Julia
Doth my ears deceive me? Did Nathaniel Aarons just say what I think he did? Because there is no way …
“You—” I start.
“Your help,” he finishes quickly and then clears his throat before adding, “I need your help with the Lite-Brite project.”
“Oh.” Well, that makes more sense.
When he first appeared at my cube I had to blink to make sure I hadn’t imagined him. He introduced himself as though I don’t know who he is. As though the whole of the laboratory doesn’t know the whiz kid engineer who is taking the energetics world by storm. A legend just a year or two older than me, everyone at the lab was quick to share how he had filed five patents all while earning his double masters at UC Berkeley in mechanicalandelectrical engineering.
A hum of energy shoots through me as I take in the man watching me with an amused smile on his face.Nathaniel Aarons. My heart starts atippy-taptempo my feet would struggle to keep up with. He’s even more handsome up close. His smile accents the deep dimple in his cheek and his brown curls are perfectly tousled, but there’s no way the style is intentional. The man has a high-processing computer for a brain; he doesn’t spend time in the morning fixing his Superman curl just so. He probably forgot to brush it completely and that little cowlick on the side of his head formed courtesy of his pillow.
Why was that so damn adorable?
He’s tall and athletic-looking even in charcoal gray dress pants and a white dress shirt. The fabric pulls tight around strong shoulders and biceps. It’s not enough that he’s a super-nerd; he’s also ridiculously good looking. Don’t even get me started on his piercing hazel eyes that suck the air out of the room. I can’t say that I even notice most people’s eyes. At least not unless they are so striking I can’t seem to look anywhere else. Or blink.O-M-G, look away and don’t be weird.How long have I been staring at him?
“How can I help?”Be normal.
I can practically hear Grandma Sue say something along the lines ofNow there is a man that could plow my fields.
“Do you have a minute to talk? I know you’re packing up to leave, but that’s actually why I’m here.”
Despite my racing heart, I gesture to the chair that isn’t stacked with boxes. “Sure.”
I don’t have a lot of personal effects but somehow I always manage to accumulate little knickknacks from each job that I never have the heart to let go of.
He steps into my office. Suddenly, the space that felt so big only a moment ago shrinks down to the size of a pin. His scent surrounds me and a sudden heat causes me to flush. I glance at my hands to make sure I’m not actually glowing. I swallow as he extends an arm past me to pet Ferngully.
“Hello, I’m Nathaniel,” he says to her as he gently taps her dried-out body. I swear she shudders in response to his affection. I don’t blame her. I wouldn’t be surprised if she bloomed back to life thanks to his natural light.
I laugh nervously. “She’s a bit shy. Her name is Ferngully.”
He glances up from the plant to grin at me. “Fern.”
I clear my throat and step back to reduce the growing heat in the room. That shock a few minutes ago was exactly what I’m afraid of. Most people I can avoid touching easily enough. When I do have to touch someone, if I make it quick, I’m usually okay. But there’s something about Nathaniel. He pulls all my emotions close to the surface. Like I can feel his energy zinging around the room, amping me up. As he straightens back up, I press cool fingertips to my cheeks and take a deep breath in.
I’m wearing a high-collared blouse buttoned all the way up and long slacks with heels to give the impression of height. I’m covered up like usual and hope it’s enough to hide my blush. My first day on base, I noticed him. He was chatting with his team in the cafeteria. And every time after that my attention shot to him like he had one of those green diamonds above his head like a character from Sims.
The closest we had physically ever gotten before today was one time at a coffee shop when I swear my body noticed him long before my brain did. I’d been waiting in line when all the sudden every single one of my nerves sat up and took notice. Startled, I looked up to figure out what had set me off when I spotted his reflection in the mirrors behind the baristas. I was acutely aware of him the entire time the line crawled forward. I had no idea how to act. The simple nearness of him got me so wound up I was afraid I was going to shock him into the next building. Stammering out my order, I turned to wait for my drink only to find Nathaniel staring at me, like he was about to say something. I freaked out and left.
Not that I still think about that look.
Only all the time.
Here and now, Nathaniel taps his foot. I can feel it shaking the floor. It’s weirdly comforting. I may not be able to touch people but I still find certain people’s company reassuring. A reminder that I do exist.
“So Julia Russo, world’s best Document Manager. I have heard a lot about you.”
I make a sound that is somewhere between a “heh” and a snort. “I don’t know about all that.”
Every time my name leaves his mouth I feel it like a caress down my neck. Why does he have to have that deep, rumbly voice? Why do I want to hear him moan my name? And why am I only hearing him speak it now as I’m about to leave?
I groan internally and focus on the present.
“I’m chief engineer on a program called Lite-Brite.”
“Lite-Brite? Like the toy?” I ask.
