“Are you a comics fan, Mia?”
“I’m familiar with the main storylines.”
“Well, I’m a big fan, and when I was about six, I read about the multiverse for the first time in a comic book. Are you familiar with the multiverse theory?” Mia nodded, leaning back in her chair as she kept listening with increasing interest. “The older I got, and the more I learned about genetics, the less sense the idea of the human genome being one-dimensional made.”
“The human body as a multiverse. I’ve read that article.”
“Really?” His eyes grew wide, a self-conscious smile blooming over his face. “That’s an old article, pre-PhD.”
“We’ve been on parallel paths for most of our academic careers,” Mia shrugged. “I read it rather closely to its publication date.”And a few dozen times since.
“Well, that’s the reason I went into sociogenomics.” Wyatt placed his empty cup on the table before straightening his stance and looking at Mia with an utterly serious gaze. “I refuse to believe that we have one pre-determined code that the environment either manages to suppress or doesn’t.”
“So, what do you believe?” Mia asked, truly curious.
“Life is a series of actions and reactions. We have basic programming, and I’m not refuting the effect of our genetics on our personality, but our code is constantly evolving and developing in accordance with those actions and reactions.” Wyatt took a step forward, so close she caught a hint of his earthy pine scent. “We are each a universe of infinite possibilities, Mia.”
She was fascinated by the conviction radiating from his russet eyes, how his beliefs aligned with hers so perfectly. His words spoke to parts of her that had nothing to do with science.
It was all too present in her body, the desire to touch him, and Mia needed it to stop. She took great care in tidying her notes, carefully setting them aside before standing. “Come on, I’ll give you a tour.”
It was fairly straightforward from that point. They spent most of the tour going over Wyatt’s questions about the information in the binder she’d given him while walking through the lab. Even between two scientists who had devoted their lives to research, talking about spreadsheets, refrigerators, and beakers didn’t make much of an interesting subject for conversation. Next generation sequencing, on the other hand, turned out to be a volatile topic.
“Good.” Wyatt beamed as they approached the state-of-the-art system located in the depths of the lab. “They ordered the model I asked for.”
“Mmm, yes, it seems so.” Mia had to draw from her inner posh to remain calm. “I’ve been asking for a next-gen sequencing system for over a year. Apparently, I wasn’t asking correctly. Next time, I’ll know to go straight for the most expensive one.”
“Yes, well, maybe the department just knew I was good for the money.” Wyatt turned to face her. “Considering all the funding my presence here guarantees.”
“What a noble aspiration, to be made head of such an innovative establishment on the merit that you’regood for the money.”
Mia knew her jab was below the belt and had fully intended for her words to sting. The lazy half-grin making another appearance was not the reaction she had expected.
“I’m good at a lot of things, Mia,” Wyatt said in a tone that left no room for interpretation. Though even if Mia had forced herself to ignore the deepening of his voice or the darkening of his bright brown eyes, she couldn’t deny the heat sparking between their bodies when Wyatt took a step towards her, pinning her between his solid bulk and the table behind her with only a breath of air between them.
“Tu es une bête,” Mia hissed at him, hoping the angry words would be enough to mask the equally ardent desire ignited by this beast of a man claiming her personal space.
“I didn’t learn that one in high school French lessons,” Wyatt said with a snicker, though he seemed anything but amused. “But I’m going to go out on a limb and assume it’s not one you should be saying toyour boss.”
Mia’s heart was pounding hard and fast under his intense gaze, and the sparse space between them crackled, the energy potent and undeniable. Mia hated that from all the men she’d come across, it was the one she had to get rid of that sparked such a strong physical reaction in her.
Her hand reached out, flattening over Wyatt’s chest to see if his heart was beating just as hard as hers.
“Do you always stand this close to your subordinates, Doctor Jenkins?” she asked, feeling a sliver of excitement at the erratic thuds under her palm.
Wyatt assessed her with a careful gaze before stepping back and out of her reach.
“I was hoping we’d be equals, Mia.” His words sounded sincere, but Mia didn’t believe a single one. “I didn’t come here to flex my name or title. I came here because I am genuinely excited about what we can do in this hub, together. I was hoping you’d be just as thrilled at the prospect.”
“Youwantedme here, Wyatt,” Mia said with a shake of her head, clearing out some of the lustful fog that had settled in it. “I wasforcedto accept your presence.”
“You can’t blame me for division decisions.”
“No, but I don’t have to pretend to be happy about them.” She stepped around him, walking towards the lab door. Then she stopped and turned to face him, knowing her next words would seal the fate of any potential peace between them. “And I’m not going to pretend as if your last name isn’t the only reason you’re the boss, and not me.”
Mia hurried to turn her back on Wyatt, catching a glimpse of the pained rage taking over his features. Despite her harsh words, she’d never wanted to undermine his brilliance or competence, neither of which she doubted. She merely wanted to convey that her own brilliance and competence were equal to his, and his name was the only advantage he had over her.
She knew Wyatt wouldn’t understand it that way, though. Giles had told her how upset Wyatt was when he learned the reason behind her anger, despite how calm and amicable he had been about her behavior up to that point. It was an exposed nerve, and Mia knew she was poking it hard.