If we can’t read it, we can send it to a couple of other labs.”
Hunter really didn’t want to do that; he’d done well at MIT on the data analysis end of things, even going so far as to write his own programs to find the information he needed hidden in the graphs and charts. He’d earned a scholarly distinction because of it, and his heart started kicking out those extra beats again.
He really did love science and computers.
Behind him, the door opened, and Hunter cleared his throat. “Can you do the intro, please?” he asked Joel in a quieter voice.
“Of course.” Joel clapped his hand on Hunter’s shoulder as he passed him. He indicated the chairs they’d set up earlier that morning, and Hunter was more than happy to be the faceless man behind the screen while Joel led the demo. When he had to, he stood up and explained something, using the most basic terminology possible so that everyone could understand.
The machines performed flawlessly, and by the time lunch came, Hunter’s smile spread across his whole face, and his mood had reached the stars. The group of men and women left the control room together, all of them chattering and in good spirits.
Several people stayed close to Hunter, continuing to ask him questions about what else could be analyzed with x-ray crystallography and how the data would then be read and interpreted.
Finally, everyone dispersed in the company cafeteria, and Hunter stood with the two people he’d become closest to over the past couple of weeks. Larry Lucas had picked up a bowl of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich, and Cassie Rogers had selected a salad and two pieces of pie.
He grinned at her tray. “Going for dessert first, I see.”
“After that?” She shook her head and smiled. “We should all be eating pie.”
“Not a big warm fruit fan,” Hunter said.
“There’s chocolate.” Cassie grinned at him and went first to find a table for the three of them. He followed the blonde to a table by the windows and sat next to her. She groaned as she sat, and Hunter glanced at her.
“You okay?” he asked.
She gave him a quick look and then glanced across the table to where Larry had settled. He sported dark hair the color of tar, with bushy eyebrows in the same vein. He liked to go running and boating around the Denver area in his free time, so he had tan skin and could probably climb a million stairs without getting winded.
He looked curiously at Cassie too.
Her blue eyes met Hunter’s again, and he shook his head. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I groaned like I was about to die.” She smiled at him and Larry and leaned in a little bit. “I haven’t told anyone yet, so please keep it to yourselves.”
Hunter nodded along with Larry, who’d already taken a bite of his sandwich. The tension in Hunter’s body wouldn’t allow him to start eating the pizza slice he’d picked up.
“Terry and I are expecting another baby.” Cassie grinned at the two men and straightened. “There. You’re the first people I’ve told besides our families.”
“That’s great,” Hunter said, smiling at her. All the negative energy bled out of him as he picked up his pizza.
“Yes, congrats, Cassie,” Larry said. “That makes three for you guys?”
She nodded, her expression growing serious. “I hope I can handle more kids than adults.”
Larry chuckled, though he didn’t have any kids yet. He was dating a woman fairly seriously—at least that was what he’d told Hunter. He hadn’t mentioned Molly to anyone at work, other than the secretary who’d called him upstairs a week ago. Even then, all he’d said was thanks for letting me know my friend was here.
He thought about her as he took a bite of his food and chewed. They’d been on a few pretty amazing dates lately, and he caught himself smiling. The horseback riding with the catered dinner. Hunter had taken her to a concert in the park on Friday, and they’d gotten dinner from a food truck. He’d held her hand as they meandered around, talking, and then eventually getting ice cream.
He’d gone out to the farm on Saturday, and he’d stopped by her place on the way back to the city. She’d fed him dinner, and they’d walked her dog together. More hand-holding. He made sure to text her every single day, and he’d called last night just to talk.
“I can’t believe you eat cheese