Chaos Theory (Nerds of Paradise #2)(4)

“I only wanted to see if you have art in your bedroom,” she told him in a voice that belonged in said bedroom. “You know, since you spend most of your time there, when you’re not at work.”

Will thanked heaven above that she couldn’t continue to look at him like that and walk down two flights of stairs at the same time. “I have my grad school diploma and the hat from my Air Force dress uniform on the wall,” he said.

“Ooh, sexy.” She giggled. Will had no idea if she was teasing or if she really did think that was sexy. All he knew was if she kept giggling like that and laughed at him again, it would be an incredibly painful walk over to the PSF building.

As they stepped out into the sunshine, he cleared his throat and searched for a different topic of conversation. “So when did you and your sister come up with this game of yours?”

“Ages ago,” she answered without skipping a beat. They headed up South Main Street to the station bridge that would take them to the north side of town, then on to the PSF compound. “In college, I think.”

“You went to college?”

He regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth.

Melody stopped and planted one fist on her hip. “Yes, I went to college, Mr. Smarty Pants. What makes you think I didn’t?”

“Uh….” He was going to screw this up. Whatever he said next, he was going to screw it up. “I know you help run your family’s flower shop.” Maybe if he was lucky, she wouldn’t take that as an insult.

She arched a brow, her lips quivering into a smile. “Yes, I do. And I’ll give you three guesses what kind of college degree I earned to land me that job.”

They reached the bridge and crossed over. Several other people looked like they were headed out to PSF too.

“Business?” he guessed.

“Nope,” Melody answered.

“Marketing?” He guessed again.

“Also no.” Her smile grew.

Will frowned, staring at the sidewalk as they headed up to the intersection with Elizabeth Road. “Communications.”

“Your three guesses are all wrong, sir,” she said, holding her head high.

“What was your degree in, then?” he asked.

“Ah-ah.” She held up a finger and shook it. “I gave you three guesses and three guesses only. My college education will have to remain a mystery to you until such a time as I choose to reveal it.”

“And when might that be?” They turned the corner and headed on toward the parking lot and PSF’s five-story, glass building.

Melody hummed noncommittally and shrugged. “We’ll see.”

He didn’t like the feel of that “We’ll see.” It had no certainty to it. It stoked emotions in him that he would rather be left alone. It sent prickles all through him that were as far from his carefully regimented world as he was from walking on the moon. And they filled him with excitement that would keep him up all night.





Chapter Two





Melody hadn’t had so much fun walking somewhere with a boy since Miguel Bertran had walked her home from school in sixth grade and stolen a kiss at her front doorstep. Weeks. No, months. It had been months since she had singled Will Darling out in her mind at the post-Christmas mixer, and in all that time he hadn’t once picked up on her suggestions that she might like him to call when they bumped into each other at The Silver Dollar, or sat next to each other at the hearings for Scott’s house, or even when she’d accidentally on purpose parked her car too close to his so that he couldn’t open the door.

The strange thing was, she could tell that he wasn’t blowing her off because he wasn’t interested. His eyes said it all where the interest was concerned. No, the closest she could figure was that Will was shy, and now that she had him right where she wanted him, she was eager to investigate that theory.

“Don’t you just love all of the art Howie has on display in this building?” she asked as Will held the PSF building’s front door for her.

He stayed behind to hold it for a few other people too, which earned him serious points in Melody’s book. “I hadn’t really noticed it,” he said once he was back at her side, heading down the hall where the signs pointed the luncheon was.

“Not noticed?” She slapped his arm playfully, then watched his cheeks flare pink. “How can you be surrounded by beauty like this and not take notice of it?” She held out her arms, the plastic shopping bag in her right hand swinging.

Will shrugged. “I come here to work. We’re attempting something groundbreaking and serious here. It takes all of my focus.”

A fond smile spread across Melody’s lips and she studied him as they turned a corner. The signs were pointing them toward the planetarium. The signs also seemed to be pointing to the fact that Will took life way too seriously and needed a dose of sunshine and relaxation.

“You’ll have to tell me all about what you’re doing here someday,” she said, swaying closer to him as they walked the last few yards to the planetarium’s open doors. The noise of dozens of people gathered for lunch and chatting poured out into the hall, but what made Melody grin as they crossed through into the huge, domed room was the thought of what her friend Casey had done in there on her pre-Valentine’s Day date with Scott. What would Will say if he knew about that?