Page 46 of S is for…

“Laney, I’m not offended.I enjoy banter.”

She swallowed, and felt it in her ears.“Still, that was rude.I’m sorry.”

He nodded, and the following silence had the tea feeling like acid in her stomach.She could handle silence.She was good at silence.If she’d been silent a minute ago, she wouldn’t have said something bitchy.

“The clue is in the rest of my job title,” Peter said softly, his words feeling like a gentle nudge.

What had he said…

“Oh.”She looked up.“Research.You’re in research.”

“Yes.”

“What do you…research?”How many times had she said that word in the past thirty seconds?Too many.

“How people make decisions.”

“How, not why?”

“That is exactly the right question, and yes.Humans like to ask why, because we assume there’s a logical connection between inputs and our decisions.”

“Input being what?Life events?”

“Yes, and emotions.We assume that, for example, if a person ate a hamburger and got sick, next time they’ll decide not to eat a hamburger.”

“Because they don’t want to get sick again.”

“That would make sense, right?”Peter’s brows rose, and he was now giving off sexy professor vibes.“If people were computers.”

“But we’re not.”

“No,” he agreed.“We’re not.When our hypothetical friend goes to order food the next time, his brain will make many different connections and the decision will travel a web of pathways—many of which can be tied to past events, emotions etc.—in order for him to decide what to eat.”

“Wait, you’re talking about the actual physical brain.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“So you’re a brain researcher?”

“Yes, and I actually work in a neurology lab, though I’m not a neurologist.”He smiled, this time rueful.“I hadn’t actually planned to tell you all this.”

“I shouldn’t have asked.”Embarrassment hunched her shoulders.

“No, I’m happy to tell you.”His smile was genuine.“I opened the door, but when I planned our meeting, this conversation wasn’t part of it.”He touched his temple.“See?My brain made a decision that computer-logic ‘if-then’ statements couldn’t account for.”

Laney still felt a little awkward.She stared at the pockets of blackness in the large room.

“But, it is relevant to point out that I did spend several years as a counselor—not an MFT mind you—and then a practicing psychologist who did, in fact, see patients.It’s how I paid the bills while getting my master’s degree in neuroscience.

“Ah, so you so have some experience diagnosing people-pleasing.”

He shrugged, wiggling one hand in a “sort-of” gesture.

Laney felt easy with him in a way she hadn’t with a Dom in a long time.Actually, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this comfortable with anyone.

“So, Doctor,” she teased.“Are you going to charge me?You sound expensive.”

Peter plucked at his plain long-sleeved shirt.“It’s the designer outfit that gave me away, isn’t it?”

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