Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

physics, Dr. Nathan Garrerra was a rock star.
    Garrerra was one of the foremost theoretical physicists of the century. Although he was only thirty-two, the scientific community was already bandying his name about as a possible Nobel Prize candidate for his work in quantum mechanics.
    He could practically write his own ticket anywhere, at any one of a number of universities or private corporations, and maintained a state-of-the-art lab at the prestigious Creed Institute. What was someone like Garrerra doing slumming in Ben's bare-boned theoretical physics lab?
    "Uh, I'm Dr. Hall. Ben. Me. Um, yeah." He cleared his throat again and stuck his hand out to shake, hoping Garrerra didn't notice how his fingers trembled.
    Garrerra's grip was strong and warm. "A pleasure to meet you."
    Was that a slight emphasis on the word, "pleasure" Ben heard? Was Garrerra's smile a bit sly, perhaps infused with innuendo?
    God, I have to get out of the lab more often. I'm suffering from delusions now. "What brings you to my lab, Dr. Garrerra?"
    "It's Nate. I don't hold much with titles." Garrerra switched the helmet from under one arm to the other, cocked his hip, and leaned against the doorframe.
    No, I guess you don't need to, not when the only thing sexier than that body you're rocking is your big, beautiful brain. It isn't fair to the rest of us shmucks. Nobody who looks that good should be that smart. "Okay...Nate. I'm Ben. Why are you here?"
    Nate laughed, a rich and hearty sound, making Ben blush and realize he sounded like a kindergartener protecting his sandbox. "Don't worry, Ben. I'm not here to take over. I read your paper in Theoretical Physics Journal and Review."
    "I'm not worried." It was a bald lie. Of course, Ben couldn't help but be a little worried. The leading man in his field doesn't show up at your door just because he was in the neighborhood and decided to drop by. Then the rest of Nate's statement sunk in, and Ben's eyes widened. " You read my paper? Really?"
    Oh, man, did his voice actually squeak? Get hold of yourself, Hall. You sound like you have a middle school crush. Dr. Garrerra, you're so dreamy! Will you go to prom with me? Giggle, giggle. So what if he read your paper? That doesn't mean he's not going to kick your ass to the curb and declare your lab his new kingdom. Suddenly, a new, even more horrifying thought occurred to him. Oh, God. Maybe he's here to discredit my work. I'll lose my job. I'll be the laughing stock of the scientific community. I'll have to move back into my parents' house and go work at Uncle Rooney's used car lot!
    "Yeah, I did read it. I thought it was brilliant. It's the reason I flew out here. I wanted to meet with you and pick your brain about a few things."
    So much for sinister ulterior motives. Ben was afraid he was going to come in his pants, right here, right now. It was like Shakespeare telling a high school student the kid's book report was quality literature. He stared at Nate gape-jawed until Nate slipped a finger under his chin and gently urged his mouth closed. After a moment more of stunned silence, Ben remembered how to speak. "Uh, oh, okay. Sure. Anything you need."
    "Good. How about we start with some lunch? I missed breakfast in order to make my flight this morning, and I'm starving."
    "Lunch?"
    "Yeah, you know... food, usually eaten at midday? There's chewing involved. It's a process necessary for life support. Sound familiar?"
    Ben would be damned if Nate's eyes didn't actually sparkle when he was amused.
    Genetics were so not fair.
    "Uh, sure. We can go to the cafeteria. They have tater tots today."
    Tater tots? Did he really just suggest that he and one of the world's foremost theoretical physicists consume lumps of deep fried, preformed potato?
    Yes. Yes, he did.
    He looked away, feeling heat creeping up his neck into his cheeks. He would never live this down. Never.
    "Cool. I'm a big fan of the tots." Nate's smile lit the room, cutting through Ben's embarrassment like a lighthouse beacon through fog.
    It was at that moment, when Nate grinned at him despite everything geeky Ben had done and said, making him feel as if he wasn't the biggest dork on the planet and might just be worthy of the company of giants, that Ben thought he might have fallen in love with Nate, just a little.
    Returning Nate's smile with one of his own— his first, actually, since Nate's arrival at his doorway— Ben powered down his computer and led the way out of the lab.
    CHAPTER 2
    As