my world weren’t right. My shoulders and spine were tense all the time and sometimes I felt like someone watched me. Not uncommon for a professor, but at odd times, like when I went for a run or even like now, as I walked across the parking lot to the supermarket.
If that were my only problem I could deal with it, but my other problem was four and a half inches past six feet, with a caramel brown buzz cut, blue-green eyes and dimples that made my heart flutter furiously. Having Bennett around constantly added a new source of discomfort, one I hadn’t felt very often in my life, but I recognized it quite clearly as arousal. My attraction to him made it hard to sleep. Impossible to concentrate. And added on to the feeling I had of being watched, let’s just say I was a bundle of mixed emotions and tension.
Thankfully it was Friday, which meant two days with no classes, no students and absolutely no Dr. Howard eager to get his eye balls on my research. I hoped it also meant that Bennett might have a date, and if that thought stung a little, well I chose to ignore it as I placed a cantaloupe and some broccoli into my cart. It was for the best, really. I had no business lusting after a man like Bennett, so big and powerful. So masculine. Really it would help to see him with a woman, one with long legs and large breasts. Long hair and a beautiful face like a model. That would shake me right out of this inconvenient attraction.
I finished shopping quickly, with grand plans of a hot bath and a roasted chicken and vegetables dinner, banishing all thoughts of being watched and handsome Navy SEALs. The drive home was quick as was everything in town, but I loved to drive everywhere. Ever since I got my license, I loved driving. Simply because I could.
Now though, I felt apprehensive after what had happened outside the deli. So I took the shortest route home and unloaded everything even quicker than that. I hated being so cautious in a place where I’d felt safe for most of my life. I told myself to ignore it, and I simply pushed forward. The way I always had.
With all the grocery bags on the porch, I unlocked the door and grabbed two before pushing inside, where I froze. The place had been ransacked but…not really. It was all messy like someone wanted me to think that, but I had a feeling nothing had been found. Well I knew nothing had been found, because there was nothing tangible here.
That didn’t mean I was alone however. So I retraced my steps to the car, climbed in and locked the doors to call…who? The police would think I was nothing more than a scared little girl. But Bennett would help. At least I hoped he would.
“Bennett, hi, this is Delaney. Delaney Watson.”
“I know who you are Laney. What’s up?”
Was that humor in his voice? “Someone broke into the house. I’m not sure if they’re still here but-,”
“I’m on my way. Get in the car and lock it. Don’t open it until I get there.” He disconnected the call.
I waited. And waited. No one came out, which comforted me a bit. But the thought that someone had been inside my home, rifling through my things, terrified me. More than that, I now knew exactly what other people meant when they said they felt violated. I felt that way too.
Ten minutes passed. Fifteen. Twenty. Finally, Bennett’s navy blue SUV skidded to a halt beside my little Prius.
“Stay there,” he barked and I watched him move, like a panther, slow and skillful and with such ease. He climbed the steps, sidestepping the grocery bags and went into the house, gun drawn. Wait, gun?
He disappeared inside and I held my breath for every second he was out of my sight. I grabbed the handle to go after him when he stepped back onto the porch and his shoulders relaxed.
I did step out then. “Are you okay Bennett?”
One side of his mouth kicked up in a lazy grin. “Am I all right? Sweetheart you’re the one who’s had a scare. The house is empty so come on inside.”
I followed him in with the last two bags, set them down and crossed my arms while taking in all of his hotness. “You carry a gun.”
“I do. I’m trained and licensed.” He began pulling items from the bags and setting them on the counter. I quickly moved to put them away. “What’s in here that someone would want?”
I knew he would ask, just as I didn’t know whether or not I could trust him. Though he was with me when that vehicle tried to run one of us over, I had to be sure.
Seal's Professor Page 2
