Seducing the Stargazer

by Carmichael, Kim;

Mrs. Benton came around the car and opened the door for her. “Dr. Carlsbad.”

  “You don’t have to do this.” Wynn said the first thing that came to mind.

  “Tending to you is my job at the moment.” The woman bowed her head.

  Grateful for a quick getaway, Wynn slid into the back seat.

  Mrs. Benton closed the door then got in the driver’s side. “I took the liberty of preparing an iced tea and some finger sandwiches for you.”

  “Thank you.” Wynn spied the cool, refreshing beverage and the little sandwiches complete with the crusts cut off. She couldn’t help but grab one of the treats and take a bite. “A watercress sandwich.” Something simple but with a bit of spice, the strange sandwich always fascinated her and she loved them.

  “Dr. Knox said you enjoyed them.” Mrs. Benton started the car.

  “He sure remembers a lot about what I like to eat.” Wynn sampled the iced tea. She would only eat and drink because she didn’t want this nice lady to go through all the work for nothing.

  “Pardon me?” Mrs. Benton asked.

  “Nothing.” She indulged in another sandwich.

  The car glided away from the curb. “Would you care to go straight to your apartment or do you need to stop for dinner? Perhaps you would prefer for me to prepare you something?”

  “I thought you were a butler, not a cook.” Drink in hand, Wynn slouched down in the seat.

  The woman let out one lone laugh. “I have prepared my fair share of meals. It would be an honor to cook for you.”

  “It would be an honor to eat it.” She let out a sigh. “Garner has it good.”

  In the rear view mirror, the woman glanced at her. “I am also to relay to you that if you decide to work for Dr. Knox, I would be at your disposal as well.”

  “Did he happen to say if working for him would be one of the many favors afforded me?” If that were the case, she swore she would get out of the car right now.

  “No, in fact he made sure to tell me not to use those words,” Mrs. Benton explained.

  Wynn shut her eyes. “Please inform Dr. Knox that while having you would be a luxury I could only dream of, I will never work with him, and please make sure to use the word with, if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course.” Again, Mrs. Benton laughed.

  “Also tell him he still owes me one.” Wynn let the woman take her away and soaked up the bit of luxury. Tomorrow she would be on her own again.

  * * *

  Garner pulled into the parking lot of National Jet Laboratories, stopped across the way from Wynn’s new but old car, sat back and turned up the music. Tonight the two of them were scheduled to cover the lunar eclipse for NEWSPOP, the premier cable news station that combined national news and pop culture.

  Well, technically they weren’t scheduled to cover anything, only he was, but after three days of trying to woo her into working for him, including using Mrs. Benton and watercress sandwiches, he needed to resort to drastic measures. Jim had been off the rails with putting the pressure on, completely convinced that they needed the scientist who discovered the asteroid on their side. With a tidy sum of Garner’s own money, as well as his reputation tied up in Personal Space, he needed to do everything possible to give the fledgling company its best chance on a number of different levels. In addition to offering up the services of his amazing butler, he needed to add a personal touch.

  At the sight of Wynn leaving the building, he turned the music down and sat up. In a pair of well-fitting black pants, a red shirt and a blue bandana tied around her neck, she would be perfect on camera. He planned to up the ante and show her what indeed she was missing.

  Without noticing him, she stared down at the ground and rushed to her car. He winced at the automobile, an old beat-up sedan that didn’t seem much better than Ethyl. What was the deal with her and cars?

  Before she had the chance to drive away, he rolled the window down. “Winnie.”

  She jumped, put her hand to her chest and faced him. “Dr. Knox.”

  “There’s a lunar eclipse tonight,” he called to her.

  “I’m aware.” She opened her car door, well more like forced it open, nearly knocking herself over in the process.

  Though he wanted to help her, he stayed put. Any sudden moves might make her leave. “I thought we could drive into Hollywood, do a little reporting on the amazing astronomical phenomenon and then go have a talk.”

