Bad Nerd Falling

by Grady, D. R.

  Helena was the first to relax. “I can understand that.”

  “You have a master’s degree. You could just as easily be running this lab.”

  “I didn’t know you had a master’s, Helena.” Maria sounded scandalized.

  “I ended up winning a paid graduate level scholarship here in Rurikstan, so I took it.” Helena shrugged.

  She wasn’t fooled. “I looked into that program. You don’t win them, you earn them. Your competition was fierce that year, but you still beat everyone out by a huge margin.”

  “I’ve heard they’re very difficult to obtain.” This round she joined Maria in throwing the censorious looks.

  While Helena winced, she didn’t refute their statements. Probably because she couldn’t.

  That reminded her of another order of business. “I’ve also reviewed your pay scale.” She had spent several hours on this in fact. And brought in Maks due to her findings.

  “Uh oh.” Helena exchanged a glance with Maria.

  “The one budget concern I was most concerned with was the pay rates of those working in this lab.”

  Both Helena and Maria stopped what they were doing to turn and stare at her. Helena had grown a little pale. She understood that. The woman had worked really hard to gain that advanced degree and she wasn’t being compensated for it, at all.

  “What did Aleksi decide?” Helena’s voice was just above a whisper.

  Maria stepped closer to the alarmed woman and brushed a soothing hand over her back.

  “I pointed out that you’re being paid the starting rate of a bachelor’s degree candidate. Of which you are neither.” Tia kept her gaze on Helena.

  “What happened?” Helena stayed tense but Maria relaxed. She, better than Helena, discerned what was about to happen. Smart lady, Maria, who wasn’t being properly compensated either.

  “It didn’t take Maks long to review your file and realize that you weren’t paid what you should have been at the hospital either. Then when you moved to this lab to help during a crisis situation, you also weren’t fairly compensated. As of today, your pay will be assessed and you will be granted any back pay owed you. Your pay scale is also being reevaluated, as is Maria’s and Jorge’s.”

  She kept her eyes on Helena, but she still heard Maria gasp. “Shouldn’t Graham have discovered this?”

  “No, there’s another man in charge of wages and he’s not well-liked by Maks. Graham has also expressed reservations about him. Aleksi has taken over that project because his word is law. He plans to research this and he will discover what’s wrong.”

  “Graham hasn’t said much good about Bertram.” Maria bit her lip.

  “Maks’ words weren’t repeatable. He’s going to assist Aleksi, but he was pretty upset when I showed him the file I collected on your wages.”

  “What does all this mean?” Helena was still pale, but now looked perplexed.

  “Money isn’t of much interest to you?” Tia smiled. The woman was a brilliant scientist but couldn’t balance her own checking account.

  “No, I’ve never understood it. It baffles me and is so frustrating I generally don’t pay much attention to it.” Helena scowled. “I hate finances.”

  Maria patted her. “You need an accountant, Helena.”

  “Or someone in your life who is good with numbers.”

  “Why don’t you have Maks take a look at your finances? He can fix them.” Maria’s suggestion was more of an order.

  “He already does.” Helena sounded a little guilty.

  “Is Vlad good with money?” She asked because she was nosy.

  “Yes. He’s got a good head for numbers. There isn’t much Vlad can’t do.” Maria’s face turned pensive.

  Tia nodded. “He seems very capable.”

  “He is. Sometimes I worry he’s too capable.”

  Because that statement puzzled her, she left it alone. How could someone be too capable? From Helena’s bemused expression, it appeared she didn’t follow Maria’s thoughts either.

  Maria appeared to be very aware of what she said though as she turned to rifle through her sampling box.

  “You didn’t follow that either?”

  Helena whispered back. “No.”

  “That at least makes two of us.”

  “Right,” Helena replied but she sounded… odd.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Helena was silent for long moments. “The more I learn about Vlad the more I realize I know nothing about him.”

  “And?”

  “It’s hard to date someone you know nothing about.” Helena chewed on her lower lip for a moment. “How can I date a man whose entire life is a mystery?”

  “I don’t know.” She felt for her. “Don’t you think you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself? New relationships are always exciting but also hard. Shouldn’t you give this more time?”

  “Yes, that’s exactly what I need to do.” Helena didn’t sound convinced in the least. In fact she sounded morose and unhappy.

  Her heart dropped, but she wasn’t certain why.

  Chapter 12

  “Beau wants to meet my sister?”

  Helena glanced up at him as he walked her home that afternoon. He was distracted by those green eyes. “That’s what he said this morning.”

  “Is that a good idea?”

  Her shrug wasn’t reassuring. “I don’t know why it wouldn’t be. They’re only going to meet. It’s not like we’re arranging for their marriage.”

  She seemed unusually quiet and a little down. After their frolic in the lab, he had been looking forward to seeing her this afternoon. Maybe indulging in more kisses. Except she not only wasn’t receptive, she appeared to have taken at least one step back in their relationship.

  “Helena, did I do something wrong?” He wasn’t familiar with relationships so he was treading on unknown ground. Still, even he could tell the ice was thin and cracking and the water underneath wasn’t going to be comfortable. He gauged the ensuing conversation wasn’t going to be either.

