Page 9 of Pawsitive Data

“Your family seems concerned,” Lucas observed, amusement and something darker in his voice.

“They’re... overly invested in my social life.”

Lucas’s laugh filled the car. “I look forward to meeting your family.”

The way he said it – like it was inevitable rather than presumptuous – sent shivers down Emma’s spine. She should be worried about how fast this was moving, how many professional boundaries they were crossing, how many impossible things she’d witnessed today.

Instead, she found herself leaning slightly closer, drawn by that magnetic pull she couldn’t explain with science.

“So,” she said, meeting his now-golden gaze, “are we going to pretend this is a professional dinner to discuss my research?”

His smile turned voracious in a way that should have been frightening but instead made heat pool in her stomach. “I think we both know this isn’t about professional matters, Emma.”

The way he said her name should be classified as a controlled substance.

“Good,” she heard herself say. “Because I have several hypotheses about you that require extensive testing.”

His growl – an actual growl – made her breath catch.

“Test away,” he murmured, close enough now that she could feel his breath on her lips. “But remember, Dr. Greene... some experiments can have life-changing results.”

The car stopped at the restaurant and the car door opened. “To be continued,” he said.

Le Bernardin’s intimate lighting made Lucas’s eyes appear almost luminous. They sat in a private corner booth where the candlelight cast interesting shadows across his perfect cheekbones. Emma tried to focus on the menu instead of how he’d smoothly guided her to their table with a hand on the small of her back, a touch that still burned through her dress.

“Wine?” he asked, his voice doing that low thing that made her stomach flip.

“Yes. Lots. I mean—” Emma caught herself. “A reasonable amount. Because this is partly professional. Sort of. Isn’t it?”

His smirk was adorable. “What do you think?”

“I think you’re enjoying watching me try to figure this out.” She set her menu down. “And I think you’re used to being the most enigmatic person in the room.”

“Guilty.” He leaned forward slightly. “Though I find myself rather enjoying being figured out. By you.”

The way he saidby youmade her head spin. Before she could respond, their waiter appeared. Lucas ordered for them both in perfect French, because of course, he did.

“Show off,” Emma muttered when the waiter left.

“I have many talents,” he replied with a wicked glint in his eye. “Some more... unusual than others.”

“Like defying the laws of gravity? Or running a multi-billion dollar company while looking like you belong on a magazine cover? Or making my heart rate accelerate beyond normal parameters with just a look?”

“Is it accelerating now?” He definitely looked pleased with himself.

Emma took a sip of the wine that had appeared as if by magic. “You know it is. Which raises interesting questions about your sensory capabilities. Normal humans can’t detect subtle physiological changes from across a table.”

“Perhaps we should discuss your research instead,” he deflected smoothly, but his eyes had darkened to that compelling gold. “Tell me more about your breakthrough this morning.”

“Trying to distract me from my observations about yoursuper-humanabilities?”

“Is it working?”

“No,” Emma said honestly. “But I’ll play along because the science actually is fascinating. And because you’re the first person who’s ever looked at me like that while I talk about genetic markers.”

“Like what?”

“Like my excitement about science is attractive instead of weird.”

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