AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, dear.”
* * *
“Are you sure?” Anton asked in what Grace’s estimation was the millionth time. He gestured toward her tablet with a jerk of his chin. “That’s a lot of data, Grace, and-”
“And what? We can share. I’m the lab queen around these parts—all the data is mine to use as I see fit, and I trust you.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Take the data. It’s fine. But you have to keep Lou’s science hands away from making anything that goes boom.”
He held up three fingers. “I swear on it.”
She laughed at seeing the gesture and gave his fingers a tap. “You were a boy scout?”
Anton shook his head.“Nah, but this looks official, right?”
She rolled her eyes. “Get out of here, Kovalev. I’ve got caffeine to dole out. You’ve got data to drown in. We’ll touch base this afternoon, yeah?”
“Yeah.” He nodded and reached forward, catching her around the waist. “You don’t know how much this means to me. It would have taken me months to get anywhere near enough data to even start the designs. You’re incredible.” His lips just brushed against hers in a sweet kiss that made her lean into him with a sigh. Sweet with Anton was always good. Sweet was something she’d never had near enough of, and she wrapped her arms around him, enjoying how he held her close, arms sure and strong. Like there wasn’t a thing he’d let near her that was bad or wrong.
“You don’t have to thank me,” she told him, kissing his cheek and resting her head against his shoulder. “Just keep Lou away from anything illegal.”
He chuckled, hands combing through her hair. “Now you’re just ruining my fun.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She raised herself up on her toes and kissed him once more, this time with more heat, and when she pulled a groan from him she twirled away with a grin. “Get to work, Mr. Kovalev.”
He shook his head, a faint flush dusting his cheeks as he sucked in a breath. “You drive me crazy,” he told her, snatching up her tablet with a half-smile.
She shot him a wink. “I know.”
“Lucky for you I happen to like that quality in a woman.”
She giggled, earning herself another soft-eyed look from him as he stole another kiss on his way out of the lab. She let out a sigh and sagged against the table beside her as she watched him go. She still stared after him when groggy-eyed scientists began to filter into the lab. Grace gave herself a mental shake. She couldn’t be swoony this early in the morning when the labs were starting to fill up.
She plastered a bright smile on her face and handed a cup of coffee to the nearest scientist. “Hot coffee, come and get it. There’s bagels too.” She began handing out caffeine, and what was sure to be the only natural food most of the scientists would consume, before she forced another meal in front of them.
“Do your heart eyes have anything to do with the fact that I just saw Anton leave?” Lou asked, appearing at her side and snagging a bagel.
Grace let out a sigh. “Hate to see him go but love to watch him leave.”
“I take it the getaway was a success?”
“Oh yeah, very big success. 10/10 would recommend.” She winked at Lou, who made a face and took the coffee Grace offered her.
“You know, as much as I wanted you two together, I’m not ready to go there yet, soooo… how about we review some data readings, and once I’m warmed up I’ll give it another crack?”
“Aw, you’d do that for me?” Grace held her hands up to her heart and clutched at her shirt.
“It is my right and duty as your best friend.”
“I’m touched.” She paused and then said, “Or should I say, Iwastouched. That’s the way it goes. I was touched this weekend. Head to toe. Copiously.”
“I said I needed a warm-up, Gracie.” Lou smacked her with her bagel, but she smiled as Grace doubled over in laughter and continued to hand out coffees to the gathered science horde like they were auditioning for the role of Oliver Twist. Once everyone had drink and food in hand, Grace moved to the workstation Lou occupied and was very nearly ready to take her first sip of coffee when all hell broke loose.
Elisha’s panicked voice rang through the lab. “Why are the servers empty?” she asked.
Lou stilled beside her. “Empty? What are you talking about? I’m on it. It’s fine.”
Another voice, not Elisha’s: “No. No it’s not.”
Grace and Lou jerked around to face one another. Fear coursed through Grace’s veins. “Every...ah, everything is going to be okay,” Grace said, twisting her hands. “Let’s just stay calm. I’m sure there’s an explanation,” she said, words coming out faster as she heard the murmur of scientists start to fill the air. They had heard what Elisha had said. They were looking for themselves now and from the rumblings, Grace knew it was true.