  She looked surprised. “No.”

  “Then what’s wrong?” Were all females this difficult or just his? He combed through his memories of childhood but couldn’t recall his mother’s moods. Or how his father had dealt with them. Maybe he needed to bring in a professional here. Except Emerson was busy with some dignitaries who were due to arrive soon.

  His father was in a day-long meeting. That left him on his own since Aleksi wasn’t married yet and Maks, although his brother, didn’t seem inclined to help him. He needed to repair that rift. Except he didn’t have any sort of basis or foundation to start.

  Still, Helena was too important not to work at this.

  They climbed the stairs to her apartment and he watched as she tugged out her keys to open the door. He followed her inside, wondering what to say. He had pinged the conversational ball back to her, so he let her think. Right now he could give her time. It was the most gentlemanly thing to do.

  After dropping her things on a small table inside the door, Helena disappeared into the kitchen. When she returned she carried two bottles of iced tea. She handed him one before sinking onto the couch. He sat beside her. After twisting the cap off the bottle he took a long draw, and waited. The thing was, he was comfortable with long silences. He could wait here all night. And all day tomorrow.

  “The problem is that I don’t know what’s wrong.”

  That didn’t sound good. “Okay.” He focused on her face.

  There was another long pause. It stretched into several minutes. But Vlad knew instinctively not to push her. She had to work through this. If she didn’t know what was wrong, he doubted he could help.

  She turned to face him, her expression hesitant. “I don’t know you, Vlad.” Her voice was filled with tears, more hesitation, and fear.

  His stomach flipped, painfully. “What don’t you know?”

  “Anything.” Her hands wrung the tea bottle.

  “That’s pretty genera
l.”

  “I don’t know what you do for a living. I don’t know if you furthered your education and have a degree. I do know what your favorite color is, but not your favorite food, or if you have a sport you follow.” Her eyes were pools of despair, like she had somehow failed him.

  That wrenched his heart. He leaned forward to set his tea on the coffee table and reached for hers. She relinquished the bottle as though she didn’t even notice she held it. Maybe she didn’t. The cap was still secured. He set her bottle beside his before he tugged her across the couch.

  He felt tremors coursing through her and hated them.

  “I am a warrior. I’ve spent the last thirteen or so years training in various countries around the world. My favorite food… I’m not certain about that.” He had never much cared about food. It had never been important before.

  “Everyone knows what their favorite food is.”

  “I suppose I’m normal. I like steak.” He tugged her onto his lap and held her close. “What’s your favorite food?”

  She didn’t even think about it. “Chocolate.”

  “That was quick.”

  “Yes. If I don’t get it regularly, other people suffer.” She nuzzled the side of his neck. Then she inhaled, like she was drawing his scent into her lungs.

  The primitive part of him approved.

  “As for a sport, I don’t follow any. I prefer to play rather than watch.” There hadn’t been time to get involved anyway. His life had been all work and very little play. “What about you?”

  She shrugged. “I’m not enamored with sports. I know some women are, but I’m not.”

  “What are your favorite movies?”

  “Romantic comedy, science fiction, and cartoons.” She raised her head so they were nearly eye to eye. “What about you?”

  Another hard question. “I guess I don’t have a favorite. I like action stuff but I’ll watch pretty much anything.” It was only now, in the light of her questions that he realized he hadn’t lived a normal life at all. Watching movies, going out to eat, dating, maintaining friendships were all things normal people did. In his thirty-three years, he couldn’t remember doing any of those.

  “What about music?”

  He knew that question was next. “I have no preference.” It occurred to him that he couldn’t name even one popular singer right now. Much less describe any of the genres. Ask him which weapon to use for which mission and he could give you the run down before you opened the Humvee door. Which terrorist factions were active in what regions? He could answer that in his sleep.

  “I like the popular stuff you hear in stores. But also Beau’s practice sessions.” Helena tapped her lips. They distracted him. With a lot of effort and self control earned over rigorous years, he tore his attention back to the conversation.

  “Is he going to perform for you tonight?”

  “I don’t know.” She frowned. It didn’t mar her beauty in the least. Helena Dubrinsky remained the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. A man who had traveled all over the world and yet this one woman was the one he wanted above all others. The girl next door who he left behind all those years ago but never forgot.

  Maybe he should have spent the past few years learning the art of dating. Yet even as he thought it, he rejected that notion. Not once in all the years spent apart from Helena had he wanted to date someone else. He had been true to a female he had never even kissed.

  Kissing. That tempted him to lean forward and press his lips against hers.

  She responded before bracing her hands against his chest. “I would love to kiss you for the rest of the evening,” she said.

  “I’m sensing a but here.” He took his lips back.

  “What a smart man.” Helena tapped his nose before she used that finger to explore his cheeks and jaw.

  “What are we going to do this evening if we’re not allowed to kiss?”

  “Are you hungry?”

  As soon as she asked, his stomach offered a rousing answer. She laughed and wriggled off his lap. “We’re going to make supper.”

