Page 69 of Liam

This is going well.

“We’re having some trouble with the light source,” Jessica chimes in, breaking the silence. “It’s too weak to get a full read, so we might need to adjust the input and go deeper.”

I nod, avoiding Liam’s gaze. “Right, yes. Deeper. We’ll get the right angle.”

I blink. Of course she meant the spectroscopy, but my mind goes places it shouldn’t.

She cocks her head at me, puzzled. “Angle?”

“I mean, we’ll get it working,” I blurt. “With proper penetration.”

Jessica frowns. “Penetration of the tissue?”

Someone coughs, and I nod. “Exactly. We’ll get a more accurate read on the spectral signatures with a, um, more direct approach.”

I glimpse Liam’s smirk out of the corner of my eye, and it only makes things worse. My brain is short-circuiting, and I need this meeting to be over.

“What about the cooling system?” Kyle, one of the engineers, pipes up next. “We’ve got some overheating when we try to push the energy through for long durations. If we don’t take it slow, it’ll burn out.”

“Yes, slow and steady.” I glance down at my notes, praying for clarity. “We don’t want to rush it. Sustained pressure is best. We don’t want to overheat or wear it out.”

There’s a brief, stunned silence. Jessica shifts in her chair, and Kyle’s brows furrow like he’s trying to figure out what just happened.

Liam clears his throat, and I can’t even bring myself to look at him. I know that if I do, his expression will be the final straw.

“Maybe we should revisit the model,” Jessica offers,trying to steer the conversation back to sanity. “It seems we’re getting hung up on the source.”

“Good idea,” I say. “Let’s do that.”

I turn to face the screen, gripping the edge of the table like it’s a lifeline. “Okay, everyone. Let’s, uh, reconvene tomorrow. Same time.”

As the team shuffles out, I glimpse Liam’s amused grin. He lingers as the others leave, and as soon as we’re alone, he moves closer, his voice low and teasing.

“I’ve never seen someone make science sound so suggestive,” he murmurs, his lips barely concealing the smirk.

I cross my arms, trying to regain some dignity. “You’re not helping.”

“Wasn’t trying to,” he replies with a smirk before leaving the lab.

By the end of the day, I’m a bundle of nerves and pent-up tension. The drive home is a blur, and I collapse onto my couch with a groan of relief. I made it. I survived a whole day of pretending I’m not in love with my boss.

Wait. In love? Where did that come from?

Before I can examine that thought, my phone buzzes with a text from Liam.

Liam

Your place or mine tonight? I promise no work talk. Unless you want to discuss the long-term benefits of our merger?

I laugh, then freeze at the knock at my front door.

I open it to find Mia strolling in with her usual energy, catching me off guard and grinning like an idiot.

“Okay, spill,” she demands, flopping down next to me. “Who’s got you looking like you just solved cold fusion? Is it Jake?”

I open my mouth, but no sound comes out. I’m debating what I’m going to say when my phone buzzes again, and Mia’s eyes lock onto it with laser focus.

“Ooh, is that him?” She snatches the phone from my hand before I can stop her. Her eyebrows shoot up, a smirk forming on her lips.