Page 4 of Tight Spaces

"Don’t let it go to your head. I’m sure a lot of guys do."

"Now, I know you’re just being nice. Guys do not think geeky PhD students are sexy."

He reached for the handle on her rolling case. "If you say so. You’ll have to sleep in Roman’s room. I’m in the guest room."

He started walking down the hall toward the bedrooms, tugging the overloaded case like it was filled with nothing more than air.

"Why are you staying here?"

"I gave up the lease on my apartment, but the condo I bought and was supposed to move into won’t be ready for another two weeks."

"The builder is running behind?" she asked, wondering who in their right mind didn’t keep their commitments to a man like Maxwell Baker.

"Yeah, but we negotiated a twenty-thousand dollar drop in my condo price because of it. It’s all good."

She’d just bet they’d negotiated.

He deposited her suitcase at the end of Roman’s king-size bed. She dropped her backpack with her clothes in it on the corner of the mattress closest to her.

He looked at the backpack and then at her suitcase. "Let me guess, clothes in the pack and books in the heavy-as-hell case."

"I told you. Geek."

"Serious student, anyway. How close are you on your thesis?"

"I’ve still got some research to go through, but I should be ready to present and defend by the end of October."

"That’s still a few months out."

"It’s a doctoral thesis, not a term paper, or so my advisor keeps saying."

"Sounds like a hardass."

"I’m sure Dr. Shay would appreciate you saying so. I’m convinced she works on her scary factor in front of the mirror at night."

"So, what’s this thesis on?"

"The use of nanotechnology in pharmaceuticals." Which was something that fascinated and delighted her, but usually caused glazed eyes and yawns in other people.

"I didn’t think we were there yet."

"We’re closer than a lot of people realize."

"You and Spazz would have a lot of fun talking this technical shit."

"You mean Lieutenant Kennedy?"

"That’s the one."

"He’s really…um…hyper."

"On coffee? He’s all sorts of scary."

"So, the nickname, Spazz?"

"Yes."

"What do they call you?"