we don’t.”
“I’m not leaving. You want me. I saw it in your eyes.”
“I walked in on a beautiful naked woman. It was a biological reaction to a visual stimulus. Nothing more. I would have wanted anyone who fit the description.”
She considered his words. Was he telling the truth? Was that all it was? Biology at work?
“I don’t think so,” she said. “It was more specific than that. You don’t want any woman. You want me.”
He finally looked up from the computer. “I’ve never understood why anyone would bang their head against a wall to make the pain go away, but I do now.”
She smiled. “It’s just part of my charm. Come on, Jack. You want me. Why can’t you admit it?”
He sucked in a breath. She held hers, waiting for the words that would make her want to party like it was 1999.
“I talked to Colin about Betina,” he said instead.
She sank into the chair opposite his desk. All thoughts of wanting and sex disappeared as she leaned forward eagerly. “Really? What did he say?”
“Nothing specific. You’re right—he has a thing for her, but he thinks he’s totally out of her league.”
She groaned. “Of course he does.”
“Why?” Jack asked. “He’s got a lot going for him. He’s smart and he has a good job. He seems nice. He should be like catnip.”
“It’s not that simple. Colin is like me—book-smart, world-stupid. Betina is one of those funny, social people who makes life a party wherever she goes. Colin bonds with the potted plant in the room. Trust me, I’ve been there.”
“You were never that bad.”
“I was worse. I had a wild crush on a guy I could never have. Then he broke my heart.”
Jack looked out the window, then back at her. “I’ve apologized for that. I can’t take it back.”
“I know, but I like punishing you for it over and over again. The point is, being that smart isn’t easy. I always knew I didn’t fit in, and Colin feels the same way. We’re bright enough to see the problem, but we can’t seem to fix it.”
“You’re saying Colin can’t take the steps to tell Betina he’s interested?”
“He won’t see himself as capable.”
“Then maybe they shouldn’t be together.”
“I don’t accept that,” Meri told him. “Colin is a sweetie. And Betina is my best friend. I owe her everything. I want her to be happy. I’m going to make this happen.”
“You shouldn’t get involved.”
“Too late. Thanks for your help.”
“I didn’t help.”
She smiled. “You so did. When we go to their wedding, you can tell everyone how you had a hand in getting them together.”
He groaned. “Or you could just shoot me now.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
Six
“I have happy news,” Meri told Betina that afternoon when they’d finished working for the day.
Betina glanced out the kitchen window to where the rest of the team had walked down to the water. “You’re giving up your ridiculous quest to sleep with Jack?”
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