Evolution

CHAPTER 29 | the clock is ticking

Joshua stepped into the room. "What about now?"

Alice frowned and her shoulders dropped. "Now I can."

Petra held back the raft of questions. Whatever Alice was, or was not, smelling was beyond her. But both Joshua and Alice were under the delusion they could detect the other through smell.

She tentatively sniffed the air. Nothing.

Petra sighed and leaned on the nearest lab benchtop. How this was going to help them with this war they both seemed to be sure was about to happen was still a mystery she was unraveling. It was on the tip of her tongue to point out if they could only scent each other from that short distance it was moot. If they were within a few feet, they'd see each other and it would probably mean they were in the thick of things.

Alice made a few notes on her clipboard. "We need to make it a little stronger."

Petra drew her brows together and frowned. "There's no way of doing that without introducing a new component to the equation. You've already said anything chemical would be detected." She crossed her arms over her chest. "It would be helpful if you gave me more information to go on. Why is this concoction so important?"

Alice opened her mouth to reply, but Joshua cut her off before she could get a word out.

"Alice, how about you give Daniel a call and give him an update. I imagine he'll be getting a little antsy by now."

Alice fell quiet and looked across at her. Indecision evident on her pixie face. Dark circles were making themselves known. Petra's lips set into a grim line. She was growing concerned about Alice's health. It looked as though she hadn't slept in weeks.

"You know she can't keep on going like this," Petra said, once Alice left the room.

"She's more resilient than you think."

"No matter how 'resilient' she might be, no one can withstand that much pressure."

"With any luck this will all be over soon and Alice can take a break."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you looking forward to going back to your old life, rather than babysitting two doctors?" Her stomach dropped when she remembered where Joshua was headed. That's if you don't get killed by some demented alleged army. The thought of him dying had tormented her every sleeping, as well as waking, moment.

Joshua smiled. "That all depends." He reached over and tugged at the pin that kept her bun in place.

Her hair tumbled around her shoulders. She narrowed her eyes at him. The frustrating man had suddenly developed the habit of pulling her hair out of place. In fact, he was taking many liberties. Since their kiss, after their dinner together in Nederland, they had a repeat performance the night he and Alice had returned to Atlanta with her. He'd insisted on seeing her back to her front door. Despite the fact that he and Alice were staying in a hotel not far from her home, he still picked her up and brought her home each night.

He winked and his eyes crinkled in mirth. "I told you. I think you have stunning hair that shouldn't be caught up in such a severe bun."

Her face heated up. Not that she would let on, but she found comfort in their physical contact. Something that was increasing at an alarming rate. Not that he hadn't been the ultimate gentleman. His hand on the small of her back as he guided her through a door he held open. The light touch on her shoulder when she was too immersed in her work do realize someone was addressing her. Each time he made physical contact, her heart pulsed erratically. Images of their brief, but memorable, kisses flashed to the front of her mind. It was when his skin brushed against her's that set her alight. Almost as if there was an electric current that he could trigger at will.