feel centered now.” She studied the man. He stood to about six foot six and filled out the black designer suit as if his body were metal and the fabric just a finish.
He held out a hand mammoth enough to palm a basketball. Maybe two. “Ronan Kayrs.”
She shook. “Dr. Promise Williams.” Her body still trembled from the pain, even though it had evaporated. “I must apologize for my attack. I am so sorry.”
He smiled, turning his face from rugged into sheer male beauty, although he dropped her hand rather quickly. His palm had felt rough and raised. Scarred? “No apology necessary. I’m quite used to women fainting in my presence.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake.” Another man entered the room, this one just as big as Ronan Kayrs with hair as dark and a blue suit just as expensive. But his tie was an intriguing bright pink, while Ronan’s was a deep blue. “You need new material.” He held out a hand. “Dr. Kane Kayrs. It’s nice to meet you.”
Another Kayrs. She shook hands, and Kane released her as quickly as Ronan had. These businessmen didn’t believe in the long shake, now did they? And his skin had felt odd as well. Like it had been branded. But she couldn’t very well ask to see his palm; that’d be odd. “Brothers?” They certainly had similar bone structure and physiques. But Kane wore light-refracting glasses, so she couldn’t see if the uncommon aqua eyes were a family trait.
Kane snorted. “No. Distant relations.”
“Very distant,” Ronan said, his grin flashing again.
Kane smiled. “Good one. My presence was requested around midnight, and here I am. See? Family.”
She looked from one handsome man to the other, her curiosity piqued. They obviously shared an inside joke. She’d never had one of those. What would it be like to have family again? Not that she’d ever experienced much family time, anyway. “I hope my losing consciousness doesn’t influence your decision for the grants.” How could this have happened?
“Not a chance.” Kane gently led her to a chair and waited for her to sit, making her feel all feminine. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yes. I’m fine.” She frowned, rubbing the base of her neck beneath her braid. “Just fine now. I don’t understand.”
A rustle sounded by the door, and the receptionist stepped partially inside. “Dr. Brookes? Since Dr. Williams is feeling better, how about you follow me for your interview for the grant for research into ordinary differential equations?”
An ice pick ripped into Promise’s neck, and she bit her lip, trying not to cry out. If it was a tumor, would the thing just explode and get it over with? She just had to complete this interview, and then she would make an appointment with a neurologist immediately. The room swam.
“Sure.” Obviously not noticing her distress, Mark patted her shoulder and followed the petite woman, disappearing from view.
The pain receded and then sputtered out. What were these attacks? Promise exhaled slowly and let her shoulders relax. Okay. Time to concentrate. She’d figure out her health problems right after the interview.
Ronan cocked his head. “You okay?”
She nodded, bewilderment filling her. What would account for the pain coming and going so suddenly? “Yes. I experienced another sudden headache, but the pain has receded.”
Kane looked toward the door. “Completely gone now?”
“Yes.” She breathed in, filling her chest, and then exhaled again, slower this time. If she’d just destroyed her chance at the grant money, then her brain could up and explode. The good the university could do with such funds was inspiring. She had to turn this around. “I’m fine, gentlemen. Shall we get started?”
The two men exchanged a glance and then took chairs across from her at the table.
Ronan cleared his throat. “We don’t have a lot of time to mess around, so here it is. Based on your application and a background check, you’re one of several finalists for this grant. We’re interested in studying different dimensions. I mean, the possibility of travel between and to different dimensions.”
She blinked. That hadn’t been mentioned on the application. Was he serious? “As a practicality instead of theoretically?”
“Yes,” Kane said, leaning forward, his elbows on the table.
Oh, for goodness’ sake. So much male beauty and no darn brains. She sighed. “All right. So, first we probably need to get the terminology straight. Dimensions refer to distance, so you don’t travel to another dimension. At least we don’t. We’re third-dimensional beings, so we’re in the third dimension. If there are other dimensions, and I believe that