Concealed Hearts (Hometown Jasper #4) - Nicky James Page 0,17
the police chief from the home town I’d abandoned who’d caught my eye. Nothing about this was going to end well. It was dangerous. Risky. My only saving grace was that Windsor seemed as deep in the closet as me. That could work to my advantage. Most men I dated ended up leaving because of my stubbornness to stay hidden. They didn’t want to be a dirty secret, and despite knowing my circumstances beforehand, they all left in the end.
I didn’t know where this was heading or if it would become anything more than a few tantalizing phone calls, but I wanted to explore it.
Sometimes, life was lonely, and I got the sense Windsor understood that more than most.
For fun, because I knew he was probably overthinking every word we’d shared, I pulled up Windsor’s number on my phone and texted him.
Tomi: Freaking out yet?
It took a solid five minutes for a response to hit my phone, and when it did, I smiled.
Windsor: Like you wouldn’t believe.
* * *
A knock at the lab room door drew me from a deep, ponderous state of analysis where I’d been picking apart the newest data I’d collected on my research—the research I’d told Windsor about that had left his head spinning.
“Dr. Lee?”
I’d been lost in my head for the past few hours, a near sub-conscious condition I was familiar with that only existed when I spent too much time lost in data and formulas and calculations. It always took a moment to return to the land of the living and register the room around me.
“Dr. Hash. I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I didn’t think so. I don’t mean to press, but you’re overlapping my lab time.”
“I am?” I blinked at the clock on the wall, confused that it was already long past three o’clock in the afternoon. “My apologies. I had no idea it was that late. Let me clean up and get out of your way.”
Dr. James Hash tipped his head in a clipped nod. “I’ll grab myself a coffee while I wait more.”
His expression matched his tone. Dr. Hash was a long-time professor and researcher at the university, one of the older, veteran physicists who had no time for the younger generation invading their space. Although I’d moved beyond the classification of new hire long ago, in his eyes, I was still an unworthy bottom feeder.
Once he was gone, I hurried to tidy up and scanned my messy notes before collecting my belongings and departing the lab. On my way through the building, aiming for the exit to the parking lot, I stopped at a vending machine and grabbed a bottle of water. I’d been going non-stop since early that morning. It wasn’t abnormal for me to work through meals, but it was a habit I was trying to break.
Before I hit the exit, a familiar voice called from behind. “Do not tell me you’re going to spend all summer locked in a lab, Tomi.”
I grinned and shifted to find Ivan, a colleague and good friend, coming down the hall toward me.
“Says the man who has probably booked as many hours in the lab this summer as I have.”
“At least I go out and have fun in the evenings.” Ivan caught up and knocked my shoulder before we continued toward the parking lot. “Come out tonight. Grace and I are heading to that classy joint we went to last month. Risstos, remember it? They’re doing a wine and dine evening thing. Music and a silent auction, I’m told.”
“I remember that place. The food was brilliant.”
“See. Join us. It’s the summer holidays. Try to remember that.”
“Can’t tonight. I’ll take a rain check. Besides, you don’t need me to drop in as a third wheel. Enjoy a night out with Grace.”
“You aren’t a third wheel, man. Not after ten years of marriage. You’re my savior. Besides, Grace will probably have invited a few friends from work. She always does. I’ll be the odd man out.”
“I would, honestly, but I have plans already. Shocking, I know, but I really do have to pass.”
What I didn’t say was that my plans involved pacing the floors of my apartment while I waited and hoped the man I’d been secretly crushing on since I returned from Jasper would call like he’d promised.
“Fine. I’ll let you off the hook this time, but I swear it, Lee, I’m not letting you spend your whole summer working in that lab. You and I are gonna hit the town.”