It's All Relative(31)

Kai flicked a glance at Louis, who was still laughing at Kai’s obvious discomfort. Shrugging, he told him, “See, I told you she’d like you.”

Missy pulled on Kai’s hand and started absconding with him down a hallway. Louis waved goodbye, still chuckling in amusement. Kai frowned at the sudden change of events, then turned to watch where this short, wiry woman was leading him. She was wearing the same teal polo shirt and khaki slacks as Louis, and her belt had just as many gadgets, although, she wasn’t wearing a tranq gun. With a suggestive smile on her face, she opened a door and beckoned for him to follow her into a room.

As she prattled on about the comings and goings of life at the research center, Kai started to wonder just what she planned on doing with him. Flicking on a light, she closed the door behind them. They seemed to be in what looked like a storage room. Confused, Kai scrunched his brows. Why had she brought him to a closet? Missy pointed over to a tall cupboard, and Kai let out a sigh of relief. He didn’t need another awkward moment with a woman; he had enough of those with Jessie.

Aside from the closet built in the wall, there were wire racks forming aisle ways in the large room. On the shelves were various computer parts, extra lab equipment, and a box labeled “lost and found”. Kai could just see the tip of a bright pink feather boa in that box. Shaking his head, he returned his attention to Missy as she opened the cupboard. Rambling about the various men who had either worked here before or worked here now, she rummaged through a box.

In the middle of a story about an ex-coworker who used to smell like Pine Sol, she paused and asked Kai, “You’re a medium, right?” Before Kai could answer her, she pulled her hand out of the box and thrust a teal polo at his face. Blinking in surprise, Kai grabbed it before it fell. Missy began scrutinizing his pants, and he twisted a bit, not exactly liking where her gaze was fixated. “Thirty, right?”

He again thought to answer her, but she reached into another box and pulled out some slacks before he could. Kai was a little impressed that she’d sized him up so accurately as he grabbed his pants.

“Um, thanks.” Kai had never worked at a lab that required uniforms before. The place where his parents worked was pretty relaxed about what the employees wore. At least he wouldn’t have to worry about what to wear every day, although, he would definitely be adding layers to his short-sleeved polo. “Where can I…?” He looked around, hoping she’d get the hint.

Missy smiled brightly. “Oh, just change right there. We’re all family here.” She started searching for more items, and with a raised eyebrow, Kai resumed scanning the room. He really didn’t want to change in front of her; he had a feeling she’d enjoy that too much. When she looked back and saw that he hadn’t stripped yet, she frowned, then nodded her head to the side. “There’s a bathroom in the corner.” She shook her head, disappointed.

Kai walked over to the bathroom in disbelief. If their roles were reversed, and he’d just done that to her, he was pretty sure he’d be sued. Double standards. They worked both ways, which, he supposed balanced out the double standard, making everything fair and even again. The marvel of the universe.

Eyeing himself in the mirror once he was changed, he noticed that the teal shirt brought out the green in his blue-green eyes. They looked even more surreal now. Looking at the closed bathroom door, he hoped the effect didn’t make Missy’s interest in him worse; she was probably already picturing him naked. For a split-second, Kai wondered if Jessie would like this color on him. Pushing that thought aside and shaking his head to clear his wandering mind, he grabbed his regular clothes and opened the door.

Missy was staring at the door when he stepped through, and her pale eyes were narrowed intently, like she’d been trying to see through it. Lifting her gaze to his face, she didn’t seem even remotely bothered that she’d been caught. She fanned her face when she noticed his eyes, and Kai sighed. She definitely found the color appealing, and was even more intrigued by him. Kai was beginning to think that Missy might make his days here pretty long.

She gave him a broad smile that showed almost all of her teeth; her expression, plus her frazzled hair made her seem wild and untamed, much like the wilderness around them. “Holy crap, you are one attractive man.” Stepping right up to him, she casually asked, “You want to take me out?” Again, she didn’t look embarrassed in the slightest for being so forward.

While Kai pondered how to politely get out of this, Missy moved even closer, her hands reaching out for him. Backing away, he quickly told her, “I wish I could, but…I don’t date coworkers.” Frowning, she dropped her hands. Kai bit back a smile as he tried to look remorseful. “Sorry, personal rule.”

Missy eyed him up and down, then exaggerated a loud sigh. “Oh, too bad.” Brightening, she bumped Kai’s hip with hers. “Well, if you ever have an itch that needs…scratching, I’m your girl. No dating involved,” she added with a wink.

As Kai wondered what the hell he was supposed to say to that, Missy spun and turned away from him. Pausing at the exit, she looked back over her shoulder and said, “And, just so you know, I do…everything.” Her gaze flicked down to his pants, then she grinned and left the room.

“Jesus,” Kai muttered to himself. So far, Colorado had been very welcoming to him. Odd. Yes, he’d had his share of admirers in Hawaii, but nothing to this extent. Maybe his looks were just unique here. Back home, every third person looked similar to him. Well, maybe in coloring. He’d always been told that his eyes were unique.