Free Acceptable Risks by Natalie J. Damschroder

movements or nanites boosting his senses. But he’d been dead , or almost. Questions flooded her brain. Her eyes popped open and she quickly shut them again. In time, she whispered to herself. He’ll tell you in time .
She’d make sure of it.
* * *
     
When they arrived at the safe house, Lark stayed right behind Jason as he searched the house and perimeter before declaring it all clear.
“I’m going to check in,” he told her, securing the pistol he’d used to sweep the house. “Do what you need to do. You can talk to your father when I’m done, and then you and I will talk.”
“And eat, I hope. I skipped lunch.” It was well past dinnertime, and she was starving. She had a high metabolism and crashed when her blood sugar was low, but couldn’t seem to remember that when she was working.
“Definitely. My stomach is eating a hole in itself.” He started dialing his phone.
“Is that a side effect?” she asked without thinking, then held up a hand. “I know, it can wait.”
Jason grinned and turned away, and that spark flared again inside Lark. She was going to have to make him stop smiling at her. A guy like him, who worked for her father and no doubt had a shitload of problems on his shoulders right now, would have zero interest in her. Even if he wasn’t also her father’s best friend, which placed her off limits. And even if his job didn’t immediately eliminate him from her list of “safe” guys to date.
She headed for the bathroom, trying not to curse. She couldn’t remember a man ever having an effect on her this strong. It figured the first guy who generated a spark was more off limits than the work that had created him.
That thought sobered her. To her knowledge, there was no FDA approval to use the RT-24 on humans. She didn’t care, but the company didn’t need any more scrutiny, her father any more stress.
God, every thought she had generated a burst of questions. She quickly used the facilities, stifling a shriek when she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Dirt on her face and clothes, hair all tangled and ratty looking. The minimal makeup she’d put on this morning had disappeared. Why hadn’t she brought her bag in with her? She shoved at her hair for a moment, then blew out a sigh. What was the point in making an effort? She’d looked like this for the last several hours already. A few more weren’t going to make a difference.
Jason was still on the phone when she entered the kitchen. She opened the freezer and pulled out a large supreme pizza, set the oven to heat and readied the pizza to slide into it. She had her back to the doorway, but knew when Jason entered anyway. The pressure in the room changed, and now something fluttered in her lower belly.
“Here you go,” he said, and the flutter became a vibration. Lark was glad she wasn’t a guy, her reaction fully visible. She turned and accepted the phone he held out to her. Their eyes met, held, and heat crept up her face. The little lines around Jason’s eyes deepened the tiniest bit, and she knew she didn’t need different anatomy to display her reaction. Dammit.
“When the oven beeps, put the pizza in and set the timer for fifteen minutes,” she told him, just for something to say.
“I know how to make pizza.” His lips curled.
She shook her head and lifted the phone to her ear, moving into the living room as she spoke. “Dad?”
“You two seem to be getting along fine.” He sounded indulgently amused, and she rolled her eyes. She wasn’t sixteen anymore. If he really knew what was going on, he’d react differently.
“Yeah, whatever,” she said. “Dad…I don’t even know where to start. He’s alive.”
“I know, sweetheart.” He sounded regretful, and she frowned until he explained, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
Ah. He thought she would be upset at being kept in the dark. “It’s okay. I can figure that out. But there’s so much else I want to know!”
“Jason will fill you in, but I have to