Freak of Nature - By Julia Crane Page 0,8

dry. Then you’ll need to get a physical to make sure everything is running smoothly.”

For a split second, he thought he saw something in her eyes. Some emotion. Boredom maybe? Irritation? He was really losing it. Kaitlyn couldn’t feel boredom—or anything else for that matter.

Shivering, he turned back towards the Jeep, trailed by the obedient robot. He opened the passenger door, and she slid into the seat. He wanted to wrap his jacket around her shoulders, but the thought was absurd. Her body was equipped to handle changes in temperature.

They were back at the laboratory within minutes. Once inside, his eyes lingered on her long legs as the nurse wiped them dry. Kaitlyn’s hair was plastered to her face, and she still looked gorgeous. Her grey eyes caught his for a second. He wondered what she was thinking, then reminded himself that she wasn’t programmed to have idle thoughts.

The computer beeped, saving him from an emotion that felt too much like regret. Lucas pulled his gaze from hers as he turned to the computer and logged onto her server. Everything was running smoothly. The waterproof coating was more than sufficient to protect her delicate robotics. His boss, Harrington, would be pleased.

In only one week, they would be presenting Kaitlyn to government officials. Lucas was still surprised that Dr. Harrington was willing to part with his prized possession. Apparently, notoriety was worth more to him. If the government agreed to take on the project, then Harrington would start on a new and more advanced human. His crazy dream was that someday humans would willingly be subjects, and they would make a super-race. He claimed the only way to do that was to get the government on their side, even if it meant handing over their prototype.

The thought of never seeing Kaitlyn again filled Lucas with despair. Harrington had promised him he would be able to track her project, but inside, Lucas knew better. Once the government was involved, Harrington, Lucas, and the entire unit would be shut out. Their robot girl would disappear into the secretive world of military research and development, and he would never see her again.

Chapter Four

“Quess, what do you know about Lucas?” Kaitlyn twisted a golden maple leaf in her hand as she walked next to her friend in the fading sunlight. Pine needles crunched under foot, like a soft, spongy blanket on the grass muffling their steps.

Quess’s face lit up. “Lucas? He’s cute, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is physically appealing,” Kaitlyn responded, her machinery already whirring to verify her answer. “His face is very symmetrical and pleasing to the eye. However, that’s not what I mean. Do you know anything about him as a person?”

Her young friend stooped to pick a taraxacum or the plant commonly known as a dandelion from the ground. “From what I gather, he’s some sort of boy genius. He finished his Master’s degree when he was seventeen. He’s completely dedicated to his work. I don’t think he has much of a life outside of IFICS. I know my grandparents have invited him over to dinner, but he always refuses.” Quess paused thoughtfully, twirling the brilliant yellow weed between two fingers. “He doesn’t seem very social, and I’m pretty sure he’s single. Maybe he’s just shy.”

Well, Kaitlyn thought, at least it wasn’t just her that he acted aloof around. Lucas was anti-social in general. That thought was somewhat comforting. Kaitlyn wasn’t about to admit she fantasized about Lucas on a regular basis. She couldn’t stare at his lips for too long, because she imagined them trailing down her body and spent too long pondering what that might feel like.

No. She definitely couldn’t tell Quess that.

“Why do you ask? Do you have a crush on him?” Quess grinned.

“A crush?” Kaitlyn asked, confused. Sometimes she wondered if her and Quess spoke the same language. Kaitlyn was programed to understand and speak seven languages, but she didn’t know what her friend was talking about.

“You know… Do you think he’s hot?” Quess bit her lip, searching for the words. “Does he rock your world and make butterflies dance in your stomach?”

“I don’t know what that means.” Kaitlyn tucked a stray strand of her long hair behind her ear. “I just wanted to know more about him. He’s so young to be working here with your grandfather.”

“I told you, he’s a brainiac. Dr. Harrington plucked him from some Ivy League school. I know Gramps is impressed with him. He says ‘the young man has a brilliant mind.’” Quess