Page 26 of A Smooth Operator

Yeah, no, Martin wasn't interested in Echo; otherwise, he'd have had some reaction to my kissing her, albeit on the cheek.

"You have time for coffee?" I asked her.

She looked flustered. "Sure. We can go to the cafeteria."

I spent half an hour with her, talking about her work and telling her about mine. I never talked to a woman as I did Echo. I had friends, but I couldn't tell them I was afraid of failing or the problems I was facing—it seemed easy to do with Echo. She didn't judge. She understood me because she was also plagued with insecurities that she shared with me.

When I left GeneVerse, I hugged her again, like it was a normal thing we did. She leaned into the hug, and I took her scent in. Freesia! She was soft and giving. Her body molded against mine like it fit. There was something about her breasts touching my chest. It was a stupid hug that lasted a few long seconds, but it made me hard.

I didn't see Echo for several weeks after that, which was probably for the best. When she was around, I felt good—light, even. Maybe my ego enjoyed her admiration; she used to have a crush on me, and it seemed like she still did. This made me wary because I didn't want her to get the wrong idea about us, especially since there was no "us." Yet, I also loved how she made me feel as if I were ten feet tall and would stay that way even if I failed.

So, when I saw her at the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis in May, I indulged myself by spending some time with her.

Memphis in May was a month-long cultural event—with highlights being the Beale Street Music Festival, which was damn good for business, the famous barbecue contest, the Great American River Run, and an international cultural salute.

Since I was a barbecue contest judge, I'd dragged my ass to Tom Lee Park. Crowds of people milled about, sampling different barbecue styles, clinking glasses of craft beer, and dancing to the lively tunes of the blues band on stage. The air was filled with the smoky aroma of sizzling meat—and as I walked through the labyrinth of barbecue tents and grills with the Mississippi River glistening in the afternoon sun close by, I bumped into Echo, who was doing her own perusal of the contestants.

She looked adorable, different. I usually saw her at work where she was in a white coat and office clothes, or in unsuitably drab party wear. Today, she wore denim shorts that showed me her very sexy legs—who would've guessed that?—and a white and red floral off-the-shoulder top and a straw hat. She looked Memphis summer chic.

I hugged her when I saw her. "What a surprise?"

She looked taken aback by my exuberant greeting.

"I came for the barbecue, but I stayed for the music," she joked. She put a hand up to angle her hat when her off-the-shoulder top shifted just enough to reveal a glimpse of a tattoo on her upper back.

"Is that a double helix?" This girl was something else because I never imagined she'd have a tattoo. She just didn't seem the type.

"Yeah."

I pulled her blouse down just a little to admire the ink. "What is this DNA strand of?"

She smiled at me. "It's mine."

"Yours?" I leaned in closer to get a better look at the intricate design of the double helix.

"Yep." She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "A short sequence from my HLA genes, part of what makes me, well, me."

I grinned, tracing the edge of the tattoo with my fingertip. "You wear your science on yourself—literally."

I didn't miss the shiver that ran through her at my touch. God, she was so responsive. What would she be like when I touched her nipples, her pussy?

"It's a reminder of what I'm fighting for," she said huskily.

We were in the middle of a park, surrounded by people, but as my finger continued to trace her marked skin, I felt like we were in our own little cocoon. I didn't know what was happening, but I'd never felt this surge of electricity at touching someone, this sense of heightened awareness.

Fuck me, I wanted Echo Devlin!

"And what are you fighting for?" I wanted to lick her tattoo.

She swallowed. "To understand how to better combat diseases like cervical cancer and help people live longer healthier lives."

I regarded her for a moment, and she took the opportunity to shift, so I had no choice but to let go of her. "That's an honorable pursuit," I acknowledged.

A blush crept up her cheeks. "Hey, we all have our passions."

I couldn't help it. I cupped her cheek, my eyes boring into hers. She was so fucking unique—I knew no one like Echo. "It's an incredible tattoo."

Before she could answer, I heard someone call my name. I dropped my hand from her as if she had scalded me.

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