  “I’d rather kiss,” he decided as he stood with her. His hand trailed over her back and then into her hair. Since she didn’t resist, he tugged her close and reclaimed her lips. If they had to cook, he wanted her attention torn between the task at hand and his kisses.

  It was sad that kissing her was all he had.

  “You have to stop doing that,” she scolded long moments after Vlad stopped kissing her. Helena opened heavy eyelids to glare at him.

  He wasn’t in the least bit upset or daunted by her. His lazy grin made her think about kicking him. It was only the voice in the back of her mind reminding her that this man was likely well versed in the art of hand-to-hand combat that tamped the urge.

  And that little thought brought a new one. Even if she didn’t know Vlad well, she was certain he would never knowingly hurt her. If it became necessary, she knew he’d take the fall to save her. He would place his own life on the line for hers. Somehow, despite what she didn’t know, that thought swelled the little bubble of hope that had deflated earlier.

  Maybe they didn’t know each other very well. They hadn’t spent any quality time together before Italy. Sure, he had growled and snarled at other males during their school years here in Rurikstan. Until the day she told him off and he left to start his training.

  “I don’t have to stop anything.” His lazy eyes told her he had the muscle and will to back up that statement.

  She wasn’t impressed. “Do you want to eat tonight?”

  His lips curled up. “Yes.”

  “Then you better stop kissing me.”

  When he cocked his head and assessed her like that all pertinent thoughts fled. Really, this man had far too much power. He shook his head. “Kissing you is more important than eating.”

  Her heart bounced. Like it was on a trampoline. She stared at him in horrified awe. She also took three steps back and warded him off with both hands. “Oh but this isn’t going to work.”

  He scowled. “What isn’t going to work?”

  “You and me. You have far too much power, and I’m not doing this Vladimir Wellington.” She sent him a matching scowl.

  His expression didn’t change, but she still leapt back. Vlad didn’t appear to move but in the time frame of two heartbeats, he was on her. She gasped, but planted both palms on his most impressive chest. With her head flung back, she stared him down.

  In two seconds, he sandwiched her between the wall and his massive body so her feet dangled above the floor. He and the wall kept her upright. “You’re not doing this?” he repeated menacingly.

  She still didn’t fear him. Instead her heart rate picked up substantially and her body melted in certain critical places. It was good he kept her upright.

  “No. I’m not doing this with you.” Her chin jutted out as she matched him glare for glare.

  “You aren’t walking away from me,” he growled. His jaw was firm, eyes blazing.

  “My feet aren’t currently touching the floor.” Her eyes narrowed. It was a shame she was so attracted to this man. Really, she should be trying a lot harder to escape.

  “That is true.”

  Her breath stalled somewhere between her throat and mouth. Nothing moved, not even her heart for a space of time. Then, when it did resume normal operations, there was nothing normal about its beats-per-minute.

  “Since your feet aren’t near the floor, that means I get to make this decision.” His lips descended closer yet.

  She whimpered. It took her a moment to realize that noise had escaped from her lips.

  He didn’t offer another opportunity to reveal her crumbling defenses. Instead, those amazing lips marauded hers. Like a pirate of old, he blasted a warning shot across her bow, and then before she could respond, climbed aboard and took everything she had. Including her.

  When his lips took hers, he fastened them together in such a way Helena knew she would never be the same again. Li
ke he had managed to seal them together for the rest of their lives. Maybe he zipped their souls together. Maybe he ensnared her heart. Or planted himself in hers. Then again, maybe he just reached in and took hers.

  “No,” she cried, wrenching their lips apart. “You are not taking my heart.” She wriggled frantically to escape but he only offered a masculine sound of satisfaction before resealing their lips.

  His hands threaded through her hair, just like he had threaded himself into her heart and soul. This man shouldn’t possess such sensational lips and the devastating knowledge of how to use them. Someone unkind had definitely bequeathed him with all these extra gifts he now used on her.

  When he lifted his head, she was panting and wide-eyed. His smirk didn’t help his cause. “Too late, I think I just did.”

  “If you want to live you better release me.” She used the same tone now she had used all those years ago when she told him off. It penetrated then, but apparently times had changed because all he did was kiss her again.

  It was like he sucked a little more of her heart and soul out with each locking of their lips and tongues. The man knew how to use his tongue. Each stroke stole her breath and made her weak and dizzy.

  The beast got his point across, anyway. That she was very susceptible to him. That it wasn’t possible to resist him. Each barrier she had so carefully erected to keep him at bay he skillfully demolished.

  What happened if he ripped down all of them? Would there be anything of her left?

  As those thoughts coalesced a determined knock battered her front door. Relief washed over her in a heady flow, while her eyes met Vlad’s. He lowered her to the floor with obvious reluctance. That both pleased and alarmed her.

  The door knob rattled, reminding her she had a visitor. Helena had to clear her throat before she could even respond. “I’m coming.”

  When she unlocked the door (when had she locked it?) and swung it open Beau asked, “What took you so long?”

  She eyed him with speculation. Did she throw him to the wolf in her flat or try to save him?