“I was an idiot,” he said instead. “But I’m happy to report, I’ve grown up and see the light.” He leaned in and kissed her. “And it’s you.”
“Took you long enough, Lawson,” she joked, stealing another kiss.
On a laugh, they settled on the towels, eyes closed, soaking up the late afternoon sun.
“I don’t miss work,” she said, the tone sounding like this was a major revelation for her.
“I don’t miss anything when I’m here with you,” he replied.
“But…” She turned on her side again. “That’s a big one for me. I never imagined life without a lab, then they took it away. Can you imagine life without your firm?”
“I’m doing a pretty good job of letting Meredith run the show at Lakeside,” he said. “I imagine that’s the future and, what do the kids say? I’m not mad about it.”
She laughed because he sounded like Emma. “Meredith’s thriving,” she commented. “She comes home every night with a flush on her cheeks, although that might not just be the joy of running your Lakeside project.”
He turned his head and opened one eye to look at her. “What do you mean?”
“Well…Connor.”
He leaned up on one elbow. “Connor? Peter’s son? Our admin?”
“That’s the one.”
“What about him?”
She laughed softly. “Easy, Dad. It’s probably just a work attraction.”
“A work…what? No. You’re seeing things, Kate.”
“And you’re not. Mention his name and watch her cheeks and eyes.”
“I see them working side by side every day. Her cheeks are fine and her eyes are on the plans in front of her.” He shook his head. “You’re imagining things.”
“I don’t know if they know it yet, but from my scientific observations—basically, the way she gets just a tad flustered when he’s around or someone talks about him—there’s something happening.”
Was she right? Eli shook his head, shocked at how oblivious he was. They did laugh a lot at work, and had plenty of inside jokes, and…well, yes. They might like each other.
“Connor is a dental student. He’s temporary. He’s going back to Gainesville.” He glanced at Kate. “That couldn’t work.”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “Right, because we’re so opposed to long-distance relationships.”
He considered this news for a long moment, mulling over what he knew about Connor, his work ethic, his intelligence, his basic kindness.
Finally, he nodded. “He’s a good guy.”
“Excellent,” Kate agreed.
“I’ll have to be more observant,” he mused, looking up at the sky through the cypress branches. Then he turned to her.“But not today. Today is just about us. Thank you for planning this, for seeing how much we needed it, and for being you—my beautiful scientist.”
She smiled up at him. “I’m really looking forward to tonight,” she said. “A proper date with a dress.”
“You own a dress, Dr. Wylie?” he teased.
She jabbed him with her elbow. “Don’t push your luck or I’ll wear a lab coat.”
“That would work, too.”
The Edward BallDining Room appealed to every bone in Eli’s architect body. The graceful arched windows framed in thick, glistening mahogany gave weight and grandeur to the space. The coffered ceiling added dimension and drew the eye up. Even the checked floor against the round backs of the chairs was a complementary detail that might be design, not structure, but it worked perfectly.