Page 38 of Conspiracies and Chemistry

I waited for her to finish that story, hoping to get another peek inside the enigma that was Tessa Wright, but she stayed silent, her fingers sliding over the smooth glass. Finally, she looked up. “Giving that talk today was a risk. How did it feel?”

I didn’t miss how she’d changed the subject. But she’d opened up about her life more than she ever had to me, and I knew what a big step that was. So I went with it. “Terrifying at first, standing at the podium in front of all those smart people. But then I focused on the science. That’s my comfort zone.”

“Then that’s what we’ll focus on when we get back to the office. Keep that spark from today, that confidence, and do the science. I’ll handle everything else. We’ll be unstoppable.” Her green eyes flared, and the spark she’d mentioned ignited in my chest.

“Unstoppable,” I echoed, believing it. Believing that together, we could do anything. Especially if she could let down her shields like she had tonight.

“I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow with Dr. Deng from Quantum Oncology. Want to join us? I could use your expertise.” She lifted a finger, and the waitress brought the folio. Without looking at it, Tessa handed her a black card.

Together.“Okay.” I smiled. “If only to rein you in when you overpromise.”

“I’m confident you can deliver.” One corner of her mouth turned up, andoh my god is she flirting with me? My heart pounded.

“Are you?” My voice was a rumble.

“I am.” Her tongue flicked out to wet her lower lip. I was going to need a minute before standing up.

“Thank you, Ms. Wright.” The server set the folio back on the table. Tessa held my gaze for a long moment before she opened it.

Fuck. Tessa Wright was buying me dinner. Nothing she did was accidental, so this must mean something. Our company policy mandated that the most senior employee expense a business dinner. Who was more senior? We both had Chief in our titles. Was this a power play? Or a flirtation? My head swam.

I opened my mouth. Maybe it was a nudge from Simon, who was surely watching and yelling the way he used to do when we watched horror movies and the main character was too stupid to live. “I’ll buy dinner tomorrow,” were the words that came out.

She finished signing with a flourish. “Tomorrow night?” Her lips tilted. “Okay.”

I adjusted myself under the table before I stood. “There’s a mixer in the big ballroom. Are you going?”

She stood and tossed her napkin on the table. “A party with doctors and scientists? Sounds like a wild time.”

I chuckled as I rose. “ItisVegas. Even scientists let their hair down.” But mentioning hair was a mistake. I wanted to reach out a finger and touch a lock of hers. I cleared my throat. “I’m skipping it. Full day tomorrow.”

She held up a finger. “Starting with our 7 a.m. breakfast with Dr. Deng. You promised.”

“I did.” Something warmed in my chest as we strolled side by side out of the restaurant toward the elevators on the other side of the lobby.

She stopped midway across the lobby. “I’ve got to stop at the desk to pick up my key. Goodnight.”

A mob of guys my age sauntered past. One of them stumbled as he ogled Tessa. “I’ll wait,” I said.

“Okay.” She gave an I-can-handle-myself shrug, then walked toward the front desk.

I lingered at a distance I hoped wasn’t too stalkery. The lobby was filled with gamblers headed toward the casino, roving groups of partiers, and tourists. I waved at a few people I recognized from the conference.

My ears perked up when Tessa said, “No rooms?”

I stepped closer. The desk attendant said, “I’m sorry. We’ve been booked for months. We’re hosting a conference. In fact, every hotel is full from here to Henderson.”

“Oh.” She shifted her feet. It was the first time I’d ever seen her unsure of herself. “Could you call over to someplace in Henderson for me?”

“Of course,” the attendant said.

“Wait.” The word surprised even me. “By the time you get out there, you’ll practically have to turn right around to make it back for that breakfast. You’ll hardly get any sleep. Stay with me.”

When she speared me with those all-seeing green eyes of hers, my heart stuttered.

She stared at me for so long I almost took it back. But then she said, “Okay.”

Was it possible to have a heart attack at thirty-three? Probably. Anything was possible in proximity to Tessa Wright.

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