  “About what?” With a sigh, she leaned on her car door.

  In an attempt to be casual, he shrugged. “What do you want to talk about?” No doubt she wanted to talk about telescope time. Somehow he had to stall her, because she would only get her favor once she got them to their next launch.

  She tapped her fingers on the top of the car. “You’re the one who said you couldn’t stop thinking about me, why don’t you tell me?”

  Apparently his little comment got to her. “I never said it was all good.” He let out a chuckle.

  “Then we finally agree on something.” In a flash she got into her car and her newest rattletrap rumbled to life.

  “Wait!” Obviously, each of them suffered from their own set of not so wonderful memories. He got out of his car and dashed over to hers, knocking on the door.

  She shook her head and appeared as if she was speaking, but between the clattering engine and her closed window, he couldn’t hear a thing.

  At last she hit the steering wheel and struggled to manually roll her window down. “What is it?”

  The entire area became overcome with gas fumes. “Is this car all right?”

  “Listen, you know the deal. I gave you everything you need. What is it you really want?” She jutted her jaw out and wrinkled her nose as the odor took over.

  He took her all in. “You.” The first day they met in graduate school they were both thrown together and pitted against one another. Still, he remembered thinking he lucked out, got a girl whole looked like a star to study the stars. No, she wasn’t the blonde bombshell, she was the intellectual beauty. One who would solve equations, quote literature and discover a celestial body, then turn around in a formfitting skirt and her perfectly tight sweater, smile with her glossed lips and leave any man wanting to know what went on in that pretty little head of hers.

  Without a word she rolled the window back up.

  Calculating his next move, he remained by her car. While he searched for some way to keep her here, to convince her to come with him, the solution came to him when the car burst into flames.

  “Garner!” She struggled with the car door.

  “Wynn!” Without hesitation, he yanked her door open, pulled her out, and backed away. “Come here.”

  “My car is on fire!” She pointed to the flames coming from beneath the hood.

  No one could say scientists didn’t state the obvious.

  “Would you consider it a favor if I put the fire out?” He dragged her further away.

  “The car. It’s going to explode!” She jumped and pointed toward the flaming mess.

  Taking that as a yes, he ran to his car, pulled out the fire extinguisher he was certain was only there for show, and returned to her car.

  In what he could call a move fit for any hero, he pulled the trigger on the fire extinguisher. Sure enough, the tool did its job and the flames disappeared, but he gave it an extra good dousing to make sure. Once certain he did indeed extinguish the fire, he walked around her car and reached inside and grabbed her purse. Before closing the door, he pulled her car key off her keychain and left it on the front seat. Nothing would get in the way of his goal, not even a car fire.

  A swagger in his step, he returned to her. “I’ve never had such an explosive beginning to an evening.”

  “I’m only sorry we didn’t record this for your blog.” She took her purse from him.

  “For all I know, it may have already happened.” He lifted his chin toward the main building of NJL. Already some people w
ere coming out to gawk at the display with their phones up taking pictures, and for the first time in a long time he didn’t think he was the center of attraction.

  “The fire is all the way out, right?” Her voice shook.

  “I would say so.” He retrieved his phone out of his pocket and texted Mrs. Benton, informing her of the charred remains of the automobile. “If you’d like, I’ll do you the favor of taking care of everything, including disposing of the auto body.” He was racking up the favors all over the place and would have the upper star for quite some time.

  “Didn’t you say we had somewhere to go?” She put her hand over her eyes and shook her head. “I don’t need this.”

  “Yes, we need to get to the studio.” He took her arm and led her to his car. Once he got them inside, he sped off.

  They drove in silence. The sun began to set and the eclipse would start soon. How many nights had they driven through the streets of greater Los Angeles back in graduate school when they needed to blow off some steam? Too many times to count? Maybe not enough? He wasn’t sure.

  She gazed out at the sky and without having to ask, he knew exactly what she was thinking.

