Free Lucifer's Lover by Tracy Cooper-Posey Page A

scientist.”
    There was a moment of stunned silence.
    Luke laughed. “The worst of it is, she means every word too.”
    “Really?” asked the myopic man. “Your father works for NASA?”
    “He worked for anyone who could afford him—including NASA,” Lindsay admitted. “Astronomical physicists are pretty thin on the ground, so he moved around a lot, trying to help out everyone.”
    Again there was the stunned little silence and then something unexpected happened. A chuckle passed amongst them.
    “And did you get your father’s genes?” she was asked. “Are you a professor of quantum physics in real life?”
    Again, Luke answered for her. “Radcliffe. She graduated summa cum laude , in mathematics and physics and has a masters in mathematics.”
    She looked up at him, utterly astonished.
    “That’s right, isn’t it?” he asked her.
    “Yes,” she said and the word came out a little breathlessly. How did Luke know that, though?
    “What on earth are you doing running the marketing department of a little hotel like this?” Blue Eyes asked her.
    Before she could answer, the other smart alec snorted. “Remind me not to tell any blonde jokes while you’re around.”
    Irritation bit into her. “Oh, don’t restrain yourself on my behalf. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on all that mental stimulation.”
    She felt Luke pat her hip. A warning. Heedlessly, she finished. “Haven’t you heard? Most blonde jokes are one liners so men can remember them.”
    Again there was a little stunned silence and she knew she’d done it again.
    “Smile,” Luke breathed in her ear.
    She plastered a brilliant smile on her face, while her heart skittered along unhappily and she held her breath, waiting for the fallout.
    But somehow, the smile converted them. There was a nervous twitter and clearing of throats and a general easing of tension. Blue eyes laughed out loud. “Serves me right for judging by appearances, and such a lovely appearance it is, Miss Eden. One day, we must talk more about marketing. I suspect you could teach me a great deal.” And he nodded. It was an acknowledgment.
    Lindsay nodded back and pretended to sip her champagne but she wasn’t really drinking it, for she was heady enough.
    She didn’t need Luke’s warm “Well done,” murmured in her ear to know she had made it. This time.
    * * * * *
     
    She was still trembling when she got behind the wheel of the car to drive home but it was a heady mix of elation and relief, not the undiluted fear she had been feeling before. She tried to push the key home twice and failed.
    Luke’s hand rested on hers a moment. “I’ll drive,” he said. “You relax and recover.”
    No one had ever driven her car before except her but she silently climbed out and moved around to the passenger side, handing Luke the keys as they passed in front of the hood.
    The drive to Luke’s place was silent and in the silence and the warmth from the car’s heater, she felt her body relax, her mind quiet and her nerves go off-line. By the time he halted the car in front of his apartment block, she was actually sleepy, tiredness gnawing at her.
    “It’s nice,” she said, as he turned the engine off.
    “What is?”
    “You know how to be silent. And when. I didn’t realize that until tonight. You always seemed to be running off at the mouth whenever I saw you before.”
    “Thanks. I think.” He handed her the keys. “It’s nerves,” he added.
    “What is?”
    “When I run off at the mouth.”
    “You? Nervous?”
    He shrugged. “As unlikely as it sounds.” He went to get out and paused, his hand on the door handle. “Is it true, about your father?”
    “You mean the rocket scientist bit?”
    He smiled. “Yes.”
    “It’s true. He’s retired now. He makes furniture for charities.”
    “That’s quite a change.”
    “According to my father, building and creating things is more profound than physics, which merely describes the things he builds. I believe him.