  “When the sun goes down, the true light shines,” he repeated something she often told him.

  “Wouldn’t Los Angeles be in for a treat if everyone turned out the lights for five minutes at midnight?” Her voice softened, losing the cutting edge it possessed every time she had spoken to him since their reunion.

  Strange how they went right back into their old banter. “Scattered diamonds on black silk.”

  She faced him. “I’m getting quite a car collection dispersed across two states. I don’t know what I would have done with that fire alone.”

  “Hey, I’m glad I was there.” Her sadness radiated from her. He brushed his hand over her arm. They each took an entirely different career path and he lucked out on a number of different fronts. Mrs. Benton told him more than once that Wynn appeared to have financial issues.

  “Thank you for helping me.” She held her hand out.

  “Anytime.” Instinct or his inner need taking over, he went to take it.

  Before he could reach his goal, she held her hand back. “I believe you need to give me something.”

  Every time he thought they moved forward, they always stepped back. “For what?”

  “The favor of going to the taping with you.” She raised her chin.

  “We’re nowhere near even, my dear.” Lest she forget, he not only put out the fire but dealt with her car. What people said about history repeating itself couldn’t be more accurate than with them. Everything always came down to their give and take.

  After she nodded her defeat, he finally claimed her hand and she sighed.

  At a stoplight they looked at each other. No one on the planet or the universe ever fit him like her.

  She swiped her hand away. “What is it you want, Garner?”

  Then again, no one aggravated him as much either. Way back when, he remembered thinking he fell in love with her and almost told her, but then he discovered she didn’t believe in him.

  He grabbed the steering wheel with both hands and drove into the back parking lot of the news studio. Already, the crew was set up to do the shoot outside. Aside from her beloved telescope time, she needed to see what she could be part of if she put her pride on simmer and came to work for him. “No favors, no games, I just want to welcome you to a different world of astronomy.”

  No sooner did the words leave his mouth than Bryant, the director, along with a young woman, descended upon his car. Bryant came to his side and opened the door and the woman ran over to Wynn.

  “I told you it was her!” The girl clapped and stuck her head in the car window. “I’m Angie, a production assistant for NEWSPOP, I can’t believe you’re here. We only had Dr. Knox down for filming, but this is amazing.”

  Wynn’s mouth opened but she said nothing.

  “Let’s get you into hair and makeup. I can’t believe you’re here!” The girl took Wynn’s arm, coaxed her out of the car and whisked her away.

  “Dr. Knox, good to have you. We are running a little behind schedule, but I have to say, it will spike the ratings to have the scientist that stopped your launch. Thank you.” Bryant shook his hand. “Is there anything you need?”

  “Just the sky, the feed from the telescope, and my co-host.” As he got out of the car, he noticed a yellow paper that must have fallen out of Wynn’s bag. He picked it up and scanned the words. Interesting, her apartment building was being treated for mold next week. The landlord was putting the residents up in a hotel for at least three months, but it wasn’t a hotel fit for Wynn or really anyone else. If only she would take the job.

  “Dr. Knox.” Bryant tapped his shoulder.

  “Also make sure that we have some cream puffs and wine for later.” He shoved the paper into his pocket and let the director guide him over to the hair and makeup tables. “Let’s get to work.”

  A multitude of makeup artists surrounded him and Wynn.

  His unofficial co-host held her hand up. “I don’t think I should be getting my makeup done.”

  “Don’t be so serious all the time. You’re going to have fun.” He gave her a wink.

  One of the makeup artists pushed her arm down and in a stealth move swept in with a makeup sponge. “You have to get your makeup done to be in front of the camera or you won’t look natural.”

  “That seems contradictory,” Wynn said. “But—”

  Garner held back a laugh. She was going to get her makeup done, like it or not.

  “I heard you and Dr. Knox went to school together.” The assistant with Wynn practically swooned.

  As the artists performed their makeup magic, applying the foundation and powder that would make him fit to be on the business end of a camera, he tried to eavesdrop.

  “We did our doctorate work at the same time,” Wynn said.

  The production assistant moved in closer. “Was he just as dreamy back then?”

  This answer he had to hear and he leaned back.

  “Do you want me to be honest?” Wynn’s tone teased them.

  Garner turned the chair and glanced in the mirror to spy behind him. The girls huddled around Wynn all nodded in unison.

  Wynn nodded. “Yes.”

  All the females went into a round of giggles.

  Fine, he puffed out his chest a little.

  “All right, dreamy Dr. Knox.” Bryant chuckled. “Since you brought us a surprise star, why don’t you start by introducing her, then tell us what is unique about this lunar eclipse before we get a few words from Dr. Carlsbad.”

  Right on cue, Wynn joined them. “Garner.”

  The PA trotted up beside her with another girl and giggled. “She calls him Garner, not Dr. Knox.”

  “You look lovely.” He offered her his arm. “Ready to make your official debut?”

  When she paused, he took her hand again, leading her in front of the camera.

  “Let’s get the first segment going,” Bryant called. “One minute.”

  “I can’t be on television.” Wynn’s complexion paled under her makeup and she let go of his hand.

  “Yes you can!” The little fan girl PA trotted over and gave Wynn a hug. “The world wants to see you!”

  “Get out of the shot, Angie!” Bryant yelled. “Get ready!”

  The girl ran off set.

  “Five, four, three—” Bryant held his fingers up, counting the seconds down.

  “Garner, seriously. I can’t be on television. That belongs to you.” Before he had a chance to protest, she ran off to one side.

  “Two, one!” Bryant pointed at him. “Action!”

  Trained to react to that one word, he faced the camera and went into his signature introduction. “Good evening, Earthlings, Dr. Garner Knox at your service while we cover tonight’s lunar eclipse.” He glanced over at Wynn then flashed his s
mile. “A lunar eclipse is caused when the moon passes directly behind the earth into its shadow or umbra.

  “Tonight we will experience a full lunar eclipse and what makes tonight especially fun is that we will see a blood moon, the moon will glow red large in the sky. It’s quite spectacular to watch. The unique color is caused by a phenomenon known as Raleigh scattering.” Out of the corner of his eye he saw Wynn leaning back on her heels and watching him. He needed get her in front of the camera, and he knew exactly how. “As interesting as our own lunar eclipse no doubt is, it does beg the question about lunar eclipses on other planets.”

  Wynn straightened up.

  If nothing else he knew her passion. “Now Mercury and Venus don’t have their own satellites, so let’s take Mars for example.”

  Wynn stepped closer.

  “Now with Mars’ moon—” Using the word moon rather than moons should do the trick.

  “Moons.” In a rush Wynn joined him on camera. “Mars has moons, two moons. Phobos and Deimos.” She stopped, put her hand over her mouth, looked around and then went to leave.

  Not on his watch. Before she could scurry away, he caught her hand and pulled her toward him. “Let me be the first to welcome our special guest. You may or may not recognize Dr. Wynn Carlsbad, finder of asteroids, saver of rocket launches, and expert on Mars and its two moons. Dr. Carlsbad, what can you tell us about eclipses on Mars?”

  “Well, the two moons of Mars are too small to create a total solar eclipse like we have here on Earth, but Mars does experience lunar eclipses.” Her eyes sparkled and she gave the camera a little wave.

  “Is that so?” He prodded her.

  “In fact, Phobos, the larger of the two moons, can have a lunar eclipse almost every night.” Her voice bounced with excitement.

  Bryant gave them a thumbs-up.

  “It is very important that we look to the sky. It is our future.” Always one to fight for her cause, she stepped toward the camera. “That is why exploration, no matter how mundane it may seem, has to be continued.”

  Bryant held up two fingers, giving them the warning to end the segment.

  Garner tried to grab her arm, but she shook him away and pointed at the